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Places of Religious Worship

Volume 708: debated on Monday 23 February 2009

Questions

Asked by

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many places of religious worship are registered for marriages under the Marriage Act 1949, broken down by faith and denomination. [HL1356]

There are currently 24,883 places of meeting for religious worship which have been registered by the Registrar General for the solemnisation of marriages under Section 41 of the Marriage Act 1949. This number is broken down by denomination as follows:

Roman Catholic

3291

Methodist

6265

Congregationalist

1240

Baptist

3060

United Reformed Church

1566

Calvinistic Methodist

1052

Brethren

737

Salvation Army

721

Unitarian

159

Jehovah's Witnesses

832

Other Christian bodies

4348

Muslim

186

Sikh

163

Other

1263

“Other Christian bodies” includes those who describe themselves as Christian but do not designate themselves further. Examples of “Other” include Assemblies of God, Latter Day Saints, Seventh Day Adventist, Greek Orthodox and Pentecostal.

The Registrar General has also registered 123 naval, military or air force chapels for the solemnisation of marriages, otherwise than according to the rites of the Church of England, under Section 70 of the Marriage Act 1949. No denomination is stated with these registrations.

Asked by

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many places of worship are registered in England and Wales pursuant to the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855. [HL1380]

There are currently 29,774 certified places of meeting for religious worship registered by the Registrar General under the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855.