Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986

1986 No. 3

A MEASURE passed by the General Synod of the Church of England to amend the law relating to patronage of benefices.

[18th July 1986]

Commencement Information

I1 Measure not in force at Royal Assent see s. 42(3); Measure wholly in force at 1.1.1989.

Part I U.K. Registration and Transfer of Rights of Patronage

1 Registration of patrons. U.K.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Measure, the registrar of each diocese shall compile and maintain a register indicating in relation to every benefice in the diocese the person who is the patron of the benefice and containing such other information as may be prescribed.

(2) Except as provided by this Measure, no person shall be entitled, after the expiration of the period of fifteen months beginning with the date on which this section comes into force, to exercise any of the functions of a patron of a benefice unless he is registered as patron of that benefice, and the said period is in this Measure referred to as the “registration period”.

(3) The provisions of Schedule 1 to this Measure shall have effect with respect to the registration of patrons of benefices and other matters relating thereto.

(4) The registration under this Measure of any person as a patron of a benefice shall be conclusive evidence of the matters registered.

(5) Any register maintained under this Measure shall be open to inspection by the public at all reasonable times.

2 Registration of patronage belonging to an office. U.K.

In the case of a right of patronage of a benefice which belongs to an office, the duty of the registrar of the diocese under section 1(1) of this Measure to register in relation to that benefice the person who is the patron thereof shall be construed as a duty to register that office as a patron of that benefice; and section 1(4) shall apply in relation to an office which is registered as a patron as it applies in relation to a person who is so registered.

3 Transfer of rights of patronage. E

(1) No right of patronage of a benefice shall be capable of sale and any transfer thereof for valuable consideration shall be void.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this section, a right of patronage vested in an ecclesiastical corporation shall not be transferred to any body or person unless—

(a) the consent of the bishop or, if the bishop is the proposed transferor, the consent of the archbishop has been obtained; or

(b) the transfer is made by a pastoral scheme or order.

(3) Where a right of patronage of a benefice is proposed to be transferred otherwise than by a pastoral scheme or order, the proposed transferor shall send to the bishop (or, if the bishop is the proposed transferor, to the archbishop) and to the registrar of the diocese a notice stating—

(a) his intention to transfer that right;

(b) the name and address of the proposed transferee; and

(c) particulars of the terms of the proposed transfer.

(4) On receiving a notice under subsection (3) above, the registrar shall send to the secretary of the parochial church council of the parish concerned a notice informing him of the proposed transfer and stating that before the expiration of the period of one month beginning with the date on which the notice is sent to him representations with respect to the proposed transfer may be made to the registrar by the parochial church council; and the registrar shall notify the bishop and the proposed transferor, or, if the bishop is the proposed transferor, the bishop and the archbishop, of any representations made to him within that period.

(5) After the expiration of the period of one month mentioned in subsection (4) above, the bishop or, if the bishop is the proposed transferor, the archbishop shall consider any representations made under that subsection and, whether or not any such representations have been made, the bishop or archbishop may request the proposed transferor (either personally or through some person appointed by the proposed transferor) to confer with him (or with some person appointed by the bishop or, as the case may be, the archbishop) as to the proposed transfer; and the bishop or, as the case may be, the archbishop shall not give any consent required under this section until after any such representations have been considered and any such request has been complied with.

(6) Any transfer of a right of patronage otherwise than by a pastoral scheme or order shall be in the prescribed form.

(7) Where a right of patronage of a benefice is transferred otherwise than by a pastoral scheme or order, the registrar shall not register the transferee as a patron of that benefice unless—

(a) he is satisfied that the requirements of this section have been complied with; and

(b) an application for registration is made in accordance with Schedule 1 to this Measure before the expiration of the period of twelve months from the date of the execution of the transfer;

and if no such application for registration is made before the expiration of that period of twelve months the transfer shall be of no effect.

(8) No transfer of a right of patronage of a benefice shall take effect during the period of a vacancy in that benefice [F1 unless the benefice is one to which a suspension period (within the meaning of section 67 of the Pastoral Measure 1983) applies and a person holds office as priest in charge for the benefice].

(9) In this section “transfer” means a transferinter vivos including a transfer by way of exchange; but [F2 except in subsection (6)] it does not include a transfer by operation of law, a transfer upon the appointment of a new trustee or a transfer by the personal representatives of a deceased person.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 3(8) inserted (1.9.2000) by 2000 Measure No. 1, s. 17(a); Instrument dated 30.8.2000 made by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York

F2 Words in s. 3(9) inserted (1.9.2000) by 2000 Measure No. 1, s. 17(b); Instrument dated 30.8.2000 made by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York

4 Rectification of register. U.K.

(1) The registrar of a diocese may rectify an entry in the register of patrons in any case—

(a) where all the persons interested agree to the rectification of the entry; or

(b) where the registrar decides that the entry should be rectified—

(i) because a person is, or is not, entitled to be registered as patron of a benefice, or

(ii) because information registered as to the exercise of a right of presentation to a benefice is incorrect,

and, in either case, no appeal against the registrar’s decision has been brought within the period specified in paragraph 8 of Schedule 1 to this Measure or the appeal has been dismissed; or

(c) where any rectification of the entry is required by reason of a decision of the chancellor of the diocese under that Schedule.

(2) Where in the case of an entry in the register relating to any benefice—

(a) the entry has been adverse to the claim of any person for a period of more than thirty years, or

(b) if the period of thirty years from the end of the registration period has not expired, the benefice has been held adversely to the claim of any person for a period of more than thirty years,

then, notwithstanding anything in subsection (1) above or in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to this Measure, no rectification of that entry may be made in favour of that person unless all the persons interested agree to that rectification.

(3) Section 25 of the M1 Limitation Act 1980 (time limits for actions to enforce advowsons) shall cease to have effect at the end of the registration period.

Marginal Citations

M1 1980 c. 58.

5 Rights of patronage exercisable otherwise than by registered patron. U.K.

(1) Where an office is registered as a patron of a benefice, the person who is for the time being the holder of that office shall, subject to the provisions of Part II of this Measure, be entitled to discharge all the functions of a patron of that benefice.

(2) Where a registered patron of a benefice dies then, until the person to whom the right of patronage is to be transferred is registered as a patron of that benefice, the personal representatives of the deceased patron shall, subject to the provisions of Part II of this Measure, be entitled to discharge all the functions of a patron of that benefice.

(3) A registered patron of a benefice may by an instrument creating a power of attorney confer on the donee of the power authority to discharge on his behalf all the functions of a patron of that benefice, and where such a power is created the donee shall, subject to the provisions of Part II of this Measure, be entitled to discharge those functions until the power is revoked.

(4) Any person entitled to discharge any functions in relation to a benefice by virtue of this section shall be entitled to discharge those functions notwithstanding that he is not registered in the register of patrons in relation to that benefice.

6 Abolition of registration of advowsons at Land Registry. U.K.

(1) After the date on which section 1 of this Measure comes into force, no advowson shall be registered in the register of title to freehold and leasehold land kept at Her Majesty’s Land Registry, and after the expiration of the registration period under this Measure all titles to advowsons registered in that register shall be deemed, by operation of this Measure and without any entry being made in the register, to have been closed and removed from that register.

(2) In section 3 of the M2 Land Registration Act 1925 in paragraph (viii) (definition of “land”) the words “an advowson” shall cease to have effect at the end of the registration period.

Marginal Citations

M2 1925 c. 21.

Part II U.K. Exercise of Rights of Presentation

General provisions as to filling of vacancies U.K.

7 Notification of vacancies. U.K.

(1) Subject to section 70 of the M3 Pastoral Measure 1983, where a benefice becomes vacant by reason of the death of the incumbent, the bishop shall, as soon as practicable after he becomes aware of the vacancy, give notice of that fact to the designated officer of the diocese.

(2) Subject to section 70 of the Pastoral Measure 1983, where the bishop is aware that a benefice is shortly to become vacant by reason of resignation or cession, the bishop shall give such notice of that fact as he considers reasonable in all the circumstances to the designated officer of the diocese.

(3) Any notice required to be given to the designated officer under subsection (1) or (2) above shall also be given to the registrar of the diocese, unless he is the designated officer.

(4) As soon as practicable after receiving a notice under subsection (1) or (2) above the designated officer shall send notice of the vacancy to the registered patron of the benefice and to the secretary of the parochial church council of the parish belonging to the benefice; and any such notice shall include such information as may be prescribed.

(5) In this Measure “the designated officer”, in relation to a diocese, means such person as the bishop, after consulting the bishop’s council, may designate or, if no person is designated, the secretary of the pastoral committee of the diocese.

Marginal Citations

M3 1983 No. 1.

8 Provisions as to declarations of membership. U.K.

(1) Where the registered patron of a benefice is an individual and is not a clerk in Holy Orders, he shall on receiving notice of a vacancy in the benefice under section 7(4) of this Measure—

(a) if able to do so, make a written declaration (in this Measure referred to as “the declaration of membership”) declaring that he is an actual communicant member of the Church of England or of a Church in communion with that Church; or

(b) if unable to make the declaration himself, appoint some other person, being an individual who is able and willing to make it or is a clerk in Holy Orders or one of the bodies mentioned in subsection (7) below, to act as his representative to discharge in his place the functions of a registered patron.

(2) Where the registered patron of a benefice is a body of persons corporate or unincorporate then, on receiving notice of a vacancy in the benefice under section 7(4) of this Measure, that body shall appoint an individual who is able and willing to make the declaration of membership or is a clerk in Holy Orders to act as its representative to discharge in its place the functions of a registered patron.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1) above, where the registered patron of a benefice who is an individual and is not the bishop of a diocese is of the opinion, on receiving notice of a vacancy in the benefice under section 7(4) of this Measure, that he will be unable for any reason to discharge his functions as a patron of that benefice he may, notwithstanding that he is able to make the declaration of membership, appoint such a representative as is mentioned in subsection (1)(b) above to discharge those functions in his place.

(4) Where a benefice the right of presentation to which belongs to an office (other than an ecclesiastical office) becomes vacant, the person who holds that office on the date on which the benefice becomes vacant shall be entitled to present on that vacancy and shall as soon as practicable after that date—

(a) if able to do so, make the declaration of membership, or

(b) if unable to make the declaration himself, appoint some other person, being a person who may be appointed as a representative under subsection (1)(b) above, to act as his representative to discharge in his place the functions of a registered patron.

(5) Where the right of presentation to a benefice is exercisable by the donee of a power of attorney, the donee shall as soon as practicable after receiving notice of the vacancy in the benefice (or, if the power is created during the vacancy, as soon as practicable after it is created)—

(a) if able to do so, make the declaration of membership, or

(b) if unable to make the declaration himself, appoint some other person, being a person who may be appointed as a representative under subsection (1)(b) above, to act as his representative to discharge in his place the functions of a registered patron.

(6) Where under the preceding provisions of this section a body mentioned in subsection (7) below is appointed to discharge the functions of a registered patron, that body shall as soon as practicable after being so appointed appoint as its representative an individual who is able and willing to make the declaration of membership or is a clerk in Holy Orders.

