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Banns

Banns of marriage involve the public declaration (normally in the parish church) that two people intend to be married. The announcement invites any who know of any impediment to the marriage to make it known.

Priest

‘Priest’ comes from the Greek word for ‘elder’. Priests in the Church in Wales are those authorised specifically to proclaim forgiveness of sins, preside at the Eucharist and bless God’s people, as well as other responsibilities.

Home Life events Weddings and Wedding Blessings Legal requirements

Legal requirements

You have a right to be married in your local parish church and may also have an entitlement to be married in other parishes where you or your family has a connection.

The law requires that at least one of those to be married must:

  • reside in the parish where the wedding is to take place; or
  • be entered on the church electoral roll (the membership list of regular worshippers in the parish); or
  • have a ‘qualifying connection’.

According to the Marriage (Wales) Act 2010, one (or more) of the following must apply in order to show a ‘qualifying connection’:

  • you were baptised or confirmed in the parish;
  • that you have at any point lived for at least six months in the parish;
  • that a parent has lived for at least six months in the parish at any point in your lifetime;
  • that you have regularly attended Church in Wales worship in the parish for at least six months at any point during your lifetime;
  • that a parent has regularly attended Church in Wales worship in the parish for at least six months at any point during your lifetime;
  • that a parent or grandparent was married in the parish.

You must be aged sixteen or over in order to be married. If you are under the age of eighteen, you must have parental consent.

There are special guidelines on church marriage if you have been divorced and your former spouse is still living.

Most couples who intend to get married in the Church in Wales ‘have their banns read’ some time before the ceremony takes place. This is a simple procedure which involves the priest making a public announcement of your intention to marry during services on three successive Sundays. However, there are also certain circumstances in which some form of licence, such as a Common Licence or Special Licence, is more appropriate. Your local priest will advise you about this. More information about the various legal preliminaries to marriage is available from the Faculty Office website.

If you are thinking of a church wedding, you should contact your parish priest in the first instance. You can usually find the priest’s contact details on the church noticeboard. You can also find these details through the ‘Find a Church Near Me’ tool.

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