Registry

The Diocese has two legal officers, a chancellor and a registrar. The chancellor is the judge of the Consistory Court of the Diocese of Bristol and he determines faculty applications. Bristol Diocese’s chancellor is Justin Gau, of Pump Court Chambers, Temple, London. Lee Coley, a partner in Stone King LLP, is the registrar. He is also registrar of the Diocese of Leicester.

The Registry is the diocese’s legal team and has responsibility for advising Bishop Viv, the senior staff, the diocesan office team, clergy and other parish officers on any legal issue relating to their role, ministry or parish life. It keeps records relating to churches, patrons and clergy, and advises on licences and other paperwork required for clergy and lay appointments. It also helps and supports clergy and PCC office holders. The types of things it deals with include:

•   faculty applications via the online faculty system

•   amendments to faculties

•   memorials

•   gravespace reservations

•   exhumations

•   consecration of new churchyards

•   closed churchyards

•   parish churchyard regulations

•   PCC governance

•   clergy discipline

•   wedding banns

•   marriage licences

•   temporary licences to hold services in alternative buildings whilst works are carried out

•   ecumenical sharing agreements

•   land ownership and use

 

Lee Coley 
Diocesan Registrar 
Contact
Phone: 07989 205926
Stone King LLP, Boundary House, 91 Charterhouse Street, London EC1M 6HR

Frances Reynolds
Registry Assistant
Contact
Phone: 020 7796 1007
Stone King LLP, Boundary House, 91 Charterhouse Street, London EC1M 6HR

Davinia Davey 
Apprentice Solicitor 
Contact
Phone: 01225 337599
Stone King LLP, Upper Borough Court (UBC), Upper Borough Walls, Bath BA1 1R

 

Registry guidance notes

Here are some guidance notes on topics the registry is frequently asked about. Please email bristolregistry@stoneking.co.uk for more details.
Banns and marriage licences
Gravespace reservations
How to close a churchyard
Local authority responsibility for maintenance of close churchyards
Memorial petitions

Registry updates

The registry produces updates for clergy and office holders upon changes in the law and practice. Click on the links below to download copies.

[Summer update to follow soon]

You may also find the following official guidance of help:
Details of new marriage rules post-Brexit
Q&A about post-Brexit marriages
Exhumation Guidance
Churchyard regulations

 

Related pages


Powered by Church Edit