Wedding Ministry
Welcome to Bon Air Christian Church
Ann Murfee, a member of the congregation, gave this charming painting to the church in 1980. She described her painting: "Historic Bon Air Christian Church was the scene of my daughter's wedding on a cold, sleety January day. In the church, wall candles burned brightly and the spirits of these two young people were united in love. Outside, a double rainbow shown in the heavens which was unusual on such a cold winter's day.
We welcome you and wish you much happiness as you plan your wedding ceremony and the beginning of your life together as a married couple. A marriage ceremony at Bon Air Christian Church is a service of Christian worship in which prayers are offered, vows are made, and blessings given. It is a reverent service, a covenant between a couple and God to live a life of faithfulness, truthfulness, and love. Nothing that is planned should detract from a worshipful, joyful, and reverent service.
The sanctuary is in demand for Christian wedding ceremonies by members of our congregation as well as for many couples outside the congregation. Over the years many of those couples have become members at Bon Air Christian Church. We encourage you to visit with us and experience our worship services on Saturday evening or Sunday morning.
The Sanctuary
Couples often choose our sanctuary for its quaint, Victorian beauty and its size, which creates an intimate atmosphere for the ceremony. Seating capacity is approximately 135 in the congregation. Occasionally family members, such as parents and grandparents of the couple, use the choir loft for seating. When planning your wedding and the number of people in your wedding party, consider the space available in the sanctuary for attendants to stand and for your guests to be able to see your service. All furniture, pews, piano, tables, etc. should remain where they are placed and not be moved or removed from the sanctuary.
Flowers and Candles
Bon Air Christian Church is most often chosen for weddings because of its sacred beauty The sanctuary requires very little decoration. A minimum number of flowers should be considered. Flower arrangements are often placed on the altar or Communion Table. Bows can be hung from the 12 sconces around the sanctuary using pipe cleaners or ribbon. Please do not deface the walls or pews with nails, tacks, or glue.
There are 12 sconces around the interior of the sanctuary and candles in the sconces may be lit during the ceremony. Table model unity candles may be used on the Communion Table. Freestanding candelabrums are not permitted.
The Wedding Music
Since the wedding is a service of worship, its music should be appropriate for a church service. The organist will be happy to advise the bride and groom as to what music might be used. The church organist should be contacted for weddings in the church, but other musicians are permitted to play.
Photography
Because of the sacredness and beauty of the wedding service, photographs should not be taken during the ceremony. Photographs are usually taken following the wedding.
Rehearsal
The rehearsal should not take longer than one hour. Any wedding involving more than four persons in the ceremony should probably be rehearsed. The minister is in charge of the rehearsal. Wedding coordinators may assist as requested by the minister.
Dressing Room
The bridal dressing room for the bride and her party is located in the library. This area can be closed off from the rest of the building and has an adjacent bathroom. The groom's party can meet in one of the Sunday School rooms in our Education Wing.
Custodian
The wedding attendant will open the church one and one half (1½) hours before the wedding ceremony is scheduled to begin and a few minutes before the rehearsal. If additional time is needed, you may pay the attendant to come in earlier if he or she is available. Please share this information with your florist and photographer. The attendant will be present in the building throughout the wedding and/or reception.
Miscellaneous
- The use of rice, confetti, sparklers, and handheld candles is prohibited. Birdseed is allowed outside of the building; however this is usually done following the reception rather than the wedding ceremony.
- Do not move church furniture, including pews, piano, and tables.
- Do not use tacks, pins, tape, glue or nails on walls or furniture.
- Alcoholic beverages are not permitted anywhere on church property.
- Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the building.
Parking
Parking is available in front of the church as well as in the parking area behind the church, which is entered from Logan Street. Please do not leave cars parked in the church parking lots on Saturday night.
Deposits and Fees
Fees for use of Sanctuary:
| Wedding | $425.00 |
| Rehearsal | $125.00 |
| Security Deposit | $100 (This will be refunded if everything is left in good order.) |
| Custodial Fee | $ 50.00 |
Fees for use of our Fellowship Hall for a 3-hour Reception:
| Fellowship Hall | $450.00 (If additional time is needed there is a charge of $75.00 per hour.) |
| Fellowship Hall Security Deposit | $100.00 (This will be refunded if everything is left in good order and there is no damage to the premises.) |
| Fellowship Hall Custodial Fee | $ 50.00 |
BACC Officiating Minister and Organist Fees:
| Minister | $300.00 |
| Organist | $200.00 (Additional fees may be added if the organist requires extra tie to practice special music.) |
The security deposit secures your wedding date and time and is to be made payable to Bon Air Christian Church. The balance of all fees is due no later than six (6) weeks prior to the wedding. Separate checks are required for each service rendered. The check for the wedding, rehearsal and custodial fees is to be made payable to Bon Air Christian Church. If the services of our minister and organist are used, separate checks must be made accordingly as follows:
- Minister – Reverend David Finnegan-Hosey
- Organist – Ms. Vickie Brooks
- Attendant – To Be Assigned
Ministers and Counseling
The Revered David Finnegan-Hosey has served Bon Air Christian Church since 2021. David gives first priority to members of the church in scheduling weddings, but will officiate weddings for non-members as his schedule permits. If you would like David to officiate, please call the church office and schedule a meeting.
Reverend Finnegan-Hosey requires premarital conferences with the couple prior to performing a wedding ceremony. These premarital conferences, as well as rehearsal and wedding date schedules, should be discussed with him and scheduled prior to making other arrangements for your wedding.
If Reverend Finnegan-Hosey is officiating, bring your marriage license to the church one week prior to the wedding to be completed by the secretary. The Virginia marriage license is valid for 60 days after application.
Other ministers are invited guests to officiate weddings at the church. The minister officiating the wedding ceremony must be ordained and must be registered with a Circuit Court in Virginia. Documentation of ordination and registration should be provided to the church office no later than six (6) weeks prior to the wedding; at that time, the minister officiating should also contact Rev. Finnegan-Hosey at davidfinneganhosey@baccdoc.org.
History of Bon Air Christian Church
The Bon Air Land and Improvement Company built the Gothic Carpenter Church in 1882 for the guests of the Bon Air resort. It was called the Bon Air Union Chapel and is one of only two of the public buildings of the resort era standing today. In 1884 the land company offered the building to any congregation that would maintain it. Bon Air Presbyterian Church was organized and occupied the building for almost eighty years. In 1963 the Bon Air Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, was organized, purchased and moved into the building and Bon Air Christian Church has occupied the building since that time. The building has gone through several major renovations starting in 1992 with the addition of a new fellowship hall, kitchen, meeting rooms and baptistery and in 2007 with the dedication of a new Sunday School addition all to allow for a growing and thriving congregation.
The church has made the building available as a meeting place for many organizations such as the Bon Air Woman's Club, Garden Clubs, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Bon Air Historical Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, and AA. For many years it has been the center of activities on Victorian Day following the Victorian Day Parade sponsored by the Bon Air Historical Society. It also houses Caritas and is the hub for many outreach activities sponsored by the congregation.
Other Resources
For more information please contact us during office hours Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM - Noon.
