Resources for Churchwardens
Church Warden Training events
Church Warden Training events
Whether you are new to the role or have been serving for some time, the church warden training events aim to provide you with important tools, strategies, and support for you in your role. It will also be a wonderful chance to connect with other church wardens, discuss challenges, and learn from one another.
Training dates:
Saturday,5 July 2025 – 9:30am – 1:00pm at St Thomas, Chesterfield
Saturday, 27 September 2025 – 9:30am – 1:00pm at St Barnabas Centre, Danesmoor
Saturday 8th November 2025 – 9:00am – 10:00am on Zoom - Question and Answer session with the Archdeacons.
Please click on the link(s) to book your place(s).
Two weeks before the event a sign-up form for the workshops will be sent out, so you can choose which workshops you would like to attend.
Please ensure you have booked in good time to make sure you receive this email.
The care and maintenance of church buildings
Video recording of meeting on 7 May 2025 for Churchwardens in the Diocese of Derby.
The Archdeacons of the Diocese of Derby will hold the following Visitations in 2025.
These will all begin at 7.30pm, with doors opening at 6.45pm for refreshments and for wardens to sign the register.
Derby City and South Derbyshire
Derby City: Monday 9 June 2025 - St Francis, Mackworth DE22 4FN
Mercia: Monday 23 June 2025 - St Mark, Winshill DE15 0HS
Derbyshire Peak and Dales
Dove and Derwent: Tuesday 24 June 2025 - St Helen, Etwall DE65 6LP
Peak: Monday 30 June 2025 - St John the Baptist, Tideswell SK17 8LQ
Carsington: Thursday 26 June - Holy Trinity Matlock Bath DE4 3PU
East Derbyshire
South East Derbyshire: Wednesday 11 June 2025 - All Saints, Sawley NG10 3AT
Hardwick: Tuesday 17 June 2025 - St Thomas, Somercotes DE55 4LY
North East Derbyshire: Tuesday 1 July 2025 - St Swithin, Holmesfield S18 7WT
Attendance by all elected Churchwardens at a Visitation
There are eight visitation services available across the diocese. Wardens are encouraged to attend a service that is most convenient for them. While it’s possible to attend a visitation service outside of your designated area, this must be noted on the registration form. However, it is preferred that wardens attend a service in their own deanery or within their archdeaconry if that is not feasible.
If a warden does not attend a visitation service, they will not be admitted as a churchwarden unless special arrangements are made with the relevant Archdeacon’s PA.
Any such special arrangements will need to have been processed by Friday 29thAugust 2025. Please note that if special arrangements are needed, this adds significantly to the DBF costs so please make every effort to attend a visitation service.
The Archdeacons will be available after the service and will be very happy to speak with any wardens (especially those who are taking on the responsibility for the first time).
We appreciate your cooperation in attending these important services.
Citation dates 2025 (word)
Visitation 2025: Notes for Clergy / PCC Secretaries (word)
Certificate of Election
After the Annual Meeting of Parishioners, churchwardens are required to complete the visitation form.
Multiple Wardens: For churches where more than one warden is elected, please print and complete one form for each warden.
The completed form(s) should be returned by email to: Visitations@derby.anglican.org
Alternatively, forms can be posted to: Archdeacons’ Office, Derby Church House, Full Street, Derby, DE1 3DR.
If a Lay Chair is also to be sworn in as churchwarden, it is important that the election of churchwardens is chaired by someone other than the Lay Chair. (e.g. Area Dean, PCC Treasurer or member of the clergy). The person chairing the election should complete and sign the section of the certificate designated for the incumbent.
Thank you for ensuring the timely and accurate submission of your form.
Certificate of Election 2025 (word)
Data Forms - New Wardens
To ensure that we have accurate and up-to-date information for all new wardens, we kindly ask that all NEW wardens complete and return the data form along with their certificate of election.
Data Form 2025 (word)
See also
On a gloriously sunny day in May, our diocesan churchwardens and church officers met in Chapel en le Frith for our latest network event.
Officers came from across the whole diocese with one person making a round trip of over one hundred miles to attend!
Bishop Malcolm opened the day on Churchyards and Wildlife, and Revd Dr David Mundy helped us to reflect on the importance of Caring for God’s World.
We finished the morning with a Fun Faculty Quiz (and yes, faculties done this way are fun!) and a presentation on how churchyards can be great places for all sorts of fun learning activities for people of all ages.
The afternoon was a choice of discussion groups covering ‘Wildflowers, wellbeing and working together’, two churches sharing their experiences of the journey to Ecochurch, a DAC surgery and a workshop on how to publicise your parish events – ‘Communicating Well’.
