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{{Short description|Bishops of the established Church of England who servesit in the House of Lords}}
{{Use British English|date = September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
[[File:The Archbishop of Canterbury (51111275839).jpg|thumb|350pxupright=1.4|[[Justin Welby]] (Former Archbishop of Canterbury) and [[Rachel Treweek]] (Bishop of Gloucester) in the House of Lords in 2021]]
{{PoliticsUK}}
The '''Lords Spiritual''' are the [[bishop]]s of the [[Church of England]] who servesit in the [[House of Lords]] of the United Kingdom. 26Up outto 26 of the 42 [[diocesan bishopsbishop]]s and archbishops[[archbishop]]s of the Church of England serve as Lords Spiritual (not countingincluding retired archbishopsbishops who sit by right of a peerage). The [[Church of Scotland]], which is [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]], and the Anglican churches in [[Church in Wales|Anglican churches in Wales]] and [[Church of Ireland|in Northern Ireland]], which are no longer [[Established Church|established churches]], are not represented. The Lords Spiritual are distinct from the [[Lords Temporal]], their secular counterparts who also sit in the House of Lords.
 
==Ranks and titles==
There are [[List of Church of England dioceses|42 dioceses in the Church of England]], each led by a [[diocesan bishop]]. The [[archbishop of Canterbury]] and the [[archbishop of York]], as Primate of All England and Primate of England, respectively, have oversight over their corresponding [[ecclesiastical province]]s. The occupants of the five "great sees" – Canterbury, York, [[Bishop of London|London]], [[Bishop of Durham|Durham]] and [[Bishop of Winchester|Winchester]] – are always Lords Spiritual.
The Church of England comprises 42 [[diocese]]s, each led by a [[diocesan bishop]]. The [[Archbishop]]s of [[Archbishop of Canterbury|Canterbury]] and [[Archbishop of York|York]], as Primate of All England and Primate of England, respectively, have oversight over their corresponding [[Ecclesiastical province|provinces]]. The occupants of the five "great sees"—Canterbury, York, [[Bishop of London|London]], [[Bishop of Durham|Durham]] and [[Bishop of Winchester|Winchester]]—are always Lords of Parliament. Of the remaining 35 bishops, the 21 most senior sit in the House of Lords, although the normal operation of this rule was suspended in 2015 (following the decision of the Church to begin to appoint women as bishops), instead meaning that until 2025 every woman appointed as a bishop will automatically be appointed as a Lord Spiritual when a vacancy next arises, regardless of seniority, so as to balance out the representation of female Bishops in the House.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lords Spiritual |url=https://churchinparliament.org/about-the-lords-spiritual/ |website=The Church of England in Parliament |access-date=2 September 2020 |language=en |date=26 February 2014}}</ref> Otherwise, seniority is determined by total length of service as an English diocesan bishop (that is to say, it is not lost by translation to another see).<ref>{{cite web |title=section 5, Bishoprics Act 1878 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/41-42/68/section/5 |website=[[Legislation.gov.uk]] |access-date=2 September 2020}}</ref><ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/about-lords/lords-appointment/ Lords Appointment] from ''Parliament.uk'' retrieved 15 June 2013</ref> The [[Bishop of Sodor and Man]] and the [[Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe]] may not sit in the House of Lords regardless of seniority as their dioceses lie outside both of England and of the United Kingdom. (The former, however, sits on the [[Legislative Council of the Isle of Man]] ''[[ex officio]]''.) ▼
 
