Canon B2 has been amended to give the Bishop limited power to permit individual parishes to continue, for a strictly limited period, to use forms of service which have ceased to be authorized generally. There are also special provisions for some other places of worship. This will be of relevance for the authorization of most of the Alternative Service Book after 31 December 2000. (The Book of Common Prayer continues to be available for use and is therefore not affected.)
These provisions enable the Bishop to provide a parish with time and space to complete the process of introduction of Common Worship, and are not an opportunity simply to delay the process.
If he considers it appropriate, the Bishop may approve continued use of specified services in a parish for the period which he judges is needed, up to a maximum of three years from 31 December 2000. At the end of this time, he may extend his approval, if he considers that there is good reason for doing so. This second period must be no longer than the original period, and no more than two years.
Reasons why the Bishop may consider it appropriate to grant approval include the following:
The application must be made to the Bishop by the minister (or, if there is no minister, the Area Dean), following a decision of the PCC, before 31 December 2001.
Applications should state:
For full details, including details regarding other places of worship, see the Guidelines issued by the House of Bishops. This booklet, which includes the application form and a model resolution for the PCC, is available from Church House Bookshop, 31 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BN. (Tel 020 7898 1304), price £1.90.
