Getting married

Thousands of couples dreaming of a church wedding now have more churches to choose from, following the introduction of the Church of England Marriage Measure on October 1st.

The new Measure means the Church of England’s network of 16,000 churches – ancient or modern, intimate or grand, simple or spectacular – can offer a wider wedding welcome than at any time in the Church’s history.

The changes mean an engaged couple are welcome to be married in church in a parish if just one of these applies:

• one of them was baptised or prepared for confirmation in the parish;
• one of them has ever lived in the parish for six months or more;
• one of them has at any time regularly attended public worship in the parish for six months or more;
• one of their parents has lived in the parish for six months or more in their child’s lifetime;
• one of their parents has regularly attended public worship there for six months or more in their child’s lifetime;
• their parents or grandparents were married in the parish.
  (All of these refer to Church of England services)

Previous law established a right for a couple to marry in the Church of England in the parish church where one or both of them lived, whether they were baptised or not, and whether they were churchgoers or not. To marry in any other parish required a special licence or six months of regular attendance followed by entry on the local church electoral roll.

But new laws, initiated by the Church of England and approved by Parliament, add to this right of residency, making it just as easy for couples to marry in a church where they have a family or other special connection, even if they don’t live there.

To find out more contact the chaplain on chaplain@parishofstfaith.org.uk