The phrase "in a church door" (or variations like "married at the church door") refers to a specific type of marriage ceremony that was common in England and some other Western countries, primarily during the medieval period. Here's the derivation:
* Publicity and Validity: In the early Middle Ages, formal marriage ceremonies weren't always standardized or performed inside a church. To ensure a marriage was public, valid, and recognized by the community and the Church, couples would often perform the most crucial parts of the ceremony outside the church door.
* The Ceremony Outside: The key elements of the marriage (vows, exchange of rings, and the transfer of property) would often take place just outside the entrance to the church. This served several purposes:
* Public Witness: It allowed the community to witness the marriage, making it harder to later deny the union.
* Legality: It was considered a legal act performed in a public and accessible location.
* Religious Context: Being at the church door still provided a religious context and implied the blessing of the Church, even if the full mass wasn't performed.
* Entry into the Church: After the vows and exchanges were made outside, the wedding party would often then enter the church for a Nuptial Mass (a special Mass for the couple), further solidifying the religious aspect of the marriage. This part of the ceremony was for religious blessing and validation.
* Evolution and Decline: As the Church's authority and influence grew, it sought to standardize marriage practices. Over time, the Church increasingly insisted on performing the entire marriage ceremony inside the church itself. By the 16th and 17th centuries, marrying "in the church door" became less common, although the phrase lingered in legal and historical contexts. The Marriage Act of 1753 in England formalized the requirement for marriages to take place inside a church.
In essence, "married in a church door" is a historical reference to a public, legally binding, and religiously sanctioned marriage ceremony that took place outside the entrance of a church. It reflects a time when marriage practices were evolving and a balance was being struck between public witness, legal validity, and religious blessing.