Banns of Marriage

Hello,

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage! In this document you will find everything you need to know about Banns of Marriage.

Most Church of England marriages require banns to be read out in church before the wedding can take place. Although a legal requirement, banns can be a special occasion too.

Here’s your essential guide to Church of England banns:-

• Banns are an announcement in church of your intention to marry and a chance for anyone to put forward a reason why the marriage may not lawfully take place.
• Banns are an ancient legal tradition and have been read out every week in churches across the land for millions of couples, over many centuries.
• After your forthcoming marriage is announced, the congregation may be invited to pray for you both. It can be quite special and moving to hear this, so do go along if you can.
• Banns need to be read in the parish where each of you lives as well as the church in which you are to be married, if that is somewhere else. Please double check that this is the correct parish for you by putting your postcode into the parish finder on https://www.achurchnearyou.com/
• You must have your banns read out in church for three Sundays during the three months before the wedding. This is usually done over three consecutive Sundays.
• As well as being a legal requirement, your banns readings are special public occasions when people in church hear of your intention to marry. It’s an exciting and happy time, so you’re welcome to invite your family and friends to hear your banns too, if you’d like.
• If there is not enough notice given for the banns to be read before the marriage is due to take place, or if one or both of you are British but do not live in England (or Wales), the Common Licence procedure needs to be used rather than banns.
• If one or both of you is a national of a country which is outside the European Economic Area [EEA], you will require a Superintendent Registrar’s Certificate to marry, rather than have banns read.

What do I need to do to apply for my banns to be read?

• To apply to have your banns read at Saint Saviour’s Church in the Meadows contact and arrange a meeting with Rev Hannah Hall by email hannah@saviours.org.uk.
• As you can imagine we have a lot of requests for banns so please let Hannah know when you are coming with your application form [many people just turn up and expect her to be free when they are!]. Time slots that she offers for the visit to process the application:
  • Thursday mornings at 10.30-11.30am
  • Sunday afternoons 3.45-4.15pm
  • Wednesday evenings 5-6.30pm
• So email her a couple of dates and specific time in a slot you want to visit in the next few months.
• Print and fill in the application form [found on the website] with basic details of both marriage partners, occupation, parents details, wedding date etc.
• At the meeting bring the form, payment and you will also need to bring both passports to show that both of you are from the EEA.
• The fee for publication and banns certificate is £44 paid up front by cash or cheque made payable to Saint Saviour’s PCC.
• We will then arrange some dates for the banns to be read and we would love to welcome you to come to church to hear them read.
• Banns are read around 3 months before the wedding so don’t leave it too late to arrange them.
• Please collect your certificate on the last Sunday of your banns being read and then you can give it to your officiating minister. Banns are read in the 4.30-5.15pm Sunday service.

God bless you in your marriage, may you grow in love for one another. 

Click on the link below to download the Banns of Marriage application form.

Banns Application Form.pdf
File Size:	39 kb
File Type:	pdf

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