Churchwardens will be gathering at two in-person Visitation services across the Diocese this year, to celebrate and affirm their ministry as they formally take up their offices for another year.
The services will be led by Becky Waring, Acting Archdeacon of Bristol and Adam Beaumont, Associate Archdeacon of Bristol and Malmesbury, and will include the legal swearing-in and commissioning of the churchwardens as elected Bishops Officers and senior lay leaders in mission in their parishes. The visitations are an encouraging moment for us to offer our thanks for the vocation and value of church wardens. Also, a great chance to see one another face-to-face.
This year we will be holding visitations at St Matthew’s Church, Kingsdown, Bristol and at Malmesbury Abbey.
The legal admittance of Churchwardens to office for the coming year forms a key part of the Visitation service so it is particularly important that those who are elected at the Annual Parochial Church meetings make every effort to attend a service.
We also hope that Churchwardens who are standing down from office this year will want to attend to reflect and give thanks on all that has been achieved during their period of service. Clergy and those who support Churchwardens in their work in the parishes are also encouraged to attend. Please please register to attend one of these events using the link beside each event on the table below:
| Location | Time and date | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| St Matthew’s Church, Kingsdown, Bristol |
7.00pm Monday 24 June 2024 |
Book for St Matthew's Church here |
| Malmesbury Abbey | 7.00pm Tuesday 9 July 2024 |
Book for Malmesbury Abbey here |
| Welcome Evening for Churchwardens |
7.00pm Tuesday 16 July 2024 |
Book the Welcome Evening here |
There are a few things to consider once you have registered:
- We ask all Churchwardens to have obtained their DBS check before attending the Visitation. Your Parish Safeguarding Officer will help you if you do not already have one. We ensure that all of our Churches are safe for everybody, especially for vulnerable adults and children. Churchwardens are key leaders in this area, so please check that you are up to date with your Safeguarding training (completing the first two levels online) and have a current DBS check. Basic Safeguarding and Safeguarding Foundation training for all PCC members is available online. Safeguarding Leadership training for Churchwardens – is available via Zoom in two parts, book your course dates via Eventbrite.
- There is a Churchwarden’s declaration form to complete and sign and return when you attend the Visitation. This is an important legal document, and if you attend online instead, it needs to either be scanned and emailed to rachel.stewart@bristoldiocese.org, or posted to Rachel Stewart, Diocese of Bristol, Hillside House, 1500 Parkway North, Stoke Gifford Bristol BS34 8YU. Download the declaration form here.
- If you are unable to attend either of the live events, there is also an opportunity to make your declaration at the start of the Welcome Evening for New Churchwardens 7.00pm Tuesday 16 July. If you have been churchwarden recently, you can then leave the zoom meeting, if you are a new churchwarden we would encourage you to stay and participate. Please book using the link in the table above.