▲TheOf Churchthe ofremaining England37 comprises 42 [[diocese]]sbishops, eachthe led21 bymost asenior [[diocesanusually bishop]].sit Thein [[Archbishop]]sthe of [[ArchbishopHouse of Canterbury|Canterbury]] and [[Archbishop of York|York]], as Primate of All England and Primate of England, respectively, have oversight over their corresponding [[Ecclesiastical province|provinces]]Lords. The occupants ofFollowing the fivefirst "great sees"—Canterbury, York, [[Bishopordinations of London|London]], [[Bishop of Durham|Durham]] and [[Bishop of Winchester|Winchester]]—are always Lords of Parliament. Of the remaining 35female bishops, the 21 most senior sit in the HouseChurch of LordsEngland, although the normal operation of this rule was suspended in 2015 (followingby the decision[[Lords ofSpiritual the(Women) ChurchAct to begin to appoint women as bishops)2015]], insteadwhich meaningprovides that until 2025 every woman appointed as a diocesan bishop will automatically be appointed asbecome a Lord Spiritual when a vacancy next arises, regardless of seniority, so as to balance outincrease the representation of female Bishopsbishops in the House.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lords Spiritual |url=https://churchinparliament.org/about-the-lords-spiritual/ |website=The Church of England in Parliament |access-date=2 September 2020 |language=en |date=26 February 2014}}</ref> Otherwise, seniority is determined by total length of service as an English diocesan bishop (that is to say, it is not lost by [[Translation (ecclesiastical)|translation]] to another see).<ref>{{cite web |title=section 5, Bishoprics Act 1878 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Vict/41-42/68/section/5 |website=[[Legislation.gov.uk]] |access-date=2 September 2020}}</ref><ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/about-lords/lords-appointment/ Lords Appointment] from ''Parliament.uk'' retrieved 15 June 2013</ref> The [[Bishop of Sodor and Man]] and the [[Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe]] maydo not sit in the House of Lords regardless of seniority, as their dioceses lie outside both of England and of the United Kingdom. (The former, however, sits on the [[Legislative Council of the Isle of Man]] ''[[ex officio]]''.)
Theoretically, the power to elect archbishops and bishops is vested in the diocesan cathedral's college of canons. Practically, however, the [[appointment of Church of England bishops|choice of the archbishop or bishop]] is made prior to the election. The Prime Minister chooses from among a set of nominees proposed by the [[Crown Nominations Commission]]; the sovereign then instructs the college of canons to elect the nominated individual as a bishop or archbishop.▼
 
▲Theoretically, the power to elect archbishops and bishops is vested in the diocesan cathedral's [[college of canons]]. Practically, however, the [[appointment of Church of England bishops|choice of the archbishop or bishop]] is made prior to the election]]. The [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|prime minister]] chooses from among a set of nominees proposed by the [[Crown Nominations Commission]];, and the sovereign then instructs the college of canons to elect the nominated individual as a bishop or archbishop.
 
{{anchor|Convenor}}One of the Lords Spiritual is appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury to be the ''convenor'' of the bench; he or she coordinates the work of the bishops in the House. [[Alan Smith (bishop)|Alan Smith]], [[Bishop of St&nbsp;Albans]], was appointed the current convenor on 23 September 2022.<ref>{{cite web |website=Church of England |title=Bishop of St&nbsp;Albans to be Convenor of the Lords Spiritual |date=23 September 2022 |url=https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/bishop-st-albans-be-convenor-lords-spiritual |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927180635/https://www.churchofengland.org/media-and-news/press-releases/bishop-st-albans-be-convenor-lords-spiritual |archive-date=27 September 2022 |access-date=20 October 2022 }}</ref>
 
==PeersStatus as peers==
Even during the early years of the [[Peerage]], the position of bishops was unclear. During the reign of King [[Richard II of England|Richard II]], the Archbishop of Canterbury declared, "of right and by the custom of the realm of England it belongeth to the Archbishop of Canterbury for the time being as well as others his suffragans, brethren and fellow Bishops, Abbots and Priors and other prelates whatsoever, — to—to be present in person in all the King's Parliaments whatsoever as Peers of the Realm". The claim was neither agreed nor disagreed to, however, by Parliament.
 
