Custody of register books in parochial custodyU.K.
6 Custody of register books in parochial custody.U.K.
(1)The incumbent of the benefice to which a parish belongs shall have the custody of the register books of baptisms, confirmations, banns of marriage, marriages, burials or services which in accordance with any enactment or Canon are provided for any parish church or other place of public worship in the parish.
(2)During a vacancy in a benefice the churchwardens of the parish, or of each of the parishes, belonging to the benefice shall, subject to subsection (3) below, have the custody of the register books mentioned in subsection (1) above.
(3)Where the bishop appoints a priest in charge for any benefice to which a suspension period within the meaning of the M1Pastoral Measure 1968 applies, the priest in charge shall during that period have the custody of the said books.
(4)The preceding provisions do not apply to any register books which are for the time being deposited in a diocesan record office.
Marginal Citations