The Clergy Conduct Rules 2026

1. Introductory Text

2. Part 1 INTRODUCTORY

   1. 1. Citation, commencement and interpretation

3. Part 2 OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE

   1. 2. Overriding objective

   2. 3. Duty to co-operate

   3. 4. Powers

4. Part 3 PROTECTED PARTIES

   1. 5. Litigation friend: appointment

   2. 6. Litigation friend: removal

   3. 7. Litigation friend: change of circumstances

   4. 8. Service on litigation friend

5. Part 4 MAKING A COMPLAINT

   1. 9. Complaint form: main information

   2. 10. Complaint form: additional information

   3. 11. Complaint about exercise of function conferred by or under the CCM

   4. 12. Permission to make complaint out of time

6. Part 5 REFERRALS AND ALLOCATION

   1. 13. Referral of a complaint

   2. 14. Allocation of complaint

   3. 15. Action after allocation of complaint

7. Part 6 GRIEVANCE

   1. 16. Application of this Part

   2. 17. Provision of Code of Practice

   3. 18. Response to a grievance

   4. 19. Withdrawal of admission

   5. 20. Decision on a grievance

   6. 21. Grievance record

   7. 22. Reallocation

8. Part 7 COMPLAINT OF MISCONDUCT

   1. 23. Application of this Part

   2. 24. Provision of Code of Practice

   3. 25. Response to a complaint of misconduct (but not serious misconduct)

   4. 26. Withdrawal of admission

   5. 27. Advice from the Investigation and Tribunals Team

   6. 28. Report

   7. 29. Conciliation

   8. 30. Reallocation

9. Part 8 COMPLAINT OF SERIOUS MISCONDUCT

   1. 31. Application of this Part

   2. 32. Provision of Code of Practice

   3. 33. Response to a complaint of serious misconduct

   4. 34. Findings on the basis of admissions

   5. 35. Partial admissions

   6. 36. Withdrawal of admission

   7. 37. Report

   8. 38. Representations and decision

   9. 39. Order for production of documents by person not party to complaint

   10. 40. Failure to comply with an order under rule 39

10. Part 9 SAFEGUARDING ISSUES DURING INVESTIGATION

    1. 41. Addition of safeguarding professional as party to complaint

    2. 42. Role of safeguarding officer, director or professional

11. Part 10 CASE MANAGEMENT

    1. 43. Duty to manage cases

    2. 44. General powers

    3. 45. Duty of registrar to consult Chair

    4. 46. Power of Chair to act on own initiative

12. Part 11 DIRECTIONS

    1. 47. Giving directions

    2. 48. Matters on which directions may be given

13. Part 12 EVIDENCE

    1. 49. Witness statements for use at hearing

    2. 50. Use of witness statements for other purposes

    3. 51. Expert reports

    4. 52. Exclusion of evidence

    5. 53. Oral evidence

14. Part 13 HEARINGS: GENERAL PROVISION

    1. 54. Conduct of hearings: general

    2. 55. Cross-examination of witnesses in person

    3. 56. Amendments to allegations

    4. 57. Tribunal or court sitting in private

    5. 58. Personal attendance of witness

    6. 59. Absence from hearing

    7. 60. Power to exclude from hearing

    8. 61. Special measures

    9. 62. Power to order identity not to be published

15. Part 14 TERMINATION, SUBSITUTION AND WITHDRAWAL

    1. 63. Proceedings cease on death of respondent

    2. 64. Substitution on death, incapacity etc of complainant

    3. 65. Withdrawal of complaint

16. Part 15 PENALTIES AND DECISIONS

    1. 66. Penalties: misconduct (but not serious misconduct)

