????

[tree_and_leaf]

So, as is my wont, I went to church today. As it happened, the priest read the banns for a couple about to marry.

After the service, someone came-up to me and asked if they were my banns. I was too disconcerted to ask her what on earth gave her that idea, so all I managed to say was "Er,.... no."

Comments

[mrstater.livejournal.com]

How random! Did you know the person?

[tree_and_leaf]

No...well, vaguely by sight, but that's all.

And 'random' is the only word for it, really.

[a-t-rain.livejournal.com]

People get odd ideas sometimes. (Evidently my vague impression that reading banns went out with the Tudors is one of those ideas. Who knew?)

[leapin-jot.livejournal.com]

So what are banns? Is that a fancy word for announcement?

Look at it this way, having someone confuse you for being engaged is far better than having them confuse you for being pregnant. :P

[eagles-rock.livejournal.com]

Well done on your reply; I've answered 'Why on earth would I want to do that?' to that question before...

They probably have a whole picture of you in their head. But then I've been reading Barbara Pym recently.

[tree_and_leaf]

Not if you want to get married in church, although you can avoid having to have them if you are married by special license, obtainable from your friendly local bishop (see the discussion in 'The Nine Tailors').

Confusingly, even if the banns are read, you still need a marriage license, as nearly severely embarassed my great-uncle, because he arranged for the former but didn't realise he needed the latter until the minister asked for it five minutes before the start of the ceremony.

Cue frantic dash to the local golf course to persuade the registrar to issue one, and my grandmother collaring the bride to be and explaining that there had been a slight delay...

[tree_and_leaf]

In Britain, if you are getting married, there has to be notice given, so that your abandoned first spouse has a chance to object that it's bigamy, or someone can point out that you can't marry your first cousin ;) There are two methods: if you are married in church, then on the two Sundays before the marriage, the priest of each half of the couple's home parish (and possibly also the church where the marriage is being celebrated, but I don't know about that) will read the following statement: "I publish the banns of marriage between X, of this parish, and Y, of the parish of Z. If any of you know any reason why these persons may not be joined in marriage, you are to declare it. This is for the first/ second time of asking" If you're getting married in a registry office in a civil ceremony, then a notice to that effect is pinned up outside the office two weeks ahead of the big day. Bann means basically 'announcement relating to ecclesiastical law', I think.

And I just had to explain about reading the banns to a fellow Brit, so you can be excused not knowing... mind you, Iwas shocked to find a British person who didn't know the term.

[tree_and_leaf]

Well, it makes a change from being IDed buying beer in Sainsburies!

I can never think of snappy responses at the time, anyway...

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

You were the only young, unaccompanied woman in the building?

[tree_and_leaf]

No - that's what was strange about it...

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

I can't immagine.

Because you were the only woman in the building smiling?

Because someone wants to know if you're available for marriage?

[tree_and_leaf]

Because someone wants to know if you're available for marriage?

Grey-haired churchwardens = the spies of choice, obviously ;)