If you wish to be married in church then you will need the permission of the minister. Once you have booked the date and time of the wedding at the church you will need to make an appointment for both parties to give notice of your intention to marry to the Superintendent Registrar at the Register Office for the district where you live. A national fee is payable in respect of each notice and this may be subject to change annually.
Notice of marriage for a religious ceremony can only be given if one or both parties reside in the district where the marriage will take place or alternatively it is the usual place of worship of one or both parties to the marriage. The notices of marriage can be given up to 12 months in advance of the date of the marriage but must be given at least 15 clear days prior to the date of the marriage. When setting the date for the marriage you should bear in mind that you may have to make arrangements for a Registrar to attend and register the marriage or if a Registrar is not required to attend the church on the day of the wedding you will have to collect authorities for the marriage to take place which are issued by the Superintendent Registrar and deliver these to the minister before the wedding day.
Marriages which are arranged to take place according to the rites of the Church of England do not normally require notice of marriage to be given. Please contact the minister to make the arrangements for the calling of banns instead. Where it is not possible for the minister to make these arrangements then he will advise you to make the necessary alternative arrangements ( both parties give notice of marriage to the Superintendent Registrar at the Register Office instead ).
The “Oldham Register Office Brochure” (PDF 2150Kb) is available from the Register Office explaining the process in more detail.