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Ecclesiastical Law | UK Bar

All Circuits

This section covers the ecclesiastical law of the Church of England as well as the laws and regulations governing other denominations. It focuses in particular on the Faculty Jurisdiction, which regulates the usage of churches, churchyards and their contents, including such matters as alterations and extensions to church buildings, the reordering of church interiors, the disposal of church treasures, the exhumation of human remains and the erection of headstones or memorials. Disputes are dealt with in the consistory courts by barristers in their capacity as Diocesan Chancellors. This section also encompasses the discipline of clergy, under the Clergy Discipline Measure, and the employment status of clergy, together with doctrinal matters such as the ordination of women, the blessing of civil partnerships and the right of clergy to officiate at or enter into same-sex marriages. Appellate work in the Arches Court of Canterbury, the Chancery Court of York and the Court of Ecclesiastical Causes Reserved is also included.

Rankings overview for Sets

1

  1. Mark Hill KC
    Mark Hill KC Francis Taylor Building25 Years Ranked
2

  1. Gregory Jones KCFrancis Taylor Building
1

  1. Ruth ArlowPump Court Chambers
2

  1. Justin Gau
    Justin Gau Pump Court Chambers8 Years Ranked
  2. Benjamin HarrisonSerjeants' Inn Chambers
  3. Cain OrmondroydFrancis Taylor Building
  4. David WillinkLamb Chambers
  5. Glyn SamuelSt Philips Chambers
  6. Jacqueline HumphreysSt John's Chambers
  7. James Fryer-SpeddingNine Chambers
  8. Mark RuffellPump Court Chambers
  9. Philip PetcheyFrancis Taylor Building

All Sets profiles

1

Band 1

  1. Francis Taylor Building
    1
    Francis Taylor Building
    Ecclesiastical Law
    2026 | Band 1 | 8 Years Ranked

    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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  2. Pump Court Chambers
    1
    Pump Court Chambers
    Ecclesiastical Law
    2026 | Band 1 | 8 Years Ranked

    Pump Court Chambers' barristers have established expertise in the consistory courts and the Court of Arches. They are well versed in handling religious discrimination and human rights cases, church property and relic matters, and employment and discipline work as it relates to the clergy. The set is praised for its "experienced set of barristers who work within the ecclesiastical sector regularly." Members of Pump Court Chambers acted for the Revd CD, accused of sexual misconduct with a married man.

    Tony Atkins is senior clerk.

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