| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to make time-limited provision for vacancies among the Lords Spiritual to be filled by bishops who are women. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2015 c. 18 |
| Introduced by | Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (Commons) Lord Faulks, [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom) |Minister of State for Civil Justice and Legal Policy]] (Lords) |
| Territorial extent | United Kingdom |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 26 March 2015 |
| Commencement | 18 May 2015 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Act 2025 |
Status: Amended | |
| History of passage through Parliament | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Act 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| Long title | An Act to extend the period within which vacancies among the Lords Spiritual are to be filled by bishops who are women. |
| Citation | 2025 c. 1 |
| Introduced by | Baroness Smith, Leader of the House of Lords (Lords) |
| Territorial extent | United Kingdom |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 16 January 2025 |
| Commencement | 16 January 2025 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through Parliament | |
| Text of the Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
| Bishoprics Act 1878 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to provide for the foundation of four new Bishoprics in England. |
| Citation | 41 & 42 Vict. c. 68 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 16 August 1878 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | London Diocese Act 1863, Bishopric of Saint Albans Act 1875 |
| Amended by | Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1973 |
| Relates to | Queen Anne's Bounty Act 1703, Queen Anne's Bounty Act 1803 |
Status: Amended | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (c. 18) is an act of Parliament of the United Kingdom. It states that whenever a vacancy arises among the Lords Spiritual during the next ten years after the act comes into force, the position has to be filled by a woman, if there is one who is eligible. In this case, the act supersedes section 5 of the Bishoprics Act 1878 (41 & 42 Vict. c. 68), which would otherwise require "the issue of a writ of summons to that bishop of a see in England who having been longest bishop of a see in England has not previously become entitled to such writ".[1] It does not apply to the five sees of Canterbury, York, London, Durham or Winchester, which are always represented in the House of Lords.
The act was passed half a year after the Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure 2014 authorised the Church of England to appoint women as bishops.[2]
In 2024, the Labour Starmer ministry government introduced a bill to Parliament to extend the act's provisions by five more years (until 18 May 2030).[3] The Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Act 2025 (c. 1) received royal assent on 16 January 2025.[4]
- ^ Section 5 of the Bishoprics Act 1878 at the National Archives website. (Retrieved 1 November 2021.)
- ^ "Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure 2014". legislation.gov.uk. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
ExtensionPrimarywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill [HL]". UK Parliament.
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