Humanist marriages less likely to end in split

● More couples than ever say ‘I do’ to non-religious nuptial ceremonies

0 Karen Watts and Martin Reijns were Scotland’s first couple to be legally married by a humanist Scottish couples who tie the knot in humanist weddings are almost four times less likely to divorce than those who choose other types of marriage ceremonies.

New figures show that people who wed in the non-religious ceremonies have a greater chance of staying together than couples who marry in Roman Catholic, Church of Scotland and civil ceremonies.

Humanist weddings have been legal in Scotland since 2005 and are now more popular than Church of Scotland and Roman Catholic weddings combined.

They have not been legalised in England and Wales.

Statistics from the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service show couples married in humanist ceremonies were three times less likely to divorce than Roman Catholic marriages, more than two times less likely to divorce than Church of Scotland marriages and almost four times less likely to divorce than civil marriages.

Analysis of 2017-18 figures shows the divorce rate for those married in the last five years by a humanist was 1.7 in every 1,000, compared to 7.3 for civil ceremonies.

The Church of Scotland divorce rate for marriages less than five years old was 5.8 in 1,000 and for Roman Catholic weddings it was five.

A similar pattern was found for couples married between five and ten years and between ten and 15 years.

The figures were obtained from the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service in a freedom of information request from Humanists UK.

Andrew Copson, chief executive of Humanists UK, said: “A humanist ceremony is an opportunity for couples to have a completely bespoke, completely unique day that reflects their beliefs and values. Humanist weddings are deeply personal, with a unique ceremony crafted for each couple by a celebrant that gets to know them well and ensures that their script and vows reflect precisely who they are and the commitment they are making to each other.

“I think that’s what gives it the strength and resilience that it has.”

Humanist Society Scotland chief executive Gordon Macrae said: “Scotland should be proud of leading the way in allowing freedom for couples to choose a humanist marriage. In 2005 there was opposition in Scotland to allowing couples the choice of a humanist ceremony as a passing fad.

“The growth in popularity that now sees Humanist Society Scotland celebrants officiate more marriages than the Church of Scotland has closed any such claim.”

A total of 5,702 humanist, 3,166 Church of Scotland, 1,182 Roman Catholic and 14,702 civil marriages took place north of the Border in 2017-18.

Karen Watts and Martin Reijns became Scotland’s first couple to be legally married by a humanist in 2005.