Cathedrals Measure 1999

General provisions E

1 Duty to have regard to cathedral’s purpose. E

Any person or body on whom functions are conferred by or under this Measure shall, in exercising those functions, have due regard to the fact that the cathedral is the seat of the bishop and a centre of worship and mission.

2 Establishment of cathedral bodies. E

For each cathedral there shall, as from the relevant date, be a body called “the Council”, a body called “the Chapter” and a body called “the College of Canons” and references in this Measure to any of those bodies shall be construed as referring to that body as established for the cathedral concerned.

3 The Council. E

(1) The constitution of each cathedral shall provide for the establishment of the Council in accordance with the following provisions of this section.

(2) The bishop shall be entitled to be present and speak, but not to vote, at meetings.

(3) The bishop shall appoint a lay person, not being a member of the Chapter, to be chairman, but—

(a) before doing so he shall afford the Chapter an opportunity to express views both in general as to the appointment and as to any specific person proposed by the bishop for appointment, and

(b) in deciding whom to appoint he shall have regard to those views.

(4) The membership shall consist of—

(a) the chairman,

(b) the dean,

(c) a prescribed number (not less than two nor more than five) of other members of the Chapter chosen by it,

(d) two members of the College of Canons appointed by it,

(e) a prescribed number (not less than two nor more than four) of lay persons, not being members of the Chapter, representing the interests of the cathedral community elected in the prescribed manner, and

(f) a prescribed number (not less than five nor more than ten) of persons appointed in the prescribed manner, being persons having experience in connection with the work of the cathedral or the ability to reflect local, diocesan, ecumenical or national interests in that connection.

(5) The members of the Council (other than the dean) shall hold office for a term of years to be prescribed but shall be eligible for membership for further terms of office.

(6) It shall be the duty of the Council to further and support the work of the cathedral, spiritual, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical, reviewing and advising upon the direction and oversight of that work by the Chapter and in particular, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, to—

(a) consider proposals submitted by the Chapter in connection with the general direction and mission of the cathedral and to give advice on them to the Chapter,

(b) receive and consider the annual budget of the cathedral,

(c) receive and consider the annual report and audited accounts,

(d) consider proposals submitted by the Chapter in connection with the constitution and statutes of the cathedral with a view to their revision under Part II of this Measure, and

(e) perform such other functions as may be prescribed.

(7) The Council may—

(a) request reports from the Chapter on any matter concerning the cathedral,

(b) discuss and declare its opinion on any such matter, and

(c) draw any matter to the attention of the Visitor or the Church Commissioners.

(8) The Council shall meet on at least two occasions in each calendar year.

4 The Chapter. E

(1) The constitution of each cathedral shall provide for the establishment of the Chapter in accordance with the following provisions of this section.

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section the membership shall consist of—

(a) the dean and all the residentiary canons of the cathedral, and

(b) a prescribed number (not less than two nor more than seven) of other persons, at least two-thirds of whom shall be lay, chosen in the prescribed manner.

(3) The constitution may provide for the administrator of the cathedral to be an additional member of the Chapter.

(4) A person shall be disqualified from being a member of the Chapter if he is disqualified from being a charity trustee under [F1 section 178 of the Charities Act 2011] [F2 or by an order under section 181A of that Act] and the disqualification is not for the time being subject to a waiver by the archbishop of the province concerned under subsection (5) below in respect of that Chapter; and a member who becomes disqualified by virtue of this subsection shall cease to be a member.

(5) The archbishop of the province concerned may, on the application of any person disqualified under subsection (4) above from being a member of the Chapter, waive his disqualification in respect of that Chapter; and any waiver under this subsection shall be notified in writing to the person concerned.

(6) The dean shall be—

(a) the chairman and shall have a second or casting vote, and

(b) a member of every committee of the Chapter.

(7) The members mentioned in subsection (2)(b) above shall hold office for three years but shall be eligible for membership for further terms of office.

