United Reformed Church Act 2000

31 Amendment of Act of 1972 and Act of 1981

(1) Section 19 (Appointment of trust corporations) of the Act of 1972 shall have effect as if—

(a) in subsections (1) and (3) for the words “church lands” there were substituted the words “church property”;

(b) in subsection (4) for the definition of “church lands” there were substituted the following definition:—

““church property” means any property held for the purposes of the United Reformed Church or any local church;”.

(2) Section 21 (Seceding churches) of the Act of 1981 shall have effect as if in subsection (3) for the reference to the [1960 c. 58.] Charities Act 1960 there were substituted a reference to the [1993 c. 10.] Charities Act 1993.

(3) Section 30 (Application to Scotland) of the Act of 1981 shall have effect as if there were substituted the following section:—

“30 This Act shall extend to Scotland, and in the application thereof to Scotland—

(a) the expression “mortgage” includes a standard security, an assignation, transfer or disposition ex facie absolute and any contract qualifying the same, a bond and disposition or assignation in security, a cash credit bond and disposition or assignation in security, an assignation in security and any real right or burden of whatever kind in the nature of security;

(b) the expression “will” includes a trust disposition and settlement and any instrument taking effect on the death of any person whereby any part of his estate is disposed of, or under which a succession thereto arises; and

(c) for Schedule 2 to this Act there shall be substituted the provisions of Schedule 1 to the United Reformed Church Act 2000.”.

(4) Paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 2 to the Act of 1981 shall have effect as if there were substituted the following paragraph:—

“1 The trustees shall permit the premises to be used for all or any of the following purposes and all proper ancillary purposes namely:—

(a) The public worship of God according to the principles and usages for the time being of the United Reformed Church;

(b) The instruction of children or adults; or

(c) The promotion of other charitable purposes not inconsistent with the principles and usages aforesaid;

such use to be primarily by the members of the local church or any other church which may supersede it as a result of amalgamation or regrouping and to be directed by the Church Meeting acting with due regard for the recommendations of the Elders' Meeting and those other Councils of the United Reformed Church which exercise oversight of the local church.”.

(5) In the Act of 1972 and the Act of 1981, the expressions “Provincial Synod” and “Synod of the province” shall, in relation to property in Scotland and property in Wales, mean the National Synod of Scotland or the National Synod of Wales, as the case may be.

(6) In the Act of 1981, the expression “District Council” shall, in relation to property in Scotland, mean the area council within whose area such property is situated.