Church relaxes wedding rules

Draft legislation that further relaxes the law on where couples may get married received approval yesterday from the Church of England's national assembly.

Changes to the law will mean that clergy no longer have to apply for a special licence for couples with a "qualifying connection" to one church who want to marry in another church within the same "benefice" (grouping of parishes).

The move further relaxes laws already implemented by the Church of England which have given couples more choice about where they can get married.