Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986

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 [F1 six months] 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. F2 ...

(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

F1 Words in s. 13(1)(a)(iii) substituted (1.1.2020) by The Legislative Reform (Patronage of Benefices) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/1183), arts. 1(1), 3(3) (with arts. 8, 9)

F2 Words in s. 13(5) repealed (17.11.2014) by Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure 2014 (No. 2), s. 4(2), Sch.; 2014 No. 5, art. 2