Marriage

Getting married at St John’s

We welcome enquiries from anyone who is thinking about getting married at St John’s. If it is legally possible to marry you in our lovely church we will do so. But please bear in mind that the legalities can be quite complicated and which means that it is not always possible to marry you here.

If you would like to explore the possibility of holding your marriage at St John’s please read the following guidelines.

The Church of England Marriage Measure 2008

The Church of England Marriage Measure 2008 came into effect on 1 October 2008. It does not replace the existing qualification by residence in the parish or inclusion on the electoral roll but adds seven new Qualifying Connections for those who do not qualify in these ways.

The Vicar of St John’s (like all Church of England clergy) is under a legal duty to be satisfied that a couple can lawfully marry in the parish before the marriage can take place or a firm date and time can be fixed for it.

Civil Law in the UK imposes all sorts of requirements on people wishing to be married in church and the Vicar is always happy to explain which requirements pertain to your case.

Because of the importance of adequately preparing for your marriage, it is usual for these preparations to take some six months or more after your first enquiry.

The Law – Your right to marry at St John’s

If you are a parishioner – that is you live within the parish boundaries - or if you are on the parish Electoral Roll, you have a right to be married in St John’s.

As you will discover, the law imposes all sorts of requirements on people planning to get married. The one that concerns most people who get married in church is that Banns have to be read in the Parish of Residence of both the bride and the groom within three months of the date of the wedding and it is your responsibility to arrange for this to happen. 

Your Banns will be called here, without any further action by you being required, during the 10.00am Sung Mass on the first three Sundays of the month before you get married. When the Banns have been called in the other Parish(es), you must obtain from the Vicar(s) a Banns Certificate and you should hand the certificate(s) to the priest at your wedding rehearsal here at St John’s. 

The Law – Establishing a Qualifying Connection

It may also be possible to be married in St John’s if you can establish a qualifying connection in the parish.  This now means that, if a couple does not qualify by residence in the parish or inclusion on the electoral roll, they might be able to be married at St John’s as long as one of them can satisfy the Vicar, or a priest acting on his behalf, that they fulfil one of the following connections to the parish:

At least one of them:

  • was baptised in the parish; (this does not apply if the service was a combined service of baptism and confirmation) or
  • has been confirmed and the confirmation has been entered in a church register book belonging to the parish, having been prepared for confirmation in the parish; or
  • has at any time had their 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 that a parent of at least one of them has at any time during the lifetime of the applicant:

  • 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
  • that a parent or grandparent of at least one of them was married in the parish.

It is for the couple themselves to provide written evidence to satisfy the clergy of the qualifying connection.

It is not the clergy’s responsibility nor that of the Diocesan Registry to assemble the evidence.

Marriage after divorce
The position on marriage after divorce, where a former spouse is still living, remains unchanged.  The Vicar is not under a duty to solemnise a marriage or allow his church to be used for it. 

Even if it is not possible for you to be married at St John’s, it might be possible to arrange a Marriage Blessing after a civil ceremony.

The Law – Marriage by Licence

Sometimes couples are allowed to be married in ways different from the calling of Banns. If this applies to you the Vicar will have explained the procedures.

All questions about these issues can be directed to the Vicar via the Parish Office.

All couples will be expected to attend our Marriage Preparation Day.

To make arrangements for marriage, marriage blessings or renewal of vows, please contact the Parish Office: 020 8693 3897.