 Richard Rennison ( 29 October 1889 – 5 August 1969 ) was the last " anvil priest " at Gretna Green , Scotland . Between 1926 and 1940 , he performed " irregular marriages " of couples over the anvil at the Old Blacksmith Shop , where the couple proclaimed that they were single and wanted to get married in front of witnesses . As " anvil priest " , Rennison generally requested a fee of £ 1 , but was known to earn up to £ 20 for a ceremony ( approximately £ 3 @,@ 030 in 2012 ) . 
