Here is part of the discussion in Parliament prior to the introduction of civil registration in England & Wales.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01eq5/"REGISTER OF BIRTHS.
HC Deb 02 July 1834 vol 24 cc1073-80 1073
§ On the Motion of Lord John Russell the House went into a Committee on the Register of Births Bill.
§ Clause 1 and 2 were agreed to. On the 3rd Clause being read, Mr. Finch objected to proceeding with the Bill until explanation were given. He wished to know why the Dissenters could not establish a system of Registration without breaking up the system established by the Churchmen and without handing them over to the tax-gatherers.
1074
The Attorney General
said, that a Registration of Births of Dissenters was necessary even to Churchmen and to all persons who had or who might be left property. Without a proper and legal registry of births, marriages, and deaths it would be in many cases, and in cases where members of the establishment, and of every sect might be concerned, very difficult to decide in a Court of Law to whom property belonged. In the course of his practice he had seen in Courts of Law forgeries and many other expedients resorted to to obtain property, all of which would have been prevented if there had existed a full registry of births, marriages, and deaths."
Cheers
Guy