Lambeth Palace
31 March 2016
The Canterbury Cross for Services to the Church of England
Awarded to Peter Frederick Barton Beesley for his contribution to the practical application of ecclesiastical, property and charity law throughout and beyond the Church of England over a period of approximately 40 years.
Peter Beesley’s valued and exemplary service to the Church of England has been at three levels. First, as Registrar of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Faculty Office since 1981, Peter has served four Archbishops of Canterbury and three Masters of the Faculties, taking particular responsibility for the issue of special licences in England and Wales and for the regulation of the notarial profession not only in England and Wales but in divers places overseas, as well as establishing, advising and administering the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Charitable Foundation. Second, as Registrar of the dioceses of Ely (1978-2013), Guildford (1981-2013) and Hereford (1983-2013), Peter served successive diocesan bishops and chancellors, and priests and parishes within those dioceses, always seeking to achieve soundly-based pastoral solutions in an increasingly complex legal environment. Third, through his lengthy service on national bodies, including the Ecclesiastical Law Association, the Ecclesiastical Law Society, the Legal Advisory Commission of General Synod, as well as his work as legal adviser to others, including the National Society for Promoting Religious Education, Peter has selflessly and always with patience and good humour made available his own unrivalled legal expertise and wisdom to the benefit of others and the promotion of the Church of God.
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Awards