Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 1992 (No. 1)

5 For section 9 (which requires the bishop of a diocese to cause parochial registers and records to be inspected at intervals of not more than six years) there shall be substituted the following section—

“9 Inspection of register books and records in parochial custody

(1) Every archdeacon shall cause the register books and records in parochial custody in his archdeaconry, including register books in use for the purpose of making entries therein, to be inspected and reported on periodically by such person or persons as he may appoint.

(2) Before making an appointment under subsection (1) above the archdeacon shall consult the chief officer of the diocesan record office or, where the diocese has more than one such office, the chief officer of the appropriate office.

(3) The archdeacon shall cause every inspection under this section affecting a particular parish to be begun not more than five years after the date on which the immediately preceding inspection affecting that parish was completed.

(4) A report under this section shall be made to the archdeacon or to such person as he may designate for the purpose.

(5) Any person carrying out an inspection under this section shall compile a list of the register books, and a list describing the records, which have been inspected by him under this section.

(6) In the case of any inspection affecting a particular parish under this section any person carrying out the inspection may comply with subsection (5) above by certifying in writing that any such list previously compiled on an inspection affecting that parish, with such additions or omissions, if any, as are specified in the certificate is a list of the register books or a list describing the records, as the case may be, which have been inspected by him under this section.

(7) The person in whose custody such books or records are shall allow any person carrying out an inspection under this section to have access to those books and records at any reasonable time and shall give him such facilities as he may reasonably require to enable him to carry out his functions under this section.

(8) Any person carrying out an inspection under this section shall send a copy of any list or certificate compiled or issued by him thereunder to—

(a) the archdeacon,

(b) the chief officer of the diocesan record office or, where the diocese has more than one such office, the chief officer of the appropriate office,

(c) the minister concerned, and

(d) the parochial church council of the parish affected,

with, in the case of the copy sent to such council, an instruction that it be inserted in or annexed to the inventory of articles appertaining to the parish church and the date or dates on which the inspection was carried out be inserted in the log book relating to the church.

In this subsection “minister” means an incumbent or priest in charge.

(9) Any expenses incurred by a person carrying out an inspection under this section in complying with the provisions thereof shall be paid by the parochial church council of the parish affected.”.