Thinking Anglicans

Church Appointments (Repeal of Discriminatory Provision) Bill

on Wednesday, 16 September 2026 at 10.28 am by Peter Owen
categorised as Church of England, Church of Scotland, News

We noted last week that the Prime Minister had stated the Government’s intention to remove the bar on persons professing the Roman Catholic and Jewish faiths from advising the Sovereign on appointments to the Church of England and Church of Scotland. The parliamentary process to do this started yesterday when the Church Appointments (Repeal of Discriminatory Provision) Bill was given a first reading in the House of Commons.

The text of the bill and a set of explanatory notes have been published. There is also a press release.

Included in the explanatory notes is a statement that “The Government intends to ask Parliament to expedite the parliamentary progress of this Bill.” The progress of the bill through Parliament can be followed here.

Here are some relevant online articles.

• David Pocklington Law & Religion UK Church appointments (repeal of discriminatory provision)
• Jason Loch A Venerable Puzzle Ecclesiastical Appointments and the Royal Supremacy
• Amelia Braddick Church Times Government to introduce Bill concerning right of Jewish and RC Prime Ministers to advise Crown on ecclesiastical appointments
• BBC News Government to end ban on Catholic and Jewish PMs’ involvement in Church appointments
• Jonathan Chaplin Burnham’s wrong move on Establishment

[Some of these links have appeared in comments to other posts, but I thought it would be helpful to collect them all here.]

Church Appointments – statement by the Prime Minister

on Thursday, 10 September 2026 at 1.52 pm by Peter Owen
categorised as Church of England, Church of Scotland, News

Updated to add link to House of Commons library briefing.

The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, who is a Roman Catholic, today made the written statement below.

Statement made by
Andy Burnham
Prime Minister
Labour
Makerfield Commons

Statement

I am making this statement to bring to the House’s attention steps the Government is taking regarding Church appointments.

Restrictions set out in the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 and the Jews Relief Act 1858 prevent persons professing the Roman Catholic and Jewish faiths only from advising the Sovereign on appointments to the Church of England and Church of Scotland. I have therefore transferred my constitutional responsibility to advise the Sovereign on Church appointments to the Lord Chancellor.

It is, however, unacceptable for there to be a legislative bar against people of any faith performing all the functions of my office. The Government will therefore introduce a Bill at the earliest possible opportunity to correct this antiquated and archaic anomaly.

Update: There is also this House of Commons library briefing: Historic restrictions on members of the Catholic and Jewish faiths.