(7) The bodies referred to in subsection (1)(b) above are—

(a) the dean and chapter or the cathedral chapter of the cathedral church of the diocese;

(b) the dean and chapter of the collegiate church of St. Peter in Westminster;

(c) the dean and canons of the collegiate church of St. George, Windsor;

(d) any diocesan board of patronage;

(e) any patronage board constituted by a pastoral scheme;

(f) any university in England or any college or hall in such a university; and

(g) the colleges of Eton and Winchester.

9 Information to be sent to designated officer. E

(1) Before the expiration of the period of two months beginning with the date on which a benefice becomes vacant, [F3 or the expiration of three weeks after receiving notice of the vacancy from the designated officer under section 7(4) of this Measure, whichever is later,] a registered patron who is an individual shall send to the designated officer of the diocese—

(a) the declaration of membership made by him, or

(b) the name and address of his representative and the declaration of membership made by that representative.

(2) Before the expiration of the said period of two months, [F4 or three weeks, as the case may be,] a registered patron which is a body of persons corporate or unincorporate shall send to the designated officer of the diocese the name and address of the individual who is to act as its representative and the declaration of membership made by that representative.

(3) Where the functions of a registered patron are to be discharged by the holder of an office, subsection (1) above shall apply to the person who holds that office on the date on which the benefice becomes vacant as it applies to the registered patron.

(4) Where the functions of a registered patron are to be discharged by the donee of a power of attorney, subsection (1) above shall apply to the donee as it applies to the registered patron except that, if the power is created during the vacancy concerned, there shall be substituted for the period of two months mentioned in that subsection the period of two months beginning with the date on which the power is created, and the information required to be sent under that subsection shall include information as to that date.

(5) Where the registered patron or his representative is a clerk in Holy Orders, the registered patron shall, before the expiration of the period during which the declaration of membership is required to be sent to the designated officer under the preceding provisions of this section, notify the designated officer of that fact, and a declaration of membership made by that clerk shall not be required to be sent to the designated officer under this section.

(6) As soon as practicable after receiving information under this section as to the appointment of a representative, the designated officer shall send to the secretary of the parochial church council the name and address of that representative.

Textual Amendments

F3 Words in s. 9(1) inserted (1.6.1992) by Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 1992 (No. 1), s. 17(1), Sch. 3 para. 26(a) (with s. 18);Instrument dated 27.5.1992 made by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

F4 Words in s. 9(2) inserted (1.6.1992) by Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 1992 (No. 1), s. 17(1), Sch. 3 para. 26(b) (with s. 18);Instrument dated 27.5.1992 made by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

10 Disqualification for presentation. U.K.

Where the registered patron of a benefice or the representative of that patron, is a clerk in Holy Orders or is the wife of such a clerk, that clerk shall be disqualified for presentation to that benefice.

11 Requirements as to meetings of parochial church council. E

(1) Before the expiration of the period of four weeks beginning with the date on which the notice under section 7(4) of this Measure is sent to the secretary of the parochial church council, one or more meetings of that council shall be held for the purposes of—

(a) preparing a statement describing the conditions, needs and traditions of the parish;

(b) appointing two lay members of the council to act as representatives of the council in connection with the selection of an incumbent;

(c) deciding whether to request the registered patron to consider advertising the vacancy;

(d) deciding whether to request a meeting under section 12 of this Measure; F5 . . .

(e) deciding whether to request a statement in writing from the bishop describing in relation to the benefice the needs of the diocese and the wider interests of the Church [F6 and].

[F7 (f) deciding whether to pass a resolution under section 3(1) or (2) of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993.]

(2) A meeting of the parochial church council for which subsection (1) above provides shall be convened by the secretary thereof, and no member of that council who is—

(a) the outgoing incumbent or the [F8 spouse] of the outgoing incumbent, or

(b) the registered patron, or

(c) the representative of the registered patron,

shall attend that meeting.

(3) None of the following members of the parochial church council, that is to say—

(a) any person mentioned in subsection (2) above, and

(b) any deaconess or lay worker licensed to the parish,

shall be qualified for appointment under subsection (1)(b) above.

(4) If before the vacancy in the benefice is filled any person appointed under subsection (1)(b) above dies or becomes unable for any reason to act as the representative of, or ceases to be a member of, the council by which he was appointed, then, except where he ceases to be such a member and the council decides that he shall continue to act as its representative, his appointment shall be deemed to have been revoked and the council shall appoint another lay member of the council (not being a member disqualified under subsection (3) above) to act in his place for the remainder of the proceedings under this Part of this Measure.

(5) If a parochial church council holds a meeting under subsection (1) above but does not appoint any representatives at that meeting, then, subject to subsection (6) below, two churchwardens who are members of that council (or, if there are more than two churchwardens who are members of the council, two churchwardens chosen by all the churchwardens who are members) shall act as representatives of the council in connection with the selection of an incumbent.

(6) A churchwarden who is the registered patron of a benefice shall not be qualified under subsection (5) above to act as a representative of the parochial church council or to choose any other churchwardens so to act, and in any case where there is only one churchwarden qualified to act as such a representative that churchwarden may act as the sole representative of that council in connection with the selection of the incumbent.

(7) Any representative of the parochial church council appointed under subsection (1) or (4) above and any churchwarden acting as such a representative by virtue of subsection (5) or (6) above is in this Part of this Measure referred to as a “parish representative”, and where a churchwarden is entitled to act as the sole parish representative any reference in this Part to the parish representatives shall be construed as a reference to that churchwarden.

(8) A copy of the statement prepared under subsection (1)(a) above together with the names and addresses of the parish representatives shall, as soon as practicable after the holding of the meeting under that subsection, be sent by the secretary of the parochial church council to the registered patron and, unless the bishop is the registered patron, to the bishop.

Textual Amendments

F5 Word in s. 11(1)(d) omitted (1.2.1994) by virtue of 1993 Measure No. 2, s. 10, Sch. 3 para. 10(a); Instrument dated 31.1.1994 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York

F6 Word in s. 11(1)(e) inserted (1.2.1994) by virtue of 1993 Measure No. 2, ss. 3(7); Instrument dated 31.1.1994 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York

F7 S. 11(1)(f) inserted (1.2.1994) by virtue of 1993 Measure No. 2, ss. 3(7); Instrument dated 31.1.1994 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York

F8 Words in s. 11(2)(a) substituted (1.2.1994) by 1993 Measure No. 2, s. 10, Sch. 3 para. 10(b); Instrument dated 31.1.1994 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York

12 Joint meeting of parochial church council with bishop and patron. E

(1) Where a request for a meeting under this section is made—

(a) by a notice sent by the registered patron or the bishop to the secretary of the parochial church council, or

(b) by a resolution of the parochial church council, passed at a meeting held under section 11 of this Measure,

a joint meeting of the parochial church council with the registered patron and (if the bishop is not the registered patron) the bishop shall be held for the purpose of enabling those present at the meeting to exchange views on the statement prepared under section 11(1)(a) of this Measure (needs of the parish) and the statement presented under subsection (2) below (needs of the diocese).

(2) At any meeting held under this section the bishop shall present either orally or, if a request for a statement in writing has been made by the registered patron or the parochial church council, in writing a statement describing in relation to the benefice the needs of the diocese and the wider interests of the Church.

(3) Any notice given under subsection (1)(a) above shall be of no effect unless it is sent to the secretary of the parochial church council not later than ten days after a copy of the statement prepared under subsection (1)(a) of section 11 of this Measure is received by the persons mentioned in subsection (8) of that section.

(4) The outgoing incumbent and the [F9 spouse] of the outgoing incumbent shall not be entitled to attend a meeting held under this section.

(5) A meeting requested under this section shall be held before the expiration of the period of six weeks beginning with the date on which the request for the meeting was first made (whether by the sending of a notice as mentioned in subsection (1)(a) above or by the passing of a resolution as mentioned in subsection (1)(b) above), and at least fourteen days’ notice (unless a shorter period is agreed by all the persons concerned) of the time and place at which the meeting is to be held shall be given by the secretary of the parochial church council to the registered patron, the bishop (if he is not the registered patron) and the members of the parochial church council.

(6) If either the registered patron or the bishop is unable to attend a meeting held under this section, he shall appoint some other person to attend on his behalf.

(7) The chairman of any meeting held under this section shall be such person as the persons who are entitled to attend and are present at the meeting may determine.

(8) No meeting requested under this section shall be treated for the purposes of this Measure as having been held unless there were present at the meeting—

(a) the bishop or the person appointed by the bishop to attend on his behalf, and

(b) the registered patron or the person appointed by the patron to attend on his behalf, and

(c) at least one third of the members of the parochial church council who were entitled to attend.

(9) The secretary of the parochial church council shall invite both the rural dean of the deanery in which the parish is (unless he is the outgoing incumbent) and the lay chairman of the deanery synod of that deanery to attend a meeting held under this section.

Textual Amendments

F9 Word in s. 12(4) substituted (1.2.1994) by 1993 Measure No. 2, s. 10, Sch. 3 para.11; Instrument dated 31.1.1994 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York

13 Provisions with respect to the selection of incumbent. E

(1) The registered patron of a vacant benefice shall not make to any priest an offer to present him to a benefice until—

(a) if a request for a meeting under section 12 of this Measure has been made, either—

(i) that meeting has been held, or

(ii) all the parties concerned have agreed that no such meeting should be held, or

(iii) the period of six weeks mentioned in section 12(5) has expired; and

(b) (whether or not such a request has been made) the making of the offer to the priest in question has been approved—

(i) by the parish representatives, and

(ii) if the registered patron is a person other than the bishop of the diocese in which the benefice is, by that bishop.

(2) If, before the expiration of the period of four weeks beginning with the date on which the registered patron sent to the bishop a request for him to approve under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) above the making of the offer to the priest named in the request, no notice is received from the bishop of his refusal to approve the making of the offer, the bishop shall be deemed to have given his approval under that paragraph.

(3) If, before the expiration of the period of two weeks beginning with the date on which the registered patron sent to the parish representatives a request for them to approve under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) above the making of the offer to the priest named in the request, no notice is received from any representative of his refusal to approve the making of the offer, the representatives shall be deemed to have given their approval under that paragraph.

(4) If—

(a) the bishop refuses to approve under paragraph (b) of subsection (1) above the making of the offer to the priest named in the request, or

(b) any parish representative refuses to approve under that paragraph the making of that offer,

the bishop or the representative, as the case may be, shall notify the registered patron in writing of the grounds on which the refusal is made.

(5) Where approval of an offer is refused under subsection (4) above, the registered patron may request the archbishop to review the matter and if, after review, the archbishop authorises the registered patron to make the offer in question, the patron may make that offer accordingly. [F10 Provided that this subsection shall not apply in respect of—

(a) a parish in a diocese to which a declaration under section 2(1)(b) of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993 applies; or

(b) a benefice comprising a parish to which a resolution under section 3(1) of that Measure applies, where the refusal is made solely on grounds of gender]

(6) Where a priest accepts an offer made in accordance with the provisions of this section to present him to a benefice and the registered patron is a person other than the bishop, the patron shall send the bishop a notice presenting the priest to him for admission to the benefice.

