Department profile
Francis Taylor Building

Ecclesiastical Law

UK Bar Guide 2026 : All Circuits

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Francis Taylor Building

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Ecclesiastical Law - All Circuits

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Francis Taylor Building leads the way in the field of ecclesiastical law, offering the strongest concentration of experts of any set. Its barristers, many of whom hold positions as Chancellors or Deputy Chancellors in various dioceses, are noted experts on all matters ecclesiastical law-related, and many of them have written extensively on the subject. The set is praised by interviewees for handling "a significant amount of work." It is instructed by both the Church of England and private parties and is a regular in all the important cases of the day such as Re Christ Church Spitalfields. This involved challenging the erection of a building in a consecrated churchyard.

Paul Coveney is the senior clerk.

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Notable Practitioners

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  • Mark Hill
    Mark Hill

    Mark Hill

    Mark Hill KC is an acknowledged leader in the field, who has an exceptional reputation as an advocate, chancellor and scholar. He is Chancellor of the Diocese of Chichester, the Diocese of Leeds, and the Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe. He routinely appears in both the civil and consistory courts on a wide array of matters.

    • Mark Hill is exceptionally competent and experienced.

      Ecclesiastical Law respondentUK Bar

    • Mark is a strong leading practitioner.

      Ecclesiastical Law respondentUK Bar

    • Mark Hill is respected and judges like him. He is authoritative.

      Ecclesiastical Law respondentUK Bar
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  • Cain Ormondroyd
    Cain Ormondroyd

    Cain Ormondroyd

    Cain Ormondroyd is a respected practitioner who approaches ecclesiastical cases within the context of a wider public and planning practice. He is Chancellor of the Diocese of Winchester and is also regularly instructed as an advocate in the consistory courts. He appears primarily on behalf of petitioners.

    • Cain Ormondroyd is reliable and methodical.

      Ecclesiastical Law respondentUK Bar

    • Cain Ormondroyd is incredibly intelligent and wise. He is experienced.

      Ecclesiastical Law respondentUK Bar
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  • Gregory Jones
    Gregory Jones

    Gregory Jones

    Gregory Jones KC is Deputy Chancellor of the Dioceses of Truro and Exeter and is an expert on a number of areas of ecclesiastical law including those concerning clergy discipline, church reorganisation and the disposal of church assets.

    • Gregory Jones is a prolific chancellor.

      Ecclesiastical Law respondentUK Bar
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  • Philip Petchey
    Philip Petchey

    Philip Petchey

    Philip Petchey is a highly respected ecclesiastical lawyer who is Chancellor of the Diocese of Southwark and Secretary of the Ecclesiastical Judges' Association. He has a particular depth of expertise in ecclesiastical matters concerning alterations to churches and clergy discipline.

    • Philip Petchey is very good indeed in terms of knowledge.

      Ecclesiastical Law respondentUK Bar

    • Philip Petchey is so deeply embedded in the world of ecclesiastical law, especially on the judicial side.

      Ecclesiastical Law respondentUK Bar

    • Philip Petchey is very highly respected.

      Ecclesiastical Law respondentUK Bar
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Ranked Barristers at Francis Taylor Building (4)

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