The Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 set out the legal procedure for parish reorganisation and for closing consecrated church buildings and settling their future. It was substantially amended by the Mission and Pastoral etc. (Amendment) Measure 2018, most of the provisions of which came into effect on 1st October 2018, and others from 1st March 2019. The Commissioners ran a series of Conferences for dioceses highlighting the changes that would be brought in by the Amendment Measure, and copies of the presentations given by the Commissioners can be found here.
A full text of the Measure as amended and in effect on 1st March 2019 can be found below. The changes implemented by the Mission and Pastoral etc. (Amendment) Measure 2018 are highlighted in yellow.
In 2020, the Commissioners were asked to review the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011. Synod approved proposals for a new Measure in July 2023 and the draft legislation was tabled at Synod in February 2025. The draft legislation will now proceed to the Revision committee for review and amendment. For more information please see the page about the Review here.
Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 Code of Practice
The Commissioners have prepared a Code of Recommended Practice to accompany the Measure. This is the primary reference for anyone dealing with proposals for parish reorganisation, closed churches and related matters.
It consists of two volumes: Volume 1 deals with pastoral reorganisation and Volume 2 with consecrated church buildings. They can both be downloaded below.
The Commissioners' Guidance on Deanery Plans can also be found below.
Our forms for parish reorganisation and closed church processes for official use by Dioceses can be found at the bottom of this page.
Please note that we are currently updating many of our Codes of Practice, including the one for the MPM 2011. This is to reflect changes to the law that have now been brought into effect by the Mission and Pastoral etc. (Amendment) Measure 2018. Some of these provisions came into force on 1st July 2018, and most of the others on 1st October 2018 or 1st March 2019.
Please check this page regularly for updates, and always use the version of the Code on this page, as it will always be the most up to date version provided by the Commissioners.
We provide an interactive map of current parish boundaries, as well as other layers, such as benefices, deaneries and archdeaconries which is updated when new Pastoral Schemes and Orders come into effect. The map can be found on the main Parish Reorganisation webpage.
MPM Code of Practice and Deanery Plans Guidance
- Deanery Plans Guidance October 2018 (629.07 KB)