Last updated 23rd May 2022

Protocols for publicity of events

On this page are the Diocesan protocols for the promotion of events across the Diocese, including via this website. 

The protocols exist to ensure the large number of events taking place every year are presented to parishes in a fair and manageable format and are promoted through agreed Diocesan channels only.

If you have questions about this website page please email Diocesan Communications Manager, Ronnie Semley, at ronnie.semley@blackburn.anglican.org 

• Official channels: Events publicised in our official communications channels (* see below) must be related to the mission and work of the Diocese in some way; and particularly Vision 2026 Healthy Churches Transforming Communities and its aim of being witnesses, growing leaders and making disciples for Jesus Christ.
• Individual emails: It is not possible to send events separately to parishes away from our official channels using bespoke email distribution lists because, not only is this against GDPR regulations in relation to the appropriate use of personal data, it would create unacceptable levels of ‘inbox clutter’ for clergy and parish officers. Please bear this in mind and refrain from asking Diocesan officers to do this.
• Non-Diocesan events: Our churches and church halls provide venues for countless events organised by many other organisations during an average year but - we are sorry - it is simply not possible to promote those events in our official channels for obvious reasons.

Events we will promote in official communications channels include ... 

• Diocesan-wide events organised through the Diocesan Offices, Bishops’ Offices or the Archdeacons’ offices. Some examples: : 
  • Diocesan Conferences
  • All Diocesan training events for clergy and parish officeholders
  • Archdeacons' Visitations
  • Clergy Study Days 

• Events at the Diocesan Cathedral in Blackburn. Some examples: 
  • Major Diocesan events taking place at Blackburn Cathedral, such as the installation of a new Bishop or Archdeacon; the annual ordination services of new Priests and Deacons or the annual Diocesan Eucharistic Festival.
  • Other Cathedral-organised events that may be of interest to the rest of the Diocese
  • Events hosted by the Cathedral if they are relevant to the rest of the Diocese

• All Diocesan-related events taking place at Whalley Abbey; the Diocesan Retreat Centre in the Ribble Valley

• Parish events. Some examples:
  • Mission and outreach activities
  • Fundraising events
  • Regular church activities, such as mums and toddlers groups and summer fairs 
  • Meetings of affiliated organisations such as the Mothers’ Union
  • Concerts and other forms of entertainment organised directly by parishes
  • Other one-off events organised directly by parishes

Submitting your event for consideration

• Website: Submissions are simple. If it fits the criteria above, just send your information to the Administrative Support Officer for communications, Karen Ashcroft, in good time ahead of the date of your event to allow for processing. Karen’s email is karen.ashcroft@blackburn.anglican.org and, in her absence, events can be forwarded to Kim Wilkinson at kim.wilkinson@blackburn.anglican.org
• The See: We no longer publish the Diocesan magazine 'The See' due to cost issues that were exacerbated by the pandemic; but all parishes can take advantage of the Diocesan events calendar to promote their events. The Events calendar is one of the most popular parts of the Diocesan website and we promote it regularly in the very popular Parish Update ebulletin, sent every two weeks to parishes. 
• E-bulletins: Due to the limited space available in the various Diocesan e-bulletins, we can’t guarantee an individual event from a parish submitted for the website will also appear in one of the Diocesan e-bulletins. Where relevant, submitted events for the website will be forwarded to the relevant team leader Decisions about the content for each e-bulletin lie with the relevant team leader. 
• Local media: All events which appear on the Diocesan website - including any from parishes that are on the website at the time - are sent in a monthly round-up to all local media; providing an additional opportunity to promote your events in an email sent by the communications manager, Ronnie Semley, which received high levels of engagement as a result. 

* Official communications channels

• For the purposes of these protocols 'official communications channels' refer to The See, which is the monthly Diocesan magazine taken by most parishes; the Diocesan website events calendar and the various official e-bulletins sent by Diocesan team leaders (including from the Diocesan Board of Education) to parishes. 
• More on e-bulletins: Currently only 'Parish Update' goes to every member of the clergy and all parish officerholders. Other e-bulletins have bespoke audiences and they include ‘Safeguarding News’; ‘Lay Ministry News’ and Money Matters. These all have very high levels of engagement so anything which appears in the ebulletins is going to be read widely. 
• Social media: The Diocese also has several social media channels. Our limited staff resources mean it is not usually possible to promote our events individually on these channels but we will issue generic Tweets and Facebook posts from time to time, featuring links to our Diocesan website events calendar and with reminders that events for the following month appear regularly in The See magazine. If you are organising your event locally and promote it on your local social media channels if you tag the Diocesan channels using @cofelancs then we will retweet and repost where possible. Tagging makes it more likely we will spot your event in our timeline. 

Ronnie Semley, created February 2019 (updated February 2022)