(8) It shall be the duty of the Chapter to direct and oversee the administration of the affairs of the cathedral and in particular, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, to—

(a) order the worship and promote the mission of the cathedral,

(b) formulate, after consultation with the bishop, proposals in connection with the general direction and mission of the cathedral and submit them to the Council for its advice,

(c) prepare an annual budget for the cathedral,

(d) submit to the Council the annual report and audited accounts prepared by the Chapter in accordance with section 27 below and such other reports as may be requested by the Council on any matter concerning the cathedral,

(e) submit to the College of Canons the annual report and audited accounts prepared as aforesaid,

(f) keep under review the constitution and statutes of the cathedral and submit any proposals for their revision to the Council,

(g) manage all property vested in the cathedral and the income accruing from it and, in particular, ensure that necessary repairs and maintenance in respect of the cathedral and its contents and other buildings and monuments are carried out, and

(h) perform such other functions as may be prescribed.

(9) The Chapter shall have power to acquire and dispose of property on behalf of the corporate body established in accordance with section 9(1)(a) below, subject to any consent required by section 15 below:

Provided that moneys which form part of the endowment of the cathedral shall not be invested or used except as provided by section 16 below.

(10) The Chapter shall hold the common seal of the cathedral and affix it when required.

(11) Decisions taken by the Chapter in the absence of the dean are subject to the provisions of section 7(3) below.

(12) The Chapter shall meet on at least nine occasions in each calendar year.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 4(4) substituted (14.3.2012) by Charities Act 2011 (c. 25), s. 355, Sch. 7 para. 82 (with s. 20(2), Sch. 8)

F2 Words in s. 4(4) inserted (1.3.2019) by Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 2018 (No. 7), ss. 13(1), 17(3) (with s. 13(2)); S.I. 2019/67, art. 2(1)(l)

5 The College of Canons. E

(1) The constitution of each cathedral shall provide for the establishment of the College of Canons in accordance with the following provisions of this section.

(2) The membership shall consist of—

(a) the dean,

(b) every suffragan bishop of the diocese in question,

(c) every full-time stipendiary assistant bishop of the diocese in question,

(d) every canon of the cathedral, and

(e) every archdeacon of the diocese in question.

(3) The College of Canons shall perform the functions conferred by the M1 Appointment of Bishops Act 1533 on the dean and chapter, and that Act shall accordingly have effect as if references to the dean and chapter were references to the College of Canons.

(4) The College of Canons shall—

(a) receive and consider the annual report and audited accounts,

(b) discuss such matters concerning the cathedral as may be raised by any of its members, and

(c) perform such other functions as may be prescribed.

Marginal Citations

M1 25 Hen. 8 c.20.

6 Provisions concerning bishops. E

(1) The bishop shall have the principal seat and dignity in the cathedral.

After consultation with the Chapter and subject to any provision in the statutes, he may officiate in the cathedral and use it in his work of teaching and mission, for ordinations and synods and for other diocesan occasions and purposes.

(2) The Chapter shall from time to time consult the bishop in respect of the general direction and mission of the cathedral, and the bishop may at any time seek the advice of the Chapter on any matter.

(3) The constitution of each cathedral shall provide that the bishop shall be the Visitor thereof.

(4) The bishop shall as Visitor hear and determine any question as to the construction of the constitution and statutes.

(5) The bishop may hold a visitation of the cathedral when he considers it desirable or necessary to do so or when requested by the Council or the Chapter.

(6) In the course of a visitation, the bishop may give such directions to the Chapter, to the holder of any office in the cathedral or to any person employed by the cathedral as will, in the opinion of the bishop, better serve the due observance of the constitution and statutes.

(7) It shall be the duty of any person or body on whom functions are conferred by or under this Measure to act in accordance with any determination under subsection (4) above and any direction under subsection (6) above.

(8) The provisions of subsections (4) to (7) above are without prejudice to the powers of the bishop under the M2 Care of Cathedrals (Supplementary Provisions) Measure 1994 and his powers as Visitor generally.

(9) The bishop may at any time propose for consideration by the Council amendments to the constitution and statutes.

Marginal Citations

M2 1994 No.2.

7 Provisions concerning deans. E

(1) The principal dignitary of the cathedral, next after the bishop, shall be known as the dean.

(2) It shall be the duty of the dean as chairman of the Chapter to govern and direct on its behalf the life and work of the cathedral and in particular, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, to—

(a) ensure that Divine Service is duly performed in the cathedral,

(b) ensure that the constitution and statutes are faithfully observed,

(c) maintain good order and proper reverence in the cathedral,

(d) secure the pastoral care of all members of the cathedral community, and

(e) take all decisions necessary to deal with any emergency affecting the cathedral, pending consideration of the matter by the Chapter.

