Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015

2015 CHAPTER 18

An Act to make time-limited provision for vacancies among the Lords Spiritual to be filled by bishops who are women.

[26th March 2015]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Vacancies among the Lords Spiritual U.K.

(1) This section applies where—

(a) a vacancy arises among the Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords [F1 before 18 May 2030],

(b) at the time the vacancy arises there is at least one eligible bishop who is a woman, and

(c) the person who would otherwise be entitled to fill the vacancy under section 5 of the Bishoprics Act 1878 is a man.

(2) If at the time the vacancy arises there is only one eligible bishop who is a woman, the vacancy is to be filled by the issue of writs of summons to her.

(3) If at the time the vacancy arises there are two or more eligible bishops who are women, the vacancy is to be filled by the issue of writs of summons to the one whose election as a bishop of a diocese in England was confirmed first.

(4) In this section “eligible bishop” means a bishop of a diocese in England who is not yet entitled in that capacity to the issue of writs of summons.

(5) The reference in subsection (1) to a vacancy does not include a vacancy arising by the avoidance of the see of Canterbury, York, London, Durham or Winchester.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 1(1)(a) substituted (16.1.2025) by Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Act 2025 (c. 1), ss. 1, 2(2)

2 Commencement, extent and short title U.K.

(1) This Act comes into force on the day Parliament first meets following the first parliamentary general election after this Act is passed.

(2) This Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015.