Last updated 21:36, Wednesday, 08 October 2008

THE rules on church weddings have been relaxed by the Church of England and mean that couples now have more churches from which to choose.

From this month, it is not only engaged couples who live or worship in a parish who can get married in the church; couples who want to get married in a church with special significance will be able to do so without a special licence if they meet one of the following criteria:

n One of them was baptised or prepared for confirmation in the parish;

n One of them has, at some time, lived in the parish for six months or more;

n One of them has, at some time, regularly attended public worship in the parish for six months or more;

n One of their parents has lived in the parish for six months or more in their child’s lifetime;

n One of their parents has regularly attended public worship there for six months or more in their child’s lifetime; or

n Their parents or grandparents were married in the parish.

The changes do not apply to Church of England cathedrals and will not apply in Wales.

For more information, visit www.cofe.anglican.org.