Section 202 — Civil partnerships on religious premises
This version in force from 2011-07-11
Snapshot: 2026-08-24
Reproduced from legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). Amendments made after 2026-08-24 may not be reflected — always check the official text .
(1) The Civil Partnership Act 2004 is amended as follows.
(2) Omit section 6(1)(b) and (2) (prohibition on use of religious premises for registration of civil partnership).
(3) In section 6A (power to approve premises for registration of civil partnership), after subsection (2), insert—2ARegulations under this section may provide that premises approved for the registration of civil partnerships may differ from those premises approved for the registration of civil marriages.2BProvision by virtue of subsection (2)(b) may, in particular, provide that applications for approval of premises may only be made with the consent (whether general or specific) of a person specified, or a person of a description specified, in the provision.2CThe power conferred by section 258(2), in its application to the power conferred by this section, includes in particular—apower to make provision in relation to religious premises that differs from provision in relation to other premises;bpower to make different provision for different kinds of religious premises.
(4) In that section, after subsection (3), insert—3AFor the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Act places an obligation on religious organisations to host civil partnerships if they do not wish to do so.3B“Civil marriage” means marriage solemnised otherwise than according to the rites of the Church of England or any other religious usages.3C“Religious premises” means premises which—aare used solely or mainly for religious purposes, orbhave been so used and have not subsequently been used solely or mainly for other purposes.