A Maldon church is aiming to provide support for married or engaged couples as part of National Marriage Week celebrations.

The town's Salvation Army is running a Celebrating Christian Marriage Weekend to coincide with the national week.

Britain has the highest divorce rate in Europe, but still sees 300,000 marriages take place a year.

"In a time when we are constantly seeing marriage under great pressure and a high rate of divorce and separations in relationships, my wife and I felt led to organise a weekend when we could celebrate Christian marriage," said Captain Brian Miller.

On Friday the church is holding a celebration candlelit dinner for married and engaged couples, and tomorrow a workshop day will be run aimed at enriching marriage.

The weekend will be led by Dr Sidney and Jean Gauntlett who are experienced counsellors within in the Salvation Army.

They will also lead the Sunday morning meetings at 10am and 5pm which also have a marriage theme.

Mr Miller said the enrichment workshops are not aimed at people who have major marital difficulties but present an opportunity for couples to retreat from the pressures and demands of work, family and other responsibilities and to reflect as a couple on their relationship and how it can be enriched.

He added: "Before I agree to marry a couple I do a marriage course which always seems to work very well.

"Some people are cautious but they discover things about each other they didn't realise."

Places are limited on the all-day enrichment course tomorrow so book in advance on 01621 853942.

If there is enough interest a future course may be possible. All are welcome to the Salvation Army's Sunday meetings.

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