Textual Amendments

F10 Words in s. 13(5) inserted (1.2.1994) by 1993 Measure No. 2, s. 10, Sch. 3 para.12; Instrument dated 31.1.1994 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York

14 Failure of registered patron to comply with s. 9. U.K.

(1) Where any declaration of membership or other information required to be sent to the designated officer under section 9 of this Measure is not sent to that officer before the expiration of the period during which it is required to be so sent and the registered patron is a person other than the bishop then, after the expiration of that period—

(a) no meeting shall be held under section 12 of this Measure by reason of any request made by the registered patron and subsections (2), (5), (6) and (8) of that section shall not apply in relation to that patron; and

(b) no offer shall be made to any priest under section 13 of this Measure;

but the bishop may, subject to subsection (2) below, make to such priest as he thinks fit an offer to collate him to the benefice.

(2) The bishop shall not make an offer under subsection (1) above unless the making of the offer has been approved by the parish representatives, and subsections (3), (4)(b) and (5) of section 13 of this Measure shall apply in relation to a request sent by the bishop to those representatives by virtue of this subsection as if for any reference to the registered patron there were substituted a reference to the bishop.

(3) Where under subsection (1) above the bishop makes to a priest an offer to collate him to a benefice in respect of which there is more than one person registered under this Measure, the registered patron whose turn it was to present to the benefice shall be treated for the purposes of this Measure as having exercised that turn.

15 Failure of council to comply with s. 11 or 12. U.K.

If a copy of the statement prepared under section 11(1)(a) of this Measure is not sent under subsection (8) of that section to the persons mentioned in that subsection or if notice is not given under section 12(5) of this Measure of any joint meeting requested under subsection (1)(a) of the said section 12 then—

(a) if the bishop is the registered patron, he may, without making any request for the approval of the parish representatives, make to such priest as he thinks fit an offer to collate him to the benefice; and

(b) if the bishop is not the registered patron, that patron shall be entitled to proceed under section 13 of this Measure as if paragraphs (a) and (b)(i) of subsection (1), subsection (3) and paragraph (b) of subsection (4) thereof had not been enacted.

Provisions which apply where benefice remains vacant for nine months U.K.

16 Presentation to benefices remaining vacant for nine months. U.K.

(1) If at the expiration of the period of nine months beginning with the date on which a benefice becomes vacant—

(a) no notice of presentation under section 13(6) of this Measure has been received by the bishop, or

(b) where the bishop is the registered patron, he has not received an acceptance of any offer made by him to collate a priest to the benefice,

the right of presentation to that benefice shall be exercisable by the archbishop in accordance with the provision of this section; and a notice to that effect shall be sent by the bishop to the archbishop.

(2) In calculating the period of nine months mentioned in subsection (1) above, no account shall be taken of any of the following periods, that is to say—

(a) a period during which the decision of the bishop to refuse to approve the making to a priest of an offer to present him to a benefice is under review by an archbishop,

(b) a suspension period within the meaning of the M4 Pastoral Measure 1983, and

(c) a period during which the exercise of rights of presentation is restricted under section 24 or 69 of that Measure.

(3) As soon as practicable after a right of presentation becomes exercisable by an archbishop under this section, the archbishop shall send to the secretary of the parochial church council of the parish concerned a notice requiring him within three weeks after receiving the notice to send to the archbishop copies of the statement describing the conditions, needs and traditions of the parish prepared in accordance with section 11 of this Measure together with copies of any additional observations which the council wishes the archbishop to consider.

(4) The bishop may, and if the archbishop so requests shall, send to the archbishop a statement describing in relation to the benefice the needs of the diocese and the wider interests of the Church.

(5) Before the archbishop decides on the priest to whom an offer to present him to the benefice is to be made he shall consult the bishop, the parish representatives and such other persons as he thinks fit, including other persons who in his opinion can also represent the views of the parishioners and, if during the period of nine months mentioned in subsection (1) above the approval of the bishop or the parish representatives to the making of an offer to a priest by the registered patron of the vacant benefice has been refused under section 13 of this Measure, the archbishop shall not make any offer to that priest under this section unless the consent of the bishop or, as the case may be, the parish representatives has been obtained.

(6) Where a priest accepts an offer to present him to a benefice made in accordance with the provisions of this section, the archbishop shall send to the bishop a notice presenting the priest to him for admission to the benefice.

Marginal Citations

M4 1983 No. 1.

Institution and collation U.K.

17 Provisions to have effect where bishop refuses to institute presentee. U.K.

(1) Nothing in the preceding provisions of this Measure shall be taken as affecting the power of a bishop under section 2(1)(b) of the Benefices Act 1898 or section 1 of the M5 Benefices Measure M6 1972 or any rule of law to refuse to institute or admit a presentee to the benefice.

(2) Where in exercise of any such power a bishop refuses to institute or admit a presentee to a benefice, and either no legal proceedings in respect of the refusal are brought or the refusal of the bishop is upheld in such proceedings, the presentation to the benefice affected shall be made by the registered patron whose turn it was to present when the vacancy first occurred; and for the purposes of sections 7, 9, 11 and 12 of this Measure a new vacancy shall not be treated as having occurred by virtue of this section.

Marginal Citations

M5 1972 No. 3.

M6 1972 No. 3.

18 Amendment of Benefices Act 1898. U.K.

(1) Section 3 of the Benefices Act 1898 (appeal against refusal to institute) shall have effect subject to the following amendments—

(a) in subsection (1) for the words from “require that the matter” to the end of the subsection there shall be substituted the words “appeal to the archbishop and the Dean of the Arches and Auditor who shall decide whether to uphold the bishop’s refusal or direct him to institute or admit the presentee”.

(b) for subsections (2) and (3) there shall be substituted the following subsection—

“(2) Any proceedings on an appeal under this section shall be held in public and any party to such proceedings shall be entitled to appear by counsel or a solicitor.”

(c) in subsection (4) for the words “judgment of the court” there shall be substituted the words “decision of the archbishop and Dean”;

(d) for subsection (6) there shall be substituted the following subsections—

“(6) The Dean of the Arches and Auditor may nominate a chancellor to hear, in his place, an appeal under this section with the archbishop, and where any such nomination is made any reference in subsection (1) or (4) above to the Dean shall be construed accordingly.

(7) In this section ”the archbishop’ means the archbishop of the province in which the benefice is or, where the benefice is in the diocese of the archbishop of that province or the archbishopric of that province is vacant or the archbishop is patron of that benefice, the archbishop of the other province.”

(2) For section 11 of that Act (rules) there shall be substituted the following section—

“11 Rules.

The Patronage (Appeals) Committee constituted under Schedule 1 to the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 shall have power to make rules—

(a) prescribing anything to be prescribed under this Act,

(b) regulating the procedure and practice on or in connection with proceedings on an appeal under section 3 of this Act including, without prejudice to the generality of the preceding provision, rules regulating matters relating to costs, fees and expenses in respect of any such proceedings.”

19 Notice of intention of bishop to institute or collate person to benefice. U.K.

(1) Subject to subsection (3) below, a bishop shall not on a vacancy in a benefice institute or collate any person to the benefice unless after the occurrence of the vacancy a notice in the prescribed form, signed by or on behalf of the bishop, is served on the secretary of the parochial church council of the parish concerned informing him of the bishop’s intention to institute or collate that person to the benefice specified in the notice and a period of three weeks has expired since the date of the service of the notice.

(2) As soon as practicable after receiving a notice under subsection (1) above the secretary shall cause the notice or a copy thereof to be fixed on or near the principal door of every church in the parish and every building licensed for public worship in the parish and to remain affixed thereon for two weeks.

(3) Subsection (1) above shall not apply in relation to a person designated by or selected under a pastoral scheme or order as the incumbent of any benefice.

Provisions relating to benefice of which an incumbent is patron U.K.

20 Bishop to act in place of incumbent patron in certain cases. U.K.

Where a benefice (“the ancillary benefice”) becomes vacant and it is the turn of the incumbent of another benefice (“the principal benefice”), being the registered patron of the ancillary benefice, to present to that benefice, then if, when the ancillary benefice becomes vacant or at any time during the vacancy thereof and before a notice of presentation under section 13(6) of this Measure is sent to the bishop by the incumbent of the principal benefice—

(a) the principal benefice is or becomes vacant, or

(b) the principal benefice is under sequestration, or

(c) the incumbent of the principal benefice is suspended or inhibited from discharging all or any of the duties attached to his preferment,

the bishop shall discharge in his place the functions of a registered patron.

Exercise of patronage by personal representatives U.K.

21 Exercise of patronage by personal representatives. U.K.

Where a benefice becomes vacant and either—

(a) the registered patron who would have been entitled to present upon the vacancy is dead and the person to whom the right of patronage is to be transferred has not before the vacancy occurs been registered as a patron of that benefice, or

(b) the registered patron dies during the vacancy,

then, notwithstanding anything in section 3(8) of this Measure the right of presentation to that benefice upon that vacancy shall be exercisable by that patron’s personal representatives; but, before they exercise that right, they shall comply with the requirements of sections 8 and 9 of this Measure as if they were the registered patron.

Exchange of benefices U.K.

22 Exchange of benefices. U.K.

(1) Two incumbents may by instrument in writing agree to exchange their benefices if the agreement of the following persons has been obtained—

(a) the bishop of the diocese in which each benefice is,

(b) any registered patron whose turn it is to present to either of the benefices, and

(c) the parochial church council of the parish of each benefice, the agreement having in each case been given by resolution of the council.

(2) Where a registered patron whose turn it is to present to a benefice has given his agreement under subsection (1) above to an exchange by the incumbent of that benefice, he shall be treated for the purposes of this Measure as having exercised that turn.

Special provisions as to certain benefices U.K.

23 Special provisions applicable to certain benefices. U.K.

The provisions of this Part of this Measure shall in their application to—

(a) a benefice which comprises two or more parishes,

(b) a benefice of which the parochial church council of the parish belonging to the benefice is the registered patron, and

(c) benefices held in plurality,

have effect subject to the provisions of Schedule 2 to this Measure.

Interpretation of Part II U.K.

24 Interpretation of Part II. U.K.

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) below, in this Part of this Measure, except in sections 7(4) and 10, any reference to a registered patron, in relation to any vacancy in a benefice in respect of which there is more than one patron registered under this Measure, shall be construed as a reference to the registered patron whose turn it is, according to the information in the register of patrons on the date on which the vacancy occurs, to present on that vacancy.

(2) In a case where the functions of the registered patron of a benefice in relation to a vacancy in the benefice are to be discharged by the holder of an office or the donee of a power of attorney, any reference in this Part of this Measure (except in sections 8, 9(1) to (4) and 21) to the registered patron shall (subject to subsection (3) below) be construed as a reference to that office-holder or donee as the case may be.

