Preliminaries to marriage vary according to the method of
solemnization. This provides general guidance but if you need further
information please contact a Registrar of Marriages in your district
or the General Register Office in Belfast.
Notice throughout this guide means notice of intended marriage.
Marriages according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of
Ireland may take place by -
Licence
Special Licence
Banns
Registrar's certificate
Licence
A licence is available from a Church of Ireland licensing minister for
a marriage in a church within their district provided that -
one or both parties are members of the Church of Ireland, or other
Protestant Episcopal Church
one party has lived for at least seven days within the licensing
minister's district immediatley before giving notice of intended
marriage. (The residence of the other party is immaterial.)
Notice must be given to the licensing minister seven days before the
grant of the licence. The licensing minister will send copies of the
notice to the clergy in the places of worship normally attended by the
couple.
Immediately before the grant of the licence, one of the parties
must make an oath or declaration which includes a clause to the
effect that one of them has lived for the past fourteen days within
the district attached to the church in which they intend to marry.
The name and address of a licensing minister may be obtained from
any Church of Ireland clergyman.
Special Licence
A special licence may be granted by a Bishop of the Church of
Ireland, provided one or both parties are members of that church, or
other Protestant Episcopal Church. The marriage may take place at
any time or place within the Bishop's diocese. The fee payable is
fixed by the church authorities.
Banns
Banns may be published where both parties are members of the Church
of Ireland or other Protestant Episcopal Church.
The banns must be published in the church of the parish in which
the parties live. If the parties live in different parishes, banns
must be published in both parishes.
Seven days notice to the minister(s) may be required and
publication must be made on three Sundays or Feast days before the
date of the marriage.
The marriage ceremony must take place in the church (or one of the
churches) in which the banns have been published.
Registrar's Certificate
When one or both parties are members of the Church of Ireland,
a Registrar's certifcate (or certificates if they live in different
registration districts) may be obtained authorising marriage in a church.
One of the parties must have also lived for fourteen days before
the marriage within the district attached to the church in which they
intend to marry.