Getting married in an independent church

Wyndham

theoretica said:

HampshireH said:

The church would need to be a registered religious building for a religious ceremony to take place.

I had assumed the question about whether it would need to be a civil ceremony was posted perhaps because the church isn't registered.

OP can you clarify?

From what is said the minister isn't a registered person and the OP would require a registrar. A registrar will charge a fee to attend the church to carry out the ceremony. 

I'm probably way off but if it's the normal registrar for a civil ceremony then when we had ours it was made very clear they wouldn't incorporate any religious elements.

If a registrar is needed for a religious ceremony (It used to be CofE, Jewish and Quaker which did not need a separate registrar, but think more can now have their own) they do NOT carry out most of the ceremony - they just handle signing the register.

Your list is way too short. Many churches, not just CofE are able to carry out the ceremony without a separate registrar - instead the clergy is the registrar.

My own background is Methodist, and the minister married me (or rather married me to my husband!!) Other examples include URC, Baptist, and, of course, Catholic. All of these marry many people, in valid wedding ceremonies.

OP - so long as the minister is licensed, it will be a valid ceremony. You will sign the register as part of the service, and he/she will also sign it as the official registrar. And, as it's in a church, you can have hymns, bible reading or other religious things.

One other point I would raise, is in how they describe themselves: "an independent bible believing church" says to me that they are very evangelical and conservative. So, if, for example, you have been living together for a bit, they may not like that. However, you can only find that out by having more conversations with the minister. He/she may want to do some sort of 'marriage preparation' with you, which will ask these questions.

Torry_Quine

My church is Baptist and there is never a registrar in attendance at a wedding. 

Spendless

Savvy_Sue said:

I am well behind with the current regulations, but I would trust the minister to know what needs to happen.

DH was once an Authorised Person for our URC. Our building was able to hold weddings without a registrar present, and there were no restrictions on religious content.

However, it was necessary to register the intention to marry at the local Registrar of B,D&M. I have no idea what that entails now.

This+1  My son baptised CofE though not practising, has met someone at Uni and is marrying at a Methodist church this summer where she is from, miles from where we live.

My parents who married in CofE but living in 2 different cities kept going on about banns and how my Dad had to turn round and head back home after he forgot them as the Vicar wouldn't have married them and told me so many times to check, I looked up the email of our CofE vicar and asked him about it. He answered my question but said the best person to check with is the person marrying them who will know the procedure.

Batman_100

Wyndham said:

theoretica said:

HampshireH said:

The church would need to be a registered religious building for a religious ceremony to take place.

I had assumed the question about whether it would need to be a civil ceremony was posted perhaps because the church isn't registered.

OP can you clarify?

From what is said the minister isn't a registered person and the OP would require a registrar. A registrar will charge a fee to attend the church to carry out the ceremony. 

I'm probably way off but if it's the normal registrar for a civil ceremony then when we had ours it was made very clear they wouldn't incorporate any religious elements.

If a registrar is needed for a religious ceremony (It used to be CofE, Jewish and Quaker which did not need a separate registrar, but think more can now have their own) they do NOT carry out most of the ceremony - they just handle signing the register.

Your list is way too short. Many churches, not just CofE are able to carry out the ceremony without a separate registrar - instead the clergy is the registrar.

My own background is Methodist, and the minister married me (or rather married me to my husband!!) Other examples include URC, Baptist, and, of course, Catholic. All of these marry many people, in valid wedding ceremonies.

OP - so long as the minister is licensed, it will be a valid ceremony. You will sign the register as part of the service, and he/she will also sign it as the official registrar. And, as it's in a church, you can have hymns, bible reading or other religious things.

One other point I would raise, is in how they describe themselves: "an independent bible believing church" says to me that they are very evangelical and conservative. So, if, for example, you have been living together for a bit, they may not like that. However, you can only find that out by having more conversations with the minister. He/she may want to do some sort of 'marriage preparation' with you, which will ask these questions.

But my point is this is a small church with about 30 people in the congregation that isn’t part of one of the main denominations. Given that they only have a wedding once in a blue moon they might not deem it practical for whatever reason for the minister to be licensed to perform the civil parts of wedding themselves. 

And yes they are very conservative. The few times I’ve been there the minister and a couple of the elders have said things I don’t agree with, but it’s not a church we go to every week. We won’t be living together before the wedding and the minister said he’ll find us a marriage prep course to do nearer the time. 

tightauldgit

Wyndham said:

theoretica said:

HampshireH said:

The church would need to be a registered religious building for a religious ceremony to take place.