    2. 67. Penalties: responsible bishop’s view

    3. 68. Penalties: imposition without a complaint

    4. 69. Pronouncement of decisions

    5. 70. Penalties or sanctions imposed without a complaint: copies of decision

17. Part 16 DEPOSITION FROM HOLY ORDERS

    1. 71. Priests and deacons: notice

    2. 72. Priests and deacons: appeals

    3. 73. Priests and deacons: decision

    4. 74. Archbishops and bishops: notice

    5. 75. Archbishops and bishops: representations etc

18. Part 17 RESTRICTION ORDERS AND SUSPENSIONS

    1. 76. Notice of restriction order

    2. 77. Notice of suspension

    3. 78. Record of decision on restriction order or suspension

    4. 79. Notice of revocation of restriction order or suspension

    5. 80. Service of notice under this Part

    6. 81. Provision of copies of notice under this Part

19. Part 18 THE ARCHBISHOPS’ LIST

    1. 82. Access to the list

    2. 83. Notice of inclusion in the list

    3. 84. Protected convictions

    4. 85. Appeal against particulars or inclusion in error

20. Part 19 WORK IN OTHER CAPACITIES

    1. 86. Work in other capacities: complaints under the CCM, CDM or EJM

    2. 87. Work in other capacities: findings in disciplinary proceedings etc

    3. 88. Power under rule 87: time limit

    4. 89. Review by President of Tribunals of penalty under rule 87

21. Part 20 APPEALS AND REVIEWS

    1. 90. Application for permission to appeal etc.

    2. 91. Determination of application for permission to appeal etc.

    3. 92. Application for permission to appeal etc out of time

    4. 93. Striking out appeal or review

    5. 94. Absence of a party

    6. 95. Re-calling witnesses to give evidence before the appeal court

    7. 96. New evidence

    8. 97. Production of documents by person not party to complaint

    9. 98. Amendment or withdrawal

    10. 99. Powers of appellate court etc.

    11. 100. Determination by majority

    12. 101. Making an appeal or a request for review

    13. 102. Decisions on review

    14. 103. Restriction orders and suspensions: decisions on review or appeal

    15. 104. Penalties: decisions on review

22. Part 21 APPLICATIONS: GENERAL PROVISION

    1. 105. Form and content of applications

    2. 106. Notice of applications

    3. 107. Disposal of applications with a hearing

    4. 108. Disposal of applications without a hearing

    5. 109. Dismissal of vexatious etc applications

    6. 110. Copy of order made on an application

23. Part 22 SERVICE OF DOCUMENTS

    1. 111. Methods of service

    2. 112. Meaning of “proper address”

    3. 113. Timing of service

24. Part 23 ROYAL PECULIARS

    1. 114. Application of CCM to Royal Peculiar clergy

25. Part 24 MISCELLANEOUS

    1. 115. Time limits

    2. 116. Recording and publication of decisions

    3. 117. Reporting convictions etc.

    4. 118. Reporting divorce or separation order

    5. 119. Vexatious litigants: restraint orders

    6. 120. Excluded offences

    7. 121. Irregularities

    8. 122. Word and page limits

26. Signature

27. Schedules

    1. Schedule 1

       Forms

    2. Schedule 2

       Royal Peculiars

       1. 1. Jurisdiction

       2. 2. Investigation

       3. 3. Disciplinary tribunal

       4. 4. Royal Peculiars panel

       5. 5. Suspension

       6. 6. Penalties

       7. 7. Deposition from Holy Orders

       8. 8. Conviction for offence etc: power to impose penalty etc

       9. 9. Appeal and review

       10. 10. Composition of appeal panel

    3. Schedule 3

       Recording and publication of decisions

       1. 1. Interpretation

       2. 2. Allocation of complaint (section 21(1)(a) to (c))

       3. 3. Dismissal of complaint (section 21(1)(d) to (f))

       4. 4. Grievance (section 23)

       5. 5. Misconduct that is not serious misconduct (sections 25 and 38)

       6. 6. Serious misconduct: referral or dismissal (section 27)

       7. 7. Serious misconduct: determination (sections 27, 31 and 38)

       8. 8. Vexatious litigant: restraint order (sections 32 and 33)

       9. 9. Restriction order (sections 34 and 35)

       10. 10. Suspension (sections 34 and 36)

       11. 11. Conditional discharge (section 40)

       12. 12. Deposition from Holy Orders (sections 41 and 42)

       13. 13. Conviction for offence, inclusion on barred list etc. (section 46)

       14. 14. Reviews and appeals (section 50)

28. Explanatory Note