Marriage records, 1840

[Joy Weaver]

H folks,

I need an Irish history lesson.

I'm confused about the recording of marriages in the region surrounding Laois in 1840.  Maybe someone who understands the system of the time can help.

There is a record of a marriage between Brereton Allen and Tempey (Temperance) Brown in 1840 in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.

I understand that this is the designation of the local Roman Catholic Diocese.  However, after this couple settled in Quebec a few years later, they are consistently in Anglican Church records.

What I am trying to understand is whether all marriages in that era were recorded through the R.C. Diocese or whether this record means that the couple were R.C. in Ireland and later converted to C. of E. in Canada.

What was the Church of Ireland/ Anglican Diocese for the same region?  Or wasn't there one at that period?  What about other Protestant churches, such as Presbyterian?  Were they outlawed?  (It seems to me that I remember something exactly the opposite during British rule).

Joy Weaver
Islip, NY, USA