Glossary

    Church Abuse Claims: Plain-English Glossary

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    Legal and Church terms used across our guides, explained simply — no legal background required.

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    Balance of probabilities
    The standard of proof used in civil claims: the court asks whether it's more likely than not (over 50% likely) that the abuse happened. This is a much lower bar than the criminal standard of "beyond reasonable doubt", which is why a civil claim can succeed even without a criminal conviction. Claiming without a conviction →
    Civil claim
    A legal case brought through the courts against the Church of England (or the relevant diocese) seeking financial compensation. Unlike the Redress Scheme, a civil claim has no compensation ceiling and gives you full court protections, but is a more formal, adversarial process. Civil claims explained →
    CICA
    The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority — a government (not Church) scheme that pays fixed, tariff-based compensation to victims of violent crime, including sexual abuse. You can apply to CICA and pursue a civil claim or the Redress Scheme at the same time. CICA claims explained →
    Curate
    A junior member of clergy, typically assisting a vicar in a parish, often working closely with children and young people through youth groups, Sunday school, or pastoral visits. Curates are within the scope of vicarious liability claims in the same way as more senior clergy.
    Date of knowledge
    The point at which you first realised your injuries (psychological or physical) were connected to the abuse — not necessarily when the abuse itself happened. For non-sexual-abuse claims still subject to the standard time limit, the clock can run from this date rather than from the abuse itself, which matters for survivors who only made the connection years later. Time limits explained →
    Diocese
    A geographical area of the Church of England overseen by a bishop, made up of parishes. Civil claims are typically brought against the relevant diocese, since it's the diocese — not the individual perpetrator — that's legally responsible for clergy and volunteers acting in an authorised Church role.
    IICSA
    The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse — a UK statutory public inquiry that investigated institutional failures to protect children, including within the Church of England. Its findings and recommendations led directly to the Church of England's Redress Scheme. The Redress Scheme →
    No win, no fee
    A funding arrangement (formally a Conditional Fee Agreement) where you pay no legal fees unless your claim succeeds. If you win, an agreed percentage of your compensation covers the fee; if you lose, you owe nothing.
    Non-adversarial
    A process without opposing sides formally contesting each other in court. The Redress Scheme is designed to be non-adversarial — no cross-examination, no court appearance — unlike a civil claim, which is adversarial by nature. Civil claim vs Redress Scheme →
    Redress Scheme
    The Church of England's national scheme for acknowledging and compensating survivors of abuse, established following IICSA's recommendations. Not yet open — expected in the latter part of 2026. Is it open yet? →
    Safeguarding
    The policies and practices an institution is supposed to have in place to protect children and vulnerable adults from harm. Where a diocese failed to act on safeguarding concerns it was already aware of, this can support a separate negligence claim, independent of the abuse itself.
    Section 33
    Section 33 of the Limitation Act 1980 — gives courts discretion to allow a personal injury claim to proceed even after the standard three-year time limit has passed, where it's fair to do so. Courts weigh factors like the reason for delay and the availability of evidence. Since June 2026, this no longer applies to child sexual abuse claims specifically, which now have no time limit at all. Time limits explained →
    Section 96
    Section 96 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 — in force since 29 June 2026, it removed the three-year time limit entirely for civil claims arising from child sexual abuse. There's no longer a limitation period to extend for this category of claim, regardless of how long ago the abuse took place. Time limits explained →
    Vicarious liability
    The legal principle that makes an institution responsible for the wrongful acts of people it authorised to act on its behalf — even though the institution didn't commit the act itself. This is why a civil claim is brought against the Church of England or diocese, not the individual abuser, and why it doesn't matter if the abuser has since died. Who can be held liable →

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