Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of the frequently asked questions we find people tend to ask us. If you don't see an answer to a question that you would like to ask then please do contact us either by completing the form, e-mailing us or calling us on the number at the bottom of the page.

How much does it cost?

We take a small deposit of £20.00 to secure your place. The cost of the weekend has been kindly paid forward from donations of people who have attended previously. No-one is denied a weekend on the basis of their financial position. 

How do you book to attend?

Please use our booking form or give us a call.

Do you have to be a Baptist to attend a weekend?

Whilst the majority of people that do attend a Baptist Expression of Marriage Encounter weekend might go to a Baptist church, we do not make any differentiation between Christian denominations.  If you are an Anglican or Catholic, you may wish to attend one of the weekends run under these denominations. However, we believe that the most important thing is that you feel at home.  All the expressions warmly welcome anyone of any denomination to attend

Do you have to be Christian to attend?

No.  Our weekends have a strong Christian element in helping you to communicate better within your marriage. We have had a number of couples that have attended a weekend that do not have any church background, or perhaps a couple where only one is a Christian. We simply ask that you interpret what we teach into your own terms of reference and come with an open mind.

Is there any sharing with the group?

Absolutely not! The weekend is a very intimate and private experience for you and your partner. We most definitely do not ask you to share anything that is private or intimate with the rest of the group.  However, the team will share aspects of their marriage to help you relate to your own marriage.

What is the format of the weekend?

The weekend starts on a Friday evening with a warm welcome from the team, there is coffee and sandwiches on arrival followed by a couple of presentations.  On Saturday we work through the three themes of the weekend with presentations and private time for you to discuss together what we have presented; we give you a question or two to work though to help your dialogue together. On Sunday we culminate by building up the themes of discovering how to make your marriage the best it can be, and letting God's love shine out through your marriage.  We finish with a short communion service before dispersing around 4.00pm.

Is there any counselling?

A marriage encounter weekend is not a marriage counselling situation. Marriage encounter is all about enhancing your marriage to make it the best marriage it possibly can be.  Couples who come on a marriage encounter weekend mostly have good marriages and the desire to make them better.  However, that is not to say that couples with challenges in their marriage don't come on a marriage encounter weekend. Many do, and they find at the end of the weekend that they have a deeper understanding of what it takes to work through challenges in a caring, loving and more communicative way than they might have done previously.