We are always grateful for your feedback from these days. We read every comment and use them to help us plan future events, wherever we can.
In response to the person who put as their answer to the question ‘What could we have done better?’, “pick a rainy day”, all I can say is that we’ll try!
Useful documents
>> Communion by Extension Bishop's Guidlines [PDF]
>> Presentation slides - Communion by Extension update 2022 [PDF]
>> Public Worship with Communion by extension version 2 [PDF]
>> Public Worship with Communion by Extension [PDF]
>> Diocese of Derby Communion by Extension Request Form v2 [MS Word]
As part of the archdeacons’ legal duties under Canon 22, they are required to visit churches regularly and to make comments and recommendations regarding both the fabric and the life of all the churches in the diocese.
In 2023, Carol, Karen and Matthew would also like to take the opportunity, as they begin their first full year, to meet and have conversations with wardens or parish representatives about any concerns.
It will also allow them to familiarise themselves with all the lovely churches in their areas.
For your reference, please download the checklist which the archdeacons will bring with them to make notes on during the course of the visit.
Alongside this, there are also a few areas they would like to have open discussions with parishes about, to gain an understanding of what the actions and feelings are across the diocese on a number of important issues such as:
- Mission Action Plans
- The Fuel Crisis – how are parishes coping?
- Eco Church - whether you have any particular environmental practices and what actions are/will you be taking to move your church towards the 2030 Net Zero Carbon target?
- Communications within the diocese:
- A Church Near You - is your church listed?
- How often do you tend to use the churchwarden section of the diocesan website?
For your reference, please download the checklist which the archdeacons will bring with them to make notes on during the course of the visit.
You don’t need to complete anything beforehand unless you would find it useful yourself as an aide memoire, but please could you make sure you have the registers and other relevant paperwork out ready.
The PAs in the Archdeacons Office will be contacting either wardens or PCC secretaries as appropriate during the course of late 2022/ 2023 to make appointments.
We will be hoping to contact the following two groups prior to Christmas, with a view to visiting in the period between January to Easter:
- Parishes in vacancy
- Parishes which have no wardens
The archdeacons will look forward to meeting you all, to having the opportunity to talk and to seeing your wonderful churches.
At the Churchwarden Networking Day at St Thomas Brampton on 30 June 2022, Community Project Development Officer Gareth Greenwood gave a presentation on funding building projects.
The slides are available here:
↓ Download the slide presentation PowerPoint [.ppt] | PDF format
For more support, email gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org
At the Churchwarden Networking Day at St Thomas Brampton on 30 June 2022, the Diocesan Environment Officer gave a presentation on moving towards net-zero carbon.
The slides are available here:
↓ Download the slide presentation PowerPoint [.ppt] | PDF format
The diocesan churchyard regulations cover the erection of memorials and gravestones in churchyards.
Any memorial needs permission before it can be placed in a churchyard.
These Regulations are made by the Chancellor of the Diocese of Derby to explain how to get permission, and what is likely to be permitted.
If a memorial or other item is placed in a churchyard without permission, then the chancellor can order its removal immediately.
Churchyards differ from local authority cemeteries in that they are attached to a church building which is often listed, or otherwise of historic or architectural interest, and used by a worshipping community.
As such there needs to be more careful control over what memorials can be placed there.
The form below is for all churchyard memorial applications, those which can be approved by Incumbents, Rural Deans and Archdeacons and, when the request falls outside their delegated authority, as the petition to the Chancellor for a faculty.
>> Diocese of Derby Churchyard Memorial Application Form (Nov 2022) [PDF]
A vacancy is the time between one incumbent leaving and the next starting.
Vacancies are an integral part of the life of all parish churches.
They can be a time for opportunity and growth, but may also be a time of anxiety and difficulty.
These FAQs are for parishes approaching or embarking upon a vacancy and are intended for those who have particular responsibilities during vacancies, including PCC members and churchwardens.
During a vacancy the area dean and churchwardens legally become ‘sequestrators’, i.e. the bishop’s officers in the parish.
The area dean will be the first point of contact for churchwardens and others seeking advice and support in the day-to-day running of the parish.
The wardens with the PCC will need to decide whether the wardens, ministry team or standing committee are the core working group for overseeing the life of the parish during the vacancy.
Other licensed and authorised ministers and those with leadership roles in the church also have a part to play in the practical aspects of church life.
► How to find cover for services during a vacancy
It will be important to publicise the list of who is going to look after (not singlehandedly running) different areas of church life – enquiries about baptism, pastoral visiting, home/study groups, church rotas etc.
