A TINY church in a North Yorkshire village will host only the second wedding in its 100 year history today after the Archbishop of Canterbury granted a special licence.

Lucy Swann, who was born and bred in Scackleton, near Malton, decided she wanted her wedding to Nick Holes, 29, to take place in the village church, St George the Martyr.

“Scackleton is very special to me,” she said. “It’s where I grew up and everyone knows each other.

“A lot of people said we could have got married at the church in Hovingham, which is much bigger and more beautiful, but I just wanted to get married in a church where I would feel comfortable.”

However, the former Ryedale School student found St George’s was only licensed to host christenings and funerals, and only one wedding had ever been held there since it was built in the early 20th century, in 1997.

Lucy, 29, who now lives in Manchester, where she works in TV post production, set about applying to the Archbishop, Justin Welby, for a special licence allowing the wedding service to be held. He granted it, and she will walk up the aisle at 3 pm, watched by a capacity congregation of about 60 people.

After the service, the guests will walk through the village to a reception held in teepees in a field borrowed from friendly neighbour, Les Hicks, of Manor Farm.

Lucy’s mother Wendy said it had turned out that many years ago, a family member had been the first child to be christened at the church.

The service will be taken by retired vicar, the Reverend John Warden, of Malton.