Records of the Diocesan Registrar

This sub sub sub fonds is divided into 2 series as follows:

• Registrar's Letter Books, of successive registrars, divided into 'diocesan registry' letters (c1900-1901, 1929-1975) and 'office' letters (1891-1946, being concerned with the registrars' private legal practices). [DR.L.Bk]
• Registrar's working papers (includes all papers formerly listed under references DR.Off, A.Misc, DRP.Misc, DR.Corr, DR Misc & DR/Working papers), Includes papers, legal documents, deeds, notebooks, probate documents, registers, ledgers, letters & correspondence of successive diocesan registrars both in their capacity as diocesan registrar and in their private capacity as solicitors. 14th century - ongoing. UNLISTED [DR/WP]

The diocesan registrar is appointed by the Archbishop, and is required to be a solicitor and a communicant. The diocesan registrar is the registrar of the Consistory Court and also the diocesan synod. The registrar issues faculties, oversees the procedures for the ordination of clergy & clergy appointments and deals with vacancies in benefices. The registrar is responsible for the maintenance of diocesan records and the Patronage Register. The registrar is also responsible for the legal aspects of marriages (banns, marriage licences), consecrations (churches/burial grounds), church property/boundaries and churchyards (consecration, memorials, maintenance, health & safety, plots, exhumations etc). The registrar is the legal adviser to the Archbishop and the diocesan board of finance.

A hard copy finding aid for Registrar's letter books [DR.L.Bk] is available from the Borthwick Institute.