HUNDREDS of activities are being organised across the UK for National Marriage Week starting on Monday and Okehampton is joining in with a 'Strengthen Your Marriage Night' on Saturday February 12.
National Marriage Week 2000 is celebrating its 4th birthday with a positive millennium vision for modern marriage in the 21st Century.
The New Life Church in Okehampton held an event last year to celebrate and promote marriage but Pastor David Waters hopes by advertising the night this time, a lot more people will come along.
'There will be a fish and chip supper by candlelight and the whole thing will be romantic especially with Valentine's Day coming up,' he said. 'We will be getting back to why couples got married and focusing on morals, love and honour. The evening will be very informal.'
Hosts of celebrities and religious leaders are all 'flying the flag' in support of marriage including the Archbishop of Canterbury who said: 'Marriage strengthens the stability of family life and the bonds of the community. Therefore, as a society it is not something we can afford to take lightly.
'We need to continue to help people prepare for marriage and to be available to them at times of stress and strain as well as at times of joy and happiness.'
With over 80 per cent of teenagers expecting to be married at some stage and four out of ten marriages taking place in the Church, National Marriage Week is asking the church to increase the profile of its existing pre-marriage support courses within parishes and to operate a post marriage course particularly for newly weds in the first 12 months.
'Strengthen Your Marriage Night' will be held from 7-9pm and the cost will be £5 each. For more information call 01837 53032.