Diocesan Registry

DIOCESAN REGISTRY

We specialise in the ecclesiastical law of the Church of England

You can call the Registry directly on (01722) 432390.

As the Diocesan Registry we are retained by the Diocese of Salisbury, the Diocese of Winchester and the Diocese of Portsmouth to advise the bishops, clergy, churchwardens, PCCs and other office holders in the Church of England.

We can help without charge* in a range of diocesan registry areas, including:

The Faculty process
Marriage laws, including the calling of banns and Common Licences
The Church Representation Rules and parish governance
Churchyards
The consecration and licensing of land and buildings
Common Tenure
Pastoral reorganisations and patronage
The requirements of Canon Law

*please note that this service is free for PCCs within the dioceses we cover.

We can also help PCCs and church officers with:

Advice about Data Protection obligations (Basic queries usually free of charge)
Questions about trusts and gifts (many questions dealt with free of charge)
Trustee obligations and dealing with the Charity Commission (as above)
Conveyancing and dealing with church land
Responding to a Data Subject Access Request (legal advice essential)

We may need to charge for advice in these areas, but you can call us now for a free initial consultation. We will always advise in advance if the help you seek is chargeable and give you a formal estimate of charges.

We are often able to charge for such work at a reduced charity rate.

If you have had a Clergy Discipline Measure complaint made against you, we are on your side.

No charge for a free initial consultation
We can help you apply for Ecclesiastical Legal Aid (most people don’t have to pay anything)
We’ll help you get your story across and guide you through the process

We are not able to represent respondents in the Dioceses of Salisbury, Winchester or Portsmouth, because our role is to advise the bishop in these dioceses.

Clergy settlement agreements

Our fees are often paid by your Diocese

Call us for a free initial consultation without further obligation.

You can call the Registry directly on (01722) 432390.

You can also find out more about the Registry on the Diocesan websites:

For the Diocese of Salisbury www.salisbury.anglican.org
For the Diocese of Winchester www.winchester.anglican.org
For the Diocese of Portsmouth www.portsmouth.anglican.org

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