The Diocese of Chichester | Marriage Measure 2008

The Church of England Marriage Measure 2008


Background

As many of you will know the regulations surrounding residential qualification to getting married in a particular church have been extended by the above Measure.  The change is the creation of a right to get married through what is known as a qualifying connection.  Below is a summary of the changes and its impact. 

Included in this page are links to guidance notes containing advice from the Diocesan Registrar.  These are guidance notes which inevitably explain and paraphrase the legislation and when appropriate the legislation should be referred to if particular cases arise.

Also there are House of Bishops guidelines and forms available from the national Church on the Church of England website.  The guidance from the House of Bishops includes at its Appendix I a recommended application form for completion by a person wishing to marry in a parish church by virtue of a Qualifying connection.

 

Qualifying connection - definition

The qualifying connections with a parish are:-
If the person:-

  • was baptised in the parish (this does not apply where the baptism formed part of a combined service of baptism or confirmation); or,
  • had his or her confirmation entered in a church register book of a church or chapel in the parish; or,
  • has at any time had his or her usual place of residence in the parish for at least six months; or
  • has at any time habitually attended public worship in the parish for at least six months;

OR

  • A parent of that person has at any time during that person’s lifetime:-
  • had his or her usual place of residence in the parish for at least six months; or
  • habitually attended public worship in the parish for at least six months;

OR

  • a parent or grandparent of that person was married in the parish.

 

Establishing a qualifying connection

The responsibility for establishing a qualifying connection is with the applicant.  As mentioned above, the Church of England website includes forms which help to organise the application and evidence for establishing a qualifying connection.  Attached with this notice is an example that the Revd David Hider at Peacehaven etc. has produced for use in his parishes to personalise the process as far as possible (with thanks to David for agreeing to allow these to be included).

 

Banns

In the case of a qualifying connection, the wording to be used when calling banns should be:
in the church where the marriage is to take place, the normal wording, except that at the point where the banns refer to the person with the qualifying connection, the words:

“n……… of this parish”

should be changed to:

“n……… of the parish of x…………… who wishes to be married in this church by virtue of his/her connection with this parish”

We are advised that there should be no change to the banns form.

 

Finally

Please remember that the new Measure is an addition to the usual means by which a marriage can take place in a parish.

The new Measure does not amend the minister’s rights and responsibilities already in place and exercised by clergy.  But it does highlight that the minister must be satisfied that there is a Qualifying connection with the parish by either or both of the applicants.  If clergy are not satisfied that there is sufficient evidence then it remains their right to refuse to allow a marriage to take place in the parish where they minister.

If you have any doubts please do not hesitate to refer to the websites and the Diocesan Registrar

 



Guideline notes from Diocesan Registrar

The Reverend David Hider’s application forms for establishing qualifying connection (Peacehaven etc)