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Clergy and authorised persons

Information for clergy and authorised persons

Information on how to make entries in a marriage register and on how to make quarterly returns to the register office are contained in two booklets. One is for clergy of the Church of England and is called  Guidebook for the Clergy. The second is for authorised persons in non-conformist churches and is called Guidebook for Authorised Persons.

Both of these booklets can be obtained from the General Register Office by phoning 0300 123 1837 and selecting option one.

Alternatively you can apply in writing to :

Marriages and Civil Partnerships Section
General Register Office
Smedley Hydro
Trafalgar Road
Birkdale
Southport
PR8 2HH

New registers and marriage certificates can also be ordered from the same section. New registers should be ordered at least one month before needed.

You can also download both the Guidebook for Authorised Persons (pdf 552KB) and the Guidebook for the Clergy (pdf 732KB). To use these files you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have it on your computer, please use our advice page.

Register entries need to be made using Registrar’s Ink. This can be ordered from :

Ecclesiastical Stationery Supplies
1 Rookwood Way
Haverhill
Suffolk
CB9 8PB

Phone: 01440 703303

If ink is required urgently, please contact the register office.

Quarterly returns

Returns should be made using Registrar’s Ink and relate to the quarterly periods ending 31 March, 30 June and 30 September and 31 December. If no marriage has been entered in the register then a nil return form must be completed. Returns should be sent to the register office during April, July, October and January respectively.

If you need any advice about quarterly returns please contact the register office.

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