People quite often ask whether or not it is possible to get married in church, or in particular by one of the priests of the Scottish Episcopal Church when one or other of the people involved have been married before.
In most circumstances it is possible for such couples to be married by a priest though the priest does need the permission of the local bishop before he or she can conduct the wedding. This is a routine part of the pastoral care which the bishop offers to local clergy and local people.
A bishop would be unlikely to agree to a wedding if it was going to cause an obvious scandal. A bishop would also be unlikely to allow a marriage to take place if there were children from a previous marriage or partnership who were not being looked after properly, including appropriate financial provision.
Any couple seeking marriage in church where one or other of them have been married before should speak to the priest whom they hope will marry them at the earliest opportunity.
Bishop Gregor (our local bishop) asks for three months notice to be given to him to enable him to be able to come to a decision. All people getting married in the Scottish Episcopal Church should expect to speak with members of the clergy before they get married. For many couples where one or other of them have been married before, meeting the bishop is part of the pastoral process leading up to the wedding itself.
A significant proportion of weddings conducted in Scottish Episcopal Churches are those where one or other (or both) of the people getting married have been married previously.
If you have children and are getting married you can discuss with the priest conducting the service ways of involving them in the ceremony.