Weddings

Church of England

The Church of England does not come under the authority of the civil registration service.

People who wish to marry in a Church of England church, should contact the vicar in the first instance. To be able to marry in a Church of England church, usually at least one person must either be resident within the parish boundaries of the church or on the electoral roll of the church.

Marriages in the Church of England are usually conducted after Banns, which are called on three Sundays before the day of the ceremony.

Under certain circumstances, a Common or a Special Licence may be granted, to allow a marriage to take place in a church which is not the parish church and not the usual place of worship of either of the couple.

For further information visit the Church of England website (www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/weddings).

Other churches or religious buildings

To marry in any other religious building, it is necessary to give formal notice of the marriage to the superintendent registrar of the district in which one of the couple lives.

They should discuss the arrangements of their wedding with the minister or other person in charge of marriages at the building before contacting the superintendent registrar. They may also need to book a registrar of marriages to attend the marriage if the religious building does not have an appointed person to register the marriage.

Please note that not all buildings used for religious worship are registered for marriage. If in any doubt, check with the register office.

Couples can only be married in a church in a different district to which one of them lives if either:

• one of them usually worships there;
• there is no building of the appropriate religion or denomination registered for marriages within the district.

^ (back to top)