Archdeacons' Visitations
Every year, the Archdeacons’ Visitations take place. These are formal church services, during which Churchwardens across each Archdeaconry are admitted. They make a formal declaration and the Archdeacons offer prayer and encouragement. The admission to office can be done by the incumbent or another ordained minister as appropriate.
Churchwardens should take their Declaration Form to the visitation service they attend.
Churchwarden's declaration | DOCX
Parochial Visitations
The Rural Dean on behalf of the Archdeacon carries out a visitation to every parish (and usually to all the church buildings within the parish) on a three-yearly cycle. (This is not the same as the Archdeacon’s Annual Visitation at which Churchwardens are admitted see above).
The purpose of the visitation is to check that the parish is complying with the requirements of various Measures; in particular, the Inspection of Churches Measures 1955, the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978 and the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991.
Visitations will entail the issue by the Archdeacons' Office of a Questionnaire. The Rural Dean will require to see and inspect all parochial registers and records held in the parish, the inventory and log book, the minute and account books, insurance policies, the PCC’s policies on child protection, employees’ contracts, and insurance policies; to review progress on quinquennial works; and to inspect the storage of valuables and to inspect the buildings and curtilage, and security and safety. A report by the Rural Dean will be made to the Archdeacon after each visitation has been completed.
Archdeacon Visitation dates - 2024 - all start at 7.30pm
Suffolk Archdeaconry
|
Deanery |
Date |
Venue |
|
Waveney and Blyth |
4 June |
Holy Trinity Church, 12 Trinity St, Bungay, NR35 1EH |
|
Loes |
6 June |
St Michael's Church, Church St, Framlingham, Woodbridge IP13 9BJ |
|
Saxmundham |
10 June |
St Margaret's Church, Church Road, Leiston, IP16 4HG |
|
Samford |
13 June |
St Andrew’s Church, The Rectory, Rectory Fld, Chelmondiston, Ipswich IP9 1HY |
|
Hartismere & Hoxne |
17 June |
St Peter and St Paul Church, Green St, Hoxne, Diss IP21 5AT |
|
Colneys |
24 June |
St Martin’s Church, Nacton, Ipswich, IP10 0HZ |
|
Woodbridge |
25 June |
St Felix, Walnut Tree Ave, Rendlesham, Woodbridge IP12 2GG |
Sudbury Archdeaconry
|
Deanery |
Date |
Venue |
|
Gipping Valley |
4 June |
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Duke St, Haughley, Stowmarket IP14 3QT |
|
Hadleigh |
6 June |
St Mary the Virgin Church, School St, Stoke-by-Nayland, Colchester, CO6 4QY |
|
Sudbury |
11 June |
St Mary the Virgin, Church Square, Bures, CO8 5AA |
|
Clare |
12 June |
St Peter and St Paul, High Street, Clare, CO10 8NY |
|
Ixworth |
17 June |
All Saints Church, Old Bury Rd, Stanton, Bury Saint Edmunds IP31 2DA |
|
Lavenham |
18 June |
St Peter’s Church, Church Lane, Cockfield, Bury St Edmunds, IP30 0LA |
|
Mildenhall |
24 June |
St Martins Church, Exning CB8 5HG |
|
Thingoe |
26 June |
St Peter's Church, Church Road, Thurston, IP31 3RU |
Ipswich Archdeaconry
|
Deanery |
Date |
Venue |
|
Ipswich |
4 June |
St Mary and St Botolph Church, Whitton Church Lane, Ipswich, IP1 6LT |
Parochial Visitations will be going ahead later this year and Rural Deans will be in contact with the incumbent to arrange as and when they are due.
Parochial Visitation Form | PDF
Parochial Visitation Form | DOCX