On 7 October 2024, it was announced that The King had approved the nomination of Marsha de Cordova, Member of Parliament for Battersea, to be appointed as Second Church Estates Commissioner (SCEC). In their congratulations, several groups identified areas within their own specific interest for her attention.

The role of the SCEC it to provide the important link between Government and the Church of England and maintains the statutory accountability of the Church Commissioners to Parliament. In this she will be supported by the Parliamentary Office and other relevant staff based at Church House, Westminster. The Commissioner plays an important advisory and advocacy role for other Church of England bodies in their contact with Government and with MPs about legislative issues affecting the wider church.

Specific areas include: answering Parliamentary questions in the Commons every four weeks;  involvement with church legislation as an ex-officio member of the General Synod’s Legislative Committee, and as a member of Parliament’s Ecclesiastical Committee whose other members are yet to be appointed; General Synod, Commissioners’ Committees and other Church Business.

In relation to Parliamentary Questions, she is likely to be challenged on the Church’s performance on aspects of safeguarding, its position on assisted dying, and the appointment of bishops (and Archbishops) and their presence in the Upper House. There may also be issues specific to MPs’ own constituencies.

However, as an MP since 8 June 2017, Ms de Cordova will be well aware of the topics relevant to the Church of England.