The Pastoral Team of the Church Commissioners deals with parish reorganisation, clergy housing and glebe matters.
We aim:
To assist the reorganisation and property work of dioceses by dealing swiftly, accurately and efficiently with proposals submitted in respect of parish reorganisation, clergy housing, glebe and related matters
To provide accurate and appropriate advice to dioceses and others
To keep up to date Codes of Practice, guidance notes, forms and draft legal documents. Any changes we make to these documents are emailed to Diocesan staff and anyone else who has asked for them. Please contact us if you like to be included on our circulation list.
To deal with objectionsto reorganisation or property transactions by explaining when they are based on misunderstanding
The diocese seeks the views of “interested parties”
The diocese recommends proposals to the bishop (who can make a Bishop’s Mission Order or a Pastoral Order if all interested parties have agreed).
Draft Scheme or Order published (anyone may object to Church Commissioners)
If there are objections the Church Commissioners decide whether the Scheme or Order should go ahead.
The bishop makes a Pastoral Order unless the Church Commissioners decide it should not be made.
Objectors may seek Leave to Appeal against the Commissioners decision on a Pastoral Scheme or Pastoral Church Buildings Scheme.
The Church Commissioners make a Scheme unless they decide it should not be made or there is a successful appeal against their decision that it should be made.
Anyone has a right to object to a proposed Pastoral Scheme or Pastoral Order to carry out pastoral reorganisation
Only named interested parties have a right to object to clergy housing proposals made under the Church Property Measure 2018
How will I know about a proposed reorganisation or transaction?
Pastoral reorganisation
All current proposals are published on our website here.
Named interested parties will be sent notices by letter or email.
Notices will be put up at churches.
Notices will appear in local newspapers for church closures or schemes affecting burials or churchyards.
Clergy housing
Letters or emails will be sent to the interested parties.
How do I make a representation?
You must send a letter or email to the address on the website or in the notice, by the date given.
Will I be able to speak to the Committee?
Members of the Committee will decide in each case whether to hold a public hearing. If there is a hearing you may come and may be able to speak, though this depends on the number of people who wish to do so.
A loan where the maker of the loan shares the value of the property for which the loan is made with the person or body receiving the loan. The shares are in proportion to the percentage of the value of the property at the time of making the loan which is represented by the loan.
Example: a house is bought for £250,000. We provide a Value Linked Loan (VLL) of £125,000 (50%). It is sold for £350,000 net. Our 50% share has increased to £175,000, and that is the sum repaid.
Interest is paid on the original amount of the loan until it is repaid.
No capital is repaid until the loan ends
The person or body receiving the loan may buy in to a greater share of the value during the lifetime of the loan and this will also change the amount of the loan outstanding and the interest paid.
The loan continues until the property is sold or the person or body who received the loan has bought into the whole value of the property
What do the Church Commissioners give VLLs for?
We now only make VLLs for housing deserted clergy spouses.
We also used to make loans for housing assistant clergy and the staff or those attending theological colleges. We no longer make these loans but existing loans continue.
Further information
An Application Form and Notes may be downloaded below.
