The Church of England’s House of Bishops has given the OK to songs such as Robbie Williams’ Angels and others with a similar spiritual element at civil ceremonies, saying their inclusion does not turn a civil marriage ceremony into a religious service and could be included if a couple wishes.
The statement by the bishops comes in response to a consultation document from the General Register Office on the content of civil ceremonies.In a Church of England press release, the bishops admitted “some of the prohibitions made in the past in relation to certain readings and music have been excessive”.
“There is scope for a somewhat more generous approach provided it does not start to blur the fundamental distinction between a civil ceremony and a religious event,” said the bishops.
The bishops added that maintaining such a distinction was as much in the interests of the State as of the churches and other faiths.
The Rt Rev Martin Wharton, Bishop of Newcastle, said: “The Church sees marriage as central to the stability and health of human society and so to be encouraged and supported.
“While there does need to be a clear difference between a religious marriage ceremony and a civil one, the House of Bishops doesn’t see songs like Angels and readings with some spiritual element as creating a religious service. They wouldn’t be part of a usual Sunday service, for example.”
The House of Bishops has responded to the consultation with a set of principles outlining clear tests for registrars to use when planning civil ceremonies with couples.
The bishops said it was acceptable under the Marriage Act 1949 to include material at civil ceremonies which mentions God or contains a spiritual element, or play background music from sacred works.
They urged registrars, however, not to allow any part of or extract from an authorised or recognised marriage service of any church, denomination, or faith community, or any prayers and intercessions to be included in the civil service.
The guidelines by the House of Bishops do not pertain to civil partnership ceremonies on the grounds that the Government has always insisted that they ‘will not be the same as marriage’.