The Lords Spiritual at first declared themselves entirely outside the jurisdiction of secular authorities; the question of trial in the House of Lords did not arise. When papal authority was great, the King could do little but admit a lack of jurisdiction over the prelates. Later, however, when the power of the Pope in England was reduced, the Lords Spiritual came under the authority of the secular courts. The jurisdiction of the common courts was clearly established by the time of [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]], who declared himself head of the Church of England in place of the Pope, ending the constitutional power of the Roman Catholic Church in England.
 
Despite their failure to be tried as temporal peers in the House of Lords, it remained unclear whether the Lords Spiritual were indeed peers. In 1688, the issue arose during the trial of the [[Seven Bishops]]—[[William Sancroft]], Archbishop of Canterbury; [[Sir Jonathan Trelawny, 3rd Baronet]], Bishop of Winchester; [[Thomas Ken]], Bishop of Bath and Wells; [[John Lake (bishop)|John Lake]], Bishop of Chester; [[William Lloyd (bishop of Worcester)|William Lloyd]], Bishop of Worcester; [[Francis Turner (bishop)|Francis Turner]], Bishop of Ely; and [[Thomas White (bishop)|Thomas White]], Bishop of Peterborough—by a common jury. The charge was that a petition sent by the Bishops constituted [[seditious libel]]; the Bishops argued that they had the [[right to petition]] the Sovereign at any time, while the prosecution charged that such a right was only permissible when Parliament was in session (which, at the time of the delivery of the petition, it was not). If the bishops were only Lords of Parliament, and not peers, their right to petition would be vitiated while Parliament was dissolved. Peers, however, were and still are counsellors of the Sovereign whether Parliament is in session or not; therefore, if the bishops were indeed peers, they would be free to send petitions. Since there was no doubt that the petition was actually sent, while the Court still ruled the bishops not guilty, it appears that it was taken for granted that the bishops were counsellors of the Crown.
 
Nevertheless, the ''Standing Orders of the House of Lords'' provide, "Bishops to whom a writ of summons has been issued are not Peers but are Lords of Parliament."
 
==Number==
In the early history of the [[Parliament of England]], the Lords Spiritual—including the [[abbot]]s—outnumbered the Lords Temporal. Between 1536 and 1540, however, King Henry VIII [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|dissolved the monasteries]], thereby removing the seats of the abbots. For the first time, and thereafterfrom then on, the Lords Spiritual formed a minority in the House of Lords.<ref name=hist>[http://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/lords-history/history-of-the-lords/ History of the Lords] from ''Parliament.uk'' retrieved 15 June 2013</ref>
 
In addition to the 21 older dioceses (including four in Wales), Henry VIII created six new ones, of which five survived (see [[historicalHistorical development of Church of England dioceses]]); the Bishops of the Church of England were excluded in 1642 but regained their seats following the [[Stuart Restoration]]; from then until the early nineteenth19th century no new sees were created, and the number of lordsLords spiritualSpiritual remained at 26.
 
Bishops, abbots, and priors, of the [[Church of Scotland]] traditionallyhistorically sat in the [[Parliament of Scotland]]. Laymen acquired the monasteries in 1560, following the [[Scottish Reformation]], and therefore those sitting as "abbots" and "priors" were all laymen after thisthat time. Bishops of the Church of Scotland continued to sit, regardless of their religious conformity. Roman Catholic clergy were excluded in 1567, but [[Episcopal polity|Episcopal bishops]] continued to sit until they too were excluded in 1638. The bishops regained their seats following the [[Restoration (Scotland)|Restoration]], but were again excluded in 1689, following the final abolition of diocesan bishops and the permanent establishment of the Church of Scotland as Presbyterian. There are no longer [[bishops in the Church of Scotland]], and that church has never sent any clergy to sit in the House of Lords at Westminster.
 