I had assumed the question about whether it would need to be a civil ceremony was posted perhaps because the church isn't registered.

OP can you clarify?

From what is said the minister isn't a registered person and the OP would require a registrar. A registrar will charge a fee to attend the church to carry out the ceremony. 

I'm probably way off but if it's the normal registrar for a civil ceremony then when we had ours it was made very clear they wouldn't incorporate any religious elements.

If a registrar is needed for a religious ceremony (It used to be CofE, Jewish and Quaker which did not need a separate registrar, but think more can now have their own) they do NOT carry out most of the ceremony - they just handle signing the register.

Your list is way too short. Many churches, not just CofE are able to carry out the ceremony without a separate registrar - instead the clergy is the registrar.

My own background is Methodist, and the minister married me (or rather married me to my husband!!) Other examples include URC, Baptist, and, of course, Catholic. All of these marry many people, in valid wedding ceremonies.

OP - so long as the minister is licensed, it will be a valid ceremony. You will sign the register as part of the service, and he/she will also sign it as the official registrar. And, as it's in a church, you can have hymns, bible reading or other religious things.

One other point I would raise, is in how they describe themselves: "an independent bible believing church" says to me that they are very evangelical and conservative. So, if, for example, you have been living together for a bit, they may not like that. However, you can only find that out by having more conversations with the minister. He/she may want to do some sort of 'marriage preparation' with you, which will ask these questions.

I think there are 3 different levels from what I've read -

1. CofE wedding - it's a legal wedding and a different process which doesn't involve the registrar in the same way
2. Religious wedding presided by a minister who can also act as registrar - I think this is most other 'major' church weddings
3. Religious wedding where the minister can't act as registrar and you need to get the registrar to attend. 

Seems the OP is talking about Option 3 here

tightauldgit

Batman_100 said:

Something else I wanted to ask is will this be regarded as a civil wedding so far as the pre wedding procedures are concerned? For example, will we still have to go to the local council offices to have our ID checked and go through other formalities to make sure it’s not a sham marriage? 

I believe yes it's the same process. 

Wyndham

tightauldgit said:

Wyndham said:

theoretica said:

HampshireH said:

The church would need to be a registered religious building for a religious ceremony to take place.

I had assumed the question about whether it would need to be a civil ceremony was posted perhaps because the church isn't registered.

OP can you clarify?

From what is said the minister isn't a registered person and the OP would require a registrar. A registrar will charge a fee to attend the church to carry out the ceremony. 

I'm probably way off but if it's the normal registrar for a civil ceremony then when we had ours it was made very clear they wouldn't incorporate any religious elements.

If a registrar is needed for a religious ceremony (It used to be CofE, Jewish and Quaker which did not need a separate registrar, but think more can now have their own) they do NOT carry out most of the ceremony - they just handle signing the register.

Your list is way too short. Many churches, not just CofE are able to carry out the ceremony without a separate registrar - instead the clergy is the registrar.

My own background is Methodist, and the minister married me (or rather married me to my husband!!) Other examples include URC, Baptist, and, of course, Catholic. All of these marry many people, in valid wedding ceremonies.

OP - so long as the minister is licensed, it will be a valid ceremony. You will sign the register as part of the service, and he/she will also sign it as the official registrar. And, as it's in a church, you can have hymns, bible reading or other religious things.

One other point I would raise, is in how they describe themselves: "an independent bible believing church" says to me that they are very evangelical and conservative. So, if, for example, you have been living together for a bit, they may not like that. However, you can only find that out by having more conversations with the minister. He/she may want to do some sort of 'marriage preparation' with you, which will ask these questions.

I think there are 3 different levels from what I've read -

1. CofE wedding - it's a legal wedding and a different process which doesn't involve the registrar in the same way
2. Religious wedding presided by a minister who can also act as registrar - I think this is most other 'major' church weddings
3. Religious wedding where the minister can't act as registrar and you need to get the registrar to attend. 

Seems the OP is talking about Option 3 here

My argument is that your (1) and (2) are actually the same. The CofE clergy are also licensed to act as a registrar, just like a minister from one of the other denominations. The CofE are not special in that way - despite the fact that they might like to think they are.

Wyndham

Batman_100 said:

Wyndham said:

theoretica said:

HampshireH said:

The church would need to be a registered religious building for a religious ceremony to take place.

I had assumed the question about whether it would need to be a civil ceremony was posted perhaps because the church isn't registered.