(3) In sections 11 and 12 of this Measure any reference to the registered patron of a benefice (except the reference in section 11(2)(b)) shall in a case where the functions of the patron in relation to a vacancy in the benefice are to be discharged by a representative be construed as a reference to that representative, and in section 13 of this Measure any reference to the registered patron of a benefice shall, in a case where the registered patron, being an individual, has appointed a body mentioned in section 8(7) of this Measure or another individual to discharge those functions, be construed as a reference to that body or that other individual, as the case may be.

(4) In this Part of this Measure, except in section 8, “representative”, in relation to a registered patron, means—

(a) in the case of a registered patron who is an individual, the individual appointed under section 8(1)(b), (3) or (6);

(b) in the case of a registered patron which is a body of persons, the individual appointed under section 8(2);

(c) in the case of a registered patron which is an office, the individual appointed under section 8(4) or (6);

(d) in a case where the functions of a registered patron are to be discharged by the donee of a power of attorney, the individual appointed under section 8(5) or (6).

(5) In this Part of this Measure “parish representative” has the meaning assigned to it by section 11(7) of this Measure.

Part III U.K. Miscellaneous Provisions as to Patronage

Appointment of patron of benefice which has no registered patron U.K.

25 Appointment of patron of benefice which has no registered patron. U.K.

Where at the expiration of the registration period or at any subsequent time no person is registered as the patron of a benefice, then unless in relation to that benefice—

(a) a notice under paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 to this Measure has been served on any person by the registrar of the diocese in which the benefice is and either the period mentioned in paragraph 8 of that Schedule has not expired or an appeal under paragraph 9 thereof has not been determined; or

(b) the right of presentation to the benefice is exercisable by the personal representatives of a deceased patron,

the Diocesan Board of Patronage for the diocese shall become the patron of that benefice, and the registrar of the diocese shall register that Board as patron accordingly.

Diocesan Boards of Patronage U.K.

26 Diocesan Board of Patronage. U.K.

(1) There shall continue to be a body corporate in every diocese called the Diocesan Board of Patronage.

(2) The constitution and rules of procedure of Diocesan Boards of Patronage shall be those set out in Schedule 3 to this Measure.

27 Powers of Diocesan Boards of Patronage. U.K.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, a Diocesan Board of Patronage shall have power to acquire, hold and transfer any right of patronage and to exercise any right of presentation or other right incident to a right of patronage held by the Board.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, a Diocesan Board of Patronage shall not transfer any right of patronage held by it to any other person without the consent of the parochial church council of the parish or each of the parishes belonging to the benefice concerned unless the transfer is authorised by or under any enactment.

(3) If a parish is transferred from a benefice in one diocese to a benefice in another diocese, the Diocesan Board of Patronage for the first-mentioned diocese may transfer its right of patronage to the Diocesan Board of Patronage of that other diocese without the consent of the parochial church council of that parish.

(4) Where the transfer of a right of patronage requires the consent of a parochial church council under this section, any transfer of the right effected without that consent shall be void.

28 Presentation by Diocesan Board of Patronage in case of void benefice. U.K.

Where a benefice becomes void under section 4 of the M7 Simony Act 1588 (simoniacal presentation etc. to a benefice declared void and the presentation to be made by the Crown for that turn) the presentation to that benefice upon that vacancy shall be made by the Diocesan Board of Patronage.

Marginal Citations

M7 1588 c. 6.

Benefices affected by pastoral re-organisation U.K.

29 Provisions as to patronage affected by pastoral schemes. U.K.

(1) In section 32 of the M8 Pastoral Measure 1983 (provisions as to patronage) in subsection (1) for the word “patron” there shall be substituted the words “registered patron” and for subsection (3) there shall be substituted the following subsections—

“(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsections (1) and (2) above, a pastoral scheme (whether it relates only to an existing benefice or provides for the creation of a new benefice) may with the consent of the registered patron or patrons of any benefice affected by the scheme provide for the transfer of existing rights of patronage to, or for the vesting of new rights of patronage in, a special patronage board constituted by the scheme.

(3A) A special patronage board constituted by a pastoral scheme by virtue of subsection (3) shall consist of such members as the scheme may provide, and the scheme may designate the member who is to be chairman of the board; and the following provisions of paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 shall apply to such patronage board as they apply to a patronage board constituted by a pastoral scheme establishing a team ministry, that is to say—

(a) sub-paragraph (6) so far as it relates to any member of a board;

(b) sub-paragraph (7) so far as it relates to the entitlement to votes of any member of a board;

(c) sub-paragraph (8), and

(d) sub-paragraph (10) so far as it relates to the transfer of the rights to be members of a board.”

(2) Where any right of patronage of a benefice is transferred to or becomes vested in any person by virtue of a pastoral scheme the registrar of the diocese in which that benefice is shall, on receiving a copy of the Order in Council confirming the scheme, register him as the patron of that benefice.

(3) Subject to any provision for the designation or selection of the first incumbent of a new benefice created by a pastoral scheme, sections 7 to 16 of this Measure shall apply to the making of the first presentation to the benefice as if the coming into operation of the scheme were the occurrence of a vacancy in the benefice.

Marginal Citations

M8 1983 No. 1.

Other amendments of the law relating to rights of patronage etc. U.K.

30 Removal of certain disabilities. U.K.

(1) The following enactments (which impose disabilities on patrons practising the Roman Catholic religion etc.) that is to say—

(a) section 13 of the Presentation of Benefices Act[3 Jas. 1. c. 5.] 1605;

(b) section 2 of the Presentation of Benefices Act[1 Will & Mary c. 26.] 1688; and

(c) section 1 of the Presentation of Benefices Act[13 Anne c. 13.] 1713,

shall cease to have effect.

(2) Section 15 of the M9 Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 (Roman Catholic member of lay body corporate not to vote in election, presentation or appointment of persons to ecclesiastical benefice, etc., in the gift, patronage or disposal of that body) shall cease to have effect in so far as it relates to benefices.

(3) Section 17 of the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 (right of presentation to benefice to devolve upon the Archbishop of Canterbury for the time being where right belongs to office which is held by person professing the Roman Catholic religion) and, in section 4 of the M10 Jews Relief Act 1858, the words from the beginning to “being; and” (similar provision relating to right of presentation belonging to office held by person professing the Jewish religion) shall cease to have effect.

Marginal Citations

M9 1829 c. 7.

M10 1858 c. 49.

31 Abrogation of rules as to lapse. U.K.

(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of section 16 of this Measure, any rule of law whereby the right of patronage of a benefice lapses to a bishop or archbishop or to Her Majesty in right of Her Crown shall cease to have effect.

(2) Nothing in this section shall affect any right of presentation which on a vacancy in a benefice is exercisable by Her Majesty—

(a) by reason of the appointment to a diocesan bishopric of the incumbent of the benefice concerned, or

(b) by reason of a vacancy in the see of a diocesan bishop who is a registered patron of the benefice concerned.

32 Advowsons appendant to become advowsons in gross. U.K.

(1) Every advowson which immediately before the date on which this section comes into force is appendant to any land or any manor shall by virtue of this section be severed from that land or manor and become an advowson in gross which—

(a) in the case of land belonging at that date to a charity, shall belong to that charity;

(b) in any other case, shall belong in his personal capacity to the person who at that date is the owner in fee simple of that land or the lord of that manor, as the case may be.

(2) Every advowson which immediately before the said date is appendant to any rectory, not being a rectory with cure of souls, shall by virtue of this section be severed from that rectory and become an advowson in gross belonging in his personal capacity to the person who at that date is the rector of that rectory.

(3) Nothing in this section shall affect the trusts, if any, on which any advowson is held.

33 Transfer of advowson held on trust for sale or comprised in settled land. E

(1) Where any advowson is [F11 subject to a trust of land], it shall be lawful for the trustees to transfer the advowson gratuitously to any person who has agreed to accept it and—

(a) being an individual—

(i) is an ecclesiastical corporation sole, or

(ii) is an actual communicant member of the Church of England, or

(b) being a body of persons, corporate or unincorporate,—

(i) is one of the bodies mentioned in section 8(7) of this Measure, or

(ii) has the furtherance of the work of the Church of England as one of its objects.

(2) Where the consent of any person is by any instrument containing such a trust, or by any statutory provision, made requisite to the execution of the trust, then, subject to [F12 section 10 of the Trusts of Land and Appointment of TrusteesAct 1996 (consents)], the trustees shall obtain the consent of that person to the execution of a transfer made lawful by subsection (1) above.

(3) The tenant for life of settled land may make a grant in fee simple of any advowson comprised in the settled land gratuitously to any such person as is referred to in subsection (1) above.

(4) Subsection (3) above shall be construed as one with the M11 Settled Land Act 1925, and that Act shall apply as if the power conferred by subsection (3) had been conferred by that Act.

(5) Nothing in any local Act or trust deed shall prevent the transfer inter vivos by trustees of an advowson which is the subject of a trust.

Textual Amendments

F11 Words in s. 33(1) substituted (1.1.1997) by 1996 c. 47, s. 25(1), Sch. 3 para. 24(a) (with ss. 24(2), 25(4)); S.I. 1996/2974, art. 2

F12 Words in s. 33(2) substituted (1.1.1997) by 1996 c. 47, s. 25(1), Sch. 3 para. 24(b) (with ss. 24(2), 25(4)); S.I. 1996/2974, art. 2

Marginal Citations

M11 1925 c. 18.

34 Abolition of certain rights etc. of patronage. U.K.

(1) The right of pre-emption of the patron of a benefice under section 4 of the M12 Parsonages Measure 1938 over any property belonging to the benefice in respect of which it is proposed to exercise a power of sale conferred by that Measure is hereby abolished.

(2) The requirement to obtain the consent of the patron of a benefice to the exercise of the power conferred by—

(a) section 2A of the Parsonages Measure 1938 (power of bishop during vacancy in benefice to divide, enlarge or improve parsonage house); or

(b) section 9(1) of the M13 Church Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 1960 (power of incumbent or bishop to take or grant easements over land belonging to benefice), or

(c) section 11(1) of that Measure (power of incumbent to dedicate certain land belonging to benefice for purpose of a highway),

is hereby abolished.

(3) The requirement to obtain the consent of the patron of a church to the exercise of the power conferred by section 20(1) of the M14 Marriage Act 1949 (power of bishop to licence chapel for publication of banns and solemnisation of marriages) is hereby abolished.

(4) The obligation imposed by section 4 of the M15 Army Chaplains Act 1868 to transmit to the patron or patrons of a church or chapel affected a copy of the draft of a scheme for constituting a precinct or district an extra parochial district for the purpose of that Act in order that he or they may have an opportunity of making observations or objections is hereby abolished.

(5) The Parsonages Board within the meaning of the M16 Repair of Benefice Buildings Measure 1972 shall consult the registered patron, if any, of the benefice affected before—

(a) determining on the alterations (if any) with which damage to the parsonage house is to be made good under section 12(3) of that Measure, or

(b) determining that the whole or part of the damage be not made good,

but shall not, in either case, be prohibited from making its determination without the consent of that patron.

