About weddings
FAQs - may we get married in church?
The Law of the Land currently allows persons to ask to be married in the parish church of the parish in which one or other party lives. Neither party has to be Anglican (Church of England), nor indeed even a Baptised Christian although where neither has been baptised or is a member of another Faith there may be an additional procedure before allowing the marriage to proceed. In some cases where a previous marriage has been contracted and terminated by divorce it may not be possible to marry again in church.
Where couples wish to be married elsewhere it is usually only possible to do this when a Special Licence has been obtained from the Registrar of the Archbishop of Canterbury. This exception is only rarely granted usually in the case where there is a prior demonstrable link with the parish church in question (as it might be where one or other party has grown up in a parish but has recently moved, is in a residential job requiring residency elsewhere or has maintained links such as a family home etc). The Faculty Office of the Registrar of the Archbishop of Canterbury will not grant such licences to meet a wish of the couple where there is no such link.
Before contacting Fr Cranfield to discuss any plans to marry please ensure that you are parishioners or have sufficient links to argue for a Special Licence. (There is a map of parish boundaries displayed at church.) If you remain uncertain of the name of your own parish church or in which parish you reside please refer to the Diocese of Southwark who can advise you: 0207 939 9400 (office hours)
The Law of the Land currently allows persons to ask to be married in the parish church of the parish in which one or other party lives. Neither party has to be Anglican (Church of England), nor indeed even a Baptised Christian although where neither has been baptised or is a member of another Faith there may be an additional procedure before allowing the marriage to proceed. In some cases where a previous marriage has been contracted and terminated by divorce it may not be possible to marry again in church.
Where couples wish to be married elsewhere it is usually only possible to do this when a Special Licence has been obtained from the Registrar of the Archbishop of Canterbury. This exception is only rarely granted usually in the case where there is a prior demonstrable link with the parish church in question (as it might be where one or other party has grown up in a parish but has recently moved, is in a residential job requiring residency elsewhere or has maintained links such as a family home etc). The Faculty Office of the Registrar of the Archbishop of Canterbury will not grant such licences to meet a wish of the couple where there is no such link.
Before contacting Fr Cranfield to discuss any plans to marry please ensure that you are parishioners or have sufficient links to argue for a Special Licence. (There is a map of parish boundaries displayed at church.) If you remain uncertain of the name of your own parish church or in which parish you reside please refer to the Diocese of Southwark who can advise you: 0207 939 9400 (office hours)
