The Registration of Marriages Regulations 2021

Amendment of Part 2 of the 1949 Act (marriage according to the rites of the Church of England)

7.  After section 21 of the 1949 Act (authorising of publication of banns and solemnization of marriages in churches and chapels of extra-parochial places)(1), insert—

“Issue of marriage document after publication of banns or the grant of a special or common licence

21A    Issue of marriage document after publication of banns or the grant of a special or common licence

(1) This section applies to a marriage solemnized—

(a) after the publication of banns,

(b) on the authority of a special licence, or

(c) on the authority of a common licence.

(2) Before the solemnization of the marriage, the clergyman who is to solemnize the marriage must issue a document, or ensure a document is issued and provided to the clergyman, in any form, and with any content, that may be prescribed.

(3) The document issued under subsection (2) is to be known as a “marriage document”.

(4) The clergyman must retain the marriage document until it is delivered to a registrar in accordance with section 53D(2).”.

(1)

Section 21 was applied by section 6(4) of the Sharing of Church Buildings Act 1969 (c. 38).