F13 (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F13 S. 34(6) repealed (1.1.2001) by 2000 Measure No. 1, s. 20, Sch. 8 Pt. II; Instrument dated 14.12.2000 made by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York

Marginal Citations

M12 1938 No. 3.

M13 1960 No. 1.

M14 1949 c. 83.

M15 1868 c. 83.

M16 1972 No. 2.

Part IV U.K. General and Supplementary Provisions

Benefices in the patronage of the Crown, Duke of Cornwall or Lord Chancellor U.K.

35 Provisions with respect to benefices in the patronage of the Crown or Duke of Cornwall. E

(1) Without prejudice to the application of sections 28 and 31 of this Measure to the Crown and except as provided by this section, nothing in this Measure shall apply in relation to any benefice the patronage or any share in the patronage of which is vested in or exercisable by Her Majesty, whether in right of Her Crown or Her Duchy of Lancaster or otherwise, or is vested in or exercisable by the possessor for the time being of the Duchy of Cornwall, whether Her Majesty or a Duke of Cornwall (in this Measure referred to as a “Crown benefice”).

(2) Where it appears to the registrar of a diocese that a benefice is a Crown benefice, the registrar shall, as soon as practicable after the date on which section 1 of this Measure comes into force, notify Her Majesty or the possessor for the time being of the Duchy of Cornwall that he proposes to register Her Majesty or the possessor for the time being of the Duchy of Cornwall, as the case may be, as patron of the benefice specified in the notice.

(3) Where in the case of a Crown benefice a share only in the patronage is vested in Her Majesty or the possessor for the time being of the Duchy of Cornwall (in this section referred to as a “shared benefice”), sections 1 and 2 of this Measure shall apply for the purpose of enabling any patron other than Her Majesty or the possessor for the time being of the Duchy of Cornwall to be registered as a patron of that benefice and sections 5 and 21 of this Measure shall apply in relation to a registered patron of a shared benefice other than Her Majesty or the possessor for the time being of the Duchy of Cornwall.

(4) Where a right of patronage in a Crown benefice is transferred to any person other than Her Majesty or the Duke of Cornwall the registrar shall not register the transferee as patron of the benefice unless the application for transfer is made in accordance with Schedule 1 to this Measure before the expiration of the period of twelve months beginning with the date of execution of the transfer.

(5) Where a right of patronage of a benefice is proposed to be transferred to Her Majesty or to the possessor for the time being of the Duchy of Cornwall, section 3(2) to (7) of this Measure shall not apply but the transferor shall send a notice to the registrar to inform him of the transfer and the registrar shall notify Her Majesty or the possessor for the time being of the Duchy of Cornwall that he proposes to register Her Majesty or, as the case may be, the possessor of the Duchy of Cornwall as patron of that benefice.

(6) Section 3(1) of this Measure shall apply to the transfer of a right of patronage of a Crown benefice.

(7) Section 7 of this Measure shall apply in relation to a Crown benefice, and where the designated officer of a diocese receives a notice under that section in respect of a Crown benefice then—

(a) if the patronage is vested wholly in Her Majesty or the possessor for the time being of the Duchy of Cornwall or, in the case of a shared benefice, if the right of presentation upon the vacancy in question is exercisable by Her Majesty or the Duke of Cornwall, any parochial church council to which notice is given under section 7(4) of this Measure may send to Her Majesty or the Duke of Cornwall, as the case may be, a statement describing the conditions, needs and traditions of the parish [F14 (including the terms of any resolution under section 3(1) of the Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993 affecting the benefice in question)], and a copy of any such statement shall be sent to the bishop;

(b) if the benefice is a shared benefice and the right of presentation upon the vacancy in question is exercisable by a person other than Her Majesty or the Duke of Cornwall, sections 8 to 21 of this Measure shall apply in relation to the benefice.

(8) Section 22 of this Measure shall apply in relation to a Crown benefice and where the consent of Her Majesty or the possessor for the time being of the Duchy of Cornwall is required by that section that consent may be given in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (a) to (d) of section 81(2) of the M17 Pastoral Measure 1983 and those provisions shall have effect accordingly with the necessary modifications.

(9) Section 34 of this Measure shall apply in relation to a Crown benefice.

Textual Amendments

F14 Words in s. 35(7)(a) inserted (1.2.1994) by 1993 Measure No. 2, s. 10, Sch. 3 para.13; Instrument dated 31.1.1994 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York

Marginal Citations

M17 1983 No. 1.

36 Provisions with respect to benefices in patronage of Lord Chancellor. U.K.

Without prejudice to the provisions of the M18 Lord Chancellor (Tenure of Office and Discharge of Ecclesiastical Functions) Act 1974, the provisions of section 35 of this Measure shall apply in relation to a benefice the patronage or a share of the patronage of which is vested in the Lord Chancellor as it applies in relation to a Crown benefice, and accordingly any reference in that section to Her Majesty shall in relation to any benefice the patronage or a share of the patronage of which is so vested be construed as including a reference to the Lord Chancellor.

Marginal Citations

M18 1974 c. 25.

Supplementary provisions U.K.

37 Provisions as to notices and other documents. U.K.

(1) All notices, agreements, approvals, consents and requests required or authorised by this Measure to be served, sent, given or made shall be in writing, and all such notices, other than notices under paragraphs 7 and 8 of Schedule 1 to this Measure shall be in the prescribed form.

(2) Any notice or other document required or authorised by this Measure to be served on or sent or given to any person may be served, sent or given by delivering it to him, or by leaving it at his proper address, or by post.

(3) Any notice or other document required or authorised to be served, sent or given to a corporation or to an unincorporated body having a secretary of clerk or to a firm, shall be duly served, sent or given if it is served on or sent or given to, as the case may be, the secretary or clerk of the corporation or body or a partner of the firm.

(4) Subject to subsection (5) below, for the purposes of this section and of section 7 of the M19 Interpretation Act 1978 in its application to this section, the proper address of the person on or to whom any such notice or other document is required or authorised to be served, sent or given shall be his last known address, except that in the case of the secretary or clerk of a corporation, it shall be that of the registered or principal office of the corporation, and in the case of the secretary or clerk of an unincorporated body or a partner of a firm, it shall be that of the principal office of the body or firm.

(5) If the person on or to whom any such notice or other document is to be served, sent or given has specified an address within the United Kingdom for the serving, sending or giving of the notice or other document, his proper address for the said purposes shall be that address.

Marginal Citations

M19 1978 c. 30.

38 Patronage (Procedure) Committee. E

(1) There shall be a committee, to be known as the Patronage (Procedure) Committee, which shall consist of a chairman and four other members appointed by the Standing Committee.

(2) The Patronage (Procedure) Committee shall have power to make rules with regard to any matter of procedure arising under this Measure and in particular with regard to any matter to be prescribed thereunder, except that no rules may be made under this subsection with regard to any matter in respect of which rules may be made by the Patronage (Appeals) Committee under paragraph 11 of Schedule 1 to this Measure.

(3) Any three members of the Patronage (Procedure) Committee may exercise all the powers of the Committee.

(4) Any rules made by the Patronage (Procedure) Committee shall be laid before the General Synod and shall not come into force until approved by the General Synod, whether with or without amendment.

(5) Where the Standing Committee determines that the rules do not need to be debated by the General Synod, then, unless—

(a) notice is given by a member of the General Synod in accordance with its Standing Orders that he wishes the rules to be debated, or

(b) notice is so given by any such member that he wishes to move an amendment to the rules F15 . . .,

the rules shall for the purposes of subsection (4) above be deemed to have been approved by the General Synod without amendment.

(6) The M20 Statutory Instruments Act 1946 shall apply to rules approved by the General Synod under this section as if they were statutory instruments and were made when so approved, and as if this Measure were an Act providing that any such rules shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Textual Amendments

F15 Words in s. 38(5)(b) repealed (1.9.1995) by 1995 No. 2, s. 14; Instrument dated 26.7.1995 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 38(1)(5): functions transferred (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/1715, arts. 1(2)(4), 2, Sch. 1; 1998 No. 1, s. 5; Instrument dated 14.10.1998 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York

Marginal Citations

M20 1946 c. 36.

39 Interpretation. U.K.

(1) In this Measure, unless the context otherwise requires—

• “actual communicant member of the Church of England” means a member of the Church of England who is confirmed or ready and desirous of being confirmed and has received Communion according to the use of the Church of England or of a Church in communion with the Church of England at least three times during the twelve months preceding the date on which he makes the declaration of membership;

• “actual communicant member of a Church in communion with the Church of England” means a communicant member of a Church in communion with the Church of England who has received Communion according to the use of the Church of England or of a Church in communion with the Church of England at least three times during the twelve months preceding the date on which he makes the declaration of membership;

• “archbishop” means the archbishop of the province in which the benefice is or, where the benefice is in the diocese of the archbishop of that province or the archbishopric of that province is vacant or the archbishop is the patron of that benefice, the archbishop of the other province;

• “benefice” means the office of rector or vicar of a parish or parishes, with cure of souls, but not including the office of vicar in a team ministry or any office in a cathedral church;

• “the bishop” means the bishop of the diocese concerned;

• “clerk in Holy Orders” means a priest or deacon of the Church of England and “priest” includes a bishop;

• “the declaration of membership” has the meaning assigned to it by section 8(1);

• “the designated officer” has the meaning assigned to it by section 7(5);

• “parish” means a parish constituted for ecclesiastical purposes and does not include a conventional district;

• “pastoral committee”, “pastoral order” and “pastoral scheme” have the same meanings respectively as in the M21 Pastoral Measure 1983;

• “patron”, in relation to any benefice, means the person or persons entitled, otherwise than by virtue of section 16, to present to that benefice upon a vacancy, including—

(a) in any case where the right to present is vested in different persons jointly, every person whose concurrence would be required for the exercise of the joint right, and

(b) in any case where the patronage is vested in different persons by way of alternate or successive right of presentation, every person who would be entitled to present on the next or any subsequent turn;

• “register of patrons” means a register compiled and maintained under section 1;

• “registered” means registered under this Measure in a register of patrons;

• “registered person”, in relation to a benefice, means any person who or office which is for the time being registered as a patron of that benefice;

• “registration period” has the meaning assigned to it by section 1(2);

• “the Standing Committee” means the Standing Committee of the General Synod.

(2) Where a pastoral scheme or pastoral order provides for the holding of benefices in plurality any reference in this Measure to a benefice shall be construed as including a reference to benefices held in plurality.

(3) If any question arises whether a Church is a Church in communion with the Church of England, it shall be conclusively determined for the purposes of this Measure by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

Marginal Citations

M21 1983 No. 1.

40 Temporary provision with respect to filling of certain vacancies. U.K.

Where a benefice is vacant at the date on which section 1 of this Measure comes into force, or becomes vacant after that date and before the end of the registration period, the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the law in force immediately before that date, except that if a suspension period has been declared in respect of the benefice under section 67 of the M22 Pastoral Measure 1983 or any restriction has been imposed by section 69 of that Measure in respect of the benefice and the suspension period does not come to an end, or the restriction does not cease to be in force, until after the end of the registration period, the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of this Measure.

