Catholic or Protestant marriage?

[Mrs Dalloway]

Hi. I just got a marriage certificate from the GRO and it states: ' Married in the Parish Church acording to the Rites and Ceremonies of the United Church of England and Ireland'. 
Perhaps I am asking a silly question, but does this mean that the marriage took place in a Church of Ireland/ Protestant church and not a Catholic church?  The marriage took place in 1858, while Ireland was still under British rule. 
Any thoughts would be welcome!
Clarissabel

[Mrs Dalloway]

Forgot to say - The marriage took place at the Parish Church of Templebreedy, Cork.
Clarisabell

[KGarrad]

From the Wiki entry on the Church of Ireland:

When Ireland was incorporated in 1801 into the new United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Church of Ireland was also united with the Church of England to form the United Church of England and Ireland.

[Mrs Dalloway]

Thanks KGarrad...  I think it must be a Protestant marriage then which is a huge surprise knowing my family history... but it explains other things.  Thanks again for your help. 

[shanew147]

It doesn't necessarily mean the couple were Church of Ireland. Once you were resident in the parish for a defined time, anyone had the right to be married in a church of the established religion - i.e. Church of Ireland. I've seen cases where the couple were RC, Presbyterian, Jewish etc, sometimes one turns out to be CofI, but not always..


Shane

[Mrs Dalloway]

Thanks Shane.  I know one was Catholic, but more and more I think the other was COI... All the children were baptised as Catholics, which is why I was confused.  Thanks again.
Clarisabel

[Blue70]

It was common in the old days for Catholics to marry in Protestant churches and later baptise the children as RC. It continued for a long time after Catholic marriages were recognised by the law.

Blue   

[Mrs Dalloway]

Thanks Blue - I think I might have traced the groom to the Shankill parish in Belfast, so I guessing that he was Protestant???... but thank you for your information.  It seems nothing can be taken for granted in genealogy.
Clarissabel

[clayton bradley]

The Catholic Family History Society has published several articles over the last 3 years or so about varied marriage practices of Catholics in the 19th century in England. If you belong to a family history society you should find their library has these articles.It seems that because Catholics from 1754 had to be married in the Church of England, even when this was changed in 1837 it look a long time for people to get used to this. cb