Written answers: Female and LGBT clergy numbers in the CofE

On 8th June 2015 the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, replied to two written parliamentary questions, on women and LGBT clergy.

Asked by Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall) on: 02 June 2015

Clergy: Females

To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, how many members of the clergy in each of the last 10 years have been women.

Caroline SpelmanAnswered by: Mrs Caroline Spelman on: 08 June 2015

The most recent statistics available on the number of women in ordained ministry in the Church of England can be found in the table below. Continue reading “Written answers: Female and LGBT clergy numbers in the CofE”

Church Commissioner Question – Bats in Churches (Written Answer)

Church Commissioners – Written Question
Churches: Bats
Bill Wiggin (North Herefordshire): To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what discussions the Church Commissioners have had with the Department for Communities and Local Government on changes to planning regulations that could increase the supply of places suitable for bat roosts and reduce the incidence of bats roosting in churches.

Mrs CaroCaroline Spelmanline Spelman: Following the General Election the Church Commissioners plan to seek an early meeting with the Department for Communities and Local Government regarding changing the regulations on bat roosts. In recent years the Church of England has seen increased numbers of bats using church buildings as roosts. Continue reading “Church Commissioner Question – Bats in Churches (Written Answer)”

Welcome for Budget announcement on extra funds for church roof repairs

During a House of Commons debate on the Budget statement, Rt Hon Canon Sir Tony Baldry MP welcomed the announcement of extra funding for church roof repairs, in his capacity as the Second Church Estates Commissioner:

14.01 CCQ Baldry

I should firstly, in my capacity as Second Church Estates Commissioner, and soon to be Chair of the Church Buildings Council, like very sincerely to thank the Chancellor the £40 million announced in the Budget towards the repairs of church roofs. This is in addition to the £15 million for the Church Roof Funds made available by the Chancellor a little while ago and £20 million made available for repairs to our cathedrals. Continue reading “Welcome for Budget announcement on extra funds for church roof repairs”

Church Commissioners answers to written questions on Funding Mission & Ministry and the reburial of King Richard III

tony CCQ1The Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Canon Sir Tony Baldry MP, answered written questions from Anne McIntosh MP relating to the funding of mission & ministry in the Church of England and Hugh Bayley MP relating to the reburial of King Richard III.

Continue reading “Church Commissioners answers to written questions on Funding Mission & Ministry and the reburial of King Richard III”

Church Commissioner Questions – Bishops’ Letter, Church Buildings, Living Wage, Ethical Investments, St George’s Jerusalem

Tony Baldry MPOn the 11th March 2015 during the final House of Commons session of this Parliament for questions to the Church Commissioners, MPs asked the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the Rt Hon Canon Sir Tony Baldry MP, about the House of Bishops’ Pastoral Letter, St George’s Jerusalem, the rural church, faith leaders and citizenship values, church buildings, the living wage, Lichfield Cathedral and ethical investment.

This was the final Church Commissioner questions session for Sir Tony Baldry MP, who retires at the end of this Parliament. Tributes to his work were paid by MPs and by the Speaker.

A full transcript can be found below.

Continue reading “Church Commissioner Questions – Bishops’ Letter, Church Buildings, Living Wage, Ethical Investments, St George’s Jerusalem”

Church Commissioner Question – Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund (Written Answer)

On the Friday 6th March the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the Rt Hon Sir Tony Baldry, answered a written question from the conservative MP James Gray on the subject of the Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund.

Continue reading “Church Commissioner Question – Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund (Written Answer)”

Questions to the Church Commissioners on the Archbishop of York’s Book ‘On Rock Or Sand’, Medical Ethics, the Anglican Communion, Financial Eduation, Women Bishops and Bats

Church Commissioners

In Church Commissioners Question TIme on Thursday 29th January 2015, the Rt Hon. Sir Tony Baldry MP answered questions on the Archbishop of York’s Book ‘On Rock Or Sand’, Medical Ethics of Mitochondrial Transfer, the Anglican Communion, Financial Education, Women Bishops and Bats in Churches

Continue reading “Questions to the Church Commissioners on the Archbishop of York’s Book ‘On Rock Or Sand’, Medical Ethics, the Anglican Communion, Financial Eduation, Women Bishops and Bats”

Written Answer from the Second Church Commission – Employment Tribunals Service

On 27th January 2015, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, the Rt Hon Sir Tony Baldry MP, answered a written question on the subject of the Employment Tribunals Service:

Tony Baldry MPIan Murray (Edinburgh South, Labour): To ask the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, how much the Commissioners have spent on the Employment Tribunal action by the Reverend Mark Sharpe against the Bishop of Worcester and the Worcester Diocesan Board of Finance.

The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Rt Hon Sir Tony Baldry): Owing to ongoing legal proceedings, the Church Commissioners are unable to comment on this case at present.

(via Parliament.uk)

Second Church Estates Commissioner answers questions on Grants available for Churches and about the savings made from the new Parliamentary Q&A System

Church CommissionersOn Wednesday 17 December 2014, the Second Church Estates Commissioners, the Rt Hon. Sir Tony Baldry MP, answered written questions from Robin Walker MP about grants available for church repairs, and from Chi Onwurah MP about the savings being made from the new Parliamentary Q&A system.
Continue reading “Second Church Estates Commissioner answers questions on Grants available for Churches and about the savings made from the new Parliamentary Q&A System”

Church Commissioner Questions – Bats, Buildings, Elections

During the regular slot for questions to the Church Commissioners in the House of Commons on 11th December 2014, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Rt Hon Sir Tony Baldry MP, was asked about maintenance of cathedrals, church repairs, bat damage in churches and general election hustings. A full transcript is below.

Church Commissioners

14.01 CCQ BaldryThe right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, was asked—

English Cathedrals (Maintenance)

Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): [Question:] What representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for maintenance of the fabric of English cathedrals that are older than 500 years. Continue reading “Church Commissioner Questions – Bats, Buildings, Elections”