There are many advantages to being married in a church belonging to the Church of
England. For a start, the Church of England is established by law as the state
church. This gives it the privilege of acting within a legal framework that permits
clergy in the Church of England to act as their own registrars when it comes to a
marriage ceremony conducted in a church. This means that the Vicar or other priest
who marries you spiritually also registers your marriage legally and records it in
a series of registers that stretch back many hundreds of years. By the same token,
it also means that we have to be careful to act within the legal framework when we
agree to marry a couple. As a result of new legislation in October 2008 there are
now four primary ways in which you can marry in Aldeburgh Parish Church.
Do you live in the parish? If your permanent address is in the parish then you
automatically have the right (provided you are free to marry!), to be married in
your own parish church. The marriage takes place by Banns, which are called on
three consecutive Sundays ending within three months of the date set for the marriage.
Are you a member of the church Electoral Roll? To qualify to be a member of the
church Electoral Roll you must have worshipped here on a regular basis for not less
than six months, then applied to the PCC for membership of the roll and been accepted
on to it. Even if you live outside the parish you are effectively declaring that
St. Peter and St. Paul is your home church and being on the Electoral Roll establishes
a quasi-residential qualification. The marriage takes place by Banns.
Do you live outside Aldeburgh but have strong connections with it? If you or close
members of your family either live or have lived within the parish you may have what
is called a “qualifying connection” that allows us to consider marrying you in the
Parish Church. There are some other ways in which you may have a qualifying connection.
The marriage usually takes place by Banns.
Do you currently live outside Aldeburgh but have strong and current connections with
it? You may be a student or else work away from Aldeburgh and have to live close
to your place of work. You may qualify for the Archbishops’ Special Licence if
you can prove a strong connection with the parish and especially with St. Peter and
St. Paul. (Next page)
