70 Registration of chapels for marriages otherwise than according to rites of Church of England. E+W
(1)With respect to marriages otherwise than according to the rites of the Church of England, the Registrar General shall, on the application of the Admiralty, in the case of a naval chapel, or of a Secretary of State, in the case of any other chapel, register any chapel to which this Part of this Act applies for the solemnization therein of marriages to which this Part of this Act applies, and while any chapel is so registered—
(a)any such marriages which could lawfully be solemnized in a [F1building registered under section 41] situated in the same registration district as the chapel, may be solemnized in the chapel; and
(b)the foregoing provisions of this Act relating to marriages otherwise than according to the rites of the Church of England and to the registration of such marriages (excluding the provisions specified in Part III of the Fourth Schedule to this Act) shall apply in relation to the chapel, and in relation to marriages solemnized or intended to be solemnized therein otherwise than according to those rites, as if the chapel were a [F2building registered under section 41]:
Provided that the provisions of this Act specified in Part IV of the said Schedule shall apply subject to the modifications specified in that Part.
(2)The Registrar General shall, on the application of the Admiralty or a Secretary of State, as the case may be, cancel the registration of any chapel registered by him under this section.
(3)Immediately after registering, or cancelling the registration of, any chapel under this section, the Registrar General shall cause notice of that fact to be published in the London Gazette and in some newspaper circulating in the registration district in which the chapel is situated and to be given to the superintendent registrar of that district, who shall record the registration or cancellation in such manner as may be prescribed by the Registrar General.
[F3(4)This section does not apply to the marriage of same sex couples.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 70(1)(a) substituted (13.3.2014) by Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30), s. 21(3), Sch. 7 para. 18; S.I. 2014/93, art. 3(k)(i)
F2Words in s. 70(1)(b) substituted (13.3.2014) by Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30), s. 21(3), Sch. 7 para. 18; S.I. 2014/93, art. 3(k)(i)
F3S. 70(4) inserted (21.1.2014 for specified purposes, 3.6.2014 in so far as not already in force) by Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30), ss. 6(3), 21(3); S.I. 2014/93, arts. 2(a), 5(a)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Functions of Admiralty now exercisable by a Secretary of State: Defence (Transfer of Functions) Act 1964 (c. 15), s. 1(2)