28 February 2012 Last updated at 19:51 ET

Leap year wedding proposal prayer by Norwich cleric

Archdeacon of Norwich Jan McFarlane has written a pocket book of prayers

A special prayer has been written by a Norfolk cleric for people planning a Leap Year Day marriage proposal.

The prayer, for 29 February, asks for blessings on the engaged couple and that wedding plans should not overtake preparations for a lifetime together.

The prayer has been taken from Pocket Prayers of Blessing, by the Venerable Jan McFarlane, Archdeacon of Norwich.

She said 29 February was a popular day to get engaged with women traditionally "allowed" to propose to men.

On hearing of an engagement

God of love, please bless N and N as they prepare for the commitment of marriage.

May the plans for the wedding not overtake the more important preparation for their lifetime together.

Please bless their family and friends as they prepare for this special day and may your blessing be upon them now and always. Amen

Ms McFarlane said: "This is a popular time of year to propose.

"My hope is that this new pocket book will help us to bring God's blessing into every situation.

"And that it will help us to remember that through good times - and bad - God is always there beside us."

Ms McFarlane, 47, was first female archdeacon ever appointed to the Diocese of Norwich and took up her post in 2008.

She trained at Cranmer Hall in Durham and was ordained at Lichfield Cathedral in 1993.