OP can you clarify?

From what is said the minister isn't a registered person and the OP would require a registrar. A registrar will charge a fee to attend the church to carry out the ceremony. 

I'm probably way off but if it's the normal registrar for a civil ceremony then when we had ours it was made very clear they wouldn't incorporate any religious elements.

If a registrar is needed for a religious ceremony (It used to be CofE, Jewish and Quaker which did not need a separate registrar, but think more can now have their own) they do NOT carry out most of the ceremony - they just handle signing the register.

Your list is way too short. Many churches, not just CofE are able to carry out the ceremony without a separate registrar - instead the clergy is the registrar.

My own background is Methodist, and the minister married me (or rather married me to my husband!!) Other examples include URC, Baptist, and, of course, Catholic. All of these marry many people, in valid wedding ceremonies.

OP - so long as the minister is licensed, it will be a valid ceremony. You will sign the register as part of the service, and he/she will also sign it as the official registrar. And, as it's in a church, you can have hymns, bible reading or other religious things.

One other point I would raise, is in how they describe themselves: "an independent bible believing church" says to me that they are very evangelical and conservative. So, if, for example, you have been living together for a bit, they may not like that. However, you can only find that out by having more conversations with the minister. He/she may want to do some sort of 'marriage preparation' with you, which will ask these questions.

But my point is this is a small church with about 30 people in the congregation that isn’t part of one of the main denominations. Given that they only have a wedding once in a blue moon they might not deem it practical for whatever reason for the minister to be licensed to perform the civil parts of wedding themselves. 

Of course, I understand. But you'll only find out the answer if you ask them directly. None of us here know the church so can't answer the question for you.

TonyMMM

It isn't a civil ceremony if it takes place in a licensed religious building.

Most religious venues have an authorised person (who can be the celebrant themselves, but not always) to deal with the registration, but some smaller chapels, and those who rarely conduct marriages, may not so in those cases a registrar will need to attend, just to deal with the paperwork - they won't be conducting the ceremony itself.

You will need to "give notice" at a registration office in the district in which you live- this applies to all marriages (except those in the CofE, where banns are read instead).

tightauldgit

Wyndham said:

tightauldgit said:

Wyndham said:

theoretica said:

HampshireH said:

The church would need to be a registered religious building for a religious ceremony to take place.

I had assumed the question about whether it would need to be a civil ceremony was posted perhaps because the church isn't registered.

OP can you clarify?

From what is said the minister isn't a registered person and the OP would require a registrar. A registrar will charge a fee to attend the church to carry out the ceremony. 

I'm probably way off but if it's the normal registrar for a civil ceremony then when we had ours it was made very clear they wouldn't incorporate any religious elements.

If a registrar is needed for a religious ceremony (It used to be CofE, Jewish and Quaker which did not need a separate registrar, but think more can now have their own) they do NOT carry out most of the ceremony - they just handle signing the register.

Your list is way too short. Many churches, not just CofE are able to carry out the ceremony without a separate registrar - instead the clergy is the registrar.

My own background is Methodist, and the minister married me (or rather married me to my husband!!) Other examples include URC, Baptist, and, of course, Catholic. All of these marry many people, in valid wedding ceremonies.

OP - so long as the minister is licensed, it will be a valid ceremony. You will sign the register as part of the service, and he/she will also sign it as the official registrar. And, as it's in a church, you can have hymns, bible reading or other religious things.

One other point I would raise, is in how they describe themselves: "an independent bible believing church" says to me that they are very evangelical and conservative. So, if, for example, you have been living together for a bit, they may not like that. However, you can only find that out by having more conversations with the minister. He/she may want to do some sort of 'marriage preparation' with you, which will ask these questions.

I think there are 3 different levels from what I've read -

1. CofE wedding - it's a legal wedding and a different process which doesn't involve the registrar in the same way
2. Religious wedding presided by a minister who can also act as registrar - I think this is most other 'major' church weddings
3. Religious wedding where the minister can't act as registrar and you need to get the registrar to attend. 

Seems the OP is talking about Option 3 here

My argument is that your (1) and (2) are actually the same. The CofE clergy are also licensed to act as a registrar, just like a minister from one of the other denominations. The CofE are not special in that way - despite the fact that they might like to think they are.

Definitely not 'the same' but probably fairly similar in terms of the ceremony itself. One clear difference is that you have to give notice to the registrar of a wedding in a non Anglican church but generally not in an Anglican one.