Marriage Venue

garibaldired · Post by **garibaldired** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:09 pm

Hi All,

Just recently I've come across one or two marriages which were performed in the manse either in South Leith or Newbattle.
This is probably a silly question but why didn't they take place in the church?

Best wishes,
Meg

Post by **AndrewP** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:48 pm

Hi Meg,

In Scotland, marriages in the church are relatively more modern, typically from the 1930s onwards. Prior to that, there were some marriages in the church, but it was more often that the marriage was in a house (often the bride's house), or sometimes in the manse.

All the best,

AndrewP

garibaldired · Post by **garibaldired** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:57 pm

Hi Andrew,

Oh thanks for that.
I knew it was common to marry in houses but hadn't come across the manse as a venue before.
So was it a case of practicality that marriages took place in houses rather than the church building? Or another reason?

Meg

Post by **AnneM** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 8:20 pm

I can't sat with certainty but perhaps it is because marriage is not a sacrament.

Anne

garibaldired · Post by **garibaldired** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 8:24 pm

Anne,

I hadn't thought of that. And that would explain why Catholic marriages of that time do take place in church wouldn't it?

Meg

Post by **paddyscar** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:02 am

Another reason, might just be practical - not having to clean or heat a large space for a small gathering ... not wanting to waste extra shillings