A majority of Catholics in Ireland still wish to marry in the Church, despite substantial growth in ‘New Age’ and civic ceremonies, according to a recent survey commissioned by Catholic marriage agency, Accord.

The study showed that among non-married Catholics, 60% reported that they would like to get married in a church.

However, knowledge of different ceremonial options remains low – with 53% being unaware that it is possible to have a Church wedding without a Mass.

77% also did not know that couples already married civilly can later be married sacramentally in the Church through a ceremony known as Convalidation.

Speaking with The Irish Catholic, Accord director Tony Shanahan said Catholic wedding ceremonies last year were 33% of the total marriages, and that comes even as there is a growth of choices such as secular and spiritualist weddings.

“We wanted to find out what is the attitude of Catholics nowadays to getting married and also, do they know the options available to them as Catholics.”

“The message we take is very positive – that the faith is still alive in the sense of the spiritual”, he said.