Archdeacon of Canterbury v Bishop Timothy Wambunya (2024) This case sheds an interesting sidelight on the relationship between ordination and jurisdiction. Bishop Wambunya purported to ordain, or ‘consecrate’, a new bishop, without any authority other than his own episcopal status. The ceremony took place in Germany, not England, though the English rite was used. The […]| ecclesiasticallaw
(2024) Bishop’s Disciplinary Tribunal, Diocese of Oxford This case would be of small legal interest but for an ironic twist that occurred during the Tribunal hearing. Reverend Peers was accused of breach of confidentiality concerning his then ecclesiastical superior, who was himself subject to disciplinary proceedings at the time. He was ably represented by Mr […]| ecclesiasticallaw
‘Miss Spencer – Their Lordships have listened with attention to what you have had to say in opposition to the [pastoral] Scheme, and assure you that they respect the sincerity of your views. You have taken a great deal of trouble over this matter, over a long period. Their Lordships have read the Answer which […]| ecclesiasticallaw
A narrative of the law on this subject should be set in context. Very few clergy discipline cases get as far as a tribunal. According to the Church of England’s website there were only 5 tribunals each in 2021 and 2022, 2 in 2018, and just 1 each in 2014 and 2015. There are unlikely […]| ecclesiasticallaw
JXH v The Vicar, Parochial Church Council and Churchwardens of the Parish Church of Holcombe Rogus (2023) High Court 3221 This case provides welcome food for thought about the interaction of ecclesiastical law with the secular law of tort (i.e liability for civil wrongs). The anonymous claimant had been sexually assaulted by the then vicar […]| ecclesiasticallaw
‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof’ (Constitution of the United States, First Amendment, 1791) John Witte, Junior, ‘Reclaiming the Blessings of Religious Liberty: Religion and the American Constitutional Experiment’ (Ecclesiastical Law Journal, September 2023) The article cited above reminds us that the modern idea of […]| ecclesiasticallaw
Nearly 11 years ago a certain blogger asked to be received into the Catholic Church. The priest requested sight of a certificate of baptism. This document was produced after a quick search of the family scrapbook. It was dated in 1967, when the candidate was still a baby, and signed by a vicar now long […]| ecclesiasticallaw
It is generally understood that there is a connection between cities and cathedrals. Possession of a cathedral church is said to confer city status on a municipality. Despite having a population of approximately 800,000, the local government of Leeds is directed from a mere town hall. Leeds does not have a city hall because it […]| ecclesiasticallaw
‘Safeguarding is a very important matter, but it does not trump Church law’ (Lord Sentamu). ‘No Church law excuses the responsibility of individuals not to act on matters of a safeguarding nature’(J Humphreys, Independent Learning Lessons Review, 11th May 2023, para 16.3.16). Baron Sentamu of Lindisfarne and Masooli was Archbishop of York and Primate of England […]| ecclesiasticallaw
Mark Hill’s Ecclesiastical Law suggests that ‘The functions of the Church Commissioners are varied and not susceptible to simple exposition’ (4th edition, 2018, p.38). It is true that the Chu…| ecclesiasticallaw
