A CHURCH OF ENGLAND WEDDING

3. Marriage by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Special License

Marriage by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Special License is rare. It is applied for only in exceptional circumstances (such as a couple living overseas who had strong and close links with the Church in question) or emergencies (such as a severe illness that has hospitalised one partner) and is issued by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Once granted, the license allows couples to wed at any time and in any place with no need for any residency requirement.

A few points to note:

• The Minister at the Church in question needs to support the license application and be prepared to solemnise the marriage.

• At least one partner must have been baptised for the couple to be married by Special License.

• A request for a Special License will be rejected if neither partner can demonstrate a long standing relationship with the Church in question.

• A Special License will expire three months after the date of issue.

4. Marriage by Superintendent Registrar’s Certificate without License

Marriage by this method is also rare. Such certificates allow couples to marry in a Church of England/Church in Wales church without the need for the resident Minister’s permission and for the Ceremony to be conducted by someone who is not an ordained member of the Church (such as a friend or colleague who is a member of another Church, possibly even one overseas).