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Visitations

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.

Please see this year's copy of The Archdeacon's Visitation News containing information specifically for Churchwardens from the Archdeacons in the Chelmsford Diocese.

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

Barking Archdeaconry

The Ven Christopher Burke, Archdeacon of Barking
includes the Deaneries of Barking & Dagenham and Havering

Deanery: Barking & Dagenham
Date: Wednesday, 10th June 2026
Time: 7:30pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: Barking, St Erkenwald, IG11 9JZ

Deanery: Havering
Date: Wednesday, 24th June 2026
Time: 7:30pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: Squirrels Heath All Saints, (Ardleigh Green), RM11 2LU

Download the form - word document

Download the form - PDF document

West Ham Archdeaconry

The Ven. Mike Power, Archdeacon of West Ham
includes the Deaneries of Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest

Deanery: Redbridge
Date: Tuesday, 9th June 2026
Time: 6:30pm, for a 7pm start
Location: St Gabriel's Church, Aldersbrook Road, E12 5HH

Deanery: Newham
Date: Wednesday, 17th June 2026
Time: 6:30pm, for a 7pm start
Location: St John's Church, The Braodway, Stratford, E15 1NG

Deanery: Waltham Forest
Date: Tuesday, 23rd June 2026
Time: 6:30pm, for a 7pm start
Location: Emmanuel Church, 149 Hitcham Road, Leyton, E17 8HL

Download the form - word document

Download the form - PDF document

Bradwell Area

Chelmsford Archdeaconry

The Ven Jonathan Croucher, Archdeacon of Chelmsford
Includes the Deaneries of Brentwood, Chelmsford, Epping Forest & Ongar and Maldon & Dengie

Date: Tuesday, 9th June 2026
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St. Leonard's, High Street, Southminster, CM0 7EW

Date: Tuesday, 23rd June 2026
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: Church of the Holy Spirit, Chelmsford, CM1 2TS

Date: Thursday, 25th June 2026
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St. Mary, Piercing Hill/ Coppice Row, Theydon Bois, CM16 7JN

Date: Tuesday, 30th June 2026
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St. Edmund & St. Mary, High Street, Ingatestone, CM4 9DW

Download the form - word document

Download the form - PDF document

Southend Archdeaconry

The Ven Dr Sue Lucas, Archdeacon of Southend
Includes the Deaneries of Basildon, Hadleigh, Rochford, Southend and Thurrock

Deanery: Basildon
Date: Tuesday 2nd June 2026
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St Andrew, London Road, Wickford, SS12 0AN

Deanery: Southend
Date: Monday 15th June 2026
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St Augustine, St Augustine Avenue, Thorpe Bay, SS1 3NG

Deanery: Hadleigh
Date: Monday 22nd June 2026
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St Michael, Daws Heath, Benfleet, SS7 2UW

Deanery: Rochford
Date: Monday 29th June 2026
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St Andrew, Hall Road, Rochford, SS4 1NW

Deanery: Thurrock
Date: Monday 6th July 2026
Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St Catherine, Princess Margaret Road, East Tilbury, RM18 8PB

Download the form - word document

Download the form - PDF document

Colchester Area

Colchester Archdeaconry

The Venerable Ruth Patten, Archdeacon of Colchester
Includes the Deaneries of Colchester, Harwich, St Osyth and Witham

Deaneries: Colchester
Date: Thursday, 11th June 2026
Time: 8pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St Stephen, Canterbury Road, Colchester, CO2 7RY

Deaneries: Harwich
Date: Monday, 15th June 2026
Time: 8pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St George, Badley Hall Road, Great Bromley, CO7 7UX

Deaneries: Witham
Date: Monday, 22nd June 2026
Time: 8pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St Luke, Church Road, Tiptree, CO5 0SU

Deaneries: St Osyth
Date: Wednesday, 8th July 2026
Time: 8pm, with refreshments from 7pm
Location: St James, Beatrice Road, Clacton on Sea, CO15 1LF

Download the form - word document

Download the form - PDF document

Stansted Archdeaconry

The Ven Kate Peacock, Archdeacon of Stansted
Includes the Deaneries of Braintree, Dunmow & Stansted, Harlow, Hinckford and Saffron Walden.

Deanery: Harlow
Date: Tuesday, 9th June 2026
Time: 7.30pm, with refreshments from 6.45pm
Location: St Peter, High Street, Roydon, Harlow, CM19 5EF

Deanery: Hinckford
Date: Wednesday, 24th June 2026
Time: 7.30pm, with refreshments from 6.45pm
Location: St Andrew, High Street, Earls Colne, CO6 2RB

Deanery: Braintree
Date: Tuesday, 30th June 2026
Time: 7.30pm, with refreshments from 6.45pm
Location: The Church in Great Notley, Bridge End Lane, Great Notley, CM77 7GN

Deanery: Saffron Walden
Date: Thursday, 2nd July 2026
Time: 7.30pm, with refreshments from 6.45pm
Location: St Mary's, Saffron Walden, CB10 1JP

Deanery: Dunmow & Stansted
Date: Wednesday, 8th July 2026
Time: 7.30pm, with refreshments from 6.45pm
Location: St Mary, Watch House Road, Stebbing, CM6 3SW

Download 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 2025 - 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.