General Synod of The Church of England - Church Assembly: 1919 To 1970

Church Assembly: 1919 To 1970

Before 1919, any change to the Church's worship or governance had to be by Act of Parliament, which resulted in little being done. In 1919, the Convocations of the Provinces of Canterbury and York proposed that a National Assembly of the Church of England be established and be given power to legislate for the church.

This proposal was given effect through the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919. The Act gave the assembly power to pass Measures–laws which were to "have the force and effect of an Act of Parliament" on "any matter concerning the Church of England", and included the power to repeal or amend Acts of Parliament concerning the Church.

The Act required that, after being passed by the Assembly, the measure had to be examined by a joint committee of both Houses of Parliament and then approved by a vote of each House before being submitted to the Sovereign for Royal Assent. If MPs or members of the House of Lords were not content with a Measure then they could vote to reject it, but not amend it. Once a measure had been agreed ("deemed expedient") by both Houses of Parliament, and received Royal Assent, it was (from 1926) printed with the Acts of Parliament for the year in question.