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Church of Ireland: Bishops

Asked by Andrew RosindellReform UKCabinet OfficeTabled Answered 8 July 2025UIN 64002

The question

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will reintroduce Lords Spiritual from the Church of Ireland to the House of Lords.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds

Bishops of the Church of Ireland previously sat in the House of Lords as Lords Spiritual, from the coming into force of the Union with Ireland Act 1800 until the disestablishment of the Church in 1871. Given the Church of Ireland is no longer part of the established church, there are no plans to reintroduce Church of Ireland bishops to the House of Lords as Lords Spiritual.

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