Marginal Citations

M22 1983 No. 1.

41 Amendments and repeals. U.K.

(1) The enactments specified in Schedule 4 to this Measure shall have effect subject to the amendments specified in that Schedule, being minor amendments or amendments consequential on the provisions of this Measure.

(2) Subject to section 40 of this Measure, the enactments specified in Schedule 5 to this Measure (which include enactments which were obsolete, spent or unnecessary before the passing of this Measure) and the instrument there specified are hereby repealed to the extent specified in column 3 of that Schedule.

42 Short title, extent and commencement. E

(1) This Measure may be cited as the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986.

(2) This Measure shall extend to the whole of the provinces of Canterbury and York, except the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, but may be applied to the Channel Islands, as defined in the Channel Islands (Church Legislation) Measures 1931 and 1957, or either of them, in accordance with those Measures, and may be extended to the Isle of Man by or under Act of Tynwald.

(3) This Measure shall come into operation on such date as the Archbishops of Canterbury and York may jointly appoint; and different dates may be appointed for different provisions.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 42(3): Power of appointment conferred by s. 42(3) fully exercised: 1.1.1987 appointed for ss. 26, 27, 38, 39, 42, Sch. 3 and the repeal by Schedule 5 of the Benefices (Diocesan Boards of Patronage) Measure 1932 (No. 1), 1.10.1987 appointed for ss. 1, 2, 6, 35(1), (2), (3), 36, 37, 40 and Sch. 1 and 1.1.1989 appointed for the remainder of the Measure, by Instrument dated 31.12.1986

SCHEDULES

Section 1.

SCHEDULE 1 U.K. Registration of Patrons

Preparation of list of patrons U.K.

1 U.K. The registrar of each diocese shall before the expiration of the period of one month beginning with the date on which section 1 of this Measure comes into force prepare a list of all the benefices in the diocese which shall specify in relation to each benefice the person who in the opinion of the registrar is entitled to be registered under this Measure as the patron thereof and shall contain, in a case where he considers that more than one person is entitled to be so registered, such information as may be prescribed as to the exercise of the right to present to that benefice upon a vacancy.

2 (1) Before the expiration of the period of six weeks beginning with the date on which section 1 of this Measure comes into force the registrar shall— U.K.

(a) send to each person who is named in the list prepared under paragraph 1 above a notice specifying the benefice or benefices in respect of which the registrar considers he is entitled to be registered and containing such information as may be prescribed (including, in the case of patronage vested in more than one person, prescribed information as to the exercise of the right of presentation),

(b) advertise in the prescribed manner such information concerning the list prepared by the registrar and the provisions of this Measure as may be prescribed.

(2) Any notice under sub-paragraph (1)(a) above shall inform the person to whom the notice is sent that the registrar proposes at the end of the registration period to register that person as a patron of the benefice specified in the notice and also to register the information contained in the notice unless before that date some other person applies to be registered in respect of the same right of patronage or expresses disagreement with that information; and the person to whom the notice is sent shall be required to acknowledge in the prescribed form the receipt of the notice.

(3) The registrar shall send to the incumbent of the benefice concerned and to the secretary of the parochial church council concerned a copy of any notice sent by him under sub-paragraph (1)(a) above.

Application for registration U.K.

3 U.K. Any person who claims to be a patron of a benefice at the date on which section 1 of this Measure comes into force may before the end of the registration period apply to the registrar of the diocese in which the benefice is situated to be registered as a patron of that benefice, notwithstanding that he is not named on the list prepared by that registrar under paragraph 1 above.

4 U.K. Any person to whom a right of patronage of a benefice is transferred after the date on which section 1 of this Measure comes into force shall before the expiration of the period of twelve months beginning with the date on which the transfer takes effect apply to the registrar of the diocese to be registered as a patron of that benefice.

5 U.K. Any person who claims in relation to any benefice—

(a) that he is entitled to be registered as a patron of that benefice in place of, or in addition to, any person who is so registered, or

(b) that any information registered as to the exercise of a right of presentation to that benefice is incorrect,

may at any time apply to the registrar of the diocese for the register to be rectified under section 4 of this Measure.

6 U.K. Any application made under paragraph 3, 4 or 5 above shall be accompanied by such documents and other information as may be prescribed.

Determination of disputes U.K.

7 U.K. Where the registrar—

(a) decides that any person—

(i) who is named in a list prepared under paragraph 1 above, or

(ii) who has made an application under paragraph 3, 4 or 5 above,

is not entitled to be registered as a patron of the benefice concerned; or

(b) decides that information which any patron of a benefice wishes to be registered as to the exercise of his right to present to that benefice ought not to be registered; or

(c) decides that any person who is registered as a patron of a benefice was not entitled to be so registered; or

(d) decides that any information which is registered as to the exercise of a right to present to a benefice is incorrect,

he shall serve a notice on that person informing him of his decision and of the effect of paragraphs 8 and 9 below.

8 U.K. A person on whom a notice is served under paragraph 7 above may, before the expiration of the period of twenty-eight days beginning with the date of the notice, appeal against the registrar’s decision by sending him a notice of appeal.

9 (1) On receiving a notice of appeal under paragraph 8 above the registrar shall refer the appeal to the chancellor of the diocese and the chancellor shall decide whether to uphold the appeal or dismiss it and shall inform the registrar and the appellant of his decision. U.K.

(2) Any proceedings on an appeal to the chancellor of a diocese under this paragraph shall be held in public and any party to such proceedings shall be entitled to appear by counsel or a solicitor.

Rules U.K.

10 (1) There shall be a committee to be known as the Patronage (Appeals) Committee which shall consist of— E

• the Dean of the Arches and Auditor or, if the Dean nominates the Vicar-General of the Province of Canterbury, or the Vicar-General of the Province of York to act in his place, the Vicar-General so nominated;

• one chancellor and one diocesan registrar nominated jointly by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York; and

• two persons nominated by the Standing Committee.

(2) Any three members of the Patronage (Appeals) Committee, one of whom shall be the Dean of the Arches and Auditor or the Vicar-General nominated by the Dean under sub-paragraph (1) above, may exercise all the powers of the Committee.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C3 Sch. 1 para. 10(1): functions transferred (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/1715, arts. 1(2)(4), 2, Sch. 1; 1998 No. 1, s. 5; Instrument dated 14.10.1998 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York

F16 11 E The Patronage (Appeals) Committee shall have power to make rules regulating the procedure and practice on or in connection with proceedings on an appeal under this Schedule including, without prejudice to the generality of the preceding provision, rules regulating matters relating to costs, fees and expenses in respect of any such proceedings.

Textual Amendments

F16 S. 11 amended (1.2.1994) by 1993 No. 2, s. 3(7); Instrument dated 1.1.1994 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York

12 (1) Any rules made by the Patronage (Appeals) Committee shall be laid before the General Synod and shall not come into force until approved by the General Synod, whether with or without amendment. E

(2) Where the Standing Committee determines that the rules do not need to be debated by the General Synod, then, unless—

(a) notice is given by a member of the General Synod in accordance with its Standing Orders that he wishes the rules to be debated, or

(b) notice is so given by any such member that he wishes to move an amendment to the rules and at least twenty-five other members of the Synod indicate when the amendment is called that they wish the amendment to be moved,

the rules shall for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) above be deemed to have been approved by the General Synod without amendment.

(3) The M23 Statutory Instruments Act 1946 shall apply to rules approved by the General Synod under this paragraph as if they were statutory instruments and were made when so approved, and as if this Measure were an Act providing that any such rules shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C4 Sch. 1 para. 12(2): functions transferred (1.1.1999) by S.I. 1998/1715, arts. 1(2)(4), 2, Sch. 1; 1998 No. 1, s. 5; Instrument dated 14.10.1998 made by Archbishops of Canterbury and York

Marginal Citations

M23 1946 c. 36.

Registration U.K.

13 (1) In the case of any disagreement as to the person entitled to be registered as patron of a benefice or as to the exercise of the right of presentation, the registrar as soon as practicable after he— U.K.

(a) has determined that a person is entitled to be registered as a patron of a benefice (and has determined the information, if any, to be registered as to the exercise of the right of presentation) and either the period mentioned in paragraph 8 above has expired or the appeal has been dismissed; or

(b) has been informed of the decision of the chancellor on an appeal brought under paragraph 9 above, being a decision as to the person entitled to be registered as a patron of that benefice or as to any information to be registered in respect of the exercise of right of presentation,

shall register that person as a patron of that benefice in the register of patrons accordingly (together with any information to be registered as to the exercise of the right of presentation) and shall inform him that he has done so.

(2) Unless the person entitled to the right of patronage in question has already been registered under sub-paragraph (1) above, the registrar shall at the end of the registration period register in the register of patrons as a patron of the benefice specified in a notice under paragraph 2 above the person to whom the notice was sent (and the information in that notice) and shall inform him that he has done so.

Notices to parishes U.K.

14 U.K. After the registrar has registered any person as a patron of a benefice he shall within one month from the end of the registration period or, in the case of a right of patronage registered after the end of that period, as soon as practicable after the registration, send to the secretary of the parochial church council of the parish, or of each of the parishes, belonging to the benefice a notice stating that that person has been registered and giving the name and address of that person and particulars of the benefice and of the information which has been registered in relation thereto.

Benefices held in plurality U.K.

15 U.K. The preceding provisions of this Schedule shall have effect for the purpose of enabling any person who is a patron of two or more benefices which are for the time being held in plurality, to be registered as a patron of those benefices while so held subject to the modification that for references to a benefice there shall be substituted references to benefices so held.

Rights of patronage belonging to an office U.K.

16 U.K. Where a right of patronage of a benefice belongs to, or is claimed to belong to, an office, the provisions of this Schedule shall have effect subject to the following modifications—

(a) the notice required to be sent under paragraph 2(1)(a) shall be sent to the person who then holds that office and shall state the intention of the registrar to register that office as a patron of that benefice;

(b) any person who at the time of the application holds that office, and claims that on the date on which section 1 of this Measure comes into force a right of patronage of that benefice belonged to that office, may apply under paragraph 3 for that office to be registered as a patron of that benefice;

(c) any person who at the time of the application holds that office (being an office to which a right of patronage has been transferred after the said date) may apply under paragraph 4 for that office to be registered as a patron of that benefice;

(d) any notice required to be served under paragraph 7 or information required to be given under paragraph 9 or 13 shall be served on or given to the person who then holds that office.

Section 23.

SCHEDULE 2 U.K. Modification of Part II in its Application to Certain Benefices

Benefice comprising two or more parishes U.K.

1 U.K. Where a benefice comprises two or more parishes then, except in a case in which paragraph 19 or 20 below applies, the provisions of Part II of this Measure shall have effect subject to the modifications for which paragraphs 2 to 18 below provide.

