Why marriage certificates need a makeover

You could be forgiven for thinking that the idea of human history as one of overall progress and improvement was dead, but let me offer you one small light in the darkness. A proposal put forward by Dr Alan Smith, bishop of St Albans and one of the UK’s 26 Lords Spiritual (I do love this country sometimes), for a digital marriage registry looks set to enable mothers’ names to be added to marriage certificates. At the moment, a couple’s distaff (or female if you’re not familiar with legalese) sides – generally quite an important part of their lives – are erased from the record. Only the fathers’ names and occupations have historically been of note.

Dr Smith has put forward an alternative registry that would negate many of the difficulties – especially the financial – that attend such an alteration to tradition. Hurrah! We can move immediately on to the next question. How many Ladies Spiritual are there? Over to you, established church of the realm!

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