Marriage
The Sacrament of Christian marriage is a covenantal relationship established when two individuals make solemn and public vows to one another in the presence of God and God’s people. By vows of lifelong faithfulness and mutual love, care and respect, the wedding couple becomes a sacrament, that is, “an outward and visible sign,” of God’s steadfast love for creation and of Christ’s mystical union with the Christian Church. Holy Matrimony is, therefore, a gift to the Christian community, and we thank you for considering holding your wedding ceremony here.
Christian marriage presupposes a connection to the Christian community. In the Episcopal Church, at least one of the individuals to be married must be a baptized Christian. Also, the ceremony must be attested to by at least two witnesses, reflecting the public and sacramental nature of the solemn vows.
Couples wishing to marry at St.Paul’s must be members of St. Paul’s and must agree to pre-marital counseling with the parish clergy, or, if distance is a problem, with a priest near where they live. If either of the individuals is divorced, permission must be obtained from The Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina in order to perform the ceremony. This will be handled during pre-marital counseling by the clergy.
If you are interested in getting married at St. Paul’s, please contact the Church Office (919-934-2675)
The Rev. Kate Byrd
Rector
(703) 582-2997
A native of Arlington, VA, Rev. Kate grew up at Christ Church in Alexandria, VA. As a cradle Episcopalian, Kate has a long-held love and appreciation for the Anglican Communion and our Episcopal traditions. A graduate of Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA, she completed her Bachelors of Arts Degree in Sociology and soon after began her Masters of Divinity at Virginia Theological Seminary. During her first summer off from seminary, Kate worked at Camp Kanuga in Hendersonville, NC where she met her husband Drew. Kate and Drew’s family includes daughter Libbie, twins Thomas and Patrick, and their two dogs Sissy (Labra-doodle) and Radar (Shih Tzu Bichon). Since ordination in 2014, Kate has served in Lexington, KY at Christ Church Cathedral, Whitefish Bay, WI at Christ Church Episcopal, and Goldsboro, NC at St. Francis Church.
The Byrd’s moved to Smithfield in 2019 when Drew began a new position at Johnston Health. A native of Smithfield, Drew is passionate about his hometown, and the two feel blessed to raise their three children here. When he’s not at work you can find Drew at Health Quest, on the Parks and Rec board, riding his mower around their yard, or doing woodwork in his garage. In her spare time, you can find Kate on a run through Smithfield’s Greenway, practicing yoga with her toddler, working with the Junior Women’s League, or completing a craft project. All five Byrds, and their two dogs, enjoy hiking at the local parks, going out for ice cream, and soaking up the sun in their backyard. Kate is passionate about the Jesus Movement and sharing the love of God at St. Paul’s, in the community, and beyond.
