A law giving special rights to Anglicans has been declared a breach of human rights by the High Court.
The Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 required that immigrants pay a fee of £135 in order to marry in the UK. But those who married in an Anglican church were exempt from payment. The law was intended to deter sham marriages that some immigrants arrange in order to win the right to stay in the UK.
The Church of England was given this privilege because it was considered by the government and parliament that, unlike other religious denominations, it could be relied on not to take part in sham marriages.
High Court Judge Silber reached the conclusion that this part of the Act discriminated against the majority non-Anglican population.
The Anglican Church is the state church. It is allowed to appoint 32 legislators to sit in parliament and the head of state is also the head of the Church.