Before the center of this 18th century marriages could just take spot anywhere provided they certainly were conducted before an ordained clergyman for the Church of England. This encouraged the practice of secret marriages which would not have parental permission and which were often bigamous.

Irregular marriages

It also allowed partners, especially those of rich background, to marry while one or more for the partners was under age. The trade in these marriages that are irregular grown enormously in London by the 1740s.

In 1753, however, the Marriage Act, promoted by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Hardwicke, declared that most marriage ceremonies must be conducted with a minister in a parish chapel or church associated with Church of England become legally binding.

Parental permission

No marriage of the individual under the chronilogical age of 21 had been valid without the consent of parents or guardians. Clergymen who disobeyed the statutory law had been liable for 14 years transport.

Although Jews and Quakers were exempted through the 1753 Act, it required non-conformists that are religious Catholics to be married in Anglican churches.

Limitations eliminated

This restriction was sooner or later removed by Parliament into the Marriage Act of 1836 which allowed non-conformists and Catholics become married in their own places of worship.

It was also permitted for non-religious civil marriages to be held in register offices which were put up in towns and metropolitan areas.

Minimum age

In 1929, in reaction to a campaign by the National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship, Parliament raised the age limit to 16 for both sexes in the Ages of Marriage Act. ادامه مطلب …