Middle Temple Historical Society | The Appeal Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury - The Court of Arches: Ancient and Modern

Following a celebration of Choral Evensong at Temple Church commencing at 18:00, the Historical Societies of Inner Temple and Middle Temple will host a lecture on the Arches Court.

Prof. Norman Doe, KC (Hon), Director of the Centre for Law and Religion at Cardiff Law School, will deliver a 25 minute lecture on the history of the Arches Court. Prof. Doe’s lecture will trace its development and the expansion of its jurisdiction in light of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Act 1532 and Ecclesiastical Appeals Act 1533; the role played by the court in such matters as the dissolution of marriage until its jurisdiction was transferred to the secular courts by the Matrimonial Causes Act 1857; and the evolution of its personnel, its procedures, and its landmark decisions and their concomitant impact on English law.

Ms. Morag Ellis, KC, Dean of the Arches Court, [Bencher, Gray’s Inn] will deliver a 25 minute lecture outlining the statutory basis that begets the present day judicial authority of the Court by reference to Public General Acts and Statutory Instruments passed by the Houses of Parliament, and the rule making authority of the General Synod of the Church of England that underpins its jurisdiction. Ms. Ellis will then outline the procedures of the court by reference to the role of Canon Law; advocacy before the court; the rules of evidence; the limits of its jurisdiction; the role of ecclesiastical/common law precedent(s); its power to sanction; judgment giving and the enforcement of same.

Choral Evensong Commences: 18:00 in Temple Church, London, EC4Y 7BB
Lecture Commences: 18:45 in Temple Church.

The lecture will be followed by a wine reception and canapés in the narthex of Temple Church, which has been generously sponsored by Francis Taylor Building.

Bookings are being taken by Inner Temple. Please click here to book. 

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