Church of England Dioceses are complex organisations, each with a unique history and mission at the heart of what it does. Each constituent part of a Diocese from the Board of Finance to the Deanery Synod to Parochial Church Councils will need access to legal advice. We provide commercially focussed, pragmatic advice which is sensitive to the Church of England's specific context, aims and objectives. We work with our clients to allow them to operate as effectively as possible, allowing them to successfully further the mission of the Church of England within the Diocese and beyond.
We have significant experience of advising Dioceses and their constituent bodies, including Diocesan Boards of Finance and their committees and subsidiaries, synods, clergy and lay workers, parochial church councils, church officers and parishioners.
We can provide expert legal advice across the full range of legal services required by each part of a Diocese, including specialist ecclesiastical law services required of a Diocesan Registrar.
Our specialist lawyers are knowledgeable and understand the interplay between secular law and ecclesiastical and Canon law. We provide prompt, practical and pragmatic advice, which is sensitive to the specific roles and relationships within the Church of England and other relevant pastoral considerations
Our Registry team is led by Jos Moule, the Diocesan Registrar for the Diocese of Gloucester and the Diocese of Truro. Jos is supported by a team of specialist ecclesiastical lawyers who advise on all aspects of ecclesiastical law including marriage, burial, the faculty jurisdiction, pastoral reorganisation, clergy appointments, clergy discipline, consecration and church land and buildings.
Our experience allows us to identify common issues and difficulties and allows our team to share general advice of particular importance across Dioceses. This can range from the eligibility of charity trustees to chancel repair liability, the sale of church land and buildings and endowment.
The Registry team issues a regular newsletter providing legal updates, reporting on common issues and providing practical solutions to parishes, clergy and church officers.
We also run practical training seminars on a variety of specialist subjects.
Our charity lawyers have a broad variety of legal expertise and offer a full legal service to the charity sector.
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