Diocese of Guildford Appoints New Registrar and Legal Advisor

Published on: 18 Apr, 2024
Updated on: 20 Apr, 2024

The Diocese of Guildford has appointed a new registrar and legal advisor.

Kevin Wilson, from UK top 50 law firm Birketts, succeeds Howard Dellar from Lee Bolton Monier-Williams LLP.

Kevin Wilson has been appointed as the Diocese of Guildford’s new registrar and legal advisor.

Mr Wilson’s role will be to advise the diocese on a wide range of legal matters for clergy, parish officers, parochial church councils, the Diocesan Board of Finance and its committees including on clergy appointments, ordinations, faculties, pastoral reorganisations, clergy discipline and marriage law.

The Bishop of Guildford, the Rt Revd Andrew Watson, said: “’We are grateful to Howard and his team for the advice and help that they have given over many years, but Bishop’s Council determined that it was right to review our needs as a diocese and consider which potential registry might best meet them.

“In an exhaustive interview process, involving five possible firms, we were absolutely clear that Kevin was the right person to take on the role, given his experience and enthusiasm, and the support of the wider team at Birketts. I much look forward to working with Kevin in the years ahead.”

Mr Wilson has a background in commercial law and moved into ecclesiastical law having studied for a master’s degree in canon law at the University of Cardiff where he focused on the practical aspects of the law concerning the Church of England.

He lives in the Diocese of Oxford with his wife, two children and two rescue cats. He volunteers as a legal advisor at a London legal advice clinic and is a school governor and a member of the parochial church council of his local church.

He takes up his new post on September 1.