Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 2020 No. 1

Parochial registers and records

9 Parochial records

(1) In section 25 of the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978 (interpretation), in subsection (1), for the definition of “records” and the definition of “records in parochial custody” substitute—

• ““records” means materials in written or other form setting out facts or events or otherwise recording information, but a reference to a record does not include a reference to—

  (a)

  a register book,

  (b)

  anything which is or has been fixed to the fabric of a parish church or other place of public worship in a parish, or

  (c)

  a photograph or picture which is or has been displayed in a parish church or other place of public worship in a parish;

• “records in parochial custody” means records—

  (a)

  in the custody of an incumbent or priest in charge or of churchwardens or of a parochial church council, or

  (b)

  in the joint custody of any of those mentioned in paragraph (a).”

(2) In that section, after subsection (1A) (inserted by section 8(1)) insert—

“(1B) In subsection (1), the reference in each of paragraphs (b) and (c) of the definition of “records” to a parish church or other place of public worship in a parish includes a reference to—

(a) an adjoining building used wholly or mainly as a vestry or sacristy, and

(b) a church hall.”