Guidance: Marriages, baptisms and burials: guidance for the clergy

Hm Passport Office

September 8

23:01 2024

This booklet provides support and guidance to members of the clergy on their role and responsibilities relating to:

burials
issuing of a certificate of name given in baptism
ensuring that the legal requirements of marriages solemnized in accordance with the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England or Church in Wales are met

You should read it together with the Faculty Office booklet Anglican Marriage in England and Wales. A guide to the law for Clergy.

We are aware that this publication may have accessibility issues. We are reviewing it so that we can fix them.

Published 16 October 2012
Last updated 9 September 2024 +show all updates

9 September 2024
Amended to reflect a change to the death certification process.
28 February 2023
Updated guidance for the clergy.
7 July 2021
Guidance updated due to changes in legislation.
18 May 2021
Updated guidance for the clergy.
4 May 2021
Guidance updated to reflect changes brought into force by the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Act 2021.
1 April 2019
Updated guidance published.
7 November 2017
Updated guidance.
1 November 2017
Guidance updated.
2 March 2015
New guidance published
13 November 2013
New version of the guidance
16 October 2012
First published.