Qualifying Connection
Before arranging a date for the ceremony, the Minister of the parish is under a legal duty to be satisfied that you can lawfully marry in the parish. To make this process as quick and simple as possible, please fill in the form below.
Please complete all four parts (A, B, C and D). In Part D complete sections 1 and 2, then in section 3 only the question(s) which apply to you.
You may find it helpful to read the material on the Church of England Marriage Measure 2008 which can be found on the Church of England website at www.cofe.anglican.org.
If you are unsure about how to complete any part of the form, please contact the Church Secretary who would be happy to help you.
If:
• either of you has been married previously, and your former husband or wife is still alive; or
• either of you is not a UK national;
please let the Church Secretary know as soon as possible, before submitting the completed form, so that the special issues which arise can be considered without delay.The Minister is the person responsible for complying with the Data Protection Act 1998 (the data controller) in relation to the personal information you provide on and with this form. The Minister will use the information to establish whether you can lawfully be married in the parish. When the Minister has considered the completed form, it is possible that the Minister may still need to ask you for some further documents or other information, or may need to ask someone holding an official position in the parish for further information in support of your connection with the parish. If any special issue arises in your case it is also possible that the Minister may need to ask for advice on it from the diocesan legal adviser. However, if any of these becomes necessary, the Minister will see that you are kept fully informed. The Minister will share the information you have given only with those people who need to see it in order to provide the further information or advice described above.