About

Ecclesiastical law

At Flint Bishop, our ecclesiastical law solicitors advise on the legal issues facing clergy, parishes and dioceses in the Church of England.

Churches, clergy, parishes and dioceses often face legal questions that sit at the meeting point of church life, governance, property, charity law and wider public responsibility.

These matters can be sensitive, practical and time-critical, particularly where decisions affect worship, clergy appointments, church buildings, land, burial grounds or the local community.

We provide clear guidance on matters including clergy appointments, employment, marriage law, the Clergy Discipline Measure, faculty jurisdiction, burial law, memorials, exhumations, parish reorganisation, charities, trusts, church land, glebe, church houses and church halls.

Ecclesiastical law often overlaps with other areas of legal advice. You may need support with a property issue, an employment question, a governance concern, a dispute involving church land, or the legal steps required before changes can be made to a church building. We will help you understand what applies, what process needs to be followed and how to move forward carefully.

Flint Bishop’s ecclesiastical law practice is the largest in the North of England. David Whitaker and Louise Connacher are recognised specialists in this field, and the firm is proud to support key Church of England roles including the Diocesan Registry for Leeds, Sodor and Man, and York, as well as the Provincial Registry.

With teams in Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, Sheffield, Swansea and York, Flint Bishop supports churches, clergy, parishes, dioceses and church organisations across England and Wales. Whether you need advice on a specific legal issue or ongoing registry support, we will listen carefully, explain the position clearly and help you understand the next step.

Contact our Ecclesiastical Lawyers today.

You can contact the individual registries at the following addresses:

Diocese of Leeds: registryleeds@flintbishop.co.uk

Diocese of York / Diocese of Sodor and Man: registryyork@flintbishop.co.uk

Ecclesiastical law

Specialist legal support for churches and clergy

Churches encounter legal question and challenges which involve secular as well as ecclesiastical law.

Our solicitors pair their expert advice with colleagues in other key areas of law – frequently employment, property, charity, data protection and commercial agreements.

Our dispute resolution department has substantial experience in acting for parishes and clergy in litigation over church land and rights of way over land, employment and other disputes.

Prominent areas on which we regularly advise include:

Appointment of clergy and employment of staff
Marriage law
Clergy Discipline Measure
Church buildings and the faculty jurisdiction
Burial law, memorials and exhumations
Parish reorganisation
Charities and trusts
Church lands, glebe, church houses and church hall

Ecclesiastical law

How we can help

All general enquiries about each diocese, its churches and its clergy should be made to the office of the diocese concerned:

Diocese of Leeds
Church House
17-19 York Place
Leeds
LS1 2EX
www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk

Diocese of Sodor and Man
The Bishop’s Office
Thie yn Aspick
4 The Falls
Douglas
The Isle of Man
LM4 4PZ
www.sodorandman.im

Diocese of York
The Diocesan Office
Amy Johnson Way
York
YO30 4XT
www.dioceseofyork.org.uk

Ecclesiastical Law Solicitors