A vacancy is not just a period of ‘marking time’ but may be a time of creative discovery and for enjoying the benefits of co-operative ministry within the church and with neighbouring parishes.
You area dean and archdeacon can help you with this.
Please also see the Vacancy Process flowchart.
FAQs
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How long will we have to wait before we get a new vicar? +
This is going to vary considerably from one vacancy to another, but it is best to plan on an absolute minimum of a year. This is because, due to the pandemic, there are a high number of vacancies awaiting recruitment. Even when a successful candidate has been found, they will have to give three months' notice in their current diocese. It is also worth bearing in mind that the drop in common fund payments has meant that it is not always possible to recruit on a ‘like-for-like’ basis. Thoughts and possibilities will be discussed with you at the initial vacancy meeting, but thinking creatively is the name of the game. -
How do I cover church services whilst we have no vicar? +
Please bear with us, we are looking at how we can produce lists of people you can approach for cover without contravening GDPR guidelines. However, you can always ask your archdeacon and the bishops if they have any capacity to help out with a service or two. Your deanery administrator may also know of likely people for you to approach.
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Is there anything I can read to help us out in the meantime? +
Here is a very useful publication which is readily available – So the Vicar's Leaving: The Good Interregnum Guide: Amazon.co.uk: Alexander, Mike, Martineau, Jeremy, Wood, Ron: 9781853115059: Books
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We are undertaking some building work - what permissions do we need? +
Nigel Sherratt and Kat Alldread in the DAC office are always happy to help and advise:
Nigel Sherratt: nigel.sherratt@derby.anglican.org
Kat Alldread: kat.alldread@derby.anglican.org
For help finding a reputable tradesperson, see: nationalchurchestrust.org/Maintenancebooker
To discuss the possibility of a grant to help with your work: Gareth Greenwood: Gareth.Greenwood@derby.anglican.org -
We have a query relating to a churchyard / marriage / death is there a guide available on this? +
Yes, there is.
For churchyard questions, please see the latest Churchyard Regulations.
And there is further information on these subjects on our the; Derby Diocesan Registry website.
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What process will we need to follow to fill our vacancy? +
To give you an idea of the process and steps to follow in recruiting a new incumbent, please see here.. They will be small variances depending on local circumstances. -
Who gets involved with advertising and recruiting a new vicar? +
Your parish(es) will nominate either one or two representatives who will form a panel, together with the local area dean, archdeacon and patrons, if appropriate. If you are in a larger, multi-parish benefice, the number involved from each church would usually be tailored to ensure proportional representation. Together, this panel will make decisions relating to how to advertise and interview and will be involved on the interview day itself. The bishop will also wish to see the application forms relating to any possible candidates, and will have an informal chat with your preferred candidate prior to an offer letter being issued. -
What documents will be required to advertise? +
The benefice/parish(es) concerned will work together to create a profile and advert, whilst the area dean and archdeacon will work on job and role descriptions, plus source a letter from the Bishop to include for potential applicants. Cathy in the archdeacons’ office has lots of examples of all of these, plus interview question templates, so please contact her if you wish to have some emailed across to you (cathy.luffman@derby.anglican.org ).
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Where should we advertise? +
It is down to the parishes, but the choices are:
- Diocesan website (free of charge)
- Church Times (Approx £1000 to advertise ‘until filled) in a succinct advert in both paper and on their website
- Pathways (Church of England recruitment tool). Approximately £80
- Networks such as New Wine
- Patronage websites, e.g. the CPAS one. -
What happens at the interview? +
It is common to have both a formal interview (which will usually include a 10-minute presentation) before the formal panel, plus an opportunity for the candidate(s) to visit the parishes, possibly have lunch with people from the wider church or local school communities, and also be able to have a viewing of the vicarage. This process can be done over a day, two days, or sometimes more.
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Who do I ask for help if we don’t know the answer to something? +
If you are stuck for an answer, please do shout up to your local area dean or archdeacon and they will do their best to help.
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What is ‘pastoral reorganisation’ and how does that affect our vacancy? +
The term ‘pastoral reorganisation’ refers to the processes that occur when there are proposals which require legal changes, such as re-drawing of parish boundaries, a change to which property to use as the vicarage or the re-configuration of parishes to modify the benefice structure.
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I have received a letter referring to ‘suspension of presentation’. What does that mean? +
Suspension of presentation is the temporary removal of a patron's right to present an incumbent to a benefice. Where churches have patrons, whether parishes are ‘in suspension’ or not, we would usually involve them in the process anyway, as a matter of courtesy. The bishop will remain responsible for the cure of souls which she/he will normally exercise by licensing a priest-in-charge.
