Marriage in Church is on the up!


News that marriages in church have risen could be the result of innovative Church initiatives, such as the Archbishops’ Council’s Weddings Project. Following extensive work by the Weddings Project and the introduction of the 2008 Marriage Measure, marriages in the Church of England increased by four per cent in 2010. This is a very encouraging figure but there is much more to be done on a local diocesan level. What should our churches be doing to push this into double figures? Andrew Manson-Brailsford, Rural Dean of Brighton and vicar of St Georges, Kemp Town shares his view.


The Faith Element


People may ask, “Why do we want to promote weddings within our parishes? If people are moved by God then they will come forward without our advertising”


Yet Saint Paul asks, “But how are people to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can people preach if they are not sent?” Romans 10:14-15


His questions remain the same for us today, as we face those who have not heard the Gospel, or worse still are despondent of both church and faith because of the half truths which they hear through the press and other media.


Changes in the


Marriage Law? Rebecca Swyer takes you through the Guidelines for Marriage in Church of England Parishes


Before a couple can be married in a Church of England church, there are some legal preliminaries that have to take place. There have been some changes to marriage law in recent years and it is essential that every parish follows the latest guidelines.


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The Census for 2001 tells us that 71% of the national population claimed to be Christian and 15% claimed no religious affiliation, whilst in Brighton only 59% of the population claimed to be Christian and 25% claimed to have no religious affiliation.


Talking with people, what they often say to me is that they are struggling with faith, and that the traditional church either fails to speak their language and so they don’t understand or see the relevance of what is being said, or the behaviour of faith groups simply leaves them without any grounds for wanting to belong.


One of the traditional meeting grounds between the church and the people are the occasional offices of baptisms, weddings and funerals. Of late this contact has been challenged. People are taking the different options.


The usual preliminary is the calling of banns in each party’s parish church Sometimes banns are not appropriate (e.g. with foreign nationals) and the couple may obtain a common licence from their diocesan bishop’s registry or a local surrogate (each deanery has these). Occasionally a marriage in church may take place with a certificate issued by the civil Superintendent Registrar.


All of the preliminaries have a requirement of residency. Parishioners (including those on the church electoral roll) have the right to marry in their parish church (with exceptions for those who are divorced with a


In Brighton I was told that 15 years ago 90% of funerals services were undertaken by Church of England ministers, I am now told that the number has dropped to 50%.


If we are to deliver the Gospel message, then the old cliché still stands -we have to meet people where they are. Weddings are one of the examples of where we can meet people at important times in their life, work with them, and bring the God element into their situation.


Returning to the quote from Saint Paul, it is important that people hear the message, but is also important that we make the effort to broadcast the message. In this issue of the Diocesan magazine you will read about some of the thinking and ideas that might help us to take that message out to the people in our parishes.


former spouse still living). Since 2008, others now have the same entitlement to marry where they have a ‘qualifying connection’.


The Faculty Office produce a comprehensive ‘Guide to the Law for Clergy’, which all clergy/parishes should have a copy of in its latest edition (2010, with a yellow cover). This sets down clearly the questions of ‘who’ may marry in a Church of England church and ‘where’ and ‘when’ they are able to marry. They also have a very useful website at www.facultyoffice.org.uk


For full article, visit www.diochi.org.uk


SPECIAL FEATURE: MARRIAGE


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