Questions – Page 2 – The Church of England in Parliament

Church Commissioners Written Questions: Church Repairs and Maintenance

ON 27th April 2026, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Marsha De Cordova MP, gave the following written answer to a question from an MP:

Churches: Repairs and Maintenance

David Simmonds MP (Con, Ruislip, Northwood, and Pinner): To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, if she can confirm current charging arrangements for local authorities to request a Diocese faculty to consider changes to the grounds maintenance provision within closed churchyards.

Bishop of Chester asks about Sustainable Farming Incentive

The Bishop of Chester asked a question on support for farmers during a discussion on the government’s Sustainable Farming Incentive on 23rd April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Chester: My Lords, the Minister will be aware that there are 28,000 agri-environment agreements which cease either this year or next, and the applicants must wait for agreements to expire before they can start a new SFI application. We can imagine in terms of sustainability and the welfare of our farming community that those who have such environments need assurance that they will be able to apply and to continue delivering the outcomes without a break in their payment. Can the Minister give such an assurance?

Bishop of Chichester asks about historic churchyards

The Bishop of Chichester asked a question on the care and preservation of historic churchyards during a discussion on burial provision in England and Wales on 22nd April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Chichester: The Church of England has a responsibility and common-law duty to bury all members of a parish living within its boundaries in a churchyard according to the rites of the Church of England and, if it does not have a churchyard, it is dependent on municipal provision. So we have an interest in this. One of the things this says to us is the importance to all people of faith of their rites of burial. We in the Church of England want to promote that strongly. Following the Law Commission report, would the Minister be willing to speak with the Faith and Public Life department of the Church of England to look at historic churchyards under our care and how they are preserved, at what provision currently exists within our open churchyards and how that can be sustained and monitored, and at what scope there might be for opening and consecrating new churchyards?

Bishop of Manchester asks about supporting small charities

The Bishop of Manchester asked a question on support for small charities on 20th April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, I particularly welcome the Minister’s earlier response referring to place-based donations. Many local charities are quite small, and small charities are the most vulnerable. Can the Minister give us more of an indication as to how small charities can be supported? They are the ones which are most in touch with their local communities and most likely to go to the wall if donations are falling.

Bishop of Southwark asks about community resilience planning

The Bishop of Southwark asked a question on inclusion of religious groups in planning for Local Resilience Forums on 16th April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, guidance on emergency preparedness issued under the Civil Contingencies Act to the emergency responders who make up local resilience forums includes reference in chapter 14 to use of the voluntary sector. This is often assumed to be where the service provided is wholly or largely relevant to an emergency, such as that offered by Mountain Rescue, Samaritans or the Salvation Army. However, I notice that one local authority listed as an example of best practice includes the use of religious groups, presumably because of buildings and other services that they can provide. Might the Minister consider whether this warrants a discreet but distinct reference in a revision of the guidance?

Church Commissioners Questions: Christians in Palestine, Children and Young People, Project Spire, Extremism, Child Poverty, Places of Worship Renewal Fund, Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, Archbishop of Canterbury, Small Churches

In the House of Commons, Marsha De Cordova MP, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, gave answers to the following questions from MPs on 16th April 2026:

Christians in Palestine

Kate Osamor MP (Lab, Edmonton & Winchmore Hill) asked: 1. What steps the Church of England is taking to support Christians in Palestine.

Marsha De Cordova MP (Lab, Battersea): The Church remains steadfast in its support for Palestinians. The Bishops of Southwark, Gloucester, Chelmsford and Norwich have publicly highlighted their concerns by condemning the increased settler violence and calling for the reopening of holy places. They have joined His Holiness the Pope and the local heads of Churches, who have called for the protection of innocent civilians. They are offering sanctuary, working for peace and reconciliation, and building intercommunity trust.

Bishop of Southwark asks about political situation in Zimbabwe

The Bishop of Southwark asked a question on the reaction of neighbouring states to changes to the Zimbabwean constitution that would allow the current President to stand for a third term in office on 15th April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, as I have said on previous occasions, my diocese of Southwark is linked with four of the five Anglican dioceses in Zimbabwe, and I have visited our link dioceses on many occasions. I note that the Zimbabwe Council of Churches has called this week for the withdrawal or amendment of the Bill currently before the Zimbabwean parliament. Would the Minister advise the House what the reaction has been of neighbouring states to this latest development in the governance of Zimbabwe and its wonderful people, so poorly served by those currently in power?

Bishop of Southwark asks about sovereignty of the Chagos Islands

The Bishop of Southwark asked a question on the recent advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice regarding the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands on 14th April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I fully understand the sensitivities of the status of the islands in the light of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, but will the Minister confirm that such an opinion does not have the force of law? I impress on the Minister that the view from these Benches is to give priority for consultations to Chagos Islanders and their descendants, for the very important preservation of the current marine protected reserve and to begin a fresh approach to a new settlement for the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Bishop of Southwark asks about conflict in the Middle East

The Bishop of Southwark asked a question on the need for diplomacy to resolve the conflict in the Middle East, following a government statement on recent events and the implications for UK security on 14th April 2026:

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness for coming to the House to answer questions on the Statement on the Middle East and to the Prime Minister for his diplomatic efforts in the Gulf. From these Benches, we believe that the initiation of this conflict, the attacks by Iran on its neighbours and the closure of the straits are unjustified. I know from my recent conversation with the Bishop of Cyprus and the Gulf that the peoples of the nine nations in the diocese dearly want peace from the threat and the reality of war. I agree with the Minister that the focus now needs to be desperately on de-escalation.

Bishop of Chelmsford asks about current conflict in Iran

The Bishop of Chelmsford received the following written answer on 13th April 2026:

The Bishop of Chelmsford asked His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of the United States about risks to Iran’s territorial integrity of arming separatist groups in Iran.

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