Banns

[sparklebear1]

Hi everyone,

Just a quick clarification. If a marriage is performed after Banns (as opposed to By Certificate) how long does it take for the Banns to be read, and how many times were the Banns read for each marriage.

Does anyone know exactly what the process of "reading the Banns" was?

Thanks

Sparklebear

 

[juliejtp]

Hi Sparklebear,

Have a look at Wikipaedias article on banns.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banns_of_marriage

 

[sparklebear1]

Thanks Julietp

I should have thought of that. I think the heat has gone to my head...

So does that mean that a marriage by certificate is the same as by license? and to what extent is it reasonable to assume that such a marriage needed to be hasty?

 

[sterico]

hi sparklebear,
According to the rites of the Church of England (Marriage Act 1984), similar wording is used. In addition:

• (1) ... banns shall be published on three Sundays preceding the solemnization of the marriage at the time of divine service.
• (2) Banns shall be published in an audible manner and in accordance with one of the following forms of words:
  • "I publish the banns of marriage between A.B. of ----- and C.D. of -----. If any of you know any 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." or
  • "I publish the banns of marriage between A.B. of ----- and C.D of -----. If any of you know any reason in law why these persons may not marry each other, you are to declare it now."

the time element is the same in the catholic religeon to,
ie 3 sundays before the solemnation of the marriage.

at the actual marriage the civil registrar is present , and performs the civil signing of the register, usually in private at the back of the church behind the altar after the religious ceremony
hope this helps
regards sterico O0

 

[sparklebear1]

Thanks Sterico,

That clarifies the signing of the register, but what I was getting at was what happens if on the marriage certificate it says that the marriage was not performed by Banns, but by certificate. Does this then mean that no Banns were read and a license was granted? And, if a license were granted, then did this mean that the marriage could take place in fewer than 3 weeks.

Under what circumstances was it permissable not to read Banns and get a license instead?

Thanks

Sparklebear

 

[juliejtp]

Hi Sparklebear,

I've got a copy of my grandparents marriage licence and marriage certificate (1921), but at the moment I'm not able to get to it. From what I can remember I think the date on the licence isnt far off from the marriage.

 

[brentor boy]

Something I have not been able to fathom out in respect of banns/marriage is the case of my 3xgreat grandparents. Their banns were read in a Devon parish in December 1801 when they were both described as "of this(Devon) parish". They were eventually married in Cornwall in August 1802 (by banns) when the marriage register records them as "of this(Cornish) parish". I wonder what caused the delay!

 

[sparklebear1]

Perhaps there was a death in the family. Sometimes the mourning period was considered an unacceptable time in which to have a marriage which was necessarily a celebration.

Just a thought

Sparklebear