Tag Archives: Church of England

Gretna Green: The “Las Vegas” Marriage Destination of the Regency Period

Scottish Elopements and the Marriage Act of 1753 “An Act for Better Preventing of Clandestine Marriage,” popularly known as Lord Hardwicke’s Marriage Act (1753), was the first statutory legislation in England and Wales to require a formal ceremony of marriage. … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Gretna Green, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, laws of the land, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, Pride and Prejudice, reading, real life tales, Regency romance, terminology, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Proxy Marriages: Valid or Invalid?

Upon occasion I have come across a plot line in a Regency historical novel where the couple is married by proxy. Unfortunately, such a marriage was not valid. Today’s interpretation of a marriage by proxy tells us that it is … Continue reading

Posted in American History, British history, Church of England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Living in the UK, marriage, marriage customs | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Proxy Marriages: Valid or Invalid?

Eloping During the Regency and What the Code Napoleon Said About It

Almost every Regency era romance writer has written at least one scene where the hero and heroine elope, racing to Scotland and a place such as Gretna Green. Yet, when one sets the elopement could change the pair’s destination. What … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, history, marriage, marriage licenses, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Eloping During the Regency and What the Code Napoleon Said About It

Catholic and Protestants Marrying + “Lord Fearghal’s English Bride” + a Giveaway of “Regency Summer Weddings” Anthology

Book Blurb: HERS WAS A CONVENIENT ARRANGEMENT  Lady Claire Waterstone has spent more years out of England than she has enjoying English society. In fact, she feels very odd in making her Come Out with girls four to five years … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, book release, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, Dreamstone Publishing, eBooks, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, heroines, historical fiction, Ireland, laws of the land, marriage customs, publishing, Regency era, Regency romance, religion, research, romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

June ~ the Month of Love and Marriage: Fleet Prison Marriages of the 1700s

Marriage ceremonies associated with the Fleet Prison is London were many in the mid to late 1700s. It is estimated that in the 1740s over half of London’s marriage ceremonies took place in “marriage shops” surrounding the Fleet Prison. By … Continue reading

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, marriage, marriage customs, marriage licenses, real life tales, Scotland | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

March 25, Lady Day – What are the Quarter Days in UK?

In the Western liturgical year, Lady Day is the traditional name in some English-speaking countries of the Feast of the Annunciation, which is celebrated on 25 March, and commemorates the visit of the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, during … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, holidays, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, medieval, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, religion, research | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on March 25, Lady Day – What are the Quarter Days in UK?

Annulments, Divorces, Criminal Conversation in the Regency

First, permit me to say that in the Regency period, divorces were few. They were expensive. The Church of England opposed divorce as vehemently as did the Roman Catholic church. The Church of England only permitted a “legal separation,” which … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, American History, British history, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Greater and Lesser Tithes and Who Received Them

A church living was accepted to be a respectable occupation among the gentry and the aristocracy. It was a “job” which came with an income, house, and, often, farmland Continue reading

Posted in British history, Church of England, Emma, Georgian Era, history, Jane Austen, laws of the land, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, Regency era, religion, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The “Churching” of Women After Childbirth

 Although it has largely fallen out of favor with Western religion, the concept of “churching” in the Church of England can be traced well into the 20th Century. (Margaret Houlbrooke. Rite out of Time: a Study of the Ancient Rite of … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, England, Great Britain, history, Living in the UK, marriage, marriage customs, medicine, religion, tradtions | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The “Churching” of Women After Childbirth

Church Courts During the Regency Era

The church courts in Britain controlled the behavior of their clergymen. Yet, what all was involved? What were the “powers” of the bishop of each diocese? The bishop had to ordain all clergymen. His approval was required for anyone who … Continue reading

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, Church of England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, religion, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Church Courts During the Regency Era