Married twice

[tetbury]

I originally found a marriage I was looking for in parish church Berkshire in 1870 but I discovered yesterday that another marriage took place the year before in a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in London for the same couple. There is no question that they are the same people as full names, ages, parents & occupation all match.

It is possible that one of them was a Methodist the other C of E I do not know for sure but if that was the case was it allowable to actually marry twice rather than maybe just have a blessing in the C of E church?

Could anyone suggest why a second marriage took place?

[stanmapstone]

Have you found both marriages in the GRO Index? What are the names? A Wesleyan Methodist Chapel would have to be Registered for Marriages.

Stan

[tetbury]

Thank you for your reply.

I think you must have the explanation there, the first one I found on the GRO index the second was from the  non-conformist records on Ancestry & therefore did not need to look at the GRO to find it. Since your reply I have re-looked at the GRO & this marriage is not shown.

Having looked at the Methodist one I notice that it says by "Certificate" rather than by Banns or Licence as I would expect would that confirm things?

Many thanks

[stanmapstone]

Marriages in England and Wales could be by:
1)   Banns
2)   Surrogate’s or Common Licence
3)   Special Licence
4)   Superintendent Registrar’s Certificate
5)   Superintendent Registrar’s Licence

Under (1) (2) and (3) marriages may be solemnized by a Clergyman of the Established Church of England in a licensed Church or Chapel of the Church of England, or, if by Special Licence, in any place and at any time.
Under (4) they may, as in cases (1) and (2), be solemnized by a Clergyman of the Established Church of England subject to his being willing to accept the Certificate in lieu of Banns; and under (4) and (5) by or before a Registrar of Marriages in a building of Roman Catholic or other denomination duly registered by the Registrar-General; before a Registrar of Marriages and a Superintendent Registrar in the District Register Office; or after the 1898 Act .(Marriage; Nonconformist Places of Worship),  before a person duly authorised under the Act. Under this Act Roman Catholics and Nonconformists were not required to have a civil Registrar present.

If the marriage was by Certificate then it would be under (4) before a Registrar of Marriages in a building of Roman Catholic or other denomination duly registered by the Registrar-General. If the first marriage is not in the GRO Index then it could be there was something wrong with it, and it was not valid, and this is the reason for the second marriage.

J.B. Priestley's 1938 comedy "When We Are Married" is about three couples who found out that the minister who married them was not authorised to perform weddings.

Stan

[tetbury]

Thank you so much for all your help.