Registration service

The concept of a registration service began during the reign of Henry VI who’s Lord Chancellor, Thomas Cromwell, introduced a parochial system of registration based upon baptisms, marriages and burials. It was the duty of the Clergy in each Parish to keep a book recording all these events.

In the 1830’s a House of Commons Committee recommended the introduction of a national system of registration and the introduction of a civil marriage. On the 1 July 1837 the new Registration Service began. On that date 2193 Registrars of Births and Deaths and 619 Superintendent Registrars took quill in hand and made the first entries in the new registers.

The present day system of registration has its origins in two Acts of Parliament, which came into force in 1837. Since that date there has been subsequent legislation that has modified or extended the original powers.

In 1949 The Marriage Act consolidated previous legislation and the Births and Deaths Registration Acts followed this in 1953. The Registration Service Act covered the organisation of the Registration Service. Headed by the General Register Office, England and Wales is divided up into Registration Districts each having its own Superintendent Registrar and Registrars of Birth, Death and Marriages.

The district office holds the Register records of all births, deaths and marriages that have occurred within it. County, metropolitan and unitary councils have a responsibility to provide these facilities.