A Superintendent Registrar of a civil Register Office may issue a Marriage Schedule to permit a marriage to take place in an Anglican church.
One of the parties must have the required seven days residence within the registration district and within the parish where the marriage is to take place before applying for the Marriage Schedule, or the church must be the usual place of worship of one or both of the parties.
The Registrar enters the details of the parties in a book which is open to public inspection and also displays a notice at the Register Office for 28 days. If no impediments are shown within the period of 28 days, a Marriage Schedule can be issued. However, a clergyman is under no obligation to marry people who have chosen this preliminary, and in practice clergy may recommend banns or a Common Licence.
However, note that unless both of the parties to the intended marriage are either:
- Citizens of the UK or the Republic of Ireland; or
- Hold Settled or Pre-Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme
banns or a Common Licence cannot be used, and the marriage may only be celebrated in a Church of England ceremony on the authority of a Marriage Schedule, or a Special Licence issued by the Archbishop’s Faculty Office.
A couple may be recommended to apply for a Marriage Schedule if there is any uncertainty as to their nationality or marital status, which can more easily be checked by the Register Office than by clergy.
A Marriage Schedule will normally be valid for 12 months from the date of issue, subject to some minor exceptions (see section 33 of the Marriage Act 1949). Following the marriage, the minister officiating at the service is required to complete the Marriage Schedule and to return it to the Register Office within 21 days of the marriage.