On 18 Mar 2015 at 7:37, magda.begeman via wrote: > In the Dutch Reformed Church the bans were read for 3 weeks They were read in all churches where marriages took place before 1973. It was a legal requirement. In the case of civil marriages the banns were displayed on the noticeboard at the Magistrates' Court for 3 weeks beforehand. The requirement was abolished with the introduction of the new ID books, which contained marriage and divorce certificates and death records. Some churches, however, continued to read banns, but they were no longer a legal requirement. -- Keep well, Steve Hayes Blog: http://hayesgreene.wordpress.com Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/famhist1.htm E-mail: shayes@dunelm.org.uk