The Diocesan Registry provides legal advice and support to the Diocese of Norwich, and specifically to the Diocesan Board of Finance.
You can contact the Diocesan Registry at:
Birketts LLP, Kingfisher House, 1 Gilders Way, Norwich, NR3 1UB
DX 5230 Norwich
Telephone : 01603 756400
Fax : 01603 756554
You can contact Stuart or Joanna either by telephone or email. Stuart is available Monday through to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm and Joanna is available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 9am to 2.30pm.
Stuart Jones M.A. (Cantab.)
Diocesan Registrar
A Solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
01603 756501
email
Joanna Pelan
Clerk to the Diocesan Registry
01603 756459
email
The Registrar is also the Legal Secretary to the Bishop of Norwich, and in this capacity provides advice to the Bishop on legal matters.
The Registry is funded under the Ecclesiastical Fees Measure 1986 and the current Legal Officers (Annual Fees) Order. The Fees Order is renewed in January each year. The Order sets out the scope of the work to be provided by the Diocesan Registrar, and the relevant provisions are set out here for guidance.
The Diocesan Registrar will be glad to offer preliminary guidance on matters not within the scope of the Fee Order retainer, but would not be able to act on behalf of any individual or body where this would involve a conflict with the Registrar’s professional retainer with the Diocese or the Bishop.
Where the Registrar is able to offer advice or assistance in a professional capacity as a Solicitor on matters outside the scope of the retainer, a separate fee is likely to be payable, and this would be discussed at the outset of any matter.
For advice on ecclesiastical or other matters where the Registrar is unable to help, the following may be able to provide expert advice and assistance:
- Ian Mayers, a partner at Mills and Reeve in Norwich. Ian was the Diocesan Registrar to the Diocese of Norwich from 2006 to 2008, and has considerable expertise in ecclesiastical matters and wide general litigation experience. (Mills and Reeve)
- James Hall at Birketts LLP in Ipswich is very knowledgeable on ecclesiastical and charity law matters. He has been the Diocesan Registrar for the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich for many years. (Birketts LLP)
- Kevin Wilson at Birketts LLP in London is a Legal Director in the Corporate Team also specialising in ecclesiastical law, he is the Deputy Registrar for both the London and Norwich Diocese. (email: kevin-wilson@birketts.co.uk)