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
[F16AAccess to electronic register book of servicesU.K.
(1)This section applies where there is an online facility provided by one or more of the National Institutions of the Church of England for enabling any person who has the custody of an electronic register book of services to allow any of the National Institutions and certain other persons to have access to the information contained in that register book.
(2)Every person who has the custody of an electronic register book of services must follow the procedure provided for by the online facility so as to allow any of the National Institutions of the Church of England, and such other persons as the Institution or Institutions concerned may authorise, to have access to the information contained in that register book.
(3)Where a person is given access under subsection (2) to the information contained in an electronic register book of services, the person shall be responsible for the safe-keeping, care and preservation of the information which the person obtains as a result.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 6A inserted (16.11.2023) by Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 2020 (No. 1), ss. 8(2), 16(3); S.I. 2023/1264, art. 2