Sue De Candole

Sue is a partner in the firm and the Diocesan Registrar and Bishop’s Legal Secretary for the Bishop of Salisbury, Bishop of Winchester and the Bishop of Portsmouth. She advises the Bishops, their diocesan senior staff, committees, clergy and churchwardens and PCCs about ecclesiastical legal issues and any other legal matters needed. As both dioceses are large and the Channel Islands are included, this involves around a thousand churches.  Having previously been head of the Wills and Probate department, Sue now works exclusively in the Registry alongside a team of ecclesiastical specialists.

The Registry work is exceptionally varied and includes the church faculty jurisdiction governing changes and additions to consecrated church buildings, safeguarding, clergy discipline, parish administration and governance, church conveyancing, clergy licences, charity and trust advice. We get involved in support and direction in pastoral difficulties, reorganisations, and resolution of all sorts of problems, large and small. We are a resource largely paid for and provided by the dioceses for use by clergy and laity for advice on legal matters arising in relation to the parish, or wider afield within the dioceses. No two days are the same but our focus is always on support of the ministry and mission of the Bishops and diocesan staff, clergy and laity within the Church of England.

When out of the office Sue loves seeing family and friends, and cooking for them, gardening, sewing, photography, visiting old buildings, art galleries, museums and gardens, filling her cottage with books and  walking in the beautiful countryside around Salisbury and further afield.