Marriage by Licence or Banns or Certificate? (General)

by Mike Pinchin , Bedford, England, Wednesday, July 17, 2013, 20:38 (4141 days ago) @ Paul Andrews

My memory might be a bit hazy but I believe an Act of around 1836 allowed a registrar to issue a license or certificate (which remained valid for about 3 months) which a couple could then take to any place authorized to conduct marriages and have the ceremony take place. However, the legality was a bit ambiguous and many clergy held it to be at odds with canon law. Maybe this might explain the entry. I gather it was somewhat rare.