Parsonages and Glebe Administration
Until recently we exercised our statutory supervision under the
Parsonages Measures in a relatively detailed way. This had been
appropriate when the initiative in parsonage matters was still
largely with individual incumbents, whose ideas about the standard
of housing differed widely. However, in recent years, especially
since 1972, when they took over responsibility from incumbents for
maintaining parsonages, dioceses have become much more closely
involved in clergy housing.
The Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 2000,
which came into effect on 1 January 2001, now allows dioceses to
deal with most parsonage transactions under the Parsonages Measures
and also glebe transactions under the Endowments and Glebe Measure
(sale; lease; demolition; exchange; building; purchase; or
improvement and in the application / transfer of sale proceeds)
without having to come to us for consent, provided certain criteria
are met and there are no objections to a proposal from interested
parties. As a consequence, our administrative role has been
significantly reduced.
Resources
Details of our remaining role in parsonages and glebe matters
and the procedures under which dioceses are now able to deal
directly with most matters are given in the Parsonages and Glebe Diocesan Manual, which
includes a summary of the Code of Recommended Practice to the Repair of
Benefice Buildings Measure. We have also produced Parsonages - A Design Guide
which includes a Design Brief, sets out the standards for the
building or purchase of a parsonage house, and includes supplements
on issues such as security.
These resources along with copies of significant planning
appeals or Court Judgments in relation to parsonage or glebe
matters and the Report on the Freehold Ownership of
Benefice property produced in consultation with dioceses in 1998
are available from the Related Documents links on the right side of
this page.
Copies of the current legislation in respect of parsonage and
glebe matters may be found here.
If you have a general enquiry or comments about these web
pages please contact Fiona McKenzie.