St. Pauls dome

Ecclesiastical

Welcome to the Diocesan Registry

Here you will find information about the work of the Diocesan registry teams in the Dioceses we serve, being Guildford, London, Norwich and St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich. You will also be able to find answers to many frequently asked questions about the law relating to the Church of England and its clergy, dioceses and parishes.

Exeter Diocesan Registry

The Diocese of Exeter covers the County of Devon and is one of the largest dioceses in England. It has more than 500 parishes and over 600 churches, many of them in small rural communities. The Diocese is geographically …

Find Out More

Guildford Diocesan Registry

The Diocese of Guildford covers much of Surrey and north east Hampshire plus one parish in Greater London, and contains 160 parishes. The diocese was established in 1927, having originally been part of the Diocese of Winchester.

Find Out More
St Edmundsbury Cathedral

St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocesan Registry

Serving about 631,000 people living in a geographical area of more than 1,400 square miles, the communities of the diocese are served by 443 parishes within 106 benefices and 16 deaneries.

Find Out More
St Pauls Cathedral in London

London Diocesan Registry

The diocese of London was first established in the Roman period, the earliest bishop for whom there is good historical evidence being Restitutus, who attended a Council in Arles in 314.

Find Out More
Norwich cathedral

Norwich Diocesan Registry

The Anglican Diocese of Norwich was founded in 1094. It covers all of the County of Norfolk, apart from a small area in the extreme west of the county, which lies in the Diocese of Ely, plus the Waveney area of north east Suffolk, with a population of approximately 833,000.

Find Out More

The work of the Diocesan Registry

Each Diocese of the Church of England has two Legal Officers, the Chancellor and the Registrar, who may have deputies. The following are the main areas of work undertaken by the Registrar at the Diocesan Registry:

Guildford Cathedral The People's Cathedral amazing sunset Guildford Surrey England

Advice

The giving of advice to the Bishops and all other clergy, to diocesan boards and committees, and to Churchwardens and Parochial Church Councils, and dealing with general enquiries from members of the public in relation to marriage, baptism, burial, etc.

Norwich Roman Catholic Cathedral

Faculties

The granting of Faculties to authorise changes or additions to consecrated buildings and burial grounds.

Norwich Cathedral in the mist

Appointments

The preparation of notices, licences, permissions, instruments and all other documents relating to the appointment of clergy and lay office holders. 

St Pauls Cathedral in London

Marriage Licences

The issue of Common Licences on behalf of the Bishop of London, to authorise marriages in parish churches and in other buildings licensed for the solemnisation of marriages according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England.

St Paul's Cathedral in London inside

Consecrations

The preparation of the documents required for the consecration of churches, churchyards and cemeteries.

Corinthian columns on St Paul's Cathedral

Patronage

Maintenance of a register of patrons of the diocese, and ensuring that the provisions of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 are complied with in relation to the filling of vacant benefices.

Contact Us
Contact Us
For general enquiries please call +44 (0)808 169 4320 or send a message from our Contact us page.