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Methodist ministers and “retirement”– sort of
Recently we have been picked up by a few Google searches for information on retirement of Methodist ministers. They no doubt drew a blank because it’s not a matter on which we’ve ever posted, so this...
View ArticleReligion, same-sex marriage and the courts in the Rainbow Nation of South Africa
The Court of Appeal in South Africa recently handed down an interesting judgment on clergy employment. Mark Hill QC, Professor at the Centre for Law and Religion, Cardiff University and Extraordinary...
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Religion and law round-up – 5th October
A positive plethora of news this week – the Conservatives on human rights, assisted suicide in Switzerland, same-sex marriage in South Africa, Scientologists in Russia and more – requiring some...
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Is it an offence to impersonate a cleric? – thoughts on deposition from Holy...
Background The wider issue of deposition from Holy Orders came to mind as a result of a report on the BBC website on 12 January about the case of one Guy Bennett, formerly a vicar in Oxted, Surrey, who...
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Churches’ Roof Repair Fund – grants announced
On 26 March the National Heritage Memorial Fund announced the first round of historic UK places of worship to benefit from the Listed Places of Worship: Roof Repair Fund. A total of 502 places of...
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What is a “church” in English law?
In this guest post, Simon Hunter, of 13 Old Square Chambers, muses on the interesting question of what is a “church” for the purposes of English law? ************** Introduction In recent weeks and...
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Employment status of clergy: goodbye to the ‘Servant of God’?
A paper given at the conference of the Law & Religion Scholars Network in Cardiff Recent cases suggest that the courts are taking a more nuanced approach to the employment status of clergy. But...
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Ecclesiastical exemption: where things stand in the four jurisdictions
In view of the fact that the ecclesiastical exemption from listed building controls has become a matter of some political interest in both Northern Ireland and Wales, we thought it might be useful to...
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Roof Repair Fund 2016 – grants announced
Some light relief from Brexit, and welcome news for hundreds of churches On 6 July, the successful applicants to the second round of the Listed Places of Worship: Roof Repair Fund were announced. A...
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Law and religion round-up – 10th July
So it’s Theresa May vs Andrea Leadsom and Sir John Chilcot finally published the report of the Iraq Inquiry: meanwhile… URC votes to solemnise same-sex marriage Yesterday, Saturday 9 July, the General...
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Banns of marriage – their development and future
Introduction The legal requirement to read banns for couples intending to marry in church services was considered by members of the Church of England General Synod on 14 February 2017. Though Synod...
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Church leaders’ statement in advance of the General Election
Leaders of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Church of Scotland, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church have issued the following statement in advance of the General Election: “As we...
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Closure of the HLF Grants for Places of Worship – Update
Recent update from Historic Religious Buildings Alliance (HRBA) Mid-March 2017, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) confirmed in that the Grants for Places of Worship (GPOW) scheme would be closing. The...
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Limits on preaching in a prison chapel: Trayhorn
Background In Trayhorn v The Secretary of State for Justice (Religion or Belief Discrimination) [2017] UKEAT 0304/16/0108, Mr Trayhorn was a gardener/horticulturalist at HM Prison Littlehey, which...
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Use of church buildings: update of “toolkit”
A date for the diary and a web page to watch The Communications Director of the Hereford Diocese, Catherine Cashmore, has issued the Press Release New guide to developing a place of worship for...
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Law and religion round-up – 17th September
Brexit (inevitably), school dress codes, clergy employment, humanist marriage, religious karaoke – another mixed bag… Brexit On Monday, the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill was given its second...
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Banns of marriage – their development and future
First published on 23 February 2017: reposted because the original file appears to have become corrupted. The original version has been taken down. Introduction The legal requirement to read banns for...
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Saturday musings: in praise of Henry Cockburn
Today is the 240th anniversary of the birth of Henry Cockburn of Bonaly, Lord Cockburn – ‘Cocky’ to his friends. He entered the Faculty of Advocates in 1800 and ultimately became one of the leaders of...
View ArticleLaw and religion round-up – 2nd August
Local lockdowns On Thursday evening, the Government announced, apparently via Twitter in the first instance, that local lockdowns would be imposed on several areas of Lancashire and parts of West...
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