Places of religious worship and the solemnisation of marriages

Information on applying for building registration, providing relevant updates and notifying of disuse.

Application process

The Places of Worship Registration Act 1855 and the Marriage Act 1949 provide for a building (or room(s)) used by a religious congregation, to be registered for religious worship and the solemnisation of marriages.

Applications are made to the superintendent registrar of the registration district where the building is located, and then forwarded to the General Register Office to be recorded. A certificate of registration is then returned to the applicant.

A guidance leaflet fully explaining the process for registering a building is available, as are the application forms.

Once a building has been registered, the trustees or governing body have certain responsibilities of updating the General Register Office with any changes to the building which may affect the registration. You can view a compilation of questions which have been frequently asked by trustees or the governing body.

Notice of disuse

When a congregation stop worshipping in the registered building, a form to disuse the building needs to be completed. This form is sent to the Superintendent Registrar of the district where the building is located and forwarded to the General Register Office who will cancel the registration. This cancellation will be advertised in both the London Gazette and the district's local newspaper.

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