The Free Church Ceremony

The Marriage Act of 1898 provides for the appointment of an "authorized person “to be present to register the mar­riages of Baptists, Congregationalists, Methodists, Presby­terians and members of the other non-established Protestant denominations. If the provisions of the Act have been adopted and the chapel has been registered the minister is usually the "authorized person " and performs the duties of a registrar in addition to conducting the service. Not all Free Churches, however, have availed themselves of the provisions of this Act. These still require the presence of the Registrar of Marriages to register the marriage, though the minister himself conducts the actual ceremony.

Most of the provisions applying to marriages before a registrar also apply to marriages in a Nonconformist building.

If the normal place of worship of either party is not in the district of his or her residence, the marriage may take place in the normal place of worship providing it is not more than two miles from the boundary of the district in which the notice is given. If there is no suitable registered building in the districts in which the two parties live, the wedding may take place in a suitable registered building in the nearest district.

If a Registrar's presence is required at a marriage in a building in which the provisions of the Act have been adopted, this fact must be stated when notice of the marriage is given, and the minister's consent to the Registrar's presence obtained.

The marriage may be solemnized according to such form or ceremony as the parties think fit, providing that in some part of the ceremony the parties declare that they take one another for husband and wife.

A significant feature of most Free Church Orders of Marriage is that anything suggesting the old-fashioned idea of subservience of the wife to the husband is eliminated. The wife is not asked to obey. She is not asked to do any­thing that her husband is not asked to do. The Service is based upon the idea of an equal partnership.
Each of the separate denominations has its own Order of Marriage in this matter, providing the legal requirements are met. Some may be fuller than others. There is consider­able variety of usage. The substance, however, of the following Order of Marriage will be found in them all:

ORDER OF MARRIAGE

The Bride should stand on the left hand of the Bridegroom as they stand facing the Minister at the beginning of the Service. Then shall the Minister say:

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and His Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with His presence, and first miracle that He wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is com­mended of St. Paul to be honourable among all men; and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly or wantonly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly and in the fear of God; duly considering that Matrimony was first ordained for the mutual society, help and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity. Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore, if any man can shew any just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.

If no objection is offered, the Minister shall address the Bride and Bridegroom :

I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God's Word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their marriage lawful.

The Minister then shall call upon the Bridegroom to repeat this declaration in an audible voice:

I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why, I, A.B., may not be joined in matrimony to, CD.

In like manner the Bride must repeat this declaration:

I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, CD., may not be joined in matrimony to A.B.

The Minister shall ask the Bridegroom:

A.B., Wilt thou have this Woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, as long as ye both shall live ?

The Bridegroom answers: I will.

The Minister shall ask the Bride:

Wilt thou have this Man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony ? Wilt thou love, honour and keep him in sickness and in health; and for­saking all other, keep thee only unto him, as long as ye both shall live?

The Bride answers:
I will.

The Minister then says: Who giveth this Woman to be married to this Man?

The Father, or other Friend, will here signify his assent. The Bridegroom shall then take the Brides right hand in his own and repeat after the Minister:

I call upon these persons here present to witness, that I, A.B., do take thee CD., to be my lawful wedded wife; to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.

The Bride shall also repeat after the Minister:

I call upon these persons here present to witness, that I, CD., do take thee, A.B., to be my lawful wedded husband; to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance, and thereto I give thee my troth.

The Minister says:

The ring may now be used, as a token and memorial that thou hast taken this Woman to be thy Wife.

Then shall they again loose their hands; and the Man shall give unto the Woman a ring, placing it on the third finger of the Bride*s left hand, saying after the Minister:

I give thee this ring, as the token and memorial that I have taken thee to be my wife.

Then the Minister says:

Whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder. Forasmuch as A.B. and CD have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be Man and Wife together. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen,

God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with His favour look upon you, and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting.
Amen.

Passages of Scripture may then be read, and a Hymn sung, followed by a brief address of congratulation and counsel. The Service concludes with prayer and benediction.

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