Court of Ecclesiastical Causes Reserved

The Court of Ecclesiastical Causes Reserved is an appellate court within the hierarchy of ecclesiastical courts of the Church of England. Hearing cases involving church doctrine, ceremony, or ritual, the Court has jurisdiction over both the Province of Canterbury and the Province of York.

Activity

The Court of Ecclesiastical Causes Reserved was created in 1963 with appellate jurisdiction in matters of doctrine, ritual or ceremonial.

Complaints against priests or deacons may be vetoed by their bishop and those against a bishop by the appropriate archbishop. Before a case is heard, a preliminary enquiry by a committee decides whether there is a case to answer. In the case of a priest or deacon, the Committee of Inquiry consists of the diocesan bishop, two members of the Lower House of Convocation of the province, and two diocesan chancellors. There are other provisions where the accused is a bishop.

If the committee allows the case to proceed, the Upper House of Convocation appoints a complainant against the accused in the Court for Ecclesiastical Causes Reserved, where the procedure resembles that of an assize court exercising jurisdiction but without a jury. However, the court sits with five advisers chosen from panels of theologians or liturgiologists.

As of 2012, the court has sat in only two cases:[1]

The first case dealt with the introduction of an icon and candlestick into a church without a faculty (exemption from the usual practice) being granted beforehand. The second case allowed the use of a marble sculpture by Henry Moore as an altar table.[4]

Composition

The Court's five judges are appointed by the Sovereign. Two must be judges (or have held high judicial office), and must also be communicant members of the Church of England; the remaining three must be (or have been) diocesan bishops.

In criminal cases there must be not less than three nor more than five advisers, who are selected by the Dean of the Arches and Auditor from a panel of eminent theologians and liturgiologists.

Current members

The following were appointed to the Court by royal warrant under the royal sign manual for a five-year term beginning on 1 July 2015:[5]

Former members
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
    Name Position (at time of appointment) Began Re-appointed References
    Sir Anthony John Leslie 23 October 1984
    Sir Hugh Harry Valentine Forbes 23 October 1984
    Eric Waldram Kemp 23 October 1984
    Richard David Say 23 October 1984
    Kenneth John Woollcombe Former Lord Bishop of Oxford 23 October 1984
    Sir Ralph Brian Gibson 10 June 1986 1 February 1992 [6][7]
    Eric Waldram Kemp Lord Bishop of Chichester 1 February 1992 [7]
    Sir Anthony John Leslie Lloyd 1 February 1992 [7]
    Archibald Ronald McDonald Gordon 1 February 1992 [7]
    Andrew Alexander Kenny Graham Lord Bishop of Newcastle 1 February 1992 [7]
    The Baroness Butler-Sloss Former President of the Family Division 1 July 2006 [8]
    The Lord Harries of Pentregarth Former Lord Bishop of Oxford 1 July 2006 [8]
    Sir John Frank Mummery Lord Justice of Appeal 1 July 2006 [8]
    The Lord Hope of Thornes Former Archbishop of York 1 July 2006 [8]
    Nicholas Thomas Wright Lord Bishop of Durham 1 July 2006 [8]
    Christopher John Cocksworth Lord Bishop of Coventry 1 July 2015 [5]
    Sir Christopher Simon Courtenay Stephenson Clarke Justice of the High Court of Justice 1 July 2015 [5]
    Lord Hughes of Ombersley Justices of the Supreme Court 1 July 2015 [5]
    David Stuart Walker Lord Bishop of Manchester 1 July 2015 [5]
    Martin Clive Warner Lord Bishop of Chichester 1 July 2015 [5]

      References
      1. Jones, Philip (31 August 2012). "The Court of Ecclesiastical Causes Reserved: England's Inquisition". EcclesiasticalLaw.
      2. [1985] 1 All ER 993
      3. [1987] 2 All ER 578
      4. "Henry Moore - Works in Public - Circular Altar 1972 (LH 630)". henry-moore.org.
      5. "No. 61421". The London Gazette. 27 November 2015. p. 23294.
      6. "No. 50581". The London Gazette. 27 June 1986. p. 8568.
      7. "No. 52828". The London Gazette. 10 February 1992. p. 2231.
      8. "No. 58062". The London Gazette. 4 August 2006. p. 10685.
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