THE FORM OF

SOLEMNIZATION OF MATRIMONY.

¶ The Banns of all that are to be married together (save when a Licence shall be issued for such Marriage) must be published in the Church three several Sundays or Feast-days, in the time of Divine Service, after the Nicene Creed, or immediately after the Second Lesson at Morning or Evening Prayer; the Curate saying after the accustomed manner.

I PUBLISH the Banns of Marriage between M. of — and N. of — If any of you know cause, or just impediment, why these two Persons should not be joined together in holy Matrimony, ye are to declare it. This is the first [second, or third] time of asking.

¶ And if two persons that are to be married to each other dwell in divers Parishes, the Banns must be asked in both Parishes; and the Curate of the one Parish shall not solemnize Matrimony betwixt them, without a Certificate of the Banns being thrice asked, from the Curate of the other Parish.

¶ At the day and time appointed for solemnization of Matrimony, the Persons to be married shall come into the Body of the Church with their friends and neighbours: and there standing together, the Man on the right hand, and the Woman on the left, the Priest shall say,

DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this Congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is commended in holy Scripture to be honourable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained:
    First, for the increase of mankind, according to the will of God, and for the due ordering of families and households, that children might be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy Name;
    Secondly, for the hallowing of the union betwixt man and woman, and for the avoidance of sin;
    Thirdly, for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity.
    Into which holy estate these two Persons present come now to be joined. Therefore if any man can shew any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever bold his peace.

(¶ Note, when more than one man and one woman come to be married at the same time, all that follows, down to the Psalm, shall be said for each couple severally.)
 

The rubrics concerning the banns have been considerably enlarged since this was printed in 1936.

¶ Then, speaking unto the Persons that shall be married, he shall say,

I REQUIRE and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgement when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye well assured, that so many as are coupled together otherwise than God's Word doth allow are not joined together by God; neither is their Matrimony lawful.

¶ At which day of Marriage, if any man do allege and declare any impediment, why they may not be coupled together in Matrimony, by God's Law, or the Laws of this Realm; and will be bound, and sufficient sureties with him, to the parties; or else put in a caution (to the fall value of such charges as the Persons to be married do thereby sustain) to prove his allegation: then the solemnization must be deferred, until such time as the truth be tried.

¶ If no impediment be alleged, then shall the Curate say unto the Man,

M. WILT thou have this Woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her, in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?

¶ The Man shall answer,
I will.

¶ Then shall the Priest say unto the Woman,

N. WILT thou have this Man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?

¶ The Woman shall answer,
I will.

¶ Then shall the Minister say,

    Who giveth this Woman to be married to this Man?

¶ Then shall they give their troth to each other in this manner:

The Minister, receiving the Woman at her father's or friend's hands, shall cause the Man with his right hand to take the Woman by her right hand, and to say after him as followeth:

I M. take thee N. to my wedded wife to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.

¶ Then shall they loose their hands; and the Woman, with her right hand taking the Man by his right hand, shall likewise say after the Minister,

I N. take thee M. to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.

¶ Then shall they again loose their hands; and the Man shall give unto the Woman a ring, laying the same upon the book with the accustomed duty to the Priest and Clerk. And the Priest, taking the ring, shall deliver it unto the Man, to put it upon the fourth finger of the Woman's left hand. And the Man holding the ring there, and taught by the Priest, shall say,

WITH this Ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the Name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
 

¶ Then the Man leaving the ring upon the fourth finger of the Woman's left hand, they shall both kneel down; and, the Congregation still standing, the Minister shall say,

Let us pray.

O ETERNAL God, Creator and Preserver of all mankind, Giver of all spiritual grace, the Author of everlasting life: Send thy blessing upon these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom we bless in thy Name; that, as Isaac and Rebecca lived faithfully together, so these Persons may surely perform and keep the vow and covenant betwixt them made (whereof this Ring given and received is a token and pledge), and may ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and live according to thy laws; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Then shall the Priest join their right hands together, and say,

    Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.

¶ Then shall the Minister speak unto the people:

FORASMUCH as M. and N. have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be Man and Wife together, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

¶ And the Minister shall add this Blessing:

GOD the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, bless, preserve, and keep you: the Lord mercifully with his favour look upon you; and so fill you with sill spiritual benediction and grace, that ye may so live together in this life, that in the world to come ye may have life everlasting. Amen.

