The Registrar is the Legal Officer of the Diocese. He/she has to be a practising Solicitor and a communicant member of the Church of England.

He/she advises the Bishop, the Archdeacons, Incumbents (clergy), Churchwardens and Parochial Church Councils (i.e. parish representatives) on all legal issues that arise relating to the Church of England and its administration in the Diocese.

Church legislation is enacted by the General Synod (the Church's equivalent of Parliament) and has to be approved by Parliament itself. The Registrar prepares the necessary legal documentation for the Bishop in connection with the ordination of clergy and their licensing to the office and he/she also supervises the procedural requirements for the Faculty Jurisdiction. This controls any proposal to carry out building work or changes to fixtures and furnishings in any parish churches, the majority of which are listed buildings.

Because it has its own procedures in place, the Church of England enjoys exemption from Listed Building Act control. In certain circumstances the Bishop, through the Registrar, is also able to issue licences for marriages.

The Derby Diocesan Registrar is Mrs Nadine Waldron, who can be contacted on 01332 388678, or write to: Derby Church House, Full St, Derby DE1 3DR.