THE FORM OF SOLEMNIZATION OF
MATRIMONY
It is expedient that timely notice should be given to the Priest by those intending Matrimony.
The Pastor of the Parish shall be responsible for the conduct of the Service.
Before solemnizing any Marriage, the Priest shall make inquiry and satisfy himself that there is no impediment of consanguinity, affinity, or status; reference being made to the Canons of General Synod, and the Table of Kindred and Affinity set forth on page 562; and that neither party to the intended Marriage has been divorced from one who is living at the time.
Where it is the responsibility of the Minister to do so, he shall assure himself that all prerequisite notices, consents, and forms, as required by the civil law of the Province in which such Marriage is to be solemnized, have been given, obtained, and completed.
He shall also assure himself that the Banns of the persons to be married have been published as required by the rubric therefor; or in lieu of such publication, a licence has been obtained from the proper authority.
Banns of Marriage shall be published in the Church three several Sundays during Divine Worship, after the accustomed manner, and in conformity with the requirements of civil law.
Where either or both of the parties are accustomed to worship in a Church or Churches other than their own Parish Church, the Banns may be called in the Church or Churches in which they worship, provided that the civil law allows such procedure.
When the Banns are to be published, the Minister shall say, together with such addition as the civil law may require:
I PUBLISH the Banns of Marriage between N. of . . . and N. of . . . If any of you know cause or just Impediment, why these two persons should not be joined together in holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it. This is the first [or second or third] time of asking.
At the day and time appointed for solemnization of the Marriage, the persons to be married shall come into the body of the Church, with their friends and neighbours, during which time a Psalm or Hymn may be sung; and there standing together, the man on the right hand and the woman on the left, the Priest shall say:
DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this Congregation, to join together this man and this woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man’s innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church. This holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is commended in holy Scripture to be honourable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be entered upon, nor taken In hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained.
Matrimony was ordained for the hallowing of the union betwixt man and woman; for the procreation of children to be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord; and for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, in both prosperity and adversity.
Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore if any man can show any just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.
And also, speaking unto the persons that shall be married, he shall say:
I REQUIRE and charge you both in the Name of God, from whom no secrets are hid, that if either of you know any impediment, why you may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, you do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God’s Word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their Matrimony lawful.
At the day of Marriage, if any man do allege and declare any impediment, why they may not be coupled together in Matrimony, by God’s law, or the laws of this Realm; and will be bound, and sufficient sureties with him, to the parties; or else put in a caution (to the full value of such charges as the persons to be married do thereby sustain) to prove his allegation: then the solemnization must be deferred, until such time as the truth be tried.
If no impediment be alleged, then shall the Priest say unto the man:
N. WILT thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together according to God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live?
The man shall answer:
I will.
Then shall the Priest say unto the woman:
N. WILT thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together according to God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honour, and keep him, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as you both shall live?
The woman shall answer:
I will.
Then may the Minister say:
Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?
Answer. I do.
Then shall they give their troth to each other in this manner:
The Minister, receiving the woman at her father’s or friend’s hand, shall cause the man with his right hand to take the woman by her right hand, and to say after him as follows:
I N. take thee N. to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.
Then shall they loose their hands; and the woman, with her right hand taking the man by his right hand, shall likewise say after the Minister:
I N. take thee N. to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.
Then shall they again loose their hands; and the man shall give unto the woman a ring, laying the same upon the book, with the accustomed dues to the Priest and the Clerk. Before delivering the ring the Priest may say:
SANCTIFY, O Lord, this ring that it may be to these thy servants a token of their solemn vows and a pledge of pure and endless love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
And the Priest, taking the ring. shall deliver it unto the man, to put it upon the fourth finger of the woman’s left hand. And the man holding the ring there, and taught by the Priest, shall say:
WITH this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee honour, and all my worldly goods with thee I share: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Then shall the man leave the ring upon the fourth finger of the woman’s left hand, and they shall both kneel down.