¶ Then the Minister or Clerks, going to the Lord's Table, shall say or sing this Psalm following:

Beati omnes.
Psalm 128.

BLESSED are all they that fear the LORD : and walk in his ways.
For thou shalt eat the labours of thine hands : O well is thee, and happy shalt thou be.
    Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine : upon the walls of thine house;
    Thy children like the olive-branches : round about thy table.
    Lo, thus shall the man be blessed : that feareth the LORD.

    THE LORD from out of Sion shall so bless thee : that thou shalt see Jerusalem in prosperity all thy life long
    Yea, that thou shalt see thy children's children : and peace upon Israel.

    GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
    As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

Or this Psalm:

Deus misereatur.
Psalm 67.

GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us : and shew us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us;
    That thy way may be known upon earth : thy saving health among all nations.
    Let the people praise thee O God : yea, let all the people praise thee.

    O LET the nations rejoice and be glad : for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth.
    Let the people praise thee, O God : let all the people praise thee.

    THEN shall the earth bring forth her increase : and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing.
    God shall bless us : and all the ends of the world shall fear him.

    GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
    As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.
 

¶ The Psalm ended, and the Man and the Woman kneeling before the Lord's Table, the Priest standing at the Table, and turning his face towards them, shall say,

Let us pray.

    Lord, have mercy upon us.
    Answer. Christ, have mercy upon us.
    Minister. Lord, have mercy upon us.

OUR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen.
    Minister. O Lord, save thy servant, and thy handmaid;
    Answer. Who put their trust in thee.
    Minister. O Lord, send them help from thy holy place;
    Answer. And evermore defend them.
    Minister. Be unto them a tower of strength;
    Answer. From the face of their enemy.
    Minister. O Lord, hear our prayer;
    Answer. And let our cry come unto thee.

Minister.

O GOD of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, bless these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts; that whatsoever in thy holy Word they shall profitably learn they may in deed fulfil the same. Look, O Lord, mercifully upon them from heaven, and bless them. And as thou didst send thy blessing upon Abraham and Sarah, to their great comfort, so vouchsafe to 8end thy blessing upon these thy servants; that they obeying thy will, and alway being in safety under thy protection, may abide in thy love unto their lives' end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Then may follow this Prayer:

O MERCIFUL Lord and heavenly Father, by whose gracious blessing mankind is increased; Bestow, we beseech thee, on these thy servants the heritage and gift of children, and grant that they may also live together so long in godly love and honesty, that they may see their children christianly and virtuously brought up, to thy praise and honour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O GOD, who by thy mighty power hast made all things of nothing; who also (after other things set in order) didst appoint, that out of man (created after thine own image and similitude) woman should take her beginning, and, knitting them together, didst teach that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by Matrimony hadst made one: O God who hast so consecrated the state of Matrimony, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and his Church; Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife, according to thy Word (as Christ did love his spouse the Church, who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh), and also that this woman maybe loving and amiable, faithful and obedient to her husband; and in all quietness, sobriety, and peace, be a follower of holy and godly matrons. O Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thy everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Then shall the Priest say,

ALMIGHTY God, who at the beginning did create our first parents Adam and Eve, and did sanctify and join them together in marriage; Pour upon you the riches of his grace, sanctify and bless you, that ye may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy love unto your lives' end. Amen.

¶ After which, if there be no Sermon declaring the duties of Man and Wife, the Minister may read as followeth:

ALL ye that are married, or that intend to take the holy estate of Matrimony upon you, hear what the holy Scripture doth say as touching the duty of husbands towards their wives and wives towards their husbands.

    Saint Paul, in his Epistle to the Ephesians, speaketh thus to all men that are married: Ye husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it that he might sanctify anti cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself: for no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the church: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife; and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself.

 
Eph. 5. 25.

    Hear also what Saint Peter, who was himself a married man, saith unto them that are married: Ye husbands, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
    Hitherto ye have heard the duty of the husband towards the wife. Now likewise, ye wives, hear and learn your duties towards your husbands, even as it is plainly set forth in holy Scripture.

