Couple finally wed in 'ugly' church

A Black Country church has held its first wedding in six years after it was said to be "too ugly" for couples to tie the knot.

Published Sep 11, 2006

Steven Whitlock, aged 26, married his childhood sweetheart Victoria Johnston-Black, aged 30, with their five-year-old daughter Carmen as the bridesmaid.

The Good Shepherd and St John church in West Bromwich was packed to the rafters with family and friends.

Members of the church congregation also crammed in and were just delighted to finally see a wedding.

The CofE church's vicar, Rev Patrick Okechi, was unable to conduct the ceremony because he is currently suspended from his duties.

Instead, the service was carried out by his stand-in Rev Melina Bedeau, for whom, even though she has served 40 years in the ministry, this was her first wedding.

She said: "I was not nervous at all. I was thrilled to be asked to conduct the service."

She told the couple: "Today is a great day in your lives with your lovely daughter Carmen. God has blessed you."

Although the church in Lyttleton Street has a full congregation, no one has got married there for the last six years.

Rev Okechi said earlier this year that he felt that because of its 1960s design with a flat roof and no spire, couples were opting to get married in more traditional churches.

He said it was too ugly and people wanted a better setting for the wedding photographs.

But groom Steven and his new wife Victoria had no doubts about where they wanted to get married.

Steven said: "It's a lovely church and I should know because my uncle helped to build it."

The couple, who live in nearby Lyng Lane, have been together for nine years.

By Dave Lawley

Popular stories: