This page provides a set of links to useful materials on the law of parish vacancies in the Church of England.
A time of vacancy requires all parties to work together to cover the period of vacancy and seek a new incumbent. It is hoped that the following links will be of assistance to benefices in vacancy and their patrons, each case has its own specific set of facts and so where ambiguities or uncertainties exist it is suggested that assistance is sought from the relevant Diocesan Registrar. Contact details for your Diocesan Registrar can be found at http://www.diocesanregistry.co.uk.
Statutory Materials
- Legislative Reform (Patronage of Benefices) Order 2019
- Mission and Pastoral etc. (Amendment) Measure 2018
- Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011
- (Note accompanying Code: Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 Code of Recommended Practice, vol. 1. Pastoral Reorganisation, 2019)
- Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986
- (Note accompanying Code: Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 Code of Practice: Exercise of Rights of Presentation)
Canons
Legal Opinions of the Legal Advisory Commission of the Church of England
- Benefice and Patronage – p. 3 of the 2007 publication of the Opinions
- Clergy Institution and Induction – p. 48 of the 2007 publication of the Opinions
- Appointment of incumbent on non-stipendiary basis (January 2019)
Other Resources
- Appointment of Clergy Office Holders, A Guide to Good Practice (2015)
- Diocese of Lichfield, Vacancy Procedure Guidance Note (2019)
- Diocese of Lichfield, Patronage Guidance Note (2017)
- Doe, ‘Ministers and Employment Law’ in M. Percy (ed.), The Study of Ministry (SPCK, 2019)
- Hill, Ecclesiastical Law (4th ed, Oxford, 2018) pp 107-122
- Exercising Patronage in the Church of England (Private Patrons Consultative Group, 2000)(note: predates some statutory materials above)