The Archbishop of Canterbury has the right to grant a Special Licence for a marriage to take place at any convenient time or place in England or Wales.
The issue of a Special Licence is discretionary.
The most common circumstances where a Special Licence is required are where the parties wish to be married in a church or chapel of a parish where neither party has a ‘qualifying connection’ within the meaning of the Church of England Marriage Measure 2008. Alternatively the parties may wish to be married elsewhere than in a building which is already authorised for marriage according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England, for example, a school or college chapel, or in a church building which is no longer in use for public worship.
Enquiries about a Special Licence should be made to:
The Faculty Office, 1 The Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3JT
Tel: 0207 222 5381
Email: faculty.office@1Thesanctuary.com).