PETITIONClosedPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Amend Church of England (Powers) Act so either House can suspend it for a year
Amend the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919 to provide that either House of Parliament may vote to suspend the provisions of the Act for no more than one year, all matters relating to the governance of the Church of England reverting during that time to the status quo ante the 1919 Act.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
29
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 29/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 29/100,000
Background
The Church of England is an established Church, governed by the General Synod, created in 1970 under powers devolved from Parliament. However, there is no provision in the 1919 Act for ministers or Parliament to intervene and suspend the Church’s legislative powers in the event of General Synod being unable or unwilling to fulfil its responsibilities. The proposal in this petition would create a measure of accountability to enable this to happen, if Parliament deemed it necessary.