 
1 St. Pet. 3.7.

    Saint Peter doth instruct you in these words: Ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the Word, they also may without the Word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible; even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

    Saint Paul also, in the aforenamed Epistle to the Ephesians, teacheth you thus: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. And again he saith, Let the wife see that she reverence her husband.

    And in his Epistle to the Colossians, Saint Paul giveth you this short lesson: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

¶ Here may follow an Anthem or Hymn.

¶ If there be no Communion, the Minister shall then say,

Let us pray.

O ALMIGHTY Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct sanctify, and govern both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments ; that through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.

¶ It is convenient that the new - married Persons should receive the Holy Communion at the time of their Marriage, or at the first opportunity after their Marriage.

¶ If the Holy Communion he celebrated at the time of a Marriage, the Collect, Epistle and Gospel here following shall be used:

The Collect.

O ETERNAL God, we humbly beseech thee favourably to behold these thy servants now joined in wedlock according to thy holy ordinance; and grant that they, seeking first thy kingdom and righteousness, may obtain the manifold blessings of thy grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 
The Epistle.
Eph. 5. 20.

The Gospel.
St. Matt. 19. 4.

The Lessons are printed out at length in the original; only the citations are given here.
Eph. 5:20-33

Matt. 19:4-6

THE THANKSGIVING OF WOMEN
AFTER CHILD-BIRTH,

COMMONLY CALLED

THE CHURCHING OF WOMEN.

¶ The Woman at the usual time after her delivery, shall come into the Church decently apparelled, and there shall kneel down in such place and at such time, as hath been accustomed or as the Ordinary shall direct. And then the Priest shall say unto her,

FORASMUCH as it hath pleased Almighty God of his goodness to give you safe deliverance, and to preserve you in the great danger of Childbirth; you shall therefore give hearty thanks unto God, and say,

¶ Then shall the Priest say this Psalm:

Dilexi, quoniam.
Psalm 116.

I AM well pleased : that the LORD hath heard the voice of my prayer;
    That he hath inclined his ear unto me : therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
    The snares of death compassed me round about : and the pains of hell gat hold upon me;
    I found trouble and heaviness, and I called upon the Name of the LORD : O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

    GRACIOUS is the LORD, and righteous : yea, our God is merciful.
    The LORD preserveth the simple : I was in misery, and he helped me.
    Turn again then unto thy rest, O my soul : for the LORD hath rewarded thee.
    And why? thou hast delivered my soul from death : mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
    I will walk before the LORD : in the land of the living.
    I believed, and therefore will I speak; but I was sore troubled : I said in my haste, All men are liars.

    WHAT reward shall I give unto the Loan : for all the benefits that he bath done unto me?
    I will receive the cup of salvation : and call upon the Name of the LORD.
    I will pay my vows now in the presence of all his people : in the courts of the LORD'S house, even in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.

    GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
    As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

Or this Psalm:

Nisi Dominus.
Psalm 127.

EXCEPT the LORD build the house : their labour is but lost that build it.
    Except the LORD keep the city : the watchman watcheth but in vain.
    It is but lost labour that ye haste to rise up early, and so late take rest, and eat the bread of carefulness : for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

    Lo, children and the fruit of the womb : are an heritage and gift that cometh of the LORD.
    Like as the arrows in the hand of the giant : even so are the young children.
    Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them : they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

    GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost;
    As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

¶ Then the Priest shall say,

Let us pray.

    Lord, have mercy upon us.
    Christ, have mercy upon us.
    Lord, have mercy upon us.

OUR Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, The power, And the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

    Minister. O Lord, save this woman thy servant;
    Answer. Who putteth her trust in thee.
    Minister. Be thou to her a strong tower;
    Answer. From the face of her enemy.
    Minister. Lord, hear our prayer;
    Answer. And let our cry come unto thee.

Minister. Let us pray.

O ALMIGHTY God, we give thee humble thanks for that thou hast vouchsafed to deliver this woman thy servant from the great pain and peril of Child-birth; Grant, we beseech thee most merciful Father, that she, through thy help, may both faithfully live, and walk according to thy will, in this life present, and also may be partaker of everlasting glory in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Then shall the Minister say,

THE Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace, both now and for evermore. Amen.

¶ The Woman, that cometh to give her Thanks, must offer accustomed Offerings; and if there be a Communion, it is convenient that she receive the Holy Communion.