Bishops and archbishops of the [[Church of Ireland]] were entitled to sit in the [[Irish House of Lords]] as Lords Spiritual. They obtained representation in the Westminster House of Lords after the union of Ireland and Great Britain in 1801. Of the Church of Ireland's ecclesiastics, four (one archbishop and three bishops) were to sit at any one time, with the members rotating at the end of every parliamentary session (which normally lasted approximatelyabout one year). The Church of Ireland, however, was [[Disestablishment of the Church of Ireland|disestablished]] in 1871, and thereafter ceased to be represented by Lords Spiritual.
 
The [[Bishop of Sodor and Man]], although a Bishop of the Church of England, has never been included among the English Lords Spiritual, as the [[Isle of Man]] has never been part of the Kingdom of England or of the United Kingdom. The Lord Bishop is the holder of the oldest office in [[Tynwald]] (the oldest continuous parliament in the world) and remains an ''ex officio'' member of [[Tynwald Court]] and of the island's [[Legislative Council (Isle of Man)|Legislative Council]], although this has recently (2020s) been the subject of some controversy.
 
In the early 19th century, as the diocesespopulation of industrial cities grew, the Church of England beganproposed graduallytwo tonew comebishoprics underfor reviewLeeds again.and HoweverManchester, anbut increasethe ingovernment refused to increase the benchnumber of bishopsLords Spiritual. The Church was notreluctant consideredto politicallyhave expedienttwo classes of diocesan bishops, and sodecided stepsto werecombine undertakenother dioceses to preventallow itfor the new dioceses. In 1836, the first new bishopric was founded, [[Bishop of Ripon (modern diocese)|that of Ripon]]; but it was balanced out by the merger of the [[Bishop of Bristol|Bishoprics of Bristol]] and [[Bishop of Gloucester|Gloucester]]. (They were later dividedseparated again.) The creation of the [[Bishop of Manchester|Bishopric of Manchester]] was also planned but delayed until the dioceses of St Asaph and Bangor could be merged. They never were;, but the [[Bishopric of Manchester Act 1847]] went ahead anyway with an alternative meansway to maintain the 26-bishop limit in the House of Lords: the seniority-based proviso which has been maintained to this day.<ref name=hist/> However, the [[Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015]] gives any woman appointed a diocesan bishop in England during the next decade priority in terms of succeeding those among the current 21 who retire during that period. [[Rachel Treweek]] became Bishop of Gloucester and the first woman Lord Spiritual under the Act in 2015; [[Christine Hardman]] became the second later that year.
 
In 1920, with the independence of the [[Church in Wales]] from the Church of England and its [[Disestablishmentarianism|disestablishment]], the Welsh bishops stopped being eligible for inclusion.
 
The 26 seats for the Lords Spiritual aremake approximatelyup {{#expr:260026/({{HOL|TOTAL}}round1+(26-{{HOL|BP}}%))*100 round 1}}<!--Accommodates cases where there are fewer than 26 Lords Spiritual--> per cent of the total membership of the House of Lords ({{HOL|TOTAL}} seats, {{As of|{{#time:Y|{{HOL|date}}}}|{{#time:m|{{HOL|date}}}}|{{#time:d|{{HOL|date}}}}|lc=y}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://members.parliament.uk/parties/lords/by-peerage |title=Lords membership – by peerage |website=UK Parliament}}</ref>
 
==Politics==
Although the Lords Spiritual have no [[Political party|party affiliation]], they do not sit on the [[Crossbencher|crossbenches]],; their seats beingare on the Government side of the Lords Chamberchamber, also known as the "spiritual side", on the right-hand side of and nearest to the throne. Though in a full sitting the Bishops occupy almost three rows, the Lords Spiritual'stheir front bench is subtly distinguished by being the only one in the House with a single armrest at either end; it is on the front row, close to the throne end of the chamber, indicating their unique status.<ref>[http://www.churchofengland.org/our-views/the-church-in-parliament/bishops-in-the-house-of-lords.aspx "What do Bishops do in Parliament?"] Church of England website. Retrieved 15 June 2013.</ref>
 
