Every year, the Archdeacons’ Visitations take place. These are formal church services, during which Churchwardens across each Archdeaconry are admitted.
As well as the opportunity Visitations give for Archdeacons to thank churchwardens publicly and personally, and to pray with and for them, it is also when elected churchwardens are formally admitted to the office of churchwarden. This is a legal requirement, and until this happens those elected are not formally churchwardens. It is therefore essential that you make every effort to attend. If you cannot attend your deanery service, you can attend one of the other local services instead. Churchwardens should take their Declaration Form to the visitation service they attend.
You will need to ensure each of the forms are completed.
Nomination of Churchwardens - Form A
This is for this year’s election of churchwarden and is to be completed before your Annual Meetings. Candidates should be made aware that it is the Diocesan Bishop’s expectation that all churchwardens in this diocese should be DBS-checked.
Download the Nomination paper - word document
Download the Nomination paper - PDF document
The Citation - Form B
This gives details of the date and venue for the Visitation Services in your Archdeaconry. In order to be admitted to office for the coming year, you will need to attend one of these services.
If for a good reason, you are unable to attend a Visitation Service for your Archdeaconry, please contact your Archdeacon’s office so that arrangements can be made for you to attend an alternative service.
Please select your Archdeaconry below to access the forms
Barking Area
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Barking Archdeaconry
The Ven Christopher Burke, Archdeacon of Barking
includes the Deaneries of Barking & Dagenham and HaveringDeanery: Havering
Date: Wednesday, 4th June 2025
Time: 7:30pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: Collier Row, Ascension, RM5 2BADeanery: Barking & Dagenham
Date: Wednesday, 11th June 2025
Time: 7:30pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: Chadwell Heath, St Chad's, RM6 6JBDownload the form - word document
Download the form - PDF document
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West Ham Archdeaconry
The Ven. Mike Power, Archdeacon of West Ham
includes the Deaneries of Newham, Redbridge and Waltham ForestDeanery: Redbridge
Date: Tuesday, 10th June 2025
Time: 7pm, for a 7:30pm start
Location: All Saints', Woodford Wells, IG8 0NHDeanery: Newham
Date: Tuesday, 3rd June 2025
Time: 7pm, for a 7:30pm start
Location: Ascension, Victoria Docks, E16 3HJDeanery: Waltham Forest
Date: Tuesday, 24th June 2025
Time: 7pm, for a 7:30pm start
Location: St Peter & St Paul, Chingford, E4 7ENDownload the form - word document
Download the form - PDF document
Bradwell Area
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Chelmsford Archdeaconry
The Ven Jonathan Croucher, Archdeacon of Chelmsford
Includes the Deaneries of Brentwood, Chelmsford, Epping Forest & Ongar and Maldon & DengieDate: Monday, 9th June 2025
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: All Saints, Maldon, CM9 4PYDate: Thursday, 19th June 2025
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St Peter's, Hutton, CM13 1JSDate: Wednesday, 25th June 2025
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St Michael and All Angels, Loughton, IG10 3EJDate: Wednesday, 2nd July 2025
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: All Siants, Springfield, CM1 7HSDownload the form - word document
Download the form - PDF document
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Southend Archdeaconry
The Ven Dr Sue Lucas, Archdeacon of Southend
Includes the Deaneries of Basildon, Hadleigh, Rochford, Southend and ThurrockDate: Thursday, 5th June 2025
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: All Saints, Chafford Hundred, RM16 6RWDate: Tuesday, 10th June 2025
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St Gabriel, Pitsea, SS13 2AADate: Monday, 16th June 2025
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St Barnabas, Hadleigh, SS7 2EJDate: Tuesday, 8th July 2025
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St John's, Southend, SS1 2ALDate: Wednesday, 16th July 2025
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St Andrew's, Rochford, SS4 1EFDownload the form - word document
Download the form - PDF document
Colchester Area
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Colchester Archdeaconry
The Rt Revd Roger Morris, Bishop of Colchester
Includes the Deaneries of Colchester, Harwich, St Osyth and WithamDeaneries: Harwich and St Osyth
Date: Wednesday, 4th June 2025
Time: 8pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St Peter and St Paul, St Osyth, CO16 8NXDeaneries: Colchester and Witham
Date: Tuesday, 1st July 2025
Time: 8pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St John's, Colchester, CO4 0HPDownload the form - word document
Download the form - PDF document
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Stansted Archdeaconry
The Ven Kate Peacock, Archdeacon of Stansted
Includes the Deaneries of Braintree, Dunmow & Stansted, Harlow, Hinckford and Saffron Walden.Deanery: Braintree
Date: Tuesday, 10th June 2025
Time: 7.30pm, with refreshments from 6.45pm
Location: St Mary's, Bocking, CM7 5JYDeanery: Hinckford
Date: Thursday, 19th June 2025
Time: 7.30pm, with refreshments from 6.45pm
Location: St Andrew, Halstead, CO9 2LDDeanery: Saffron Walden
Date: Tuesday, 24th June 2025
Time: 7.30pm, with refreshments from 6.45pm
Location: St Mary's, Saffron Walden, CB10 1JPDeanery: Harlow
Date: Thursday, 26th June 2025
Time: 7.30pm, with refreshments from 6.45pm
Location: St James, Staple Tye, CM18 7NPDeanery: Dunmow & Stansted
Date: Monday, 30th June 2025
Time: 7.30pm, with refreshments from 6.45pm
Location: St Mary, Dunmow, CM6 2SJDownload the form - word document
Download the form - PDF document
Certificate and Declaration - Form C
All elected Churchwardens should print and complete this form on both sides and bring it to the service at which they are to be admitted to give to the Archdeacon.
Download the form - word document
Download the form - PDF document
Articles of Enquiry Form for the year ended 31st December 2024 - Form D
This is a simple form for you to complete. It is a legal requirement that needs your attention before the Visitation Service.
This form should be completed by you and be brought to the Visitation Service to give to the Archdeacon (please keep an extra copy for your parish records)
Download the form - word document
Download the form - PDF document
Do you have everything you need?
You can download and print off the following checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your visitation.
Parochial Inspection form
Area Dean or Lay Chair Parochial Inspection form - word document
Area Dean or Lay Chair Parochial Inspection form - PDF document
The Churchwarden's Yearbook (Diary)
This is a handy diary, produced by Churchwarden Publications, designed especially for churchwardens.
It covers:
- Advent 2024 – Epiphany 2026, with extra pages for planning 2026
- one-week-to-view, starting on Sundays
- Common Worship readings for the Principal Service and BCP readings for Holy Communion for every Sunday, Principal Feast, Festival and Holy Day
- liturgical colours for every day of the year
- naming of all Sundays, Principal Feasts, Holy Days, Festivals, Lesser Festivals, Commemorations and Saints’ Days in the calendars of the Church of England and the Church in Wales
- notification of flag days, church-related events, bank and public holidays
- items of local, national, traditional and customary interest
- four year calendar, year planners for 2025 and 2026. Times of sunrise and sunset
- extra pages for names, address, notes, churchwardens’ expenses
You can purchase it online by clicking here.