 In 1935 , due to the increasing popularity of the Gretna Green " irregular marriages " , a special committee headed by Lord Morison was appointed to look at marriage in Scotland . Rennison gave evidence before the committee in 1936 . There he claimed that he was known as " the Gretna priest " , but did not dress like one and stated that he knew he was not one . He also confirmed that he had been removing the word " priest " from marriage certificates and telling couples that they needed to confirm their marriage with the registrar at Dumfries . The committee 's findings led to the Marriage ( Scotland ) Act 1939 , which outlawed the process of " irregular marriages " . When the new law came into force in 1940 , Rennison had performed 5 @,@ 147 marriages . His role then changed to a symbolic one , " blessing " marriages and acting as caretaker of the forge . He also regularly appeared at court to ensure the marriages he performed were judicially recognised . 
