Archdeacons' Annual (Deanery) Visitations

Every year parishioners elect Churchwardens to represent them and to work with their parish priest in enabling Christian mission and ministry in their parish. In 2020, there will not be the usual Visitations. Instead, wardens will be sworn in by their incumbents as officers of the Diocesan Bishop, under delegated powers.  

This page contains all the paperwork relating to election of Churchwardens and other paperwork required to be legally compliant in the run up to the election of Churchwardens.  Please be aware that there are new Church Representation Rules effective in 2020 which impact on how PCCs and APCMs are organised, as well as the instruments.   Next year, 2021, the Visitations will be held in June, provisional dates and venues below.

Admission of Churchwardens

There are no visitation services in each deanery this year.  Each incumbent will swear in the Churchwardens as soon as possible after APCMs.   Because of COVID and restrictions, it has been agreed that incimbents have delegated authority from the Archdeacons to swear in wardens.  If you parish is in vacancy or your incumbent is on sick leave, then the Area Dean will carry out the admission.  If you have any questions regarding the admission of wardens, please contact gill.beeley@blackburn.anglican.org in the first instance.

The letter which has been sent out to wardens and incumbents is here

The form of words for admitting wardens is here.

The admission does not have to happen in church - it can take place in any venue - but please ensure that you follow the guidelines on gatherings etc for your area.

After election as a Churchwarden - Declaration forms

After election at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM), a Churchwarden should complete the Churchwarden's declaration. Declaration in Word   Please print off this off, give it to your incumbent before you are sworn in.  The incumbent will then post this back to the Diocesan offices for the attention of Gillian Beeley, or scan it in and email to gillian.beeley@Blackburn.Anglican.Org   

Nomination as a Churchwarden

The Nomination Form for Churchwarden should be made publically available for anyone on the church electoral roll to nominate someone as Churchwarden. The Archdeacons do not need to see the the completed form(s).

Election of Churchwarden

The forms relating to the election of churchwardens can be found on the Parish Resources Website.

This site also contains the forms for the election of PCC members, Deanery Synod members and administration of the electoral roll. 

Churchwardens' Briefings

These are on hold for the time being.

Churchwardens' Yearbook 2020 is now available at a reduced price, £8.95, details here! The 2021 Year Book is now available, and orders are being taken - order form here.

PARISH VISITATIONS 2021

The Archdeacons will write to all parishes with more details relating to the year end and visitations for 2021 in due course.  These will be held in June. It is hoped that the usual pattern can be reinstated, noting that the APCM has to be held by the 31 May, rather than April, in line with the Church Representation Rules 2020

The Notice for the Church door or noticeboard is the official Invitation from the Archdeacon to Churchwardens and members of the PCC to attend a Visitation Service (usually). The notice should be displayed from the first Sunday after receiving the full documentation directly from the Archdeacon until the date of the Visitation. For the notice to display in your church, please click on the link below. 

Electoral Roll 

The Electoral Roll was revised in 2019.  The link to information is here.

The latest edition (2020) of the Archdeacons' Visitations News is here

Articles of Enquiry 

The Articles of Enquiry are now completed via the Parish Returns Online - in the same way as you would complete other returns.  The Articles for 2021 will be made available early in 2021.