Genealogy Chat

I have a lot of couples in my family tree who got married at St. Leonard's Church, Shoreditch in London in the 1800's. What's confusing me is that most of these couples lived in Essex or Herts. Although the areas they lived in were fairly close to London 20-30 miles in most cases, why not get married in a local church. Has anyone else come across this, or something similar? Any idea why, did the family just fancy a day out in London?!

Does the chronology tell you anything ? Maybe one of the (important, influential) branches lived nearby and got married there, and it became the "family church" for important occaisions ???

doesn't appear to be any connection to that area of london, and it's not just one branch of the family it happened on, it's different unrelated branches. that's why it's so odd.

maybe it was *the* in-church, for "those, and such as those ..." ???

Could it be a chiurch that would take on people to marry from different religions or maybe children born before wedlock without to many questions? Or could it be that it was a church that specialised with quick weddings or something??It could just be that it was a very attrctive church . If you google it you get some nice pictures! KIM

Perhaps the vicar was a relative. Janice

I vote for Janice !

Why, thank you, Bob of Berlin ;-) Janice

Janice, once you'd said it, it seemed so logical ! Keep it in the family, and make it even more af a family "thing" ! It will probably turn out to be something completely different, but you will let us know, if you do find an explanation, won't you, Stewart ?

"Shoreditch had a Medieval church but in 1736 the new St Leonards designed by George Dance the Elder was completed. The Clerk's House is contemporary. Features of interest include the old stocks & whipping post, a loud bell and a creepy crypt! It has associations with Elizabethan theatre people. " found this on website http://www.london-footprints(.)co(.)uk/wkhoxtonroute.htm. Quite interesting! Kim

Stewart, Have you got your info from the IGI or have you got certificates? If you have the certs, what was the vicar's name? Janice

It was the "in thing" in my family to marry in St Annes Church Soho London. The ones who didnt live in the area borrowed an address so that they could get married there. All the more fun for me I guess!

Hi I have the same question - I have a Gatward/Lawrence marriage at St Leonards in Shoreditch. They were from the borders of Essex/Suffolk/Cambs. I have the marriage certificate showing addresses that I assume are in the area. But I have discovered at lot of other Lawrence marriages at the same church. I did consider a visit to the church so see if I could find why but have to venture from the North to do that! If you can shed any light on this, let me know. Sue Weighell

I've had a quick browse through my tree and found three unrelated branches who have had marriages in St. Leonards. One lot were from Loughton, one lot were from the Herts/Essex border (clavering, berden etc.) the other's were from Netteswell/Harlow. It seems that one couple would get married there for no apparent reason (can't see any connection with that part of London) then a few of their borthers and sisters would marry there. i don't think there's any connection to the vicar or whoever, although the families involved were mainly fworked on the land, so it's possible that they went to London often to sell produce. maybe they saw the church and though it looks nice for a wedding!

Maybe the church had a special on. 3 for the price of 2!

The church I got married was half way between where I lived and where my husband lived although I am only talking about a few miles, that was the only reason. Then because we got married there my husband's sister got married there because everyone liked the church. Sue

so am i the only one that's come across this then? it's rather puzzling

I don't know if this is gonna be of any use but from the back of the "Scrivener" produced by Calderdale FHS : Following Hardwicke's Marriages Act of 1754, Banns and Marriages will only be found in the registers of the above churches. After 1837 they lost their monopoly of marriages. I took that to mean that marriages could only take place in the "main" church in the area up until 1837. Might be wrong though. Rachel

Just in case it is something to do with my above message: http://www).)ask(.)co(.)uk/ix(.)asp?q=hardwicke+marriage+act&ac=SHOP&xx=0&qid=A0E20058B3082F4B9C97926EAA6D3DC5&p=1&s=1&sp=ix&fn=tuk&b=0&fo=2&r=10&io=3&fp=3&fr=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Edixons%2Eclara%2Eco%2Euk%2FCertificates%2Fmarriages%2Ehtm&adurl= from ask jeeves Rachel

thanks for that link, i had a look and it was very interesting. i emailed them to see what they think is the likeliest reason for the St. Leonards marriages. I think it may have something to do with them not wanting people to know about the marriages stew