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
- Chancellor's Guidance on Re-ordering and re-use of churchyards for burials Sept 2018
- Chancellor's Direction on ethically sourced and processed stone for memorial headstones.
- Churchyard Handbook Revised Edition October 2024
- Choosing a headstone or memorial stone - frequently asked question leaflet - 2022
- Chancellor's Direction - Length of time before an application for a memorial can be made.- July 2019
- Monuments & Headstones in Churchyards - Guidance Note 2023
- Permitted Memorial Headstone - Stone List
Forms
- CR1 Memorial Headstone Application - 2025
- Petition for Faculty - Memorial/Replacement Memorial 2025
- Petition for Faculty - Reservation of a grave space in a Churchyard 2025
Additional Matters Orders
- Additional Matter Orders for Commonwealth War Graves Signage
- Additional Matter Orders for Hand Sanitisers
- Additional Matter Orders for Removal of sound reinforcement and loop systems
- Additional Matter Orders for Archaeological investigations and trail pits
- Additional Matter Orders for Fixed cameras for live streaming
- Additional Matter Orders for Commercial filming in churches or churchyards
- Note on filming in churches and churchyards
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