Churchwardens are the Bishop’s lay officers responsible directly to her for the life and work of the church in the parish. Responsibilities laid upon them from time to time by the Bishop, or by the Archdeacon and the Area Dean, include ensuring the maintenance of the building, arranging for services to be taken in an interregnum and acting as ex-officio members of the PCC.
The appointment of Churchwardens is governed by the Churchwardens Measure 2001.
Please browse the links on the right hand side of this page and look through the Key Documents below to find documents designed to help and support churchwardens. In particular, please refer to the Churchwarden's Handbook.
Archdeacons' Visitations
Churchwardens and others are invited to attend these services for prayer, worship and the formal admission of Churchwardens. The visitations take place in June/July each year.
Please note that churchwardens need to attend one of these services to be admitted. Anyone elected as churchwarden does not take up office until admitted and as you must be admitted before 31 August, please contact your archdeacon’s office if you have not attended one of the visitation services this year.
Training for New Churchwardens
Whether you are newly elected or have been a Churchwarden for some time, our Churchwardens' training sessions are an opportunity to find out more about what support is available and connect in with other churchwardens.
Dates for churchwarden training will be listed here. Churchwardens are invited to attend whichever date suits them best and are not confined to the archdeaconry to which they are linked.
Upcoming Training:
Maidstone Archdeaconry – Wednesday 24th September 2–4pm, St Faith's Centre, Monckton Lane, Maidstone ME14 2PY. Please book through Lynn Bourne, PA to the Archdeacon of Maidstone: lbourne@diocant.org
Key documents
- Archdeacons' Visitation News
- Order the 2026 Churchwardens Yearbook or the 2025 Churchwardens Yearbook at a reduced price using the code Visitation25.
- Risk Management Guides for Churches - from Ecclesiastical Insurance
- Records and Information Management | The Church of England - guidance for incumbents and churchwardens
- Churchwardens Handbook
- The Churchwarden: Area Dean's Parish Visits
- Public Liability Insurance
- Churchwarden Declaration and details form
- Archdeacons' visitation certificate and declaration
Maintenance Booker
Maintenance Booker is a website that gives churches a straightforward way of arranging for companies with the right experience and qualifications to carry out many routine repairs and inspections and help keep the building in good order before small issues become larger problems. Using this website, churches can book gutter clearance and repairs, lightning protection inspection, tree surveys and maintenance as well as asbestos surveys and removal. More services will be added as time goes on, such as stonework and lime mortaring, bat surveys, and grounds and graveyard maintenance.