Marsha was appointed to the role of Second Church Estates Commissioner on 7 October 2024.

The Second Church Estates Commissioner is a Member of Parliament from the governing party and is responsible for answering oral and written questions from fellow Members about Church of England matters. Questions from MPs to Church Commissioners take place on the floor of the House of Commons once every four to six weeks when the House is sitting.

A transcript of Marsha’s first oral questions can be read here.

During these sessions, Marsha answers questions on topics including but not exclusively:

• Safeguarding
• Appointment of bishops
• Assisted dying
• Rural parishes.

The Second Church Estates Commissioner provides an important link between Government and the Church of England and provides an advisory role for other Church of England bodies in their contact with Government and with MPs about legislative issues affecting the wider church.

The Second Church Estates Commissioner also sits as an ex-officio member of the General Synod’s Legislative Committee, which conveys draft legislation from the General Synod to Parliament. The Commissioner is also a member of Parliament’s Ecclesiastical Committee.

For more information, click here.