{"id":20862,"date":"2024-03-18T21:37:38","date_gmt":"2024-03-18T11:37:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=20862"},"modified":"2024-03-18T21:37:38","modified_gmt":"2024-03-18T11:37:38","slug":"railway-mission-chaplain-officiates-uks-first-full-train-wedding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=20862","title":{"rendered":"Railway Mission Chaplain officiates UK\u2019s first full train wedding"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Railway Mission<\/a> chaplain has officiated the UK\u2019s first wedding to be held entirely on board a train.<\/p>\n

Charity chaplain John Roe blessed sweethearts Leah Anderson and Vince Smith on the special Great Western Railway (GWR) Pullman Dining train travelling at 125mph between London Paddington and Swansea.<\/p>\n

The couple were joined by 14 guests for the memorable ceremony which was followed by a drinks reception and three-course meal prepared by the specialist dining crew.<\/p>\n

Leah and Vince, who travelled to their first date on a GWR service and shared their first kiss on the journey home, had approached the rail operator on social media to ask for a train-related centrepiece for their wedding table.<\/p>\n

Instead, touched by the key role it had played in bringing the pair together, romantic GWR organised for the couple to celebrate their entire wedding on a GWR train service.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Vince and Leah, a tentative enquiry to GWR hit the marriage jackpot,\u201d says John, Railway Mission Chaplain for Paddington and the South West, which covers the majority of GWR\u2019s network.<\/p>\n

\u201cRomance for them had blossomed through many rail trips together and they shared their first kiss aboard and they approached GWR for a memento to mark their forthcoming wedding.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle did they expect to be offered a special chartered Pullman train for them and their families, wedding cake, three-course meal with bubbly\u2026and the services of a chaplain.\u201d<\/p>\n

John was invited to officiate at the ceremony by GWR communications team with whom he works closely, including officiating at Paddington Station annual Remembrance Day service.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was my first wedding ceremony as a Railway Mission chaplain and lovely to meet Vince and Leah online beforehand to tailor the service to their needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel very honoured and privileged to be part of what was a fun, yet very moving and powerful ceremony,\u201d adds John.<\/p>\n

Railway Mission Business Manager Claire Keville comments: \u201cRailway Mission chaplains support the entire railway family \u2013 including passengers \u2013 on life\u2019s journey through the highs and lows.<\/p>\n

\u201cJohn had the incredible opportunity to share in Leah and Vince\u2019s wonderful celebration and everyone at the charity sends our love and best wishes to the happy couple.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amanda Burns, GWR Sales and Marketing Director, adds: \u201cWhen we heard of Leah and Vince\u2019s story, we asked ourselves what more we could do to help them as they embark on this very special journey together.<\/p>\n

\u201cRail and rail travel is often romanticised, offering a gateway to new adventures, so what better way to embrace this than by actually holding their wedding on board?\u201d<\/p>\n

Leah and Vince were legally married a few days before their romantic rail ceremony.<\/p>\n

Railway Mission is a national charity which provides a regionally-based chaplaincy service aiming to be an impartial \u2018friend\u2019 to those who work on the railway. Regardless of faith, gender, sexual orientation or position in the industry, chaplains offer face-to-face year-round support, especially during an individual\u2019s time of loneliness, stress, depression, bereavement or illness.<\/p>\n

A Christian faith-based charity, Railway Mission offers pastoral care to the entire railway community and members of the public affected by rail operations. <\/p>\n

For more information about Railway Mission and its work visit www.railwaymission.org<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Railway Mission chaplain has officiated the UK\u2019s first wedding to be held entirely on board a train. Charity chaplain John Roe blessed sweethearts Leah […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":20863,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[7,11],"class_list":["post-20862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rail-news","tag-transport","tag-usa"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t