The Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) Measure 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025

Published: Mon 29th Sept 25

This Order officially establishes the commencement date for the Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) Measure 2025, bringing the Measure into force, insofar as it is not already active, on 1st October 2025.

The Church Commissioners enacted this Order using powers granted under previous measures, including the Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) Measure 2025 and related governing legislation.

Arguments For

Provides legal certainty by formally setting the date when the liability provisions of the 2025 Measure take effect.
Ensures a managed transition by specifying the commencement date, allowing affected parties (such as parochial church councils or property owners potentially liable for repairs) to prepare for the new legal framework.
Fulfills the procedural requirements laid out in the enabling legislation (Section 6(3) of the 2025 Measure and associated procedural powers), confirming the operational start of the new law.

Arguments Against

Implementation relies on the successful prior enactment of primary legislation (the Measure itself), and any delays in establishing the readiness of the church or property maintenance sectors could cause friction upon commencement.
The measure deals with significant financial liabilities concerning church repairs, which could lead to increased costs or administrative burdens for relevant parties who become liable after the commencement date.
Since the Order only sets the date and does not detail the implementation mechanics, further guidance or clarification might still be required by those affected by the new liability rules.

The Church Commissioners, in exercise of the power conferred by section 6(3) of the Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) Measure 2025¹ and in accordance with section 9(3A) of the Church Commissioners Measure 1947² and section 11(6) and (7) of the Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 2018³, make the following Order.

The Church Commissioners issue this Order, exercising authority derived from Section 6(3) of the 2025 Measure concerning chancel repair liability.

This action is also consistent with powers established in the Church Commissioners Measure of 1947 and provisions within the Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure of 2018.

Citation1.

This Order may be cited as the Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) Measure 2025 (Commencement) Order 2025.

This formal provision establishes the official short title for this legal instrument.

It confirms the document is the Commencement Order related to the Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) Measure passed in 2025.

Commencement on 1st October 20252.

The Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) Measure 2025, so far as not already in force, comes into force on 1st October 2025.

This regulation specifies the date when the primary legislation, the Chancel Repair (Church Commissioners’ Liability) Measure 2025, officially becomes operative across all its provisions that had not yet taken effect.

The appointed day for commencement is 1st October 2025.

Signed on behalf of the Church Commissioners by two officers of the Commissioners authorised by the Board of Governors for that purpose.

R.J. Slater-Carr

Officer of the Church Commissioners

Wendy M. Matthews

Officer of the Church Commissioners

23rd September 2025