License your religious venue

Applying for a building to be recorded for religious worship

Certify a place of meeting for religious worship - Gov.UK

Applying for a building to be recorded for religious worship only 

• The Places of Worship Registration Act 1855 enables a place of meeting for religious worship to be recorded by the Registrar General - however, a congregation is still able to worship in a building which has not been recorded 
• A church or chapel of the Church of England does not need to apply to be recorded for religious worship - if they share their building with one or more non-conformist denominations, the sharing agreement will need to be submitted with the application made by the non-conformists 
• The application form 'Certifying a Place of Meeting for Religious Worship' (Form 76) must be completed in duplicate (not photocopied) by any person who can represent the congregation, e.g. the occupier/proprietor/trustee/minister

 The applicant will be asked to supply the following information: 

• the name by which the place of worship is known
• the address of the building
• whether the application refers to a whole building or a room/rooms within a building
• a floor plan of the building/room (s)

Applying for a building to be registered as a place for the solemnisation of marriages

​Apply for a building which is already recorded as a place of religious worship to be registered as a place for the solemnisation of marriages between a man and a woman:

• Form 78 (PDF)
• Form 78 guidance notes for applicant (PDF)

If you wish to apply for the building to be registered for the solemnisation of marriages of same-sex couples, you will also need to complete Form 78A (PDF) and provide a copy of the relevant governing authority's consent: 

• Form 78A (PDF)
• Form 78A guidance notes for applicant (PDF)

If you wish to certify the building as a place of religious worship and apply for it to be registered for the solemnisation of marriages between a man and a woman at the same time, you will need to complete 2 separate applications - Forms 76 and 78.

If you wish to apply for the building to be registered for the solemnisation of marriages of same-sex couples, you will also need to complete Form 78A and provide a copy of the relevant governing authority's consent.

Applying for an authorised person

Authorised person certificate of appointment documents:

• Form AP1 (PDF)
• A guide for authorised persons (PDF)

Notice of the disuse of a certified place of meeting for religious worship

Complete form 77 to inform the General Register Office when a congregation stop worshipping in the registered building.

• Form 77 (PDF)
• Form 77A guidance notes for the applicant ( PDF)

Last updated 08 March 2023