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CHURCHWARDENS

Duties
Appointment and resignation
Duties during an interregnum
Some useful publications

Duties

Each Parish Church has (normally) two Churchwardens, who are elected annually by a parish meeting held not later than 30 April. The duties and responsibilities of Churchwardens are set out in Canon E1 of the Canons of the Church of England.

Section 49 of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure 2018 sets out the duties of Churchwardens as to the recording of information about churches. Section 50 sets out the duties of Churchwardens as to the church fabric and articles belonging to the church.

Appointment and Resignation

The Registrar receives a number of enquiries each year regarding the appointment and resignation of Churchwardens. The current law relating to Churchwardens is contained in the Churchwardens Measure 2001, which replaces the Churchwardens (Appointment and Resignation) Measure 1964. The attached Notes, which compare the old law and the new, will hopefully answer most of the questions which usually arise. The Legal Office of the National Institutions of the Church of England has also produced a useful Guide to the Measure.

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Duties during an Interregnum

During an interregnum, Churchwardens may find the following helpful:

SO THE VICAR'S LEAVING - The Good Interregnum Guide

By Mike Alexander and Jeremy Martineau. Published by Canterbury Press. Priced £8.95. Edition 2.

RESPONSIBILITIES DURING A VACANCY

Instructions from the Bishop of Peterborough and the Bishop of Brixworth to Rural Deans and Churchwardens.

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Some useful publications

The following books will also be of interest to Churchwardens and PCCs.

CHURCHWARDENS : A Survival Guide

By Martin Dudley and Virginia Rounding. Published by SPCK and available from Church House Publishing. Price £12.99. ISBN-13: 9780281060924.

THE CHURCHYARDS HANDBOOK (4th Ed.)

Edited by Thomas Cocke. Published by Church House Publishing. Price £10.95. ISBN-13: 9780715143018. Practical advice on all aspects of churchyard management. Includes advice on memorial design and areas for cremated remains.

WIDENING THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE

By John Penton. (No longer published.) A guide to meeting the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, providing detailed information and design guidance to help meet the accessibility needs of people with disabilities.

STONEWORK - MAINTENANCE AND SURFACE REPAIR

By A.D.R. Caroe and M.B. Caroe. Published by Church House Publishing. Price £9.95. ISBN-13: 9780715175828. This book, first published in 1984, contains the accumulated wisdom of the Caroe firm from a century’s experience of involvement with the great buildings of the land, especially churches.

CONSERVATION AND REPAIR OF BELLS AND BELLFRAMES

By The Council for the Care of Churches. Published by Church House Publishing. Price £9.99. ISBN-13: 9780715142509. This book provides advice on the conservation of historic bells, bellframes and fittings. It provides workable guidelines that balance the needs of conservation and bellringing practice.

CHURCH LIGHTING

By Peter Jay and Bill Crawforth. (No longer published.) The aim of this book is to assist parishes in deciding whether the lighting in their church is capable of improvement and, if so, in what way. It deals with lighting design, lighting schemes, different types of light source, controls and maintenance.

SOUNDS GOOD

By John Norman and Jim Berrow. (No longer published.) Advice on the care and repair of older organs, as well as recommendations on the use of new and second-hand organs. There are helpful sections on dealing with organ builders, finance and contracts.

HISTORIC ORGAN CONSERVATION - A Practical Introduction to Processes and Planning

By Dominic Gwynn. Published by Church House Publishing. Price £8.95. ISBN-13: 9780715175927. A concise and practical guide to organ conservation issues, including the principles of good restoration practice, the rewards of care and good housekeeping, the results of neglect and bad practice, and the availability of grants.

CHURCH EXTENSIONS AND ADAPTATIONS (2nd Ed.)

By The Council for the Care of Churches . (No longer published.) Shows how church buildings can be adapted or extended in creative and responsible ways to allow their facilities to be more widely used and more effective in mission.

A STITCH IN TIME - Guidelines for the Care of Textiles

Published by Church House Publishing. Price £2.50. ISBN-13: 9780715175958. Another publication from The Council for the Care of Churches, this book aims to provide guidelines and encourage good practice in dealing with the upkeep and preservation of church furnishings, textiles and vestments.

FLAGS FOR CHURCHES : Guidance issued by the Flag Institute for the Church of England

To obtain a copy of this booklet, telephone 01730-264735 or email info@flaginstitute.org. See also www.flaginstitute.org. We have our own flag expert in the diocese, the Rev. John Hall, Rector of Great Addington, Little Addington, Woodford and Irthlingborough, who will be pleased to answer questions regarding the use of flags at churches. Tel: 01933 650278. Email: canon.johnhall@gmail.com.
For a supplier of flags, see Flying Colours Flagmakers.

Churchwardens who receive complaints about the ringing of church bells may find it helpful to read an Opinion of the Legal Advisory Commission on the subject.

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