New MA Church Law degree approved at St Padarn’s

March 17, 2025

A new postgraduate canon law programme with an Anglican focus has been approved, and teaching will begin this September. St Padarn’s Institute in Cardiff will offer the MA Church Law, validated by Durham University. (This follows an initial transitional period this academic year, in which MA Theology has been taught with a canon law focus.)

Teaching takes place at 3 residentials per year, and for the full MA the course lasts 3 years. The programme is suitable for clergy, lawyers, church administrators and others wishing to develop their ministry or professional practice in the field of canon law, or to deepen their understanding of the way in which church communities are regulated. Although the main focus of the teaching is Anglican canon law, this is delivered alongside a comparative element, and students wishing to write on the law of other churches in their assessed essays and dissertation are encouraged to do so.

The approval of this new course follows on from the resolution of support unanimously passed by the ELS at our AGM last year: “This Society would welcome the introduction of a postgraduate qualification in canon law as part of the Common Awards partnership between the Church of England, the Church in Wales, Theological Education Institutions, and Durham University.”

To find out more information about the course visit www.stpadarns.ac.uk/machurchlaw The closing date for applications is the end of July.