The Marriage of Same Sex Couples (Registration of Shared Buildings) Regulations 2014

Registered buildings that cease to be shared

10.—(1) This regulation applies to a shared building registered under section 43A of the 1949 Act which ceases to be used for religious worship by more than one religious organisation.

(2) As from the date when the building ceases to be so used—

(a) it will remain registered under section 43A of the 1949 Act for the solemnization of marriages of same sex couples,

(b) but it may only be used for the solemnization of marriages of same sex couples (in accordance with sections 26A and 43A of the 1949 Act) by a religious organisation if—

(i) that organisation’s relevant governing authority gave consent to marriages of same sex couples for the purpose of the registration application for the building; or

(ii) that organisation was, immediately prior to the building ceasing to be shared, entitled to solemnize the marriages of same sex couples in the building under regulation 8(3).

(3) The proprietor or trustee of the building must, within 14 days of the building ceasing to be shared, give written notice to the relevant superintendent registrar that the building ceases to be a shared building and stating—

(a) the identity of the religious organisation that continues to be entitled (as mentioned at paragraph (2)(b)) to use the building for the solemnization of marriages of same sex couples; or

(b) that no religious organisation continues to be entitled to use the building for the solemnization of marriages of same sex couples.

(4) The relevant superintendent registrar must send a copy of the written notice mentioned in paragraph (3) to the Registrar General.

(5) If paragraph (3)(a) applies, the Registrar General must record in relation to the building the remaining religious organisation who may use the building for the solemnization of marriages of same sex couples and notify the relevant superintendent registrar accordingly.

(6) If paragraph (3)(b) applies, the Registrar General must cancel the registration and notify the relevant superintendent registrar accordingly.

(7) On receipt of a notification from the Registrar General under paragraph (5) or (6), the relevant superintendent registrar must notify the proprietor or trustee of the amendment or cancellation of the registration as appropriate.