This page provides a set of links to useful materials on the law of Marriage in the Church of England. The core statutory provisions are found in the Marriage Act of 1949. Whereas it is hoped that these links will be of assistance to those applying the law in this area, each case has its own specific set of facts and so where ambiguities or uncertainties exist it is suggested that assistance may be s- ought from the relevant Diocesan Registrar. Contact details for your Diocesan Registrar can be found at http://www.diocesanregistry.co.uk.
Statutory Materials
Canons
Legal Opinions of the Legal Advisory Commission of the Church of England
- Marriage – p.353 of the 2007 publication of the Opinions
- Marriage: definition of ‘minister’ – p.368 of the 2007 publication of the Opinions
- Marriage: right of a parishioner to marry in parish church – p.376 of the 2007 publication of the Opinions
- Marriage – Flowers and Timings
- Wedding Receptions held on Church Premises
- The Celebration of Marriages by Anglican Clergy in Nonconformist Chapels
- Celebrity Marriages in Anglican Cathedrals and Churches
Other Guidance
- Anglican Marriage in England and Wales – A Guide to the Law for Clergy (3rd edition, 2010, 2nd supplement 2015) available from the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury
- Legal Changes to the Procedure for Publishing the Banns of Marriage
- Immigration Act – Marriage Guidance
- Hours for the Solemnization of Marriages in the Church of England
- Guidance on the Canons by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York
- Marriage in Church After Divorce, House of Bishops report (GS1449, May 2002)
- House of Bishops Guidance on the Church of England Marriage Measure 2008
- HM Passport Office Guidance for Clergy
Caselaw
- R (Baiai and others) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department and others [2008] UKHL 53 – the right to marry in a parish church