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Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. Legislation and case law change. Always consult a qualified solicitor for your specific situation.

UK Law Reference
Full glossary
Legal term
Ecclesiastical Law

Measure

A form of primary legislation specific to the Church of England, prepared by the General Synod and having the same force as an Act of Parliament once approved by both Houses and given Royal Assent.

Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.

Measures are made by the General Synod. If approved by both Houses of Parliament they receive the Royal Assent and become part of the law of the land, having the same force and effect as Acts of Parliament. They are a form of primary legislation — meaning, unlike Synod's secondary legislation, they do not depend on an enabling Act for their validity.

The power to legislate this way dates from 1919. The Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919 gave the Church Assembly the power to legislate by Measure, with Parliament keeping the power to consider the Measures (but not to amend them) and to decide whether or not they should be presented to the Sovereign for the Royal Assent. Before that Act, all Church legislation other than Canons had to go through Parliament as an ordinary Act. The Synodical Government Measure 1969 later transferred the Church Assembly's powers, including the Measure-making power, to the newly created General Synod.

Measures sit within a small, closed category of UK primary legislation hosted alongside Acts of Parliament on the official legislation database — legislation.gov.uk records over 240 Church Measures passed since 1920 — and examples relevant to the faculty and burial system include the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure 2018 and the Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure 2014.

Example

The Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure 2018 restructured the consistory court appeals system; as a Measure it required General Synod approval, both Houses of Parliament's consent, and Royal Assent before taking effect.

Related terms

Official sources

This explanation is drawn from the official sources below; every substantive statement is verified against them. For advice on a specific matter, see our find help page.