(1)In this section “relevant instrument” means an instrument made in pursuance of the Church Building Acts 1818 to 1884 or otherwise under which the person who is for the time being the bishop of a diocese or the incumbent of a benefice or the holder of any other office has a right to be appointed a patron of a benefice in preference to any other person upon a vacancy occurring amongst the patrons.
(2)Where any bishop of a diocese, incumbent of a benefice or holder of an office who is a patron of a benefice to which any relevant instrument relates by virtue of his office ceases to be the bishop of the diocese, incumbent of the benefice or holder of the office, as the case may be, he shall cease to be such a patron.
(3)Where any bishop of a diocese, incumbent of a benefice or holder of an office has, by virtue of a relevant instrument, a right to be appointed a patron of a benefice in preference to any other person upon a vacancy occurring amongst the patrons he shall, upon such a vacancy occurring, without any deed of appointment or other process, become a patron of the benefice by virtue of his office unless he has previously resigned as patron of the benefice.
Commencement Information
I1S. 5 wholly in force at 1.6.1992 see s. 19(2) and Instrument dated 27.5.1992 made by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.