Ash, Christopher. (2003). Marriage: Sex In The Service of God IVP.
This detailed study of marriage from a conservative evangelical perspective has a chapter (ch 11, pp211-45) which look at marriage as "voluntary sexual and public social union" and includes some discussion of cohabitation (especially pp222-6 and pp232ff).
Diocese of Southwark (2003). Cohabitation: A Christian Perspective.
A helpful collection of different pieces by Christians. Summaries on the diocesan web-site linked from here
Dominian, Jack. Should Christians cohabit?.
Excerpt from leading Lay Roman Catholic psychologist's Let's Make Love (DLT, 2001)
Dormor, Duncan (2004). Just Cohabiting? The Church, Sex & Getting Married (DLT).
A more popular and accessible study than Thatcher but also arguing for a more positive Christian response. Much of the argument can be found in his October 2004 Conference Paper
Forster, Greg. (1994). Cohabitation and Marriage: A Pastoral Response. Zondervan.
A sympathetic study by leading evangelical writer in pastoral ethics.
Jenkins, Gary. Cohabitation - A Biblical Perspective. Grove Ethics Books
Helpful study holding together biblical integrity and pastoral reality. Key extracts in What's Wrong With Living Together?
Morgan, Patricia. (2000). Marriage-Lite: The Rise of Cohabitation and Its Consequences. Institute for the Study of Civil Society.
Full text on line of a critical study of the nature of cohabitation and defence of the institution of marriage.
Mothers' Union (2004). Marriage or Cohabitation? Looking For A Christian Perspective.
Short discussion paper with facts, figures, Bible texts, case studies and questions for discussion.
Pratt, Ted. Living in Sin?
Strong critique of cohabitation in a Grove booklet style.
Taylor, Philippa. For Better or For Worse: A look at marriage, cohabitation and family breakdown.
Work of CARE researcher on marriage and cohabitation.
Thatcher, Adrian. (2002). Living Together and Christian Ethics (CUP).
The fullest most recent academic study, arguing for a more positive Christian response to cohabitation and retrieval of the practice of betrothal. The heart of his argument is found in various short pieces
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See it as a start in Church Times
Before or after the wedding? in The Witness
Warrington, Keith (1997). Cohabitation and the Church, Churchman 111/2. A response appears in Churchman 1998 (112/3) by Ted Pratt.
For statistical data and info on situation in UK:
Oneplusone has collection of resources under Married or Not including:
Who cohabits, when and why? - Helpful 4 page leaflet
The Myth of Common-Law Marriage
Attitudes to Marriage & Cohabitation
Partnership & Parenthood in the 21st century
On legal rights and issues surrounding cohabitation Advicenow has excellent resources.
The Facts Behind Cohabitation is a helpful 4 page sheet produced by Civitas: The Institute for the Study of Civil Society
Recent official statistics summarised at:
General Household Survey 2002 - Summary of statistics on Marriage and Cohabitation
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