In wanting to sing hymms at a civil wedding ceremony?

[MrsHenryWood]

And possibly have religious readings too? I see these things as lovely parts of my cultural heritage, and don't see why I shouldn't be able to have access to them, just because I'm not getting married in a church.

AIBU? Or is it time that the law changed?

Anyway, back to the OP. It a ridiculous law. Weddings should be allowed to be properly secular - i.e. no rules for or against any religion. This 'no hymns' rule discriminates against people who don't want a religious wedding but who might like some particular song for some reason.

why would anyone who does not believe in a christian God want to sing a hymn ?
You are singing in praise of God and singing a song specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration and prayer, you are not just humming a tune you like.
You wouldn't just sing a nasheed so why a hymn?

Why? Maybe because it would mean a lot to your mum or granny. Why not?

Some seem to be missing the point that I am querying the necessity for the rules themselves; to me it seems to be nonsense to have a law dictating what poetry I can have at a civil wedding...

Abs:A religious ceremony can take at a Church or Chapel of the Church of England or Church in Wales or at any other place of worship which has been formally registered by the Register General for marriages

(from here

I don't know if non-christian places of worship can be thus registered or not.

We don't have free speech.

And what do nativity plays have to do with anything????

No I don't think that ISN'T I am just saying it is not the Christian's etc fault that you this is so

If the op wants hyms get married in a church! Just because you are not 'religious' doesn't mean you can't do so

And yes, if you are from other religions - even Christian based ones (ie orthodox) you have to have a civil wedding before the religious one - I know many people who have done this and they don't have a problem with it

Sme hymms are lovely e.g."I vow to thee my country"

I also enjoy singing Xmas carols - can't believe that this is unusual amongst the non-religious?

"I vow to thee my country" is not a hymn it was a poem by Sir Cecil Spring-Rice set to music by Gustav Holst.

Me and XH are big rugby fans and we weren't allowed Swing Low Sweet Chariot, at our wedding! I agree with no prayer etc but the odd song with a reference to God or angels should be allowed.

Many hymns are based on parts of the Bible, or they have a Christian message.

Its not just hymns that are barred, registrars have to make (often rather arbitrary) decisions about other songs - if they happen to mention 'angels' or suchlike.

I think its a rather smallminded dog-in-the-manger sort of a law.

Not one I suffered from personally - when I married it was in the bad old days of church or register office, no nice venues - I was in the final throes of losing faith and not ready to upset my deeply christian family. So, we did indeed have 'Jerusalem' as one of the least religious hymns we could find

don't think that that precludes it from being a hymm, cantspel

Having given it a bit more thought, I don't actually know if you are being unreasonable- as long as the registrar follows the rules exactly about marrying the couple, who gives a monkey's about a few songs being sung?
Although perhaps they think if they give an inch a few people will take a mile and demand to have full-on religious services which they can't oversee?

Anyway, my solution is a simple one: ALL legal aspects of marriage must occur in a register office. This would give the clear and unequivocal message that marriage is a LEGAL MATTER. Which objectively it is.
If the couple then wish to have a blessing, have a service in front of their god in a church/mosque whatever, they could then be free to do so.

But there would be no legalities attached to having a blessing/service in church etc.

Read up on why it was brought in in the first place. It makes sense if you look at the history.

Why not get the paperwork done in the registry office and then go and 'marry' where you're having the reception?

My solution would also be a simple one; that you are allowed to have hymms and bible readings in a civil ceremony if you want; I genuinely don't see the harm in it.

I think what ISNT says will come true one day here. They will ban nativity plays in state schools. Am I right that they are not allowed in US state schools? I think it is political. The civil ceremonies refusing hymns etc. are probably also for the same political reason.

Narky, do you have a link with the history by any chance? I'm wondering how such a strange piece of over-regulation came into being.

Can I just ask - if civil weddings can't have vaguely religious readings/songs, why can religious weddings have entirely godless readings (last one I went to had a bit of The Velveteen Rabbit) and music ?

Cantspel I'm with you on this one - I can't understand why ANYONE would WANT to sing a hymn - cringing at the thought of it - let alone somebody who says she's not religious!

I think people can like hymns even if they are atheists- look at Atheist-in-Chief, Richard Dawkins, he digs his hymns!

I like singing hymns and carols. When I go to church I enjoy singing the songs that I grew up with. When the preschool did the nativity everyone joined in with Little Donkey even though many of the parents are different religions and some are athiest. Would be a bit miserable if it went "right then everyone little donkey"...

What is fundamentally wrong with a "not decided yet" child or a person of a different religion or an athiest singing "all things bright and beautiful" or "little donkey" or any of the other hymns and carols that a a strong part of our cultural heritage as a christian country?

It seems so joyless to say that these songs must be reserved for the faithful.

Does he?!!

Isn't I can see what you mean, when you put it like that...