Surrogate

In Victorian England, surrogate was an ecclesiastical official who acted on behalf of a bishop, especially in matters such as issuing marriage licenses. 

Gabriel Oak visits the surrogate's office to obtain marriage license. A marriage license was an alternative to having the marriage announced by banns on three successive sundays. By purchasing a license, the couple could marry sooner and with greater privacy.

Hardy's brief mention of the surrogate's office indicates that Gabriel has obtained marriage license. 

Marriage by banns was the ordinary and the least expensive way of marrying in the church of England during Hardy's time. 

Before wedding, the banns (a public announcement of the intended marriage ) had to be read out aloud in church on three consecutive Sundays during the main service. 
The announcement typically says:
"I publish the banns of marriage between A and B.  If any of you know cause or just impediment why these two persons should not be joined together in holy matrimony, you are to declare it." 

The purpose was to give anyone an opportunity to oppose if there was legal reasons the marriage should not take place, such as 

One party has already married.
The couple were too closely related.
One of them was underage or otherwise legally incapable.

After the banns had been read on three Sundays without valid objection, the couple could marry in church.


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