Marriage and parochial fees, Gift Aid, Scientologists, hijabs, Brexit – and priority for Buddhist monks… Marriage certificates The Sunday Times reported (£) on New Year’s Eve that the Home Office is likely to approve the inclusion of mothers’ names on marriage certificates. According to the report, “A Home Office source told The Sunday Times the proposal had been ‘signed off’, and a spokeswoman confirmed that it wanted to include mothers’ details. These will also appear on civil partnership certificates.” The issue is currently the subject of two identical private Member’s bills tabled by Dame Caroline Spelman in the Commons and by the Bishop of St Albans in the Lords. The Lords bill is to have its second reading debate on 26 January. “Get me to the church on time” And while we’re on the subject of marriage, the Daily Telegraph reported that Canon John Corbyn, vicar of Holy Cross, Bearsted, and St Mary’s, Thurnham, had imposed a “£100 fine” on those who cannot stick to their allotted time slot and arrive late to their service. He was quoted as saying “I’m not calling it a fine, but if you want to hire the venue for one hour or two hours, you pay different amounts; the money goes to the 20 or so volunteers who give up their time to assist at a wedding, including the verger, organist, choir and bellringers”. However, it subsequently appears that he may have been slightly misrepresented: in an interview, he told the BBC yesterday […]

By : Mark McDowell Tags: