If a marriage took place in a Church of England church, then the original register may have been deposited at the relevant county archives. All registers over 100 years old are supposed to be placed thus for safe keeping, but there are always clergymen who hoard, often charging fees for access.
Whilst it is true any completed Marriage Register (other than any duplicate register book of marriages which, when filled, is to be delivered to a superintendent registrar in accordance with section 60 of the Marriage Act of 1949) may be sent to the diocesan record office there is no legislation that requires completed registers to be sent there.
Any Vicar or Incumbent may keep his/her registers in the parish Church if he/she so wishes as specified by the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978.
See-
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~framland/acts/prrm1978.htmIn addition in the case of many if not most Parishes the Parish Registers may be viewed and copied at will by the public and in many cases microfiche of the original parish registers may be bought by the public if they so wish.
This is different from copies of entries in Civil Births, Marriages and Deaths Registers.
The only time now (since 1977/8) the general public may view a birth, Marriage or Death register and take copies from it is when it is still “open”, i.e. still not completed and is held by a local Registrar.
As soon as it is transferred to the keeping of the Superintendent Registrar the register is closed to public view and certified copies must be purchased if an entry is wanted to be seen.
I would not wish the registers to pass into the hands of private contractors.
If that were to happen, the possibility could be that prices would actually increase.
It is unlawful for a Church of England Register or a Civil Register to pass into private hands, however a register of an unconformist church belongs to the minister of the church and could and do pass into private hands.
If it was to pass into the hands of one of the main internet genealogy sites that would benefit the family history community as they would provide online access to the register, but many private collectors (including some universities and manorial estates) do not allow access to registers in their keeping.
Cheers
Guy
