Ecclesiastical

LBMW’s Ecclesiastical experience is nationally recognized. The Legal 500 2012 edition highlighted the firm as being “ highly regarded in the market”.

The firm’s Ecclesiastical practice came into existence as the result of the merger of the practices of two bishops' legal secretaries, and Lee Bolton Monier-Williams retains its historic connections with the Church of England. With over 150 years of experience in the sector, we have established a reputation for excellence for a number of faith groups in addition to the Anglican church.

The Firm acts for a number of diocesan bodies and cathedral chapters and carries out registry work for five dioceses. The Archbishop of Canterbury's Faculty Office shares our address at 1 The Sanctuary, and we have developed an exceptional knowledge of the law of Anglican marriage. We also advise individual parishes and church people, both ordained and lay.

We advise across denominations on all aspects of ecclesiastical or canon law, from disciplining of clergy through to the alteration of Church property and issues relating to churchyards.

As well as ecclesiastical and other religious organisations, our team is able to support charities and other voluntary sector bodies which may be motivated by a religious ethos, without forming part of a distinct religious entity.