By custom, at least one of the Bishops reads prayers in each legislative day (a role taken by the [[Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons|Chaplain to the Speaker]] in the Commons).<ref name=shell1>{{cite book|last=Shell|first=Donald|title=The House of Lords|publisher=[[Manchester University Press]]|year=2007|edition=3rd|isbn=978-0-7190-5443-3|page=54}}</ref> They often speak in debates; in 2004 [[Rowan Williams]], then Archbishop of Canterbury, opened a debate into sentencing legislation.<ref name=shell1/> [[List of Church of England Measuresmeasures|Measures]] ([[Bill (proposed law)|proposed laws]] of the Church of England) must be put before the Lords, and the Lords Spiritual have a role in ensuring that this takes place.<ref name=shell1/>
 
==OtherRetired religious figuresbishops as Lords Temporal==
Since 1928, retiring Archbishops of Canterbury have been created peers, enabling them to continue to sit in the House as [[Lords Temporal]] after their term as Lords Spiritual ended. Archbishops [[Randall Davidson|Davidson]] (1928) and [[Cosmo Gordon Lang|Lang]] (1942) were created [[hereditary peers]] (though both were without male heirs and their titles became extinct on their deaths). Archbishops [[Geoffrey Fisher|Fisher]] (1961), [[Michael Ramsey|Ramsey]] (1974), [[Donald Coggan|Coggan]] (1980), [[Robert Runcie|Runcie]] (1991), [[George Carey|Carey]] (2002) and [[Rowan Williams|Williams]] (2013) were created [[life peers]].
Other religious figures have sat in the House of Lords as Lords Temporal in recent times: [[Chief Rabbi]] [[Immanuel Jakobovits]] was appointed to the House of Lords (by the Queen, who acted on the advice of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher), as was his successor Chief Rabbi [[Jonathan Sacks]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chiefrabbi.org/ReadContent1849.aspx |title=Biography of the Chief Rabbi |publisher=Office of the Chief Rabbi |location=London, United Kingdom |access-date=16 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001042614/http://www.chiefrabbi.org/ReadContent1849.aspx |archive-date=1 October 2009 }}</ref> In recognition of his work at reconciliation and in the [[Northern Ireland peace process|peace process]] in Northern Ireland, [[Robin Eames]], the Church of Ireland (Anglican) [[Archbishop of Armagh (Church of Ireland)|Archbishop of Armagh]], was appointed to the Lords by [[John Major]]. ▼
 
Archbishops Lang, Ramsey and Coggan each served as Archbishop of York before translation to Canterbury. Successive retiring Archbishops of York after them have been created life peers:- Archbishops [[Stuart Blanch|Blanch]] (1983), [[John Habgood|Habgood]] (1995) [[David Hope, Baron Hope of Thornes|Hope]] (2005) and [[John Sentamu|Sentamu]] (2021).
Other Christian clergy appointed include the Methodist minister [[Donald Soper]], the Anglican priest [[Timothy Beaumont]], the [[Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster]] ministers the Rev. [[Ian Paisley]] and the Rev. [[William McCrea, Baron McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown|William McCrea]], and, to date, the only [[Church of Scotland]] cleric to have been elevated to the upper house, the Very Rev. [[George MacLeod]].
 
[[Robin Eames]], the [[Church of Ireland]] [[Archbishop of Armagh (Church of Ireland)|Archbishop of Armagh]], was created a life peer in 1995 in recognition of his work for reconciliation and in the [[Northern Ireland peace process]].
There have been no Roman Catholic clergy appointed since the Reformation, though it was rumoured that Cardinal [[Basil Hume]], the [[Archbishop of Westminster]], and his successor, Cardinal [[Cormac Murphy O'Connor]], were offered peerages by [[James Callaghan]], Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair respectively, but declined. Hume later accepted the [[Order of Merit (Commonwealth)|Order of Merit]], a personal appointment of the Queen, shortly before his death. O'Connor said he had his maiden speech ready, but ordained Roman Catholics [[Catholic priests in public office|are prohibited]] by the [[Canon law (Catholic Church)|internal canon law of the Roman Catholic Church]] from holding major offices connected with any government other than the [[Holy See]].{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}▼
 
