1. These notes deal with the formalities for a wedding at a church or chapel of the Established Church (ie. the Anglican Church) in the Isle of Man. They do not apply to marriages at a non-conformist church or chapel. They are intended to be a brief outline only: further advice can be obtained from the Diocesan Registrar if required:
Diocesan Registrar
Sodor and Man Diocesan Registry
First Floor
5 Parliament Square
Castletown
Isle of Man IM9 1LA+44 (0)1624 824665
castletown@manx.net
See also the Marriage Act 1984
2. A request for a church wedding should in the first instance be made to the rector or vicar of the ecclesiastical parish in which the church where the wedding is to take place is situated. This will normally be the parish church of the bride or groom. Certain churches and chapels other than parish churches are licensed by the Bishop for weddings. For details of parishes, churches and incumbents click here.
3. No-one may be married who is under the age of 16. Parental consent is required where a party is under 18 (but may be dispensed with by the High Court if it is refused or cannot be obtained).
4. There are three different formalities allowed by law for a church wedding in the Isle of Man:
4.1 Banns: notice of the intended marriage is given by the minister at a church service on three Sundays. Banns must be called in the parish church of each of the parties, that is, the parish church of the parish in which each party is living at the time the banns are called. If the wedding is to take place in another Anglican church or chapel which is the usual place of worship of one of the parties, banns must be called there in addition.
Note: a church or chapel is the "usual place of worship" of any person if (and only if) he or she is on the church electoral roll of the parish in which it is situated.
At least 7 days' notice must be given to the minister of a parish before he may call banns. The wedding must take place within 3 months of the last calling of banns. If banns have been called in a parish other than that in which the wedding is to take place, a certificate of banns must be obtained and given to the minister who is to conduct the wedding.
If one of the parties lives in England, Wales or any of the Channel Islands, banns called at that party's parish church there are valid for a wedding in the Isle of Man.
4.2 Common licence: a marriage can take place under a licence granted by the Vicar General or her surrogate (one of the local clergy), and for this purpose one of the parties must have lived in the parish in which the wedding is to take place for at least 15 days before the application for the licence. This procedure is therefore preferable where there is a difficulty with banns (eg. because one party is abroad).
4.3 Special licence: the Bishop of Sodor and Man, in his discretion, may issue a special licence to marry at any convenient time or place in the Isle of Man. The Diocesan Registrar has issued guidance notes about the procedure for applying for a special licence.
Enquiries about banns or a common licence should be addressed to the vicar or rector of the parish where the wedding is to take place. Enquiries about a special licence should be addressed in the first instance to the Diocesan Registrar (address above).
5. Fees are payable for banns, licences and weddings. The principal fees are fixed by statute, and are as follows:
| Publication of banns | £38.50 |
| Certificate of banns | £12.00 |
| Bishop's special licence | £225.00 |
| Common licence | £89.00 |
| Marriage service | £208.00 |
| Marriage certificate | £6.00 |
Other fees (eg. for church heating, music, videoing or recording of service) are set by the parish concerned. Details of such fees may be obtained from the rector or vicar of the parish.