Registering a building for worship and as a place of marriage
1. Overview
Registering as a place of worship
A congregation may apply to officially register their building of worship with East Sussex County Council.
Registering your building may offer tax advantages, and the opportunity to register it as a venue for marriage ceremonies.
Church of England
All Church of England denominated churches in East Sussex must apply to The Diocese of Chichester who will notify the General Register Office once approved for worship.
Other denominations
To register as a place of worship, download and complete General Register Office Form 76 (gov.uk) and return 2 copies with payment of £29, payable to East Sussex County Council, to:
Licensing Officer
Register Office,
Town Hall,
Grove Road,
Eastbourne
BN21 4UG
Email VenueLicensing@eastsussex.gov.uk for help or advice.
Registering as a place of marriage
Once you have registered a building as a place of worship, you may also apply to register it as a marriage venue. You can make both applications at the same time.
To register your building of worship as a marriage venue, download and complete the General Register Office Form 78 (gov.uk) and return 2 copies with payment of £123 (payable to East Sussex County Council) to:
Licensing Officer
Register Office
Town Hall
Grove Road
Eastbourne
BN21 4UG
To register your building of worship at the same time as registering as a marriage venue, download and complete forms General Register Office Form 76 and also General Register Office Form 78 and return 2 copies of each with payment of £152 (payable to East Sussex County Council) to the above address.
Email VenueLicensing@eastsussex.gov.uk for help or advice.
Registering marriages
Once you are registered as a place of marriage, East Sussex Registration will provide a Registrar to attend and register marriages for you.
Couples wishing to marry, must call us on 0345 60 80 198 to book a Registrar well in advance of the ceremony.
One year after a building has been registered for the solemnisation of marriages, the trustees or governing body can appoint an authorised person to attend marriages and sign the marriage schedule without the need for a registrar from the register office to attend.
To appoint an authorised person, download and complete General Register Office Form AP1 (gov.uk) and return to:
Licensing Officer
Register Office
Town Hall
Grove Road
Eastbourne
BN21 4UG
Responsibilities of authorised persons are explained in marriage registration guidance for authorised persons and clergy (gov.uk).
Email VenueLicensing@eastsussex.gov.uk for help or advice.
If you no longer use the building for worship
If you no longer use the building for worship, you must register this change with East Sussex County Council.
To register disuse as a building for worship, complete General Register Office Form 77 (gov.uk) and return to:
Licensing Officer
Register Office
Town Hall
Grove Road
Eastbourne
BN21 4UG
Email VenueLicensing@eastsussex.gov.uk for help or advice.