2 U.K. In section 7(4), for the words “the parish” there shall be substituted the words “each of the parishes”.

3 U.K. In section 9(6) for the words “secretary of the parochial church council” there shall be substituted the words “secretaries of the parochial church councils”.

4 E For section 11(1) there shall be substituted:—

“(1) Before the expiration of the period of four weeks beginning with the date on which the notice under section 7(4) of this Measure is sent to the secretaries of the parochial church councils concerned one or more joint meetings of those councils shall be held for the purposes of—

(a) discharging the duties imposed on them by subsection (1A) below;

(b) appointing such number of persons, but not less than four, as will enable each of those councils to have at least one representative, [F17 but not more than two representatives,] to act as representatives of those councils in connection with the selection of an incumbent;

(c) deciding whether to request the registered patron to consider advertising the vacancy;

(d) deciding whether to request a meeting under section 12 of this Measure;

(e) deciding whether to request a statement in writing from the bishop describing in relation to the benefice the needs of the diocese and the wider interests of the church;

and each person appointed under paragraph (b) shall be a member of one of the parochial church councils concerned.

(1A) At the meeting, or the first meeting, convened under this section, the parochial church councils shall decide whether they will join in preparing a statement describing the conditions, needs and traditions of the parishes belonging to the benefice or whether the parochial church council of each parish will prepare such a statement in relation to that parish, and that decision having been made, the parochial church councils of those parishes or the parochial church council of each parish, as the circumstances require, shall prepare such a statement.”

Textual Amendments

F17 Words in Sch. 2 para. 4 inserted (1.6.1992) by Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 1992 (No. 1), s. 17(1), Sch. 3 para.27 (with s. 18);Instrument dated 27.5.1992 made by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.

5 U.K. In section 11(2), for the words from the beginning to “council”, in the second place where it occurs; there shall be substituted the words “A joint meeting of the parochial church councils for which subsection (1) above provides shall be convened by the secretaries of those councils, and no member of any of those councils”.

6 U.K. In section 11(3), for the words “the parochial church council” there shall be substituted the words “any of the parochial church councils” and for the words “the parish” there shall be substituted the words “any of the parishes”.

7 U.K. In section 11(4), for the words from “the council by which he was appointed” to the end there shall be substituted the words “any of the councils by which he was appointed then, except where he ceases to be such a member and those councils decide that he shall continue to act as their representative, his appointment shall be deemed to have been revoked and those councils shall appoint another lay member of any of those councils in his place”.

8 U.K. For section 11(5) there shall be substituted—

“(5) If the parochial church councils concerned hold a joint meeting under subsection (1) above but do not appoint representatives under paragraph (b) of that subsection, all the churchwardens who are members of any of the councils concerned shall appoint not more than five of those churchwardens to act as representatives of those councils in connection with the selection of an incumbent.”

9 U.K. In section 11(8) for “1(a)” there shall be substituted “(1A)” and for the words “secretary of the parochial church council” there shall be substituted the words “secretaries of the parochial church councils”.

10 U.K. For section 12(1) there shall be substituted—

“(1) Where a request for a meeting under this section is made—

(a) by a notice sent by the registered patron or the bishop to the secretaries of the parochial church councils concerned or

(b) by a resolution of those councils passed at a joint meeting held under section 11 of this Measure,

a joint meeting of those councils with the registered patron and (if the bishop is not the registered patron) the bishop shall be held for the purpose of enabling those present at the meeting to exchange views on the statement or statements prepared under section 11(1A) of this Measure (needs of the parish) and the statement presented under subsection (2) below (needs of the diocese).”

11 U.K. In section 12(2) for the word “council” there shall be substituted the word “councils”.

12 U.K. In section 12(3) for the words “the parochial church council” there shall be substituted the words “each of the parochial church councils concerned” and for “(1)(a)” there shall be substituted “(1A).”

13 U.K. In section 12(5) for the words “secretary of the parochial church council” there shall be substituted the words “secretaries of the parochial church councils” and for the words “parochial church council” in the second place where those words occur there shall be substituted the words “parochial church councils concerned”.

14 U.K. In section 12(8)(c) for the word “council” there shall be substituted the words “councils concerned”.

15 U.K. In section 12(9) for the words “The secretary of the parochial church council shall invite both the rural dean of the deanery in which the parish is” there shall be substituted the words “The secretaries of the parochial church councils concerned shall invite both the rural dean of the deanery which comprises the parishes concerned.”

16 U.K. In section 16(3) for the words “of the parish”, in the first place where those words occur, there shall be substituted the words “of each of the parishes belonging to the benefice”.

17 U.K. In section 19(1) for the words “of the parish” there shall be substituted the words “of each of the parishes”.

18 U.K. In section 22(1) for the words “the parish of each benefice” there shall be substituted the words “every parish belonging to each benefice”.

Benefices having team council or joint parochial church council U.K.

19 U.K. Where, by a pastoral scheme or by a scheme made under the Church Representation Rules, a team council is established in respect of a benefice which comprises more than one parish, the functions under Part II of this Measure of the parochial church councils of those parishes shall be exercisable by the team council.

20 U.K. Where, by a pastoral scheme or by a scheme made under the Church Representation Rules, a joint parochial church council is established for all the parishes of a benefice, the functions under Part II of this Measure of the parochial church councils of those parishes shall be exercisable by the joint parochial church council.

Benefice of which parochial church council is the registered patron U.K.

21 U.K. Where the parochial church council of the parish belonging to a benefice is the registered patron of the benefice, Part II of this Measure shall have effect in relation to that benefice as if the provisions thereof requiring the appointment of parish representatives and the approval of such representatives to the making of an offer to present a priest to the benefice, and any other provisions thereof referring to such representatives, were omitted.

Benefices held in plurality U.K.

22 U.K. Where two or more benefices are held in plurality, the provision of Part II of this Measure shall have effect in relation to them as if they were a single benefice comprising two or more parishes.

Section 26.

SCHEDULE 3 U.K. Constitution and Procedure of a Diocesan Board of Patronage

1 (1) A Diocesan Board of Patronage (hereinafter referred to as “the Board”) shall consist of— U.K.

(a) the bishop of the diocese;

(b) three clerks in Holy Orders beneficed in or licensed to any parish in the diocese elected by the house of clergy of the diocesan synod by the method of the single transferable vote;

(c) five lay persons elected by the house of laity of that synod by the method of the single transferable vote; and

(d) for the purpose of transacting any business relating to a particular benefice, the archdeacon in whose archdeaconry, and both chairmen of the deanery synod of the deanery in which, that benefice is.

(2) An archdeacon shall not be qualified to be elected under sub-paragraph (1)(b).

2 U.K. The bishop of the diocese may nominate any suffragan bishop or assistant bishop holding office in the diocese to act in his place as a member of the Board on such occasions as he may determine.

3 U.K. The Board shall elect one of its members other than the bishop to be the chairman of the Board.

4 (1) The election of members of the Board shall take place every six years in the same year as, but after, the election of members of the diocesan synod, and the elected members of the Board shall hold office for a term of six years beginning with 1st January next following their election. U.K.

(2) Where a casual vacancy occurs among the elected members of the Board, then—

(a) if the vacancy is among the members elected under paragraph 1(1)(b) above, the vacancy shall be filled by the election by the elected clerical members of the Bishop’s Council of a person qualified to be elected under that paragraph,

(b) if the vacancy is among the members elected under paragraph 1(1)(c) above, the vacancy shall be filled by the election by the elected lay members of the Bishop’s Council of a lay person.

(3) Any person elected to fill a casual vacancy shall hold office only for the unexpired portion of the term of office of the person in whose place he is elected.

(4) An elected member of the Board, if qualified for election, shall be eligible for re-election on the termination of any period of office.

5 (1) The quorum of the Board shall be six. U.K.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (1), the Board may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership.

6 U.K. A clerical member of the Board shall not take part in any proceedings of the Board connected with the exercise of a right of presentation in favour of himself.

7 U.K. Subject to the preceding provisions and to any directions as to procedure given by the diocesan synod, the Board shall have power to regulate its own procedure.

8 U.K. No election shall be held under this Schedule until after the election of members of the diocesan synod to be held in the year 1988 and any member of a diocesan board of patronage who holds office on the date on which this Schedule comes into force shall, subject to paragraph 4(2) and (3) above, continue in office until the 31st December 1988.

Section 41.

SCHEDULE 4 U.K. Minor and Consequential Amendments

M24 Pluralities Act 1838 U.K.

Marginal Citations

M24 1838 c. 106.

1 U.K. In section 58 of the Pluralities Act 1838 for the words from “upon any such” to the end there shall be substituted the words “no offer of any benefice which becomes void under this section shall be made under any provision of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 or otherwise to the person by reason of whose non-residence the benefice so became void”.

M25 Parsonages Measure 1938 U.K.

Marginal Citations

M25 1938 No. 3.

2 U.K. In section 2A of the Parsonages Measure 1938 for the words “the Diocesan Dilapidations Board and the patron of the benefice” there shall be substituted the words “and the Diocesan Dilapidations Board”.

3 U.K. In section 3(1) of that Measure for the words “the patron”, where first occurring, there shall be substituted the words “the registered patron”, and the words from “Provided” to the end shall be omitted.

4 U.K. In section 7 of that Measure immediately before the word “patron” wherever occurring, there shall be inserted the word “registered”.

5 U.K. In section 13 of that Measure immediately before the word “patron”, wherever occurring, there shall be inserted the word “registered”.

6 U.K. In section 15(1) of that Measure paragraph (i) shall be omitted and in paragraphs (ii) and (iii) immediately before the word “patron” there shall be inserted the word “registered”.

7 U.K. In section 16 of that Measure immediately before the word “patron”, where first occurring, there shall be inserted the word “registered”, and at the end of that section there shall be inserted the words “and for the purposes of this Measure Her Majesty shall be deemed to be the registered patron of a benefice the patronage of which is vested in the Crown or is part of the possessions of the Duchy of Lancaster, and the possessor for the time being of the Duchy of Cornwall shall be deemed to be the registered patron of a benefice the patronage of which is part of the possessions of that Duchy”.

8 U.K. At the end of section 20 of that Measure there shall be inserted the words “and ”registered patron’ has the same meaning as in the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986”.

M26 New Parishes Measure 1943 U.K.

Marginal Citations

M26 1943 No. 1.

9 U.K. In section 28 of the New Parishes Measure 1943 for the words “parochial church council or patron” there shall be substituted the words “or parochial church council”.

M27 Parsonages (Amendment) Measure 1947 U.K.

Marginal Citations

M27 1947 No. 3.

10 U.K. In section 1 of the Parsonages (Amendment) Measure 1947 immediately before the word “patron” there shall be inserted the word “registered”, and at the end of that section there shall be added the following paragraph—

“In this section “registered patron>” has the same meaning as in the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986.”

M28 City of London (Guild Churches) Act 1952 U.K.

Marginal Citations

M28 1952 c. xxviii.

11 U.K. In section 9(6) of the City of London (Guild Churches) Act 1952 for the words from the beginning to “1931” there shall be substituted the words “The Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986”.

