Last updated 18th May 2023
Thank you to Churchwardens, PCC Secretaries and Treasurers for ensuring that information about your parish finances, buildings, PCC governance and attendance/mission are returned to the national church and/or the diocesan offices.
The information asked of you is required for a number of reasons:
Please find below a table of requests by role:
NB If there is no PCC Treasurer and/or Secretary, the request is made of the Churchwarden(s)
Please do contact chrissie.oakley@blackburn.anglican.org if you have any questions about the parish returns or gill.beeley@blackburn.anglican.org tel 01254 503272
You can download this schedule here It might be useful to keep a copy with the Minute Book for easy reference.
Returns requested from Churchwarden(s)
|
Name of return & description |
Reason for request |
Frequency/ deadline |
Requested by and return to |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Churchwarden Declaration
Declaration to the Archdeacon that you are prepared to stand for office |
Legal
|
Annually
After the APCM and to be received by 31st May or Archdeacon’s deanery visitation if earlier |
Archdeacons (or their PAs)
On-line survey (follow link) or paper return to: Clayton House Walker Business Park BLACKBURN BB1 2QE |
|
Articles of Enquiry
Questions from Archdeacons |
Legal
Informs Bishops Leadership Team's strategy to support parishes |
Annually if required
To be received by 31st May |
Archdeacons (or their PAs) On-line survey via Parish Returns website or paper return to: Clayton House Walker Business Park BLACKBURN BB1 2QE |
|
Regular Weekly Attendance (RWA)
Weekly church attendance in October |
Calculation of the following year's parish share by the diocesan team |
Annually using
To be received by 30th November |
Diocesan Finance Department
Form to be e-mailed to chrissie.oakley@blackburn.anglican.org |
|
Statistics for Mission
Attendance figures for the national church |
National statistics for the Church of England (and diocesan teams) |
Annually
To be completed by 31st January |
On-line using the Church of England Parish Returns website NB church representative(s) need to register on the system - contact chrissie.oakley@blackburn.anglican.org for access.
The Diocesan team will send reminders |
|
Energy Footprint Tool
Record type and amount (or cost) of energy used |
Statistics for the diocesan and national environmental teams (and parish carbon net zero planning) |
Annually
To be completed by 31st July |
On-line using the Church of England Parish Returns website NB church representative(s) need to register on the system.
You may need to ask your treasurer to see the energy bills |
|
Quinquennial Inspection
5 year church buildings condition report |
Legal - the PCC is responsible for the care of its buildings.
Inspection of Churches Measure 1955 as amended by the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991 (CCEJM). |
Every five years |
Email scanned copy of Inspection to DAC Secretary dacsecretary@Blackburn.Anglican.Org
or paper copy to Diocesan Offices, Clayton House, Walker Park, BLACKBURN, BB1 2QE |
Returns requested from PCC Treasurer
|
Name of return and description |
Reason for request |
Frequency/ deadline |
Requested by and return to |
|
Occasional office fees return
Details of Board of Finance fees received by parish for weddings and funerals |
Correct allocation of parish share receipt to fees in Board of Finance accounts |
Quarterly
To be received by Finance one week after the end of the quarter |
Diocesan Finance Department
Complete Fees Return form and email to dbfaccounts@blackburn.anglican.org or post to Clayton House, Walker Park, Blackburn BB1 2QE |
|
Return of Parish Finance
National statistics on giving and expenditure |
National statistics for use by the Church of England (and diocesan teams) |
Annually
To be completed by 31st May |
On-line using the Church of England NB church representative(s) need to register on the system. (Note: accounts do not have to be passed at Annual meeting before these are input) The Diocesan finance team will send reminders |
|
Year end accounts
A copy of the parish accounts for the previous financial year |
Legal (Charity Commission) requirement |
Annually
To be sent asap year end, no need to wait to the APCM (by end May) |
Diocesan Finance Department
Preferably scanned and e-mailed to chrissie.oakley@blackburn.anglican.org or dbfaccounts@blackburn.anglican.org or post to Clayton House, Walker Park, Blackburn BB1 2QE
|
Returns requested from PCC Secretary (or other representative(s) eg Deanery Synod Secretary)
|
Name of return and description |
Reason for request |
Frequency/ deadline |
Requested by and return to |
|
Electoral Roll
number on electoral roll at the date of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) |
Legal
|
Annually
After the APCM and be received by 1 July |
Diocesan Central Services Department
Form to be e-mailed to karen.ashcroft@blackburn.anglican.org |
|
Contact details of parish office holders
Who is PCC Treasurer, Secretary, Safeguarding etc contact
|
Effective communications from Bishops, Archdeacons and diocesan teams |
Annually/ ongoing
After the APCM and after change of officer |
Diocesan Central Services Department
Please send e-mail to Karen.Ashcroft@Blackburn.Anglican.Org or phone 01254 503070
|
|
Data Protection Form
for all who have details held on Contact Management System |
Legal |
As soon as practicable after appointment to post |
Diocesan Central Services Department
Please scan and send the Laity appointment form(s) to Karen.Ashcroft@Blackburn.Anglican.Org or post to Clayton House, Walker Park, Blackburn BB1 2QE |
|
Contact details of Deanery Synod representatives |
Effective communications from Area Dean, Synod Secretary and diocesan teams Other elections |
After the APCM in an election year or if change of representative |
PCC Secretary to send to Deanery Synod Secretary, then Deanery Synod Secretary to send collated list for all parishes in the deanery to karen.ashcroft@blackburn.anglican.org or phone 01254 503070
|
Archiving records
Lancashire Archives cares for most of the original records from Church of England parishes in the Diocese of Blackburn. At our specialist archive premises in Preston we securely store huge collections of parish records and help visitors to use the records for their local and family history research.
The Diocese of Blackburn parish records contain thousands of minute books, account books, letters, title deeds, plans and photographs – as well as the more commonly used registers of baptisms, marriages and burials. The collections tell the stories of communities throughout Lancashire and are of vital importance to the history of the County.
You can find out more about which parishes we hold records for by using this guide Church registers guide - Lancashire County Council or searching our online catalogue LANCAT: Home Page (lancashire.gov.uk).
You can arrange to view material at the Archives by contacting us at archives@lancashire.gov.uk or calling 01772 533039.
Lancashire Archives helps the Diocese of Blackburn fulfil its responsibilities in preserving church records. We actively collect material from parishes and welcome enquiries concerning the transfer of new records to the archives. Please contact us at archives@lancashire.gov.uk and we can offer advice on the types and formats of records of historic value, or to arrange a deposit of material.