Less commonly, other retired diocesans have been created life peers:- Bishops [[David Sheppard]] of [[Bishop of Liverpool| Liverpool]] (1997), [[Richard Harries, Baron Harries of Pentregarth|Richard Harries]] of [[Bishop of Oxford|Oxford]] (2006) and [[Richard Chartres]] of [[Bishop of London|London]] (2017).
Former archbishops of Canterbury and of York, who revert to the status of regular bishop, and are no longer diocesans, are customarily offered [[life peer]]ages, so that they can continue to sit as Lords Temporal.
 
==2011Other proposedreligious Housefigures ofas Lords reformTemporal==
Under the 2011 [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|Coalition Government]] draft proposal for Lords reform, the Lords would be either 80% elected and 20% appointed, or 100% elected. In the former case, there would be 12 Church of England bishops in the reformed Upper House.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/61215/house-of-lords-reform-draft-bill.pdf House of Lords Reform Draft Bill] retrieved 15 June 2013</ref> The total of 12 bishops would include the five "named Lords Spiritual" (the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Bishops of Durham, London and Winchester, entitled as they are to sit ''ex officio'') plus seven other "ordinary Lords Spiritual" (diocesan bishops chosen by the church itself through whatever device it deems appropriate). The reduction from 26 to 12 bishops would be achieved in a stepped fashion: up to 21 bishops would remain for the 2015–2020 period and up to 16 for the 2020–2025 period. The ordinary Lords Spirituals' terms would coincide with each "electoral period" (i.e., the period from one election to the next), with the church able to name up to seven to serve during each electoral period. These reforms were later dropped.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18778639 Politics] from ''BBC.co.uk'' retrieved 15 June 2013</ref>▼
 
Other Christian clergy have been appointed to the House of Lords:
== 2015 change temporarily giving preference to women becoming Lords Spiritual==▼
 
Under the [[Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015]] whenever a vacancy arises among the Lords Spiritual during the ten years (18 May 2015 – 18 May 2025) following the Act coming into force, the vacancy has to be filled by a woman, if one is eligible. The Act does not apply to the sees of Canterbury, York, London, Durham and Winchester, the holders of which automatically have a seat in the House of Lords. Five women have consequently become Lords Spiritual as a result (one of whom has since retired), as of October 2022. (Additionally, [[Sarah Mullally]] entered the Lords ''ex officio'' when appointed [[Bishop of London]] in 2018.)▼
* Anglican priests [[Timothy Beaumont|Lord Beaumont of Whitley]] (1967) and [[Peter Pilkington, Baron Pilkington of Oxenford|Lord Pilkington of Oxenford]] (1995).<!-- It was announced in late 2024 that [[Nigel Biggar]] and [[Russell Rook]] will be created life peers-->
* [[Church of Scotland]] minister and [[Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland|Moderator of the General Assembly]] [[George MacLeod|Lord MacLeod of Fuinary]] (1967)
* [[Methodist Church of Great Britain|Methodist]] ministers [[Donald Soper|Lord Soper]] (1965), [[Kathleen Richardson, Baroness Richardson of Calow|Baroness Richardson of Calow]] (1998) and [[Leslie Griffiths| Lord Griffiths of Burry Port]] (2004), each of whom served as [[ President of the Methodist Conference]].
* [[Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster]] ministers [[Ian Paisley|Lord Bannside]] (2010) and [[William McCrea, Baron McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown|Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown]] (2018).
 