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Who pays the advertising and interview costs? +
This is usually split (fairly) between the parishes concerned. Anticipated costs which may be incurred:
- Advertising
- For interviews, the parish would usually offer to pay reasonable travel and accommodation expenses. -
How many applications should we expect to get? +
At the moment, we are looking at anything from six down to zero. Confidence for a move is still fairly low, although we are hoping things will gradually improve as and when we return to ‘normal’.
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November 2021 saw our first-ever Diocesan Churchwarden Network events.
Churchwardens from across the Diocese made the journey to Danesmoor and Chellaston, one even coming all the way from the north of the Peak Deanery by train and taxi.
The aim of these events was to say thank you and acknowledge the huge contribution that our churchwardens make.
It was also to provide wardens with the opportunity to tell us what they felt we needed to hear and, more importantly, for us to listen.
Following opening worship and a personal thank you from the archdeacons, our partners from Ecclesiastical Insurance undertook a listening exercise where they asked the wardens:
- What is church like post-pandemic?
- What do you think the future of the church will look like?
- What can Ecclesiastical Insurance Group (EIG) do to help best support your parishes?
https://www.ecclesiastical.com/
https://www.ecclesiastical.com/church/church-insurance-consultants/lynne-ingham/
Ecclesiatical's Lynne Ingham leads a listening session
We then went on to begin the conversation around how the diocese can help when your church is in vacancy and to look at some of the challenges and opportunities about being in vacancy.
We finished the morning by sharing lunch together.
Being present at these two events only increased our admiration for all that the wardens do.
The level of expertise and knowledge in the room was overwhelming and it was a joy to be told from churchwardens who had arrived with queries about things to do with their own churches, that they had found answers in the guidance and advice given by other churchwardens present, who had experienced similar situations.
What has happened since
Those of us from the diocese and Ecclesiastical came away with a list of things to action and feedback.
A request was made for the equivalent of a ‘supply list’ of priests and readers who would be available to take services for churches in vacancy. This is being followed up.
We had hoped this would be a quick and simple task, but we are checking with our legal colleagues that to produce such a list is compliant with GDPR.
Communication difficulties were identified as being a major point of contention with the complexities of the current Church House telephone system being singled out for particular mention. This has been passed on to Senior Management.
The national churchwarden Facebook group was advertised https://www.facebook.com/groups/churchwardens and between our first and second events, our Comms team have created our a Facebook group specifically for churchwardens in the Diocese of Derby: https://www.facebook.com/groups/derbyshirechurchwardens
Questions were asked about finding reputable tradespeople when church repairs need doing and a good starting point is National Churches Trust maintenance booker:
https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/Maintenancebooker
Environmental Questions were asked and the link below offers some helpful suggestions
https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/churchcare/net-zero-carbon-church
Other suggestions and requests are being looked at.
Over 92% of those present said that they’d be extremely likely to attend another event, so please hold Thursday, 30 June 2022 in your diary.
There will be a follow-up letter in the New Year with more details and other information from the two events.
Discussion time at the Chellaston networking event
More information will be available on this page soon.
This page is in the process of being updated
Information for Churchwardens on Clergy Wellbeing
>> Resources for churchwardens on wellbeing [PDF]
Resources for Churchwardens - Parish Support Office:
Archdeacon of Derby City and South Derbyshire - The Ven. Matthew Trick - 01332 388658, matthew.trick@derby.anglican.org
Archdeacon of East Derbyshire - The Ven. Karen Hamblin - karen.hamblin@derby.anglican.org
Acting Archdeacon of Derbyshire Peak and Dales - Revd Canon Nicky Fenton - nicky.fenton@derby.anglican.org
Acting DAC Secretary - Kat Alldread - dac@derby.anglican.org
HR Manager - Mandy Roberts - 01332 388650, mandy.roberts@derby.anglican.org
Registrar -
Head of Discipleship, Mission & Ministry - Revd Canon Matt Barnes - Matt.Barnes@derby.anglican.org
Community Action Officer - currently vacant
Community Projects Development Officer - Gareth Greenwood - 01332 388690, Gareth.greenwood@derby.anglican.org (using buildings for mission)
Communications team - Lucy Harrison, Dave King, Andrew Salt - 01332 388668 communications@derby.anglican.org
Convener of the Clergy Wellbeing Reference Group Karen Hamblin - karen.hamblin@derby.anglican.org
Good sources of a wide variety of information:
Practical Church Management by James Behrens (Gracewing, 2014)- a very good guide to all aspects of church management (about £20)
The PCC Member’s Essential Guide by Mark Tanner (2015) - informative guide about the role of the PCC, answers all the basic questions (What is a PCC? What jobs does it do? How does it fit into the bigger picture?) in a straightforward way but also offers prayerful reflections. (about £8)
