Download (JSON)The Blessing
of a Civil Marriage
The rite begins as prescribed for celebrations of the Holy Eucharist, using the Collect and Lessons appointed in the Marriage service.
After the Gospel (and homily), the couple stand before the Celebrant, who addresses them in these or similar words
N. and N., you have come here today to seek the blessing of God and of his Church upon your marriage. I require, therefore, that you promise, with the help of God, to fulfill the obligations which Christian Marriage demands.
The Celebrant then addresses one member of the couple, then the other, saying
N., you have taken N. to be your wife/husband/spouse. Do you promise to love her/him, comfort her/him, honor and keep her/him, in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, to be faithful to her/him as long as you both shall live?
AnswerI do.
The Celebrant then addresses the congregation, saying
Will you who have witnessed these promises do all in your power to uphold these two persons in their marriage?
PeopleWe will.
If rings are to be blessed, the members of the couple extend their hands toward the Priest [or Bishop], who says
Bless, O Lord, these rings to be signs of the vows by which N. and N. have bound themselves to each other; through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.
The Celebrant joins the right hands of the couple and says
Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder.
PeopleAmen.
The service continues with The Prayers on page 104 [in the marriage service].