I started a new job in October 2005 as the Assistant Clerk at the Archbishop's Office of the Court of Faculties. It would be quite difficult to explain what this entails. The Faculty Office administers the dispensary powers of the Archbishop devolved from Rome under the Ecclesiastical Licences Act 1533. Its functions are perhaps best explained on the website

http://www.facultyoffice.org.uk

In addition to this, the Registrar of the Office is also Registrar of the Dioceses of Guildford, Ely and joint Registrar of the Diocese of Hereford. I do the secretarial jobs for these Dioceses (for instance, drawing up licences for the clergy) and review petitions for faculties (permissions granted by the Chancellor of the Diocese for new works done in churches in churchyards).

This is my office. However, normally there is a greater dispersal of paperwork.

















This is me outside the Office at 1, The Sanctuary, next to Westminster Abbey.













This is a notarial faculty (a licence for a public notary, ie someone who prepares and executes legal documents for use abroad and attests to the authenticity of deeds and writings and protests bills of exchange). These are folded into a square as they would have been in the past when they would have been delivered, as with other post, in saddle bags. I just have to watch where I rest my mug of coffee.













The Abbey and Parliament buildings.