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Ministry of Health
TABLE 49
RELIGIOUS REPRESENTATIVES ON REGISTER
AND MARRIAGES PERFORMED BY RELIGIOUS DENOMINATION
BRITISH COLUMBIA, 1998

Denomination Number of Religious Representatives Number Who Performed Marriages Number of Marriages Performed
Anglican 540 247 828
Baptist 634 278 700
Eastern Orthodox 37 14 77
Jewish 26 11 32
Lutheran 265 137 419
Mennonite / Hutterite 392 179 362
Pentecostal 725 302 685
Presbyterian 178 88 234
Catholic 513 270 1,461
Salvation Army 158 43 77
Jehovahs Witness 104 68 175
United Church 620 316 1,778
Other Christian Religions 1,974 787 1,781
Other Non Christian Religions 328 143 800
Unknown / Not Stated 10 10 599
Total 6,504 2,887 10,008

Note: Religious categories shown above are from Statistics Canada.
Individuals with temporary appointments are counted once for each appointment.

TABLE 50
MARRIAGE COMMISSIONERS ON REGISTER
BY TYPE AND MARRIAGES PERFORMED
BRITISH COLUMBIA, 1998

Type of Commissioner Number of Commissioners Number Who Performed Marriages Number of Marriages Performed
Private Commissioner 340 335 11,738
Public Servant 9 3 3
TOTAL 349 338 11,741

Note: Individuals with temporary appointments are counted once for each appointment.

HIGHLIGHTS TO TABLE 49/TABLE 50
  • In British Columbia, marriage ceremonies can be performed by Religious Representatives or Marriage Commissioners. In 1998, there were 6,504 Religious Representatives and 349 Marriage Commissioners with the authority to solemnize marriages in the province.

  • Out of every 100 marriages in 1998:

    • 46 were performed by religious representatives (10,008 marriages)
    • 54 were civil ceremonies (11,741)