Then shall the Priest say:
O ETERNAL God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life: Send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy Name; that they may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made, (whereof this ring given and received is a token and pledge,) and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then shall the Priest join their right hands together, and say:
THOSE whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.
Then shall the Minister say to the people:
FORASMUCH as N. and N. have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be man and wife together, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
And the Minister shall add this Blessing:
GOD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you, and so fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace, that you may live together faithfully in this world, and in the world to come you may inherit life everlasting. Amen.
The Register shall be signed according to the law either at this place or at the end of the Service.
Then the Minister or Clerks, going to the Lord’s Table, shall say or sing this Psalm following:
BEATI OMNES. Psalm 128.
BLESSED are all they that fear the LORD, / and walk in his ways.
For thou shalt eat the labour of thy hands: / O well is it with thee, and happy shalt thou be.
Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine, / within the walls of thine house;
Thy children like the olive-branches, / round about thy table.
Lo, thus shall the man be blessed, / that feareth the LORD.
The LORD from out of Sion shall so bless thee, / that thou shalt see Jerusalem in prosperity all thy life long.
Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, / and peace upon Israel.
GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, / and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, / world without end. Amen.
Psalm 127 may be used instead of the foregoing.
Or this Psalm.
DEUS MISEREATUR. Psalm 67.
GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us, / and show us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us;
That thy way may be known upon earth, / thy saving health among all nations.
Let the people praise thee, O God; / yea, let all the people praise thee.
O LET the nations rejoice and be glad; / for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth.
Let the people praise thee, O God; / yea, let all the people praise thee.
THE earth hath brought forth her increase; and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing.
God shall bless us; / and all the ends of the world shall fear him.
GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, / and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, / world without end. Amen.
The Psalm ended, and the man and woman kneeling before the Lord’s Table, the Priest standing at the Table, and turning his face towards them, shall say:
The Lord be with you;
Answer. And with thy spirit.
Minister. Let us pray.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
OUR Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.
Minister. O Lord, save thy servant, and thy handmaid;
Answer. Who put their trust in thee.
Minister. O Lord, send them help from thy holy place;
Answer. And evermore defend them.
Minister. Be unto them a tower of strength;
Answer. From the face of their enemy.
Minister. O Lord, hear our prayer;
Answer. And let our cry come unto thee.
Minister.
LORD God of our fathers, bless these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts; that whatsoever in thy holy Word they shall profitably learn, they may in deed fulfil the same. Grant that they, obeying thy will, and always being in safety under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto their lives’ end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O HEAVENLY Father, we beseech thee to bless the home of these thy servants by thine abiding presence; that they who dwell therein, being preserved from all evil, may joyfully serve thee in godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This Prayer next following shall be omitted, where the woman is past child-bearing.
O MERCIFUL Lord, and heavenly Father, by whose gracious blessing mankind is Increased: Bestow, we beseech thee, on these thy servants the heritage and gift of children, and grant that they may also live together so long in godly love and honesty, that they may see their children christianly and virtuously brought up, to thy praise and honour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O GOD, who hast consecrated the state of Matrimony to such an excellent mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church: Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that they may love, honour, and cherish each other, and live together in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness. O Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thy everlasting kingdom; through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ALMIGHTY God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth Is named: Pour upon you the riches of his grace, sanctify and bless you, that you may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto your lives’ end. Amen.
If there be a Communion the foregoing Prayer and Blessing shall be said over the man and woman immediately before the final Blessing of the Congregation at the holy Communion
When the woman gives a ring, she shall say:
THIS ring I give thee in token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love.
It is fitting that the new-married persons should receive the holy Communion at the time of their Marriage, or at the first opportunity after their Marriage.
THE COLLECT.
O GOD, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family In heaven and earth is named: Sanctify and bless these thy servants; and grant that those whom thou by matrimony dost make one, may stedfastly keep the covenant betwixt them made, and ever remain in perfect love and peace together; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE EPISTLE. Colossians 3. 15.
LET the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
THE GOSPEL. St Matthew 19. 4.
JESUS answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.