New wedding law allows couples to choose Church.
A new law is coming into force on the 1st October 2008, giving engaged couples more choice over where they get married.
Until now, couples could only get married in a Church where one or both of them were a member of that parish, or were on the local electoral role. However the General Synod passed the Church of England Marriage Measure in July 2007, and it received Royal Assent on the 22nd May 2008. Archbishops have now agreed for the law to come into force as of October.
Now that society involves people moving around and living in different places more and more, a Measure had to allow for more flexibility with where people can get married. Now if one of them can demonstrate a "qualifying connection" with a particular Church, they can marry there without the special license previously required.
An individual can prove a connection with a Church in one of the following ways:
1) They were baptised in the parish (not including baptisms which were part of a combined service of confirmation or baptism).
2) They had their confirmation entered into a Church register book in the parish.
3) They have lived within that Parish for at least 6 months.
4) They have attended public worship in that parish for at least 6 months.
5) They have a parent who has lived in that parish, or who has regularly attended public worship in that parish for 6 months.
6) They have a parent or Grandparent who got married in that parish.
Visit the Church of England website for more information.
