Business as usual for McCartney wedding church

The congregation of a Co Monaghan church faced a security clampdown at Sunday service today as preparations continued for the wedding of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.

A baby was being christened at St Salvator’s Church within the Castle Leslie estate oblivious to the huge operation going on ahead of the biggest show business wedding of the year.

Only faces known to castle owners and church minister Gary Roberts were being allowed through the gates as nervous security staff tried to prevent photographers and journalists getting a glimpse of the preparations.

Paul, 59, and Ms Mills, 34, are set to marry and throw a lavish party inside the estate on Tuesday.

Prominent Irish society figures have received invitations to the celebration laying to rest castle claims that the feverish activity could be explained by a simple ‘‘product launch’’.

Today preparations by contractors and workmen were continuing in earnest.

A giant marquee and dance floor had been set up along the side of a lake and a pontoon had been constructed with a luxury boat moored alongside.

Canopies covered a walkway which led from the castle to the chapel, suggesting that the wedding service would be held inside the grounds, as well as the reception.

The protestant Church of Ireland confirmed that Ms Mills would be permitted to marry inside the chapel despite being a divorcee.

Lilies and roses were among thousands of pounds worth of flowers which had been delivered and were being kept refrigerated and watered.

Crates of drinks, including bottles of beer, were unloaded from lorries.

Lighting effects had been put up in trees and rafts lay alongside the banks of the lake suggesting that fireworks could be launched from the water’s surface.

And furniture was finally unloaded as staff were ready to lay the tables for what is thought to be an Indian-themed vegetarian meal inside the huge marquee.

St Salvator’s minister, Mr Roberts, said security guards had been briefed on how to prevent an invasion of the grounds by fans and journalists when the church opens.

The 44-year-old father of two said about 25 people usually attended the service but about 250 people had asked if they could come this week.

‘‘We would always encourage more people to come to church, but for the right reasons,’’ he said.

‘‘The service will be restricted to regular parishioners and others from the area who have shown an interest or have attended in the past.’’

He added: ‘‘We are also conducting a baptism so we would not like that to be affected, although the family know how much activity there is around the grounds.’’

Paul met anti-landmines campaigner Ms Mills three years’ ago and they were engaged in last year July.

Former model, Ms Mills, lost a leg in 1993 when she was hit by a police motorcycle.

The couple have refused to reveal any details about their wedding plans saying simply they were ‘‘going fine’’.