ON behalf of the Church of England in the Diocese of York I join you in welcoming the marriage of Jenny Benson and Geoff Harker, left, at St Martin's, Whenby, near Sheriff Hutton.

It is good news that this ancient and beautiful building can still be used for so happy an occasion some 21 years after it ceased to be a parish church, and especially when the people concerned are so closely associated with it.

The Churches' Conservation Trust does a great service to us all by maintaining St Martin's when its local community is no longer able to do so.

I hope Jenny and Geoff have a wonderful day and that the process of securing a church wedding in a building effectively no longer part of the Church of England is well worth while.

Martin Sheppard,

York Diocesan Director of Communications,

Diocesan House,

Aviator Court,

Clifton Moor, York.

Updated: 11:45 Saturday, June 09, 2001