Wider wedding welcome for couples.

Prior to October 2008 the law established the right for a couple to marry in the Parish church where one or both of them lived, whether they are baptised or not, and whether they are churchgoers are not. To marry in any other parish required a special license or six months of regular attendance followed by entry on the local church electoral roll.

The General Synod decided that the existing laws were too restrictive in a mobile society and in July 2007, took the initiative to change them. Synod wanted churches all over England to be free to celebrate more weddings and support more marriages.

These new laws, initiated by the Church of England and approved by Parliament, have added to this right of residency, making it just as easy for couples to marry in a church where they have a family or other special connection, even if they don't live there.

Since October 2008, when the new Church of England Marriage Measure came into effect, thousands of couples dreaming of a church wedding can now find more churches to choose from - it means that the Church of England's network of 16,000 churches - ancient or modern, intimate or grand, simple or spectacular - can offer a wider wedding welcome than at any time in the Church's history.

The changes mean an engaged couple is welcome to be married in church in a parish if just one of these conditions applies:

►one of them was baptised or prepared for confirmation in the parish.

►one of them has ever lived in the parish for six months or more.

►one of them has at any time regularly attended public worship in the parish for six months or more.

►one of their parents has lived in the parish for six months or more in their child's lifetime.

►one of their parents has regularly attended public worship there for six months or more in their child's lifetime.