The Priest must obviously stand at the midst of the Holy Table, and between it and the man and woman kneeling at the steps thereof.
236. This Prayer next following shall be omitted, where the Woman is past child-bearing. O merciful Lord, &c.
237. Then shall the Priest say. Almighty God, &c.
238. After which, if there be no Sermon declaring the duties of Man and Wife, the Minister shall read as followeth. All ye, &c.
When the Holy Communion is celebrated at the time of a marriage, the address, if used, is to be read in the usual place of the sermon in the Communion Service.
In exercise of the liberty of choosing any suitable subject relating to the duties of man and wife, it is well to insist especially upon the indissolubility of the marriage tie.
239. It is convenient that the new-married persons should receive the holy Communion at the time of their Marriage, or at the first opportunity after their Marriage.
This rubric testifies to the intention of the Church that Matrimony should be sealed by the reception of Holy Communion. When considered in conjunction with the ancient feeling in favour of early and fasting Communion, the direction of Canon 62, that Marriages should be celebrated before twelve o'clock at noon, and the custom of styling the subsequent festivity a breakfast, all point the same way. And as Marriage is for all who desire it in the fear of God, the Church hereby assumes that all her Members are Communicants.