Support for Parish Life: Small Rural Communities

Part of Church Commissioners – in the House of Commons at on 15 June 2023.

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Photo of Edward Leigh Edward Leigh Conservative, Gainsborough

Rural Lincolnshire has arguably the finest collection of medieval churches in the country and it is a joy to visit them. Many are open through the open churches event organised as part of the West Lindsey Churches Festival. Does my hon. Friend agree that the glory of the Church of England is the parish structure? Does he agree with many of the points made by the Save the Parish campaign, which prioritises keeping our parish churches open and functioning through worship, despite increasing diocesan bureaucracy?

Church Commissioners

Matters concerning the established Church of England are dealt with at Question Time by a parliamentary representative of the church commissioners.

The church commissioner's role is to answer any parliamentary questions relating to the Church of England in the same way that a government minister may face questions about a particular government department.

The Second Church Estates Commissioner is appointed by the crown and is traditionally a backbench member of the party in government. The appointment lasts for the duration of the Parliament.