Getting Married at St Saviour's

Banns of Marriage
Most people are married after the Publishing of Banns (where your intention to get married is read out on three consecutive Sundays) or, less frequently, by a Common or Special License. If only one of you lives in the parish of St Saviour's you will need to arrange the reading of banns in the parish in which the other lives.  If neither of you live in the parish but you are able to get married at St Saviours by fulfilling one of the qualifying connections above then the banns must be read in the parish in which each resides and in the church where the marriage is to be solemnized.

Who can get Married at St Saviour's?

To get married at St Saviour's one of you is required to be living within the parish or to have some 'qualifying connection' with the parish.  These are:

• that person was baptised in that parish (unless the baptism took place in a combined rite which included baptism and confirmation) or is a person whose confirmation had been entered in the register book of confirmation for any church or chapel in that parish;
  

• that person has at any time had his or her usual place of residence in that parish for a period of not less than six months;
  
• that person has at any time habitually attended public worship in that parish for a period of not less than six months;
  
• a parent of that person has during the lifetime of that person had his or her usual place of residence in that parish for a period of not less than six months or habitually attended public worship in that parish for that period;
  

What if one of us has already
been married and divorced?
At present those who have been married and divorced (and whose former spouse is still alive) are unable to be married at St Saviour's. However, it may be possible to be married in another parish in which one of you lives or has a qualifying connection.

What if one of us is a foreign national?

If one of you is a national of a country outside Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the EU or USA, it would be wise to obtain from the relevant embassy or consulate a letter saying that the marriage will be recognised there. The marriage should be by Common Licence and not by banns.   The priest will want to see a form of valid identification, such as passport, visa, or other reliable form of ID. With name and photograph.

If there is no evidence of permission to reside in this country and there is suspicion that one of the parties to the marriage is here illegally the Bishops would not wish the marriage to proceed by Common Licence. This is because a common licence is issued  in the exercise of the Bishop's discretion as a dispensation from the requirement of banns and the Bishops would not wish to be seen to condone illegality. In such circumstances the marriage can only proceed by banns and must do so if the couple so desire, provided the necessary residency requirements are satisfied and the cleric, if necessary in consultation with the Diocesan Registrar, is satisfied that the marriage will not be invalid for any other reason.