On 20 August 2025, the Church in Wales published the judgment of the Disciplinary Tribunal In the Matter of a Complaint against the Reverend Ryan Forey on referral from the Bishop of Llandaff, The Right Reverend Mary Stallard. The judgment … Continue reading →| Law & Religion UK
The Scottish Episcopal Church has announced[*] that its General Synod will meet for a second time in 2025 for the specific purpose of making an amendment to the Canon for electing bishops in time for use during a forthcoming episcopal … Continue reading →| Law & Religion UK
The recently reported case Re Bingham Cemetery (No. 2) [2025] ECC S&N 3 concerns an application by Mrs Rita Elizabeth Harbury-Carlisle, otherwise Lady Rita Harbury-Carlisle, (‘Rita’) seeking the exhumation of the remains of her sister Valerie Allsop (‘Valerie’) and her father … Continue reading →| Law & Religion UK
Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme funding tracker DCMS has published a Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme funding tracker showing the amount already allocated and the funds remaining until 31 March 2026. It will be updated fortnightly by EMB. … Continue reading →| Law & Religion UK
The issue in The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v YD & Ors [2025] EWCOP 31 (T3) was the potential withdrawal of treatment from a 60-year-old man, YD, in a “permanent vegetative state”. YD was in simultaneous relationships with two … Continue reading →| Law & Religion UK
In a guest post, David Scrooby looks at a recent constructive dismissal case in South Africa.| lawandreligionuk.com
In Hegab v The Spectator (1828) Ltd & Anor [2025] EWHC 2043 (KB), Mr Hegab sought damages in libel and under the Data Protection Act 2018 in respect of an article written by the second defendant, Mr Murray, and published in The Spectator. The article said that Mr Hegab was a street agitator who had whipped up his followers and made disparaging comments about Hindus in the context of disturbances between local Muslims and Hindus.| lawandreligionuk.com
In Hegab v The Spectator (1828) Ltd & Anor [2025] EWHC 2043 (KB), Mr Hegab sought damages in libel and under the Data Protection Act 2018 in respect of an article written by the second defendant, Mr Murray, and published … Continue reading →| Law & Religion UK
In this guest post, Mark Hill KC considers some of the issues raised in the recent judgment of the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria, in Government of the Republic of Zambia v Lungo and others. Regular readers … Continue reading →| Law & Religion UK
On 24 July, the Secretary to the Truro Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee, issued the snappily-titled “Proposals affecting the benefices of the Kerrier deanery – Constantine; Helston and Wendron; Meneage; Mullion and Cury with Gunwalloe; St Keverne, St Ruan with … Continue reading →| Law & Religion UK
To absolutely no-one’s surprise, in Ukraine and The Netherlands v Russia [2025] ECHR (Applications nos. 8019/16, 43800/14, 28525/20 and 11055/22) the Grand Chamber agreed with the applicant states’ allegation that Russia had perpetrated multiple, flagrant and unprecedented violations of the … Continue reading →| Law & Religion UK
A crem is a crem is a crem?| Law & Religion UK
In R (Local Faith Ltd) v Registrar General for England & Wales [2025] EWHC 1795 (Admin), the applicant sought leave to judicially review of decision not to register a property in Basildon as a religious building under the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855 [1]. The property was owned by Basildon Estates Ltd, which leased it to another company, Room for Faith Ltd, which in turn sublet it to Local Faith Ltd [2].| Law & Religion UK
The House of Bishops has agreed to replace the outdated document Issues in Human Sexuality in the process of discerning new candidates for ordination with a requirement for candidates to live in line with the Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy. The change does not alter the Church’s doctrine or canonical requirements, which remain in place, but is intended to ensure the discernment process is both theologically robust and pastorally sensitive.| Law & Religion UK
A recent story from the North Norfolk News reports that hundreds of human remains in the grounds of St Mary the Virgin church in Happisburgh [pronounced “Hazebrur”], north Norfolk, are at risk as the churchyard is now ~80 metres from the sea, and could be lost completely within 20 years.| Law & Religion UK
In the recently-circulated case Re St. Nicholas Radford [2025] ECC Cov 1, Samuel Ch. observed [at 29] that:| Law & Religion UK
(* a.k.a. “three-parent IVF”)| Law & Religion UK
On 14 July 2025, The Times reported that Matthew Drapper, a gay man now aged 37, had won a five-figure settlement from St Thomas Philadelphia, a joint Anglican-Baptist congregation in Sheffield, after being subjected to what he considered to be an “exorcism” that sought to “rid him of his homosexual inclinations”. The case is believed to be the first time compensation has been paid to someone who experienced the practice of conversion therapy, which the government intends to outlaw[*].| Law & Religion UK
On 15 July 2025, General Synod considered the Private Members Motion from the Revd Mae Christie (Southwark) Vocations process and issues in human sexuality, GS 2413A and GS 2413B; Synod overwhelmingly approved a call for candidates for ordination no longer to be required to agree to this 34-year-old document on sexuality. Extracts from the Press Release are reproduced below.| Law & Religion UK
Further to the Bangor Cathedral Visitation Report and subsequent statement, on 23 June 2025 the Church in Wales has issued the Press Release Statement on Bangor Cathedral Visitation Report implementation. This notes that the two groups inaugurated in response to Visitation Report and the safeguarding audit by thirtyone:eight have commenced.| Law & Religion UK
On 3 May 2025, the Church in Wales issued a Press Release on the Bangor Cathedral Visitation Report in advance of the address by Archbishop John to the cathedral congregation the following morning. The Press Release and associated material were covered in our post here. The Cathedral Chapter met on 12 May to agree the terms of reference of the Implementation Group identified in the Report. These together with the terms of reference for the Oversight Board are now available on the Bangor Cath...| Law & Religion UK
On 3 May 2025[*], the Church in Wales issued a Press Release on the Bangor Cathedral Visitation Report; the Press Release, which is reproduced in full below, includes links to:| Law & Religion UK
Further to recent developments relating to Bangor Cathedral[*], the Representative Body of the Church in Wales has issued a Statement comprising the full text of the motion approved by the Representative Body on 24 June 2025. This is reproduced in full below.| Law & Religion UK
Seven lay ministers from dioceses across the Church of England were ordained in May 2025 by a visiting Anglican bishop from South Africa. In this guest post, Andrew Atherstone provides the first report of this event, based on interviews with several of the leading participants.| Law & Religion UK