(3) The following steps shall not be taken without the consent of the dean—

(a) any alteration of the ordering of services in the cathedral;

(b) the settlement of the cathedral’s budget;

(c) the implementation of any decision taken by the Chapter in the dean’s absence:

Provided that, in the case of a decision taken by the Chapter as to any matter other than one mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) above, his consent shall be deemed to have been given for the purposes of paragraph (c) above after the expiry of one month following the date on which the decision was taken unless, within that period, the dean requests the Chapter to reconsider the decision at the next meeting of the Chapter, in which case the matter shall be decided by a majority vote of those present and voting at the meeting, the dean having a second or casting vote.

(4) If the office of dean is vacant, or the bishop considers that the dean will be unable to discharge any or all of his functions under this Measure by reason of illness or absence or any other cause, the bishop shall, after consultation with the Chapter, appoint a residentiary canon to carry out such functions as the dean is unable to discharge during the period in question; and references in this Measure to the dean shall be construed accordingly.

(5) If any question arises whether an appointment under subsection (4) above is justified, that question shall be determined by the archbishop of the province.

8 Two residentiary canons to be engaged exclusively on cathedral duties. E

(1) The constitution of each cathedral shall provide that the holders of at least two residentiary canonries in the cathedral shall be engaged exclusively on cathedral duties.

(2) In this section and section 21 below the expression “cathedral duties” means duties (whether in the cathedral or in the diocese) which should, in the opinion of the Chapter after consultation with the bishop, be discharged in or from the cathedral:

Provided that the archbishop of the province and the Church Commissioners acting jointly may in special circumstances direct that the holder of a residentiary canonry who is normally engaged exclusively on cathedral duties shall, for such period as they may specify, be treated as so engaged for the purposes of this section notwithstanding that he is performing duties other than cathedral duties.

(3) If any question arises under this Measure whether a person is engaged exclusively on cathedral duties that question shall, after consultation with the Visitor and the Chapter, be determined by the Church Commissioners, and if any person is dissatisfied with the decision of the Church Commissioners he may appeal therefrom to the archbishop of the province whose decision shall be final:

Provided that during a vacancy of the see of the bishop who is the Visitor of the cathedral the provisions of this section requiring consultation with the Visitor shall not apply.

9 Further provisions required to be included in constitution. E

(1) The constitution of each cathedral shall—

(a) provide that the members for the time being of the Council, the Chapter and the College of Canons shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal (to be known as the common seal of the cathedral),

(b) provide for the appointment of canons in Holy Orders, the manner of their appointment and their tenure of office (whether freehold or for a term of years),

(c) contain provision enabling lay canons to be appointed,

(d) specify the maximum number of residentiary canons and non-residentiary canons of the cathedral,

(e) provide for the appointment of an administrator of the cathedral, having such functions as may be prescribed,

(f) provide for the appointment of an architect [F3 or surveyor of the fabric] and an auditor for the cathedral,

(g) provide for the appointment of a person having the function of supervising music in the cathedral, and

(h) provide for the establishment of a finance committee of the Chapter having the function of advising the Chapter in connection with its responsibilities in the field of financial and investment management, and for the membership to include persons who have expertise and experience in that field.

[F4 (1A) The constitution of each cathedral shall provide that the architect or surveyor of the fabric appointed by virtue of subsection (1)(f) above shall be an architect or surveyor having such qualifications and expertise in matters relating to the conservation of historic buildings and other matters as the Chapter, after consultation with the Cathedrals Fabric Commission and such other persons or bodies as it thinks fit, considers appropriate to enable the role and duties of the post of architect or surveyor of the fabric to be discharged.]

(2) (a) Where, immediately before the relevant date, the constitution of a cathedral provided for the appointment of the dean to be by Her Majesty the constitution shall continue to so provide.

(b) In any other case, the constitution shall provide that the incumbent of the benefice which comprises the parish of which the cathedral is the parish church shall be the dean.

(3) The constitution of each cathedral which is not a parish church shall provide for the formation and maintenance of a roll containing the names of persons who are members of the cathedral community and apply to be enrolled as such.

(4) A provision of the constitution of the kind mentioned in subsection (1)(b) above shall not affect the provisions of section 4 of the M3 Priests (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993.

