The Diocesan Registry

The Diocesan Registrar is the legal officer of the Diocese. The Registry are responsible for a range of legal matters, and deal with the legal aspects of the Faculty process. They should be contacted for any queries about Faculties once submitted to the Registrar, and can arrange for Faculties to be amended or extended.

Information on Faculty fees is available here.

The Registry also deal with queries relating to the reservation of a grave space, exhumations, or the closure of a churchyard.

The Diocesan Registry are part of the team at Birketts LLP. To contact them call 0117 233 1700 or email Exeter-Registry@birketts.co.uk. The address for hard copy documents is Birketts LLP, EQ, 111 Victoria Street, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6AX.

Chancellor

The Chancellor for the Diocese is The Rt Hon Sir Andrew McFarlane. The Chancellor is the judge for the Diocese in matters of church law, which are heard in a Consistory Court. He grants approval for Faculties. He also acts as the Bishop’s legal advisor. Chancellor McFarlane is also the President of the Family Division and a Lord Justice of Appeal.

Consistory Court judgements

Very occasionally, where a Faculty case is contested, the Chancellor will produce a ‘Judgement’ setting out the case, and his decision. Some recent Judgements issued in the Consistory Court of the Diocese of Exeter can be viewed by clicking on the individual documents below.

Ashburton, St Andrew – August 2015

Bampton, St Michael and All Angels – April 2023

Bratton Fleming, St Peter – October 2010, April 2012 and August 2016

Buckland Monachorum, St Andrew – January 2013

Dittisham, St George – August 2010

Plymouth, St Jude – April 2015

Sidmouth, All Saints – August 2009 and March 2010

Torquay, St Matthias – July 2018

North Tawton, St Peter – August 2022