On 19th December 2024, Marsha De Cordova MP, representing the Church Commissioners, gave the following written answers to questions from MPs:
Archbishops: Termination of Employment
Mr Richard Holden MP (Con, Basildon & Billericay): To ask the Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church of England has a formal process for the removal of an Archbishop.
Marsha De Cordova MP (Lab, Battersea): The duration of appointments of office holders in the Church of England is governed by statutory provisions. Under section 3 of the Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Measure 2009, the term of office of a person who holds office under Common Tenure (which includes archbishops, bishops and most other clergy) is terminated:
• on the death of the office holder
• by resignation
• on attaining the mandatory retirement age (subject to any extension)
• where the office ceases to exist
• where the office holder is removed from office under the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003
• on the expiry of a fixed term appointment (where applicable)
• under the capability procedures.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukcm/2009/1/contents
Marriage: Relatives
Mr Richard Holden: To ask the Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church plans to amend the Table of Kindred and Affinity to exclude first cousins from marriage.
Marsha De Cordova: The ‘Table of Kindred and Affinity’ is part of the Book of Common Prayer. The Book of Common Prayer can be changed by a Measure from the General Synod of the Church of England, which would come to Parliament for approval in the usual manner. The Church of England has no plans currently to change the text.
Cemeteries: County Durham
Alan Strickland MP (Lab, Newton Aycliffe & Spennymoor): To ask the Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church will take steps to improve the maintenance of Quarrington Hill Graveyard in County Durham.
Marsha De Cordova: The management of a churchyard that is legally open for further burials is the responsibility of the local Parochial Church Council. However the situation at Quarrington Hill Churchyard is complicated by it being situated on land subject to ongoing subsidence due to centuries of mine-works beneath the surface.
The parish church of St Paul, which originally sat within the churchyard, was demolished in 1993 due to this subsidence. This makes the management and safety of the site complicated, and a great challenge for the small local charity funded exclusively by the personal giving of a dedicated but small congregation.
The Parochial Church Council sought the closure of the churchyard by an Order in Council. This would have allowed the management of the churchyard to pass to the Local Authority, which has more resources available for a challenge of this nature. The application was refused, pending a more detailed geophysical survey to determine the safety or otherwise of further burials. I understand however that the costs of such a survey are themselves beyond the means of the Parochial Church Council.
The churchyard is open to visitors, following work to make access safe, but the long-term management of the War Graves and other family memorials will require significant resourcing.
The Acting Bishop of Durham is due to contact the Member for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor about the future management and maintenance of the Commonwealth War Graves and the churchyard and will be able to advise him further.
The Church of England in Parliament 
You must be logged in to post a comment.