A small note for Anglican clergy who read this blog.
Until very recently, when I led the "signing of the marriage registers" after a wedding, here is how I did it: 1. The groom signs 3 copies (the two marriage registers, and what will be their marriage certificate). 2. The bride signs 3 copies. 3. Witness 1, then Witness 2, sign all 3. 4. Lastly I sign both marriage registers, I sign the same box on the marriage certificate, and then I sign the declaration at the bottom of the marriage certificate.
I think this is what most clergy have been doing for decades. Specifically this: The signatures of the groom, the bride and two witnesses go on the marriage certificate as well as on the two register entries.
However, I got a letter from our local authority registrars' office. I've not kept it for its exact wording, but the gist of it was this: The marriage certificate is a certified copy of what is in the registers. The only signature on it should be that of the clerk in holy orders who issued the certificate. Where the 5 signatures go in the marriage registers, the marriage certificate should simply show the names, neatly written, of the individuals who signed in those spaces.
In other words, at a wedding I should do the same as I would do if a couple ask for an additional copy of their certificate at a later date: Write the whole thing myself.
So now, it goes like this: 1. The groom signs the 2 marriage registers. 2. The bride signs the 2 marriage registers. 3. The two witnesses sign the two marriage registers. 4. I sign the two marriage registers in the box for the officiant. I then copy across the names of the groom / bride / witnesses from the signature boxes on the marriage registers into the corresponding spaces on the marriage certificate. I write (not sign) my own name on the marriage certificate, to indicate the name of the officiant as recorded in the marriage registers. 5. Then, finally, I sign and date the declaration on the certificate.
Got it?
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