Witnesses at marriage ceremonies

[clarefmshaw]

Hope someone can enlighten me on the following!

What credentials were needed to act as a witness at a marriage ceremony in, say, the 1850s in the UK? Was there a particular age that a witness needed to have attained? Could, for instance, the bride's parents act as witnesses? This is a marriage at an RC church, by the way.

Many thanks for any help.
Clare

[Guy Etchells]

First thing to bear in mind is that every person in the congregation at a marriage ceremony is a witness, not just the two or more who sign the register.

Under Ecclesiastical law the person must be cognisant of what is taking place, therefore they must be old enough to understand (normally considered as about 7 years old) but not so old as to be suffering from dementia.

Civil law calls for two or more credible witnesses besides the minister which simply means witnesses capable of being believed.

There is nothing to stop the parents being witnesses and that often happens.
Cheers
Guy

[clarefmshaw]

Thanks very much, Guy, for the clarification.

best wishes
Clare