About the Visitations
Your Archdeacon, as the Bishop's representative, must admit Church Wardens to their office every year. This happens at the Annual Visitation Service. Sidespeople don't have to be admitted as they are appointed by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM), but in our diocese, we admit them as well to affirm their important role.
This page gives you details of:-
- Background to Visitations
- Who's expected to be there
- 2023 Visitation dates and venues
- Visitation News
Background
Every year parishioners elect Churchwardens to represent them and to work with their parish priest in enabling Christian mission and ministry in their parish. At the Visitation service, these churchwardens are sworn in as officers of the Diocesan Bishop.
A Charge is also given to the Churchwardens and all those present. The Charge is an opportunity for the Bishop, or Archdeacon, to reflect on the Churchwardens' answers to the Articles of Enquiry, and to encourage and thank the Churchwardens for all their work on behalf of the parishes they serve.
Churchwardens are essential to the good running of the churches and parishes of a diocese. Their office is an ancient one, developed during the middle ages. Churchwardens are responsible for working with their parish priest, representing the laity of the parish, and seeking to promote the gospel in the communities which they serve. Churchwardens also have some legal responsibilities for the property and fabric of the church building.
Who's expected to be there?
It's a Deanery event - one of the few opportunities for a Deanery celebration during the year. It lasts about an hour - any Wardens unable to attend their Deanery event to be admitted need to attend another Visitation service or a Reserve Court to be sworn in.
Each Deanery organises the Visitation service in cooperation with their Archdeacon, who will supply an order of service and the theme for their talk (sometimes called a 'charge').
2023 Visitation dates and venues
- Sunday 4th June, 6.30pm – North Meols: St Cuthbert;
- Sunday 4th June, 6.30pm – Liverpool South: All Souls Springwood
- Sunday 11th June, 6.30pm – Winwick: Lowton St Mary
- Sunday 11th June, 6.30pm – Huyton: Kirkby St Chad
- Tuesday 13th June, 7.30pm – Warrington: Great Sankey St Mary
- Tuesday 13th June, 7.30pm – Liverpool North and Walton: Walton St Mary
- Wednesday 14th June, 7.30pm – Sefton North: Formby Holy Trinity
- Thursday 15th June, 7.30pm – Toxteth & Wavertree: Toxteth Park St Michael in the Hamlet
- Sunday 18th June, 6.30pm – West Derby: Clubmoor St Andrew
- Monday 19th June, 7.30pm – Sefton South: Waterloo Christ Church
- Monday 19th June, 7.30pm – St Helens: Sutton All Saints
- Wednesday 21st June, 7.30pm – Widnes: Ditton St Michael & St Thomas
- Wednesday 21st June, 7.30pm – West Lancs: Ormskirk Parish Church
- Sunday 25th June, 6.30pm – Wigan: Wigan Parish Church
Archdeacons' Visitation News 2023
This year's edition of the Archdeacons' Visitation News can be found here.