Rules, Rotas & Rectors - How to Thrive Being a Churchwarden by Matthew Clements (2018) - written by an experienced churchwarden to give practical information for those new to the role or considering it. (about £10)
Parish Resources https://www.parishresources.org.uk/ (extensive links and resources on church administration, church governance, data protection, parish finance, employing and managing staff and volunteers, looking after church buildings)
Church Care www.churchcare.co.uk (Ecclesiastical Insurance website on the care of churches with extensive information on looking after churches and churchyards, making changes, insurance, health & safety, risk assessments and much more)
John Truscott www.john-truscott.co.uk (organisation, leadership, management, administration, communication etc for churches and Christian organisations- very helpful information on a wide variety of topics)
Helpful information for specific areas:
Safeguarding: Diocesan website http://www.derby.anglican.org/safeguarding (policies, procedures and information, how to report a concern, DBS)
Diocesan safeguarding team - 01332 388678, safeguarding@derby.anglican.org
Church of England website https://www.churchofengland.org/more/safeguarding
Governance: Church of England website https://www.churchofengland.org/pccs (includes a compliance checklist to ensure PCC’s governance and policies are as they should be)
Church Representation Rules https://www.churchofengland.org/more/policy-and-thinking/church-representation - rules/church-representation-rules-online (online version of rules governing churches)
Parochial Church (Powers) Measure http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukcm/Eliz2/4-5/3/contents (law governing PCCs)
Buildings: Church Care www.churchcare.co.uk (Ecclesiastical website on the care of churches with extensive information on looking after churches and churchyards, making changes to buildings, insurance, health & safety etc)
DAC on Diocesan website http://www.derby.anglican.org/en/church-admin/dac.html (guidance and access to online faculty system)
The Value of Maintenance? Project Report from Historic England (very helpful report looking at the impact of on time church maintenance compared to the cost impact of delaying repair work)
Copyright: CCLI https://uk.ccli.com/ (information about copyright law and church licenses)
Training & courses: Diocesan website https://derby.anglican.org/lif (Bitesize modules for churchwardens)
Vocations: Diocesan website http://www.derby.anglican.org/vocations (information on discernment, connecting with a vocations adviser)
Church of England website https://www.churchofengland.org/life-events/vocations (discernment, exploring calling, roles in the church and whole life discipleship)
In co-operation with the incumbent, churchwardens, as part of the ministry team, are generally responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the parish and/or ministry area.
It is important that churchwardens nourish and maintain their own Christian faith, and not let it fade with the administrative and practical issues which may arise in the church.
Churchwardens are not expected to do everything themselves, but to make sure that there are other people available to carry out the various tasks.
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Guidance for Churchwardens
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Can I be a churchwarden?Five things you need to know if you are considering becoming a churchwarden in the Diocese of Derby. Video 30 secs -
Being a churchwardenWhether you’re an experienced warden or new to the role, this module will tell you all the basics you need to know. For: Churchwardens Interactive lesson Approx time: 35 mins -
Churches as community buildingsBuilding strong, lasting relationships with the whole community is central to effective mission. For churchwardens Interactive lesson Approx time: 30 mins -
The DAC and facultiesUseful information about how the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) can help you and facts about faculties. For: Churchwardens Interactive lesson Approx time: 35 mins -
Faculty applicationsThis module will tell you need to know about how to make, and what to include, in a faculty application. For: Churchwardens Interactive lesson Approx time: 30 mins -
Church buildings management throughout the yearKnow what you need to do throughout the year to look after your church building. For: Churchwardens Interactive lesson Approx time: 30 mins -
Leading Worship at Short NoticeWhat you need to know and what you can and can't do when leading worship. For: Churchwardens Interactive lesson Approx time: 30 mins -
Leading intercessionsHow to lead God's people in prayer. For: Churchwardens Interactive lesson Approx time: 30 mins
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Those who are asked to lead worship on behalf of others are undertaking an important responsibility.
Clergy and Readers are licensed by the Bishop to lead worship.
Churchwardens may also lead worship.
Many churches now have groups of worship leaders who prepare and lead non-eucharistic worship.
>> Find out more about leading worship as a churchwarden here.
Downloads
Here are a worship resource sheet (PDF) and some orders of service that churchwardens can use if they need to lead an act of worship at short notice. The orders of service are Word docs so they can be adapted if needed.
BCP - Morning Prayer (Word doc)
CW - Morning Prayer (Word doc)
BCP - Evening Prayer (Word doc)
CW - Evening Prayer (Word doc)
