The Archdeacons are looking forward to meeting clergy, wardens and sidespeople at this year’s visitation services.
Churchwardens perform a valued role for their parishes, and it is a legal requirement that ALL Churchwardens every year must be sworn into post after they have been elected.
This takes place during the Archdeacons' Visitation services in June at different venues across the Diocese.
If you are unable to attend the service for your deanery the Archdeacons request that you attend at an alternative venue.
Any warden that does not attend a visitation service will not legally be admitted as a churchwarden unless special arrangements are made with the Archdeacons’ PAs.
They can be reached on respectively:
Chester Archdeaconry: Laura Howard 01928 643435
Macclesfield Archdeaconry: Deb Toole 01928 643420
Any such special arrangements will need to be completed by 31 August.
All the Visitation Courts will commence at 7.30pm
CHESTER ARCHDEACONRY/MACCLESFIELD ARCHDEACONRY
| DATE | DEANERY | VENUE |
| Monday 3 June | Cheadle/Macclesfield | All Saints, Cheadle Hulme SK8 7JL |
| Tuesday 4 June | Chester/Malpas | St James’, Christleton CH3 7AG |
| Monday 10 June | Wallasey/Birkenhead/Wirral North | St James’, New Brighton CH45 9LF |
| Wednesday 12 June | Chadkirk/Stockport/Mottram | St Chad’s, Romiley SK6 4AA |
| Wednesday 19 June | Congleton/Nantwich | St Mary’s, Sandbach CW11 1AL |
| Thursday 20 June | Wirral South/Frodsham | St Paul's, Hooton CH66 1QF |
| Tuesday 25 June | Knutsford/Bowdon | St John’s, Knutsford WA16 6DH |
| Wednesday 26 June | Great Budworth/MIddlewich | St Mary’s, Great Budworth CW9 6HF |
Please note that there are no Archdeacons’ Articles of Enquiry this year.
Certificate of Election - Download
Please print this off and have your churchwardens complete this form after the Annual Meeting of Parishioners. Those churches where more than two wardens are elected (eg a team parish) should print off and complete additional forms for all their wardens.
The completed form(s) should be returned at the visitation service by the Churchwardens.
Attendance by all elected Churchwardens at a Visitation:
In recent years, we have noticed that a significant number of wardens have not attended any of the visitation services. It is most important that wardens attend one of the services to be admitted to office.
At the visitation services the archdeacons welcome, encourage, prepare the churchwardens for the coming year and highlight developments of particular relevance. The services are significant events in the life of the diocese and important occasions when churchwardens dedicate themselves to the service of Christ and his church at the beginning of their term of office, in the company of others who are taking on the same responsibility. It is disappointing when a churchwarden does not attend a visitation service, unless there is a very good reason.
Any warden that does not attend a visitation service will not legally be admitted as a churchwarden unless special arrangements are made with the Archdeacons’ PAs. They can be reached on respectively:
Chester Archdeaconry: Laura Howard 01928 643435
Macclesfield Archdeaconry: Deb Toole 01928 643420
Any such special arrangements will need to be completed by 31 August.
If special arrangements are needed this adds significantly to the DBF costs and is an additional task for our busy rural deans. So please make every effort to attend a visitation service. There are eight visitation services across the diocese and it should be possible for a warden to find one which is convenient.
Remember, it is possible to attend a service outside the warden’s area but they must contact:
Laura Howard 01928 643435 laura.howard@chester.anglican.org (for the Chester Archdeaconry) and Deb Toole 01928 643420 deb.toole@chester.anglican.org (for the Macclesfield Archdeaconry) in advance.
The Archdeacons will be available after the service and will be very happy to speak with any wardens (especially those who are taking on the responsibility for the first time). If wardens have issues they wish to discuss, the Archdeacons will always be happy to come and see them - appointments can be arranged with Laura or Deb.