Parsonages and Glebe Administration

This page explains our role in dealing with parsonage and glebe property transactions under the Parsonages Measures and the Endowments and Glebe Measure and links to appropriate resource material.

Until recently we exercised our statutory supervision under the Parsonages Measures in a relatively detailed way. This had been appropriate when the initiative in parsonage matters was still largely with individual incumbents, whose ideas about the standard of housing differed widely. However, in recent years, especially since 1972, when they took over responsibility from incumbents for maintaining parsonages, dioceses have become much more closely involved in clergy housing.

The Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 2000, which came into effect on 1 January 2001, now allows dioceses to deal with most parsonage transactions under the Parsonages Measures and also glebe transactions under the Endowments and Glebe Measure (sale; lease; demolition; exchange; building; purchase; or improvement and in the application / transfer of sale proceeds) without having to come to us for consent, provided certain criteria are met and there are no objections to a proposal from interested parties. As a consequence, our administrative role has been significantly reduced.

Resources

Details of our remaining role in parsonages and glebe matters and the procedures under which dioceses are now able to deal directly with most matters are given in the Parsonages and Glebe Diocesan Manual, which includes a summary of the Value Linked Loans Scheme, and the Code of Recommended Practice to the Repair of Benefice Buildings Measure. We have also produced Parsonages - A Design Guide which includes a Design Brief, sets out the standards for the building or purchase of a parsonage house, and includes supplements on issues such as security.

Copies of significant planning appeals or Court Judgments in relation to parsonage or glebe matters are available here.

There is also the Report on the Freehold Ownership of Benefice property produced in consultation with dioceses in 1998. Click here to download the report.

Click here to access current legislation in respect of parsonage and glebe matters.

Pastoral Division
Church House, Great Smith Street
LONDON
SW1P 3AZ

Telephone: 020 7898 1000
Fax: 020 7898 1873
Email: pastoral@c-of-e.org.uk.

© The Church Commissioners for England 2005 (Last updated 1/10/2006)