12 U.K. In section 10(1) of that Act for the word “is” there shall be substituted the words “was at the passing of this Act”.

M29 Synodical Government Measure 1969 U.K.

Marginal Citations

M29 1969 No. 2.

13 U.K. In Schedule 3 of the Synodical Government Measure 1969 (Church Representation Rules)—

(a) in rule 16(3) there shall be inserted at the end the words “or the functions of a parochial church council under Part II of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986”;

(b) in rule 17—

(i) in paragraph (1)(c) there shall be inserted at the beginning the words “subject to paragraph 20 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986”;

(ii) in paragraph (2) after the words “said Measure” there shall be inserted the words “and to paragraph 20 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986”;

(c) in rule 17A—

(i) in paragraph (1)(c) there shall be inserted at the beginning the words “subject to paragraph 19 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986”;

(ii) in paragraph (2) after the words “the said Measure” there shall be inserted the words “and to paragraph 19 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986”;

(d) in rule 17B—

(i) in paragraph (1)(c) after “1983” there shall be inserted the words “and its functions under Part II of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986”;

(ii) at the end of paragraph 3 there shall be added the words “except that the functions of a parochial church council under Part II of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 may not be delegated to a group council”.

M30 Repair of Benefice Buildings Measure 1972 U.K.

Marginal Citations

M30 1972 No. 3.

14 U.K. In the proviso to section 12(3) of the Repair of Benefice Buildings Measure 1972 for the words “the patron” there shall be substituted the words “after consulting the registered patron”, and after the word “consent”, where last occurring, there shall be inserted the words “and after such consultation”.

15 U.K. In section 21(1) of that Measure for the words from “without” to “patron” there shall be substituted the words “until after he has consulted the registered patron, and obtained the consent of the Board”.

16 U.K. In section 31(1) of that Measure for the definition of “patron” there shall be substituted the words “”registered patron’ has the same meaning as in the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986”.

M31 Pastoral Measure 1983 U.K.

Marginal Citations

M31 1983 No. 1.

17 U.K. In section 18(2) of the Pastoral Measure 1983—

(a) in the proviso for the words “section 1 of the Benefices (Exercise of Rights of Presentation) Measure 1931” there shall be substituted the words “section 7 of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986”;

(b) in paragraph (b) of the proviso for the words “section 1” there shall be substituted the words “section 7”.

18 U.K. In section 67 of that Measure—

(a) in subsection (1) for the word “patron”, in each place where it occurs, there shall be substituted the words “registered patron”;

(b) in subsection (6) for paragraph (b) there shall be substituted—

“(b) the registered patron of the benefice, unless the only registered patron is the bishop;”.

19 U.K. In section 68(2) of that Measure for the word “patron” there shall be substituted the words “registered patron”.

20 U.K. In section 69 of that Measure—

(a) in subsection (1) for the word patron, in both places where that word occurs, there shall be substituted the words “registered patron”;

(b) in subsection (2) for paragraph (a) there shall be substituted—

“(a) the registered patron, unless the only registered patron is the bishop;”;

for the word “patron” in the second place where it occurs there shall be substituted the words “registered patron” and for the words from “and the requirement” to the end of the subsection there shall be substituted the words “and the provisions of section 7 of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 shall, subject to the modifications made by section 70 of this Measure, apply”.

21 U.K. In section 70 of that Measure—

(a) in paragraph (a) for the words “section 1 of the Benefices (Exercise of Rights of Presentation) Measure 1931” there shall be substituted the words “section 7 of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986”;

(b) in paragraph (d) for the words “section 1” there shall be substituted the words “section 7(4)”.

22 U.K. For section 80(1) of that Measure there shall be substituted the following subsection—

“(1) Where it is necessary for the purposes of this Measure or any scheme or order made thereunder to find the registered patron of a benefice and it appears to the Commissioners that it is not possible or is not reasonably practicable to find that patron, the Commissioners may direct that the diocesan board of patronage shall be treated for those purposes as the registered patron of that benefice, and any such direction shall be conclusive for the said purposes.”

23 U.K. In section 82 of that Measure for the word “patron” there shall be substituted the words “registered patron”.

24 U.K. In section 87(1) of that Measure the following definition shall be inserted after the definition of “redundancy scheme”—

• ““registered patron”, in relation to a benefice or to benefices held in plurality, means every person who is for the time being registered under the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 in a register of patrons as a patron of that benefice or those benefices”.

25 U.K. In Schedule 3 to that Measure—

(a) in paragraph 1—

(i) in sub-paragraph (3) for the words from the beginning to “any other enactment” there shall be substituted the words “Any enactment”;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (6) there shall be inserted at the end of the words “being a person who has made the declaration of membership within the meaning of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986”;

(iii) in sub-paragraph (9) for the words “presentation of the rector by” there shall be substituted the words “patron to be”;

(b) for paragraph 3 there shall be substituted the following paragraph—

“3 Where a group ministry is established by a pastoral scheme for a group of benefices, the registered patron of a benefice in the group shall consult the other incumbents and any priests in charge in the group before he makes a request under section 13 of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 for the approval of the parish representatives (as defined in section 11(7) of that Measure), and (unless the registered patron is the bishop) of the bishop, to the making to a priest of an offer to present him to the benefice”;

(c) in paragraph 4(3)(c) there shall be inserted at the beginning the words “subject to paragraph 19 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986,”;

(d) in paragraph 13(1)(c) there shall be inserted at the beginning the words “subject to paragraph 20 of Schedule 2 to the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986,”.

Section 41.

SCHEDULE 5 U.K. Repeals

Acts U.K.

Chapter	Short title	Extent of repeal
31 Eliz. 1. c. 6.	The Simony Act 1588.	In section 4, the words from “And that it shall” to “turne onlye”.
		In Section 5, the words from “and that the patron” to the end.
		Section 6.
		In section 9, the words from “and that the patron” to “notwithstandinge”.
3 Jas. 1. c. 5.	The Presentation of Benefices Act 1605.	Section 13.
1 Will. & Mar. c. 26.	The Presentation of Benefices Act 1688.	The whole Act.
13 Anne c. 13.	The Presentation of Benefices Act 1713.	The whole Act except sections 9 and 11.
1 Geo. 1. stat. 2. c. 10.	The Queen Anne’s Bounty Act 1714.	In section 6, the words from the beginning to “benefices, and” in the second place where those words occur.
		Sections 7 and 8.
11 Geo. 2. c. 17.	The Church Patronage Act 1737.	The whole Act.
44 Geo. 3. c. 43.	The Clergy Ordination Act 1804.	In section 1, the words from “Provided” to the end.
10 Geo. 4. c. 7.	The Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829.	Section 15 insofar as it relates to ecclesiastical benefices.
		In section 16, the words from “Provided”, where last occurring, to the end.
		Section 17.
1 & 2 Vict. c. 106.	The Pluralities Act 1838.	In section 31, the word “benefice”, where it occurs for the second and sixth time, and the words “or benefice”.
		In section 58, the words from “and it shall be lawful” to “second publication thereof as aforesaid”.
3 & 4 Vict. c. 20.	The Queen Anne’s Bounty Act 1840.	Sections 2 to 4.
3 & 4 Vict. c. 113.	The Ecclesiastical Commissioners Act 1840.	Sections 42, 48 and 73.
4 & 5 Vict. c. 39.	The Ecclesiastical Commissioners Act 1841.	Section 22.
9 & 10 Vict. c. 88.	The Church Patronage Act 1846.	The whole Act.
16 & 17 Vict. c. 50.	The Ecclesiastical Commissioners (Exchange & Patronage) Act 1853.	The whole Act.
19 & 20 Vict. c. 50.	The Sale of Advowsons Act 1856.	The whole Act.
21 & 22 Vict. c. 49.	The Jews Relief Act 1858.	In section 4, the words from the beginning to “being; and”.
23 & 24 Vict. c. 124.	The Ecclesiastical Commissioners Act 1860.	Section 42.
31 & 32 Vict. c. 83.	The Army Chaplains Act 1868.	In section 4, the words “and to the patron or patrons”, the words “patron or patrons” in the second place where they occur and the words “and patron or patrons”.
31 & 32 Vict. c. 114.	The Ecclesiastical Commission Act 1868.	Section 12.
33 & 34 Vict. c. 39.	The Church Patronage Act 1870.	The whole Act.
34 & 35 Vict. c. 45.	The Sequestration Act 1871.	Section 6.
61 & 62 Vict. c. 48.	The Benefices Act 1898.	Section 1.
		In section 2, paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection (2).
		Sections 5 and 6.
12 & 13 Geo. 6. c. 76.	The Marriage Act 1949.	In section 20, in subsections (1) to (3) and (6), the words “patron and” and the words “patron or”, wherever they occur, and in subsection (7) the words “patron’ and” and the words “patron or” and the words, “as the case may be”.

Measures U.K.

Chapter	Short title	Extent of repeal
14 & 15 Geo. 5. No. 1.	The Benefices Act 1898 (Amendment) Measure 1923.	The whole Measure.
20 & 21 Geo. 5. No. 8.	The Benefices (Transfer of Rights of Patronage) Measure 1930.	The whole Measure except as applied by section 6(3) of the City of London (Guild Churches) Act 1960.
21 & 22 Geo. 5. No. 3.	The Benefices (Exercise of Rights of Presentation) Measure 1931.	The whole Measure.
22 & 23 Geo. 5. No. 1.	The Benefices (Diocesan Boards of Patronage) Measure 1932.	The whole Measure.
23 Geo. 5. No. 1.	The Benefices (Purchase of Rights of Patronage) Measure 1933.	The whole Measure.
1 & 2 Geo. 6. No. 3.	The Parsonages Measure 1938.	In section 3(1), the proviso.
		Section 4.
		In section 15(1), paragraph (i).
		Section 19.
6 & 7 Geo. 6. No. 1.	The New Parishes Measure 1943.	Section 29(2).
7 & 8 Eliz. 2. No. 2.	The Vacancies in Sees Measure 1959.	Section 1 and the Schedule.
8 & 9 Eliz. 2. No. 1.	The Church Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 1960.	In section 3(2), the words from “and at” to the end.
		In section 9(1), the words “the patron”.
		In section 11(1), the words “the patron”.
1972 No. 2.	The Repair of Benefice Buildings Measure 1972.	Section 27(2).
1978 No. 1.	The Dioceses Measure 1978.	In the Schedule, in paragraph 10, the words from “and for” to the end.
1983 No. 1.	The Pastoral Measure 1983.	Section 32(10).
		Sections 71 and 72.
		In section 81(1) the words from the beginning to “Crown”, where it first occurs.
		In Schedule 3, paragraphs 5(4) and 6.

Instrument U.K.

Number	Title	Extent of repeal
1938 No. 636.	Rules made by Queen Anne’s Bounty pursuant to section 15 of the Parsonages Measure 1938.	Rule 1.
		In rule 2, the words “as defined by these Rules”.
		In rule 3, the words “(as defined by these Rules)”.
		Rule 7.
		In the Schedule, Form No. 4.