▲There have been no Roman Catholic clergy appointed since the Reformation. However, though it was rumoured that Cardinal [[Basil Cardinal Hume]], the [[Archbishop of Westminster]], and his successor, Cardinal [[Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor]], were offered peerages by [[James Callaghan]], Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair respectively, but declined. [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] Hume later accepted the [[Order of Merit (Commonwealth)|Order of Merit]], a personal appointment of the Queen, shortly before his death. Cardinal Murphy O'Connor said he had his maiden speech ready, but ordainedunder Roman[[Canon Catholics(canon law)|Canon]] 285 of the [[Catholic1983 priestsCode inof publicCanon officeLaw|are1983 prohibited''Code of Canon Law'']], byordained Catholic clergy of the [[CanonLatin lawChurch]] (Catholicby Church)|internalfar canonthe lawlargest ofCatholic thedenomination Romanin Britain) [[Catholic Churchpriests in public office|are discouraged]] from holding majorpublic officesoffice connected withof any governmentstate other than the [[Holy See]], and [[secular clergy|secular priests]] and bishops are completely prohibited from "public offices which entail a participation in the exercise of civil power".<ref>{{citationcite web needed|datetitle=FebruaryThe 2019Obligations and Rights of Clerics |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_PY.HTM |work=Code of Canon Law - IntraText |publisher=[[Libreria Editrice Vaticana]]}}</ref>
 
Jewish [[rabbis]] have also been appointed to the House of Lords:
 
▲Other*[[List religiousof figureschief haverabbis sat inof the HouseUnited ofHebrew LordsCongregations|Chief asRabbis Lordsof Temporalthe inUnited recentHebrew times: [[Chief RabbiCongregations]] [[Immanuel Jakobovits|Lord Jakobovits]] was appointed to the House of Lords (by the Queen, who acted on the advice of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher1988), as was his successor Chief Rabbiand [[Jonathan Sacks, Baron Sacks|Lord Sacks]]. (2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chiefrabbi.org/ReadContent1849.aspx |title=Biography of the Chief Rabbi |publisher=Office of the Chief Rabbi |location=London, United Kingdom |access-date=16 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001042614/http://www.chiefrabbi.org/ReadContent1849.aspx |archive-date=1 October 2009 }}</ref> In recognition of his work at reconciliation and in the [[Northern Ireland peace process|peace process]] in Northern Ireland, [[Robin Eames]], the Church of Ireland (Anglican) [[Archbishop of Armagh (Church of Ireland)|Archbishop of Armagh]], was appointed to the Lords by [[John Major]].
*[[Movement for Reform Judaism|Reform]] rabbi [[Julia Neuberger|Baroness Neuberger]] (2004)
 
==Reforms==
 
===2011 proposed House of Lords reform===
▲Under the 2011[[House of Lords Reform Bill 2012]], proposed by the [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|Coalition Government]] draft proposal for Lords reform, the Lords would be either 80% elected and 20% appointed, or 100% elected. In the former case, there would be 12 Church of England bishops in the reformed Upperupper Househouse.<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/61215/house-of-lords-reform-draft-bill.pdf House of Lords Reform Draft Bill] retrieved 15 June 2013</ref> The total of 12 bishops would include the five "named Lords Spiritual" (the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Bishops of Durham, London and Winchester, entitled as they are to sit ''ex officio'') plus seven other "ordinary Lords Spiritual" (diocesan bishops chosen by the church itself through whatever device it deems appropriate). The reduction from 26 to 12 bishops would be achieved in a stepped fashion: up to 21 bishops would remain for the 2015–2020 period and up to 16 for the 2020–2025 period. The ordinary Lords Spirituals' terms would coincide with each "electoral period" (i.e., the period from one election to the next), with the church able to name up to seven to serve during each electoral period. These reforms were later dropped.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18778639 PoliticsLords reform: Government abandons crucial vote amid likely defeat] from ''BBC.co.uk'' retrieved 15 June 2013</ref>
 
