CHURCH COMMISSIONERS - NOTICE

DRAFT PASTORAL SCHEME

The Church Commissioners have prepared a draft Scheme in respect of proposals sent to them by the Bishop of Durham for the transfer of the parish of Saint Matthew and Saint Luke, Darlington in the benefice of Heighington Saint Michael and Darlington Saint Matthew and Saint Luke, to the benefice of Darlington Saint Mark with Saint Paul, and for the alteration of benefices names and the amendment of the 4Ms Group Ministry, to reflect the alteration of benefice names.

 Anyone may make representations for or against all or any part or parts of the draft Scheme (please include the reasons for your views) by post or, preferably, by email to reach me no later than midnight on Monday 14 December 2026 If we have not acknowledged receipt of your representation before this date, please ring or email me to ensure it has been received. For administrative purposes, a petition will be classed as a single representation and we will only correspond with the sender of the petition, if known, or otherwise the first signatory for whom we can identify an address – “the primary petitioner”.

If we do not receive representations against the draft Scheme, we will make the Scheme and it will come into effect as it provides. A copy of the completed Scheme will be sent to you together with a note of its effective date.

If we receive any representations against the draft Scheme, we will send them, and any representations supporting the draft Scheme, to the Bishop whose views will be sought. Individual representors and the primary petitioner will then receive copies of our correspondence with the Bishop (including copies of all the representations).  They and individual petitioners may comment further. Copies of all of the representations received and associated correspondence will normally be published on the Commissioners’ website if the matter needs to be considered by us.

Those making representations should indicate whether they would like an opportunity to speak to the Commissioners regarding their representations in the event the Commissioners decide a hearing should be held. Meetings are normally held at Church House, Westminster. If a hearing is held, we will let you know the arrangements for attending (in person or virtually) and details will also appear on our website. Otherwise, if a hearing is not to be held, the case will be considered in private and you will be informed accordingly.

When we acknowledge representations we will let individual representors (and the primary petitioner) know the next few dates of our Committee’s meetings. We will confirm the actual date of any hearing nearer the time. The Commissioners will decide if the draft Scheme should proceed when they consider all the representations on the basis of a paper prepared by their staff and any points raised at the meeting. If the Commissioners do so decide, any representor or petitioner against the draft Scheme may seek leave from the Privy Council to appeal against the decision.

You will be informed of the Commissioners’ decision and the reasons for it.

Patrick Brown, Case Officer 

Church House, Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3AZ Direct line 020 7898 1599 London Switchboard: 020 7898 1000 Email: [email protected]

Website: www.ccpastoral.org

The Church Commissioners are a registered charity (number 1140097) 

Please see www.churchofengland.org/consultation for further information about the procedure.