Synodical Government Measure 1969

[F1 Compilation of the roll E

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 3 substituted (1.1.2020) by Church Representation and Ministers Measure 2019 (No. 1), s. 1(3), Sch. 1 (with Sch. 3); S.I. 2019/1460, art. 2

1 (1) In every parish there must be a church electoral roll (referred to in these Rules as “the roll”) on which the names of lay persons are entered in accordance with this Part of these Rules. E

(2) A lay person is entitled to have his or her name on the roll of a parish if he or she—

(a) is baptised,

(b) is aged 16 or over (but see paragraph (7)),

(c) has made one of the following three declarations, and

(d) has duly applied for enrolment on Form 1.

(3) The first declaration is a declaration that the person—

(a) is a member of the Church of England or of a Church in communion with it, and

(b) is resident in the parish.

(4) The second declaration is a declaration that the person—

(a) is a member of the Church of England or of a Church in communion with it,

(b) is not resident in the parish, but

(c) has habitually attended public worship in the parish during the preceding six months.

(5) The third declaration is a declaration that the person—

(a) is a member in good standing of a Church which is not in communion with the Church of England but subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity,

(b) is also a member of the Church of England, and

(c) has habitually attended public worship in the parish during the preceding six months.

(6) A person who is entitled under this Rule to have his or her name on the roll of more than one parish is entitled to have his or her name on the roll of each of those parishes; but the following provisions specify purposes for which the person is required to choose one of those parishes—

(a) Rule 16(2) (membership of the house of laity of a deanery synod);

(b) Rule 33(6) (additional members of diocesan synod nominated by bishop);

(c) Rule 36(4) (eligibility for election to diocesan synod);

(d) Rule 50(8) (eligibility for election by diocesan electors);

(e) Rule M8(2) (eligibility for election as parochial representative of laity);

(f) Rule M15(6) or (7) (membership of PCC).

(7) Where a lay person, who is going to become 16 after a revision of the roll or the preparation of a new roll is complete but before the date of the annual parochial church meeting, duly applies for enrolment on Form 1, the enrolment may take effect on the person's 16th birthday.

(8) The roll of a parish must be kept and revised—

(a) by the PCC, or

(b) by the electoral roll officer under the direction of the PCC.

(9) Where a new parish is created by a pastoral scheme by the union of two or more former parishes, the roll of the new parish is in the first instance to consist of the rolls of the former parishes combined to form a single roll.

(10) In any other case where a new parish is created by a pastoral scheme, the roll of the new parish is in the first instance to consist of the name of every person who—

(a) on the date when the new parish comes into existence, has his or her name on the roll of a parish the whole or part of which forms part of the new parish, and

(b) is resident in the new parish or has habitually attended public worship there.

(11) The roll of a parish must, where practicable, specify the address of every person whose name is on it; but a failure to specify an address does not affect the validity of the entry.

(12) Where a person has provided an email address on Form 1, the roll must specify that email address.

(13) A copy of the roll of a parish must be made available for inspection, on a reasonable request being made to the PCC; and the copy made available for inspection must include every name entered on the roll but no other personal data.]