Andy said; "Until 1898 only Church of England, Jewish and Quaker places of worship were entitled to maintain their own marriage registers. All other non-conformist and Roman Catholic marriages had to be conducted in the presence of a registrar, and are therefore listed as 'Civil Marriages', together with all those conducted at the local register office. After 1898 non-conformist and Roman Catholic churches were allowed to keep their own registers and celebrate their own marriages," There was nothing stopping RC churches from keeping registers before 1898. As Andy says all Roman Catholic marriages had to be conducted in the presence of a Registrar and this continues to this day.  The change was that Roman Catholic priests could become Registrars and thus conduct legal marriage ceremonies without another Registrar being present.  If the priest was not a Registrar then the marriage would be "Registrar attended", which means that the Registrar for the district would be within hearing of the ceremony and so long as the Registrar heard the correct words used he or she could then complete the formalities.  Tomas

In our Parish, a parishioner is Registrar. She attends marriages and is paid a small fee, which she donates to charity. Works out very well - cuts out all those brides kept waiting at the altar for the registrar to turn up. Marged As Andy says all Roman Catholic marriages had to be conducted in the presence of a Registrar and this continues to this day. The change was that Roman Catholic priests could become Registrars and thus conduct legal marriage ceremonies without another Registrar being present. If the priest was not a Registrar then the marriage would be "Registrar attended", which means that the Registrar for the district would be within hearing of the ceremony and so long as the Registrar heard the correct words used he or she could then complete the formalities. Tomas