Textual Amendments

F3 Words in s. 9(1)(f) inserted (7.2.2006) by Care of Cathedrals (Amendment) Measure 2005 (No. 2), s. 20(3), Sch. 3 para. 7(1)(a) (with Sch. 3 para. 7(2)); S.I. 2006/1, Instrument made by Archbishops

F4 S. 9(1A) inserted (7.2.2006) by Care of Cathedrals (Amendment) Measure 2005 (No. 2), s. 20(3), Sch. 3 para. 7(1)(b) (with Sch. 3 para. 7(2)); S.I. 2006/1, Instrument made by Archbishops

Marginal Citations

M3 1993 No.2.

10 Further provisions which may be included in constitution. E

(1) In addition to the matters for which the constitution of each cathedral is required to provide under the foregoing provisions of this Measure, the constitution may contain provision—

(a) enabling or requiring a committee, to be known as “the Cathedral Community Committee”, to be established, the membership consisting of persons whose names are for the time being on the roll maintained under section 9(3) above,

(b) enabling or requiring committees to be established by the Chapter,

and for the delegation of functions to any committee.

(2) Any provision enabling or requiring a committee to be established by the Chapter may provide that persons who are not members of the Chapter may be members of the committee.

11 Statutes. E

The statutes of each cathedral shall make provision (being a provision which is consistent with the constitution) for the good government of the cathedral and may in particular, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing—

(a) provide for the creation, continuance, abolition, suspension or termination of suspension of any dignity, office or body in the cathedral and for the title by which any dignity or office is to be known;

(b) provide that any presentations or nominations to benefices in the patronage of the cathedral shall be exercised by the Chapter or by a patronage committee of the Chapter;

(c) provide, where a cathedral is a parish church, that part of that cathedral shall be the parish church or, where part of a cathedral is a parish church, that the cathedral or any other part thereof shall be the parish church;

(d) provide for any incidental and supplementary matters.

12 Provisions as to cathedrals for which there was no dean and chapter. E

(1) This section applies in the case of a cathedral in respect of which, immediately before the relevant date, there was no corporate body known as the dean and chapter.

(2) Where before the relevant date the functions previously exercisable, in relation to the parish of the cathedral, by the parochial church council were transferred to the administrative body of the cathedral in pursuance of section 12(1) of the M4 Cathedrals Measure 1963, the constitution shall provide that those functions shall be exercisable by the Chapter.

(3) Where those functions were not transferred as aforesaid, the constitution of the cathedral shall provide for their transfer to the Chapter.

(4) The M5 Church Representation Rules shall have effect in relation to the parish concerned subject to the following modifications—

(a) for any reference to the parochial church council or the secretary thereof there shall be substituted, as the context requires, a reference to the Chapter or the clerk thereto;

(b) the following provisions shall not apply—

rule 6(3)(d), rules 4, 7(3) and 8(1) in so far as they relate to the vice-chairman of a parochial church council, rules 9(3) and (4), 9(5)(b) and (d) and (6)(a), rule 10 in so far as it relates to a parochial church council, rules 14 to 21 and 23 and Appendix II;

(c) notwithstanding anything in rule 6(3), residentiary canons of the cathedral and other clerks in Holy Orders holding office in the cathedral shall be entitled to attend any annual or special parochial church meeting of the parish and to take part in its proceedings, whether or not they are resident in the parish.

(5) The M6 Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 shall have effect in relation to the parish concerned subject to the following modifications—

(a) for any reference to the parochial church council there shall be substituted a reference to the Chapter;

(b) sections 3, 5(1), 6, 7(iii) and (iv), 8 and 9 shall not apply.

(6) Upon the transfer of the functions of a parochial church council in pursuance of subsection (3) above, all property held by that council and all property vested in the diocesan authority under section 6(2) of the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 or vested in that authority as a custodian trustee on behalf of that council, shall by virtue of this section and without any conveyance, assignment, transfer or other assurance vest in the cathedral:

Provided that—

(a) any stock which is only transferable in books kept by a company shall not vest in the cathedral by virtue of this subsection, but any person in whom the stock is vested shall, at the request of the Chapter, forthwith apply to the company to transfer the stock into the name of the cathedral, and

(b) the vesting or transfer of property by virtue of this subsection shall not affect any previously existing trust or contract or any mortgage or other charge affecting the property.

(7) For the purposes of this section the functions of a parochial church council include any power to act in the administration of a charity established for ecclesiastical purposes.

Marginal Citations

M4 1963 No.2.

M5 1969 No.2, Sch.3.

M6 1956 No.2.