Alison is the Registrar for the Diocese of Exeter and has been in this role since May 2018.

Alison provides advice and support to the clergy, the diocesan authority, churchwardens and PCC members in the County of Devon on all areas of law. 

Alison’s background is mainly as a Property Solicitor, but she has also worked in the areas of Wills, probate and inheritance tax planning, as well as advising small businesses in a variety of ways. Alison also worked as an Energy Lawyer for several years, so her experience is very broad. This has proven to be extremely useful when acting for the Church of England.

As a Junior Solicitor, Alison was lucky enough to support two other more senior solicitors set up a new practice from scratch and was part of that business for nine years before moving and purchasing her own practice, thus becoming a sole practitioner. She has therefore had personal experience of the ups and downs of running your own business and can speak with authenticity about the stresses and strains, as well as the joys, that this can bring.

Alison now calls herself an “Ecclesiastical GP” as this is what all ecclesiastical Registrars have to be. It certainly makes for an enjoyable legal life and keeps her on her toes.

Recent work highlights

Acting for the winding up of a religious community and advising on the transfer of assets to a newly created CIO.

Assisting a clergy person in resolving a family dispute regarding a headstone by the use of proactive direct mediation rather than resorting to formal legal routes.

Acting for the diocesan board of finance in entering into multiple Church Supplemental Agreements for the conversion of church schools within the diocese to academies.

Passing on legal knowledge to curates as part of their training programme.

Experience & education

Qualified as a Solicitor 1989

Guildford Law School

Law degree from Exeter University

Areas of Expertise

Accreditations

Ecclesiastical Law Association and Ecclesiastical Law Society

Member

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