Every year, within the 42 dioceses of the Church of England, the archdeacons' 'visitations' take place. In the Diocese of Lichfield these are held in deanery groupings within each of the four archdeaconries - Lichfield, Salop, Stoke-upon-Trent and Walsall - following the annual election of churchwardens by the end of May.
Formally, the visitations were a court where all clergy and churchwardens were cited to attend. More recently the format has changed so they take the form of a service, the key part of which is the official admittance of churchwardens as office holders of the diocesan bishop. During the service, the archdeacon also delivers a sermon called the 'archdeacons charge', the aim of which is to offer advice, encouragement and support to parishes in general and churchwardens in particular.
It is expected that those standing for election or re-election as Wardens undertake an enhanced DBS check to work with adults and children. This is because the role of Church warden is considered to contain leadership and management duties that will likely bring them into contact with children and vulnerable adults. Therefore all churchwardens must confirm that they have a valid DBS certificate to be admitted to their post at.a Visitation, by including the number of the certificate on the churchwardens declaration form. Please note that if you are not able to provide the DBS certificate number at the Visitation you will not be admitted to office.
Church Wardens are invited to attend at the earlier time to complete paperwork, before the service at the later time.
Deaneries | Date | Time | Venue | Postcode |
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Archdeacon of Lichfield |
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Penkridge | Monday 3 June 2024 | 6.30 for 7.30pm | St Mary the Virgin and St Chad, Brewood | ST19 9BT |
Tamworth | Tuesday 11 June 2024 | 6.30 for 7.30pm | St Peter's Church and Community Centre, Glascote Heath | B77 2HH |
Lichfield | Thursday 13 June 2024 | 6.30 for 7.30pm | St Michael's Church, Lichfield | WS13 6ED |
Rugeley | Wednesday 19 June 2024 | 6.30 for 7.30pm | St John the Baptist Church, Armitage | WS15 4BA |
Archdeacon of Salop |
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Ellesmere and Oswestry | Monday 10 June 2024 | 6:00pm for 7.00pm | All Saints, Baschurch | SY4 2GD |
Telford and Edgmond and Shifnal | Tuesday 18 June 2024 | 6:00pm for 7.00pm | All Saints, Wellington | TF1 1DG |
Wem and Whitchurch and Hodnet | Tuesday 25 June 2024 | 6:00pm for 7.00pm | St Alkmunds, Whitchurch | SY13 1LB |
Shrewsbury and Wrekin | Wednesday 26 June 2024 | 6:00pm for 7.00pm | Holy Trinity, Leaton | SY4 3AP |
Archdeacon of Stoke-upon-Trent |
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Alstonefield, Cheadle and Leek | Monday 10 June 2024 | 6.45pm for 7.30pm | St Edward the Confessor, Leek | ST13 6AB |
Tutbury and Uttoxeter | Tuesday 18 June 2024 | 6.45pm for 7.30pm | St Modwen, Burton | DE14 1HA |
Eccleshall, Stafford and Stone | Monday 24 June 2024 | 6.45pm for 7.30pm | Christ Church, Stone | ST25 8ED |
Newcastle and Stoke-on-Trent | Tuesday 25 June 2024 | 6.45pm for 7.30pm | St Stephen, Bentilee | ST2 0ET |
Archdeacon of Walsall |
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All Deaneries | Wednesday 19 June 2024 | 6.00pm for 7.30pm | Lichfield Cathedral | WS13 7LD |