Diocesan Registry

The Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) advises the Chancellor and parishes on faculty applications, but it is the Chancellor who decides whether or not a Faculty is to be granted. Once a parish has received formal advice from the DAC, the next step in the process is to submit the faculty Petition to the Diocesan Registry for the Chancellor’s consideration.

The Chancellor

Philippa Hopkins KC is the Chancellor of the Diocese of Chelmsford and is a barrister in the field of commercial litigation and arbitration, practising from Essex Court Chambers in London. She was appointed as Queen’s Counsel in February 2018.  The Chancellor is the judge of the Consistory Court. The Chancellor works closely with the Diocesan Registry, the Archdeacons and the Diocesan Advisory Committee.

The Diocesan Registry

The Registrar for the Diocese of Chelmsford is Mr Aiden Hargreaves-Smith and the Registry Clerk is Miss Melanie Tucker, both of Winckworth Sherwood LLP. In addition to dealing with faculty applications, the Registry also provides legal advice to the Diocese; works closely with senior staff and the Diocesan Office in relation to clergy appointments; draws up the legal documents for the consecration of churches, churchyards and cemeteries, maintains some of the legal records of parishes and churchyards administers common licences for marriages, and matters concerning patronage. 

Recent Judgments

Recent judgments written by our current Chancellor which contain some useful principles. 

Bulmer_St_Andrew_2022-080056_(removal_of_pews,_replacement_with_chairs,_heating).pdf

Holy_Trinity_Pleshey_2021-062982_(Re-use_of_areas_of_the_churchyard_for_burials).pdf

Dedham_St_Mary_the_Virgin_2021-064454_(Heating).pdf

Stebbing_St_Mary_the_Virgin_2023-091408_(Heating).pdf

Interim Faculties

Chancellor's Directions on Interim Faculties

Insurance Cover

Chancellor's Directions on Insurance Cover

Churchyards & Burials

Forms

Additional Matters Orders

Queries 

Queries relating to burials and memorials should be addressed to Melanie Tucker, Registry Clerk in the first instance. 

E: Chelmsfordregistry@wslaw.co.uk      T: 020 7593 0353

Chelmsford Diocesan Registry, Arbor House, 255 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 9AX


For more information or to report anything wrong with this page please contact Suzannah Meade