CoI Question

ezra_

Hello,

I was talking to a friend who is getting married, and the following question came up:

What is the exact definition of a Church of Ireland member?

I ask as if you are RCC, and you want to get married, you need to show both a baptism cert and a confirmation cert.

Yet there doesn't seem to be as formal a process for CoI, is that you are known to your local vicar and to the congregation?

Peregrinus

It's down to the judgment, in the first instance, of the clergyman who is to marry you. And if he's unsure I expect he will take advice from his bishop.

My guess would be that if you have been baptised in the Church of Ireland and haven't identified with any other church or denomination since then, you're in. If you were baptised in some other church, then they'll be looking for some evidence of connection with/participation in the Church of Ireland.

(But having been baptised in some church would be a minimal requirement.)

homer911

If its anything like the Presbyterian Church, it usually involves a request to be a member. However to be a voting member, you must be making a financial contribution to the church (doesn't matter how small) in the last year

Peregrinus

It's not like the Presbyterian church in that regard. The significance (in this context) of being a "member of the Church of Ireland" is that, if you want to be married in the CofI, at least one of you has to be a member of the CofI (or a member of a church in communion with the CofI). And there is absolutely no way that the CofI would adopt a rule which has the effect that they can't celebrate your marriage you have been financially contributing.

ezra_

Peregrinus wrote: »

It's not like the Presbyterian church in that regard. The significance (in this context) of being a "member of the Church of Ireland" is that, if you want to be married in the CofI, at least one of you has to be a member of the CofI (or a member of a church in communion with the CofI). And there is absolutely no way that the CofI would adopt a rule which has the effect that they can't celebrate your marriage you have been financially contributing.

So I'm guessing that the test is 'if you are known to your local vicar'.

I know that in the RCC, if you are getting married outside of your local parish, you need permission from the Bishop (not sure if it is your local bishop or the 'foreign' one).

For the COI - I'm guessing that vicar of the parish where you are looking to get married in, will call your local parish and see if all is above board?

Peregrinus

ezra_ wrote: »

So I'm guessing that the test is 'if you are known to your local vicar'.

If you weren't baptised in a CofI church then, yes, I suspect in practice that's what the test boils down to.

ezra_ wrote: »

I know that in the RCC, if you are getting married outside of your local parish, you need permission from the Bishop (not sure if it is your local bishop or the 'foreign' one).

In nearly all cases at least one of the couple will be getting married outside their local parish. As long as they are marrying in a parish with which at least one of them has a connection, they're good to go. if they want to be married in a parish with which neither is connected, then they need permission, but it's readily obtainable. And of course if they want to get married in a non-Catholic ceremony, they need permission.

ezra_ wrote: »

For the COI - I'm guessing that vicar of the parish where you are looking to get married in, will call your local parish and see if all is above board?

Pretty much. You'll tell him which parish you're connected with and he'll confirm that, most likely with the rector/priest-in-charge. Though, if he wants to just take your word for it, he can; SFAIK there's no rule that says he has to confirm.

It probably doesn't arise very often, though. If only one member of the couple is an Anglican, and they are having an Anglican wedding, odds are it's going to be in the church which which the Anglican spouse is connected, so he or she is already known there.

Speedsie

Hi, at least one member of the couple does need to be either CoI or a member of a church in communion with the Church of Ireland (ie a member of Porvoo Communion etc) normally regular attendance in church will go some way to prove that, but you could be asked for your confirmation certificate. There's no real registry for confirmation certificates, but if neither have their cert they could try the RCB Library to see if a cert can be issued. www.library.ireland.anglican.org.
This is particularly useful if you are getting married outside of your normal parish - ie want to have your reception in Ashford Castle, so don't get married in Glenageary or wherever!!

The Church of Ireland is governed by its Constitution and the Canons are found in Chapter 9. www.ireland.anglican.org/constitution

Oh, and there is also some information on the CoI Marriage Council Website - www.towardsmarriageireland.com/planning-a-church-marriage - which may be useful