Following the introduction of the Church of England Marriage Measure 2008 there have been a number of questions sent to the Registry about wording of banns. In the light of these questions we have sought a definitive ruling from the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The advice from the Faculty Office is that the wording from the Prayer Book should be used ie

“I PUBLISH the Banns of Marriage between M. of _____ and N. of _____. If any of you know cause, or just impediment, why these two persons should not be joined together in holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it. This is the first [second, or third] time of asking”

It would be acceptable for “ye” to be pronounced “you”.

The Church of England (Worship and Doctrine) Measure 1974 empowered General Synod to authorise by canon new forms of worship, and permitted ministers greater discretion in liturgy. The only thing the Measure singled out that the General Synod had no authority to alter was the Prayer Book banns wording. It is only now, by the force of the Marriage Measure that the banns may be suitably adapted in the way the House of Bishops’ describes, and in no other way.

If a person has a qualifying connection with a parish then the following wording should be used:

“N of the parish of X who wishes to be married in this church by virtue of his/ her connection with this parish”

As a reminder, the Faculty Office advise that this qualifying connection wording of the banns should only be used in the church where the wedding is to take place. The banns for the “away” parish will be in the Prayer Book format – there is no need to refer to what is going on elsewhere.
T F Berry
Registrar

November 2008