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Adopted as Canon Law in 1603 and written into the 1662 Book Of Common Prayer the list of those who could not marry remained unchanged until 1907.
A man was not permitted to marry his: Grandmother Grandfather’s wife Wife’s grandmother Father’s sister or Mother’s sister Father’s brother’s wife Mother’s brother’s wife Wife’s father’s sister Wife’s mother’s sister Mother or Step-mother Wife’s mother Daughter or Wife’s daughter Son’s wife Sister or Wife’s sister Brother’s wife Son’s daughter or Daughter’s daughter Son’s son’s wife Daughter’s son’s wife Wife’s son’s daughter Wife’s daughter’s daughter Brother’s daughter or Sister’s daughter Brother’s son’s wife Sister’s son’s wife Wife’s brother’s daughter Wife’s sister’s daughter |
A woman was not permitted to marry her: Grandfather Grandmother’s husband Husband’s grandfather Father’s brother or Mother’s brother Father’s sister’s husband Mother’s sister’s husband Husband’s father’s brother Husband’s mother’s brother Father or Step-father Husband’s father Son or Husband’s son Daughter’s father Brother or Husband’s brother Sister’s husband Son’s son or Daughter’s son Son’s daughter’s husband Daughter’s daughter’s husband Husband’s son’s son Husband’s daughter’s son Brother’s son or Sister’s son Brother’s daughter’s husband Sister’s daughter’s husband Husband’s brother’s son Husband’s sister’s son |
In 1837, Jews and gentiles were allowed to marry.
In 1907, men were allowed to marry their deceased wife’s sister; from 1921 men could marry their deceased brother’s widow and from 1931, nephews and nieces by marriage.
Who Could Marry?
Up until 1929, girls aged 12 years and boys aged 14 years could marry.
First cousins were not forbidden to marry under Canon Law. It had been legalised in the 1540s. Historically, about 2-3% of all marriages were between first cousins.