Guidance

Frequently asked questions about registered buildings

Updated 19 May 2021

Applies to England and Wales

Frequently asked questions by trustees or members of the governing body after the building has been registered for the solemnization of marriages between a man and a woman and/or the solemnization of marriages of same sex couples.

How do I obtain a replacement certificate of registration?

A replacement certificate of place of meeting for religious worship can be obtained from the General Register Office. A replacement superintendent registrar’s certificate of the registration of a building for the solemnization of marriages cannot be provided. However, both the General Register Office and your local superintendent registrar will be able to confirm the details of the building’s registration to any official body.

What do I do if my building has changed its name?

You will need to send a letter to the General Register Office confirming that the building has changed its name and that the congregation has not changed. The letter must give both the building’s worship and marriage numbers and be signed by a minimum of two trustees or members of the governing body.

Do I need to tell the General Register Office if the building has been altered since it was registered?

Yes, if there have been structural alterations, or if the building has been demolished but rebuilt over the same “footprint” and will be used by the same congregation, you will need to submit a new floor plan and timetable advising what the various areas are now used for. However, the registration will not be affected.

If the building has been demolished and rebuilt in a different part of the grounds than the original building, a fresh registration is required. If the original building is “disused” and fresh applications submitted at the same time, any authorised persons can be immediately re-appointed to the new building.

What do I tell couples who wish to get married in my religious building?

Advise the couple that they will need to “give notice of marriage” in person to a superintendent registrar in the area where they live. The couple will need to contact their local register office to arrange an appointment. It is recommended that the couple give notice in good time before the wedding. This must be at least 29 days before the intended date of the marriage, but it is not advisable to leave it so late. Notice can be given up to 1 year before the marriage date providing the venue has been agreed and all documents are in order.

What do I tell same sex couples wishing to convert their civil partnership into a marriage in my religious building?

A conversion of a civil partnership to a marriage may only be made in a religious building if the building has been registered for the solemnization of marriages of same sex couples under Section 43A of the Marriage Act 1949. The signing of the conversion declaration must be attended by the superintendent registrar and must not contain any religious elements. However, a religious ceremony must follow the signing of the declaration. You should advise the couple to contact their local superintendent registrar for more information.

Does an authorised person have to attend the building when the conversion of a civil partnership to a marriage take place?

Yes, to conduct the religious ceremony after the conversion has taken place.

As the registrar will attend the venue and sign the declaration for a marriage between a man and a woman/marriage of a same sex couple and where will the record of the marriage be kept?

The declaration for the conversion will be signed by a registrar from the local register office. The registration will be added to the electronic marriage register which is maintained at the local register office.

As the declaration is signed and registered by a registrar what will they do?

The registrar will usually arrive 15 minutes before the event is due to begin as they need to see each of the couple (separately if required) in private beforehand. You will need to ensure that there are suitable arrangements in place to enable this to happen. They will bring the declaration for the couple to sign.

It is recommended that you discuss specific arrangements such as a dress code or length of the ceremony with your local superintendent registrar.

How do I appoint an “authorised person” for marriages between a man and a woman and/or marriages of same sex couples?

An authorised person for marriages between a man and a woman can be appointed after a religious building has been registered for the solemnization of marriages between a man and a woman for 1 year. An appointment form must be completed and signed by a minimum of two trustees or members of the governing body and sent to the General Register Office for the details to be recorded. The authorised person should not commence with their duties until they receive confirmation from the General Register Office that their appointment has been recorded.

Please note that authorised persons who are currently appointed to attend marriages and sign the marriage schedule between a man and a woman must not attend any marriage or sign the marriage schedule of a same sex couple until the building has been registered for that purpose and they have also been appointed by the trustees to do so.

An authorised person for marriages of same sex couples can be appointed after a religious building has been registered for the solemnization of marriages of same sex couples for 1 year. An appointment form must be completed and signed by a minimum of two trustees or members of the governing body and sent to the General Register Office for the details to be recorded. The authorised person should not commence with their duties until they receive confirmation from the General Register Office that their appointment has been recorded.

What are the roles and responsibilities of an authorised person?

The General Register Office has issued a booklet called A Guide for authorised persons. You can also request a copy by sending an e-mail to: GROCasework@gro.gov.uk.

Do I have to register marriages in the marriage register book?

From 4 May 2021, the couple no longer sign a marriage register book. The couple will sign a marriage schedule after their marriage ceremony, which contains the details of their marriage. The witnesses and authorised person must also sign the marriage schedule.

The marriage schedule will be provided by the register office and will be returned to them, completed, after the marriage ceremony for the details to be registered into the electronic marriage register at the register office.

Do I have to issue a marriage certificate after I solemnize a marriage?

The duties of an authorised person do not include issuing certificates for marriages they solemnize or for marriages that have taken place previously at the registered building. From 4 May 2021 certificates can only be obtained from the local register office or GRO.

How many authorised persons can be appointed to a religious building?

There can only be one “Responsible authorised person” who will be the first point of contact for the General Register Office. However, there is no limit to how many “additional authorised persons” are appointed at each building to attend marriages between a man and a woman and / or marriages of same sex couples and sign the marriage schedule. You must advise the General Register Office immediately of any changes to authorised Persons at your building.

Why does the public need to have access to my building?

The public must have unrestricted access to the registered building during any marriage ceremony in case they have a legal objection.

Can a marriage according to different rites and ceremonies to that of the established congregation take place in the building?

A marriage of any non-conformist denomination between a man and a woman can take place in a building that has been registered for the solemnization of marriages providing consent has been given by a trustee, the governing body, owner of the building, etc.

A marriage of any non-conformist denomination between a same sex couple can take place in a building that has been registered for the solemnization of marriages of same sex couples providing consent has been given by the relevant governing authority.

What do I do if I want to share my building with another denomination?

A sharing agreement can be formed between two or more non-conformist denominations which use the same building. Individual registration of the building by each denomination is not required but, for marriages of same sex couples, you must obtain the written consent of all denominations to the building being used for this purpose. The trustees of the building decide who is to be the Responsible authorised person. It is advisable that all other denominations have at least one additional authorised person who is agreeable to attending marriages and sign the marriage schedule.

A formal sharing agreement can also be formed between one or more non-conformist denominations and a church or chapel of the Church of England in accordance with the Sharing of Church Buildings Act 1969. For marriages of same sex couples, you must obtain the written consent of all denominations to the building being used for this purpose. A copy of any sharing agreement must be submitted with your application.

What should I do if I no longer wish for marriages of same sex couple to be solemnized at the building?

A Notice of the Cancellation of the Registration of a Building for the Solemnization of Marriages of Same Sex Couples (Form 77A) can be obtained from your local register office and should be completed by the proprietor a trustee of the building. The form should be submitted to your local superintendent registrar.

The superintendent registrar will then arrange for the appointments of any authorised persons at the building to be cancelled and they will no longer be authorised to attend marriages of same sex couples.

What should I do if worship ceases at the building?

If the congregation stops using the building, there is a legal obligation to let the Registrar General know. [A Notice of Disuse of a Certified Place of Meeting for Religious Worship (Form 77)]https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/notice-of-disuse-form-77) can be downloaded or obtained from your local register.

The form can be completed by any person who represents the congregation. The form should be submitted to your local superintendent registrar. The appointments of any authorised persons at the building will be cancelled and they will no longer be authorised to attend marriages between a man and a woman and/or marriages of same sex couples.

The “disuse” of the building will be advertised in a local newspaper and in the London Gazette.