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Arrangements for non-residents of the Parish.
Special Licences
If you have a genuine connection with a particular church but you are unable to satisfy the residence requirement to marry there, you may apply to the Faculty Office for the Archbishop of Canterbury's special licence.
Special licences are given by the Archbishop under powers he and his predecessors have exercised since 1533. They are not issued automatically. If you think you need a special licence, you should enquire about its availability before making any other preparations for the wedding. This is something you should discuss with the priest who is to conduct the ceremony.
If you wish to apply for a special licence or need further information, you should contact the Faculty Office at the address given below.
Procedure
You should apply for a special licence on the form which you can obtain from the Faculty Office as soon as the minister has agreed to conduct the service. You can apply up to 18 months in advance. Other arrangements should not be made until you know that the special licence will be granted. The form contains full instructions and details of the fee.
Part of the form which the Faculty Office will give you is to be completed by you, and part by the minister who will conduct the service. There will also be some guidance notes for you to give to the minister. It is important that full addresses and telephone numbers are given and that you have set out fully your connection with the church.
Once the application has been approved, one of you will have to swear an affidavit (a formal statement) to confirm the information given. You can do this in front of an Anglican minister of your choice (to whom a fee of £5 will be payable) or at the Faculty Office (when no extra fee is charged). If you choose to do this locally, a form of affidavit will be sent to you with full instructions. Once completed by you and the minister it must be returned to the Faculty Office. The licence itself will be sent out to the minister who is to conduct the service about three weeks before the wedding.
The Faculty Office
1 The Sanctuary
Westminster
London SW1P 3JT
Telephone 020 7222 5381 (10.00 am to 4.00 pm on normal working days)
Fax 020 7222 7502
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