The principle responsibility of the Chancellor is to prepare and transmit official legal documents on behalf of the Diocese, to ensure that they are kept safely and that the archives are made accessible to those with lawful enquires. He is the chief Notary of the Diocese and authenticates official documents. He also enjoys special faculties relating to dispensations for marriage and similar matters. He is assisted by other notaries and the Diocesan Archivist.

One of the main areas of work in the Chancery Office is to deal with the registration and forwarding of marriage documents, for couples where the Catholic party resides in the Diocese of Brentwood. The Parish Priest will prepare the papers, then send them to the Chancery office for any dispensations to be granted. The papers will be forwarded on to the relevant Chancery Office in the Diocese where the couple are marrying. This could be any where worldwide.

The Chancery Office also deals with requests for Papal Blessing, (but these should be applied for through the Parish Priest), queries regarding Parish Boundaries, and the paperwork for Reception into the Church.

The Chancery Office is open Monday – Friday, 9am – 1pm, 2pm -5pm (by appointment only)

All queries from priests, parishioners, or the general public, can be dealt with, by post, telephone, fax, or by email.

Chancellor
(Rt Rev Mgr) Gordon Read

Chancery Secretary
(Mrs) Karen Avery

Assistant Secretary
(Mrs) Carmen Lambert