1781: 21 George 3 c.53: An Act to render valid certain Marriages solemnized in certain Churches and Public Chapels in which Banns had not usually been published before or at the time of passing an Act, made in the twenty sixth Year of King George the Second, intituled, An Act for the better preventing of clandestine Marriages.

[Preamble.]

‘WHEREAS, since the making of an Act, passed in the twenty-sixth Year of the Reign of his late Majesty King George the Second,

[Act 26 Geo. III. recited.]

intituled, An Act for the better preventing of clandestine Marriages, divers Churches and public Chapels have been erected and built within that Part of Great Britain called England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, which have been duly consecrated, and divers Marriages have been solemnized therein; but by reason that in such Churches and Chapels Banns of Matrimony had not usually been published before or at the Time of passing the said Act, such Marriages have been deemed to be void;’ may it therefore please your Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and With the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same,

[All Marriages solemnized before Aug. 1, 1781, in any Church, &c. in England, erected since the making of the recited Act, decided valid.]

That all Marriages already solemnized, or to be solemnized before the first Day of August, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, in any Church or public Chapel, in that Part of Great Britain called England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed, erected since the making of the said Act, and consecrated, shall be as good and valid in Law as if such Marriages had been solemnized in Parish Churches or public Chapels having Chapelries annexed, and wherein Banns had been usually published before or at the Time of passing the said recited Act.

[Clergymen, who shall solemnize such Marriages, indemnified.

II. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all Parsons, Vicars, Ministers, and Curates, who, before the tenth Day of July, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, shall have solemnized any of the Marriages which are hereby enabled to be valid in Law, shall be, and they are hereby indemnified against the Penalties inflicted by the said recited Act upon Persons who shall solemnize Marriages in any, other Place than a Church or public Chapel in which Banns had been usually published before or at the Time of passing the said recited Act.

[Registers of such Marriages to be received as Evidence.]

III. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Registers of Marriages, solemnized or to be solemnized in the said Churches or Chapels, which are hereby enabled to be valid in Law, or Copies thereof, shall be received in all Courts of Law and Equity as Evidence of such Marriages, in the same Manner as Registers of Marriages solemnized in Parish Churches or public Chapels, in which Banns were usually published before or at the Time of passing the said recited Act, or Copies thereof, are received in Evidence.

[Registers of Marriages solemnized in Chapels, to be removed to the Parish Church.]

IV. And be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Registers of all Marriages, solemnized in any public Chapels which are hereby enacted to be valid in Law, shall, within twenty Days next after the first Day of August, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, be removed to the Parish Church of the Parish in which such Chapel shall he situated; and in case such Chapel shall be situated in an extraparochial Place, then to the Parish Church next adjoining to such extraparochial Place, to be kept with the Marriage Registers of such Parish, and in like Manner as Marriage Registers are directed to be kept by the said recited Act.

Source: Ruffhead, Statutes at Large, vol. 14.