A picturesque parish church holds a special place in the hearts of a couple celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary.
Peter and Peggy Marriage first set eyes on each other at All Saints Church in Rayne more than six decades ago and haven’t looked back since.
Indeed, the church has played a significant part in various chapters of their lives.
Mr Marriage, who was in the church’s choir for more than 40 years, said: “We met in Rayne church on Trinity Sunday in 1951.
“I walked her home that Sunday evening and I was invited down the following Saturday and we took it from there.
“We regard it as our church. All three of our children were christened there, our granddaughters, Nigel’s daughters, married there and when the time comes we hope to end our days down there.”
The couple have now lived in the Rayne for almost 60 years.
They have two sons, Ivan, 59, and Nigel, 57, and a daughter, Eileen Newman, 49, as well as five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
The entire family live in the Braintree area.
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