Fewer weddings in church: the decline of religious marriage in England and Wales
In short
In 2022 only 17.0% of marriages in England and Wales were religious ceremonies and 83.0% were civil, according to the ONS. In 1992 civil ceremonies made up 50.4%. There were 246,897 marriages in 2022. The Law Commission has proposed reforms that would allow more flexible religious and civil ceremonies.
What the full article will cover
- How many couples still marry in church?
- When did civil ceremonies overtake religious ones?
- Why have religious weddings declined?
- Which faiths still hold the most weddings?
- How could wedding law reform change the picture?
Frequently asked questions
- Can you have a religious element in a civil ceremony?
- Are humanist weddings legal in England?
- Is the Church of England still the largest provider of religious weddings?
- Are the figures different in Scotland?
Sources
- ons.gov.uk — https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/marriagecohabitationandcivilpartnerships/bulletins/marriagesinenglandandwalesprovisional/2021and2022
- lawcom.gov.uk — https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/weddings/
General information, not legal or religious advice.