▲=== 2015 change temporarily giving preference to women becoming Lords Spiritual===
▲Under the [[Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015]] whenever a vacancy arises among the Lords Spiritual during the ten years following the Act coming into force (18 May 2015 – 18 May 2025) following the Act coming into force, the vacancy has to be filled by a woman, if one is eligible. The Act does not apply to the sees of Canterbury, York, London, Durham and Winchester, the holders of which automatically have a seat in the House of Lords. FiveSix women have consequentlysubsequently become Lords Spiritual as a result (one of whom has since retired), as of OctoberSeptember 20222023. (Additionally, [[Sarah Mullally]] entered the Lords ''ex officio'' when appointed [[Bishop of London]] in 2018.) Further legislation was announced in July 2024 which is intended to extend this provision until May 2030.<ref>[[Cabinet Office]], [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-legislation-will-increase-representation-of-female-bishops-in-the-house-of-lords New legislation will increase representation of female bishops in the House of Lords], published on 30 July 2024, accessed on 28 August 2024</ref>
 
==Criticism==
The presence of the Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords has been criticised, with some media commentators and organisations arguing that the system is outdated and undemocratic.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/mar/14/lords-reform-bishops-reserved-benches |title=Goodbye to the bishops |first=Polly |last=Toynbee |author-link=Polly Toynbee |work=The Guardian |date=14 March 2010 |access-date=14 August 2013 |location=London}}</ref> The [[BritishHumanists Humanist AssociationUK]] has described it as "unacceptable" that "the UK is the only Western democracy to give religious representatives the automatic right to sit in the legislature".<ref>{{cite web |date=14 August 2013 |title=Report on bishops in Lords fails to address justice and equality |url=http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/news/UK/070212theosinjusticehol |access-date= |publisher=[[Ekklesia (think tank)|Ekklesia]]}}</ref><ref>[https://humanism.org.uk/campaigns/secularism/constitutional-reform/bishops-in-the-lords/ Bishops in the House of Lords]. Humanists UK. Retrieved 11 April 2018.</ref> There has also been criticism of the "anomaly of having religious representation from one of the four nations of the United Kingdom but not from the other three"; while the appointment procedures have been described as "secretive and flawed".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peterson |first1=Scot |title=Lords Spiritual: a problem of transparency and legitimacy |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/lords-spiritual-problem-of-transparency-and-legitimacy/ |website=OpenDemocracy UK |publisher=OpenDemocracy UK |date=5 February 2012 |access-date=10 July 2022 }}</ref>
 
[[Richard Chartres]], then [[Bishop of London]], defended the bishops in 2007, saying they are "in touch with a great range of opinions and institutions", and suggesting the inclusion of "leading members in Britain's [other] faith communities".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Daniel |last2=Mackay |first2=Maria |date=9 February 2007 |title=Bishop of London Defends Church's Position in House of Lords |work=[[Christian Today]] |url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/bishop.of.london.defends.churchs.position.in.house.of.lords/9475.htm |access-date=}}</ref>
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==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity|United Kingdom}}
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
*[[Christian state]]▼
*[[Anti-clericalism]]
*[[Disestablishmentarianism]]
*[[Irreligion in the United Kingdom]]
*[[List of Lords Spiritual]]
*[[Lord Bishop]]
*[[Reform of the House of Lords]]
*[[Religion in politics]]
*[[Religion in the United Kingdom]]
*[[Sacerdotal state]]
▲*[[ChristianSecular state]]
*[[Secularism in the UK]]
*[[Separation of church and state]]
*[[State religion]]
{{div col end}}
 
==References==
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==External links==
* {{Cite Americana|wstitle=Lords Spiritual |short=x}}
*[https://churchinparliament.org/ Church in Parliament, the official website of the Lords Spiritual]
 
{{Current Lords Spiritual|state=expanded}}
{{UK legislatures|state=autocollapse}}
 
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lords_Spiritual"