Visitations

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

2023 Visitation Services - all at 7.30pm

Suffolk Archdeaconry

Deanery Date Venue
Colneys 5 June 2023 St Mary’s, High St, Felixstowe IP11 9DS
Loes 6 June 2023 St Michael’s, Church St, Framlingham, Woodbridge IP13 9BJ
Saxmundham 7 June 2023 St Mary the Virgin, Church Road, Friston, Nr Saxmundham, IP17 1PX
Waveney and Blyth 13 June 2023 St Mary's, The Street, Huntingfield, Halesworth IP19 0PR
Hartismere & Hoxne 21 June 2023 St Peter & St Paul, 50 Church St, Eye IP23 7BD
Woodbridge 27 June 2023 St Bartholomew's, Orford, Woodbridge IP12 2LN
Samford 28 June 2022 St Mary the Virgin, 113 The Street, Capel St Mary, Ipswich IP9 2EL

Sudbury Archdeaconry

Deanery Date Venue
Ixworth 5 June 2023 St Mary’s, Pakenham, IP31 2LN
Hadleigh 14 June 2023 St Mary Magdalene Church, Church Road, Bildeston, IP7 7SB
Lavenham 19 June 2023 St Mary’s, Rectory Ln, Woolpit, Bury Saint Edmunds IP30 9QP
Sudbury 21 June 2023 Holy Trinity, Church Walk, Long Melford, Sudbury, CO10 9DL
Thingoe 22 June 2023 All Saints Church, Park Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3QW
Mildenhall 26 June 2023 St Peter's, Moulton, Brookside  CB8 8SF
Gipping Valley 27 June 2023 St Mary’s, Buxhall, Stowmarket IP14 3DJ
Clare 28 June 2023 All Saints, Wickhambrook Newmarket CB8 8XH

Ipswich Archdeaconry

Deanery Date Venue
Ipswich 7 June 2023 St Helen's Church, St Helen's Street, Ipswich IP4 2LS

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. 

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

 

Page last updated: Tuesday 13th June 2023 10:39 AM
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