Welcome to the website of the St Albans Diocesan Registry. This site is designed primarily to be a source of information for all those working in the parishes within the Diocese of St Albans as well as being a portal enabling parishes to monitor the progress of their Petitions for Faculties online.
As of the 3rd August 2011 Lee Coley, a partner in Lee Bolton Monier-Williams, became the Diocesan Registrar, succeeding David Cheetham who had been Registrar for over thirty years. Lee was the Deputy Registrar of the Diocese until 2008 when he moved to LBMW.
The Diocesan Registrar is the legal officer to the Diocese and the Diocesan Bishop. His responsibilities include:
- processing Petitions for Faculties;
- giving free advice to parish officers, clergy, boards and committees of the diocese;
- issuing the documentation appointing clergy to their posts;
- dealing with enquiries from clergy, parish officers and the general public on matters to do with marriage, baptism and confirmation; and
- maintaining a variety of diocesan records.
- issuing the documentation to enable burial grounds to be consecrated;
- issuing marriage licences; and
- maintaining the Patronage Register and other linked functions.
It is always best to ask for advice from the Registrar and his colleagues sooner rather than later to ensure matters start on the right footing.