The Diocesan Registry

The Diocesan Registry is the legal office supporting the Bishop of St Albans and legal aspects of the work of the Diocese.

The Registry is responsible for:

• processing Petitions for Faculties
• giving free advice to parish officers, clergy, boards and committees of the Diocese
• issuing the documentation to enable burial grounds to be consecrated
• issuing marriage licences
• dealing with applications for reservation of gravespaces.

Marriage law and practice

The Registry has issued guidance on marriage law and practice. There were two changes to the law in May 2021 and July 2021 which related to Marriage Registration. Both of these changes are vitally important to clergy conducting marriage services and to others involved in the administration of them. You can read some of the Frequently Asked Questions relating to these Marriage Registration Changes, as well as Marriage Preliminaries in the Resources Centre.

Guidance from the national church (Faculty Office) about post-Brexit arrangements for marriages involving EEA and Swiss nationals can be read on their website.

Churches and churchyards

Each Diocese has its own regulations and the St Albans Churchyard Regulations with guidance regarding burials, cremated remains and memorials are available here: Churchyard Regulations. You can also find the Churchyard Handbook – Guide for Families at the same link. The following forms are available at Churchyard Forms – The Diocese of St Albans.

• Churchyard CR1 Application to introduce a memorial
• Churchyard CR2 Application to amend a memorial
• Grave reservation
• Private Faculty for Memorial in Churchyard
• Garden of Remembrance plot reservation
• Interment of ashes in closed churchyard

Advice on matters relating to churches

Telecomms

We have published advice relating to the installation of commercial telecommunications/communication equipment (including wireless broadband).

Filming

There is guidance about the steps you should take to ensure filming is appropriate and the church receives a proper fee on the Resource Centre. The Diocesan Registry have provided a template agreement which we can forward on request.

Guidance for clergy

The General Register Office have issued a publication titled Guidebook for The Clergy which gives guidance on Clergy responsibilities regarding the regulations and certification requirements for marriages, baptisms and burials.

The Registry Team

The Churches’ Legislation Advisory Service (CLAS)

CLAS is entirely independent from the Diocesan Registry and is a separate vehicle for conveying to the Government the views of the churches on legislation and other matters which directly affect them.  It covers subjects ranging from taxation, heritage grants and charity law to marriage law, immigration rules, planning and building regulations and water charges, with much else besides. Circulars are issued to members giving information and advice and there are other helpful resources for church management.