Being a churchwarden Information for those considering the role Thank you for considering the role of churchwarden. We hope and pray that this is the beginning of a vocational journey for you, as you discern whether God is calling you to serve church and community in this way.

One of the key ideas behind being a churchwarden is the opportunity to work in partnership and develop relationships that help people grow as the people of God. It is to share in parish leadership in a way that recognises Christ at the heart of all we do, and God’s mission as our agenda.

So, what is involved in being a churchwarden? You will have seen others fulfilling this role in very different ways, and sometimes these can be a hard act to follow. There can be some confusion as to what the role and duties of a churchwarden are. We have brought together in this leaflet some information about the role and what it entails. This is not the last word on it, but we hope these pages contain enough information to help you in your thinking about whether to accept the nomination for election and plunge in.

Reading what follows about the role may leave you wondering whether it is ‘do-able’. We are delighted to be able to include here thoughts on the role from two churchwardens who speak from experience to give you an insight into what it is like doing the job. We are hugely grateful to Carol and Christine for sharing their experience with us and we hope it will be an encouragement to you.

You don’t have to be perfect to be a churchwarden, but it helps if you are willing to learn, to listen, to work collaboratively, and are not afraid to ask for help. We are pleased to be able to partner with staff at Church House Oxford to offer you support and help as appropriate. Should you have any questions, please do be in touch with us using the contact details overleaf..

Underpinning all this is your own continuing discipleship and prayer life, keeping in mind our common vision to become a more Christ-like Church for the sake of God’s world: contemplative, compassionate and courageous. May God bless you in your journey and service in Christ’s name.

With heartfelt thanks and prayer. The Venerable Judy French Archdeacon of Dorchester [email protected] 01865 208245

The Venerable Jonathan Chaffey Archdeacon of Oxford [email protected] 01865 208263

The Venerable Stephen Pullin Archdeacon of Berkshire [email protected] 01635 552820

The Venerable Guy Elsmore Archdeacon of Buckingham [email protected] 01865 208266

3 What is involved?

Churchwardens are elected by the operating with the incumbent in Annual Meeting of Parishioners. Their promoting in the parish the whole term of office is one year, but this can mission of the church, pastoral, be extended to up to six consecutive evangelistic, social and ecumenical; terms of office. • trying to ensure that the They, with the parish priest, are incumbent is relieved of responsible for the day-to-day superfluous administrative and functioning of the parish. Good other tasks; parishes have strong mutually respectful relationships between • encouraging people in their incumbents and the churchwardens. Christian faith and discipleship;

Churchwardens are vital to the • helping to resolve disputes wellbeing of our church communities. or disagreements amongst Being a churchwarden involves: the congregation or with the parish priest, or with the local • supporting the parish priest, and community; providing them with feedback; • consulting the area dean and/or • encouraging the PCC in carrying archdeacon for advice when any out all its duties, including co- concerns arise.

4 Churchwardens should attend services regularly, arriving in good time to support the sidespeople and welcomers, be present for any refreshments, and help tidy up afterwards. The way in which churchwardens carry out their duties will vary from parish to parish, but detailed below are the key responsibilities.

Administration Finance With the incumbent and PCC, they With the treasurer and PCC they ensure that: ensure that:

• there is adequate provision • there are proper systems for for and oversight of the counting collections, recording administration of the parish; amounts and their secure holding until they can be banked; • there are proper procedures in place for recruiting and managing • adequate processes are in place lay staff and volunteers; for managing the finances of the PCC; • the PCC adopts a safeguarding policy, and has an action plan • expenses of office are paid to the for ensuring that the policy is clergy; implemented; • all bills are paid; • the parish’s approach to safeguarding is stated on the • the PCC makes its full contribution parish’s noticeboards and website; towards the Parish Share;

• the PCC has a health and safety • the parish’s end of year accounts, policy and ensures that it is and other returns, are submitted implemented; promptly.

• there are adequate preparations for the area dean and/or archdeacon’s triennial parochial visitation.

5 Mission Buildings and contents The churchwardens work with the Churchwardens are responsible for incumbent and PCC so that: ensuring that the PCC cares for and maintains the church and its contents • the PCC has a Mission Action Plan, and other buildings in the parish, and and focuses on implementing it; the churchyard or grounds.

• people who attend church and They are responsible for ensuring encounter the church in other that: ways are welcomed; • there is a ‘terrier’ – a list and • the church is seen to be a force description of land and buildings for good in the wider parish; belonging to the church;

• the church is open to the public as • proper records of any property often as possible. transactions, including licences under faculty (the authorisation Meetings/Trusteeships for work to be undertaken on the Churchwardens are ex officio church building), and tenancy members of the PCC (the trustees agreements and leases are kept; of the parish), and the PCC Standing Committee. They may also be • a list of all ecclesiastical trusts ex officio trustees of any parish and charities associated with the ecclesiastical and parochial charities. parish is maintained; These should have regular meetings. • an annually updated inventory Pastoral care and photographic record of all the items belonging to the church is Churchwardens work with their retained; parish priest to ensure that the pastoral work of the church is • quinquennial repairs (outlined in a being undertaken in the parish and report every five years) are carried amongst the congregation. out;

• a log book of all alterations and repairs to the church, its lands and contents exists;

6 Buildings and contents (cont…) Liturgy and worship • appropriate building and contents Churchwardens ensure that visitors insurances are in place; and newcomers are welcomed and assisted, that there is adequate • an annual report is made on the seating, lighting and heating, and fabric of the church and any other that all other facilities required are in buildings to the Annual Parochial place, including safety requirements. Church Meeting; They are responsible for good order • all valuable items are securely in the church and churchyard. On kept, and photographs of them the very rare occasion of a major are held elsewhere; disturbance within (or immediately outside) the church, the churchwardens • the archdeacon and the Diocesan take primary responsibility in dealing Advisory Committee (DAC) are with the matter. consulted about any proposed repairs or alteration to the church, In a time of vacancy, they are or any acquisitions or disposals of responsible, with the area dean, for contents, and a faculty is obtained ensuring that there is someone to before any work is begun. conduct services, and that the life of the parish continues.

7 Being called to the role of churchwarden – thoughts from Carol

My background an element of no one else being I have been a willing to take up the responsibilities churchwarden involved! for two terms of office in a parish Churchwardens are officers of the of about 1,000 diocesan bishop. We are fortunate people. The first in Oxfordshire that churchwardens term was at a receive good support and guidance time when I was from the archdeacons and the working full-time bishops. All members of staff and had two fairly young children. at Church House Oxford have The second term began during my been ready to help when I have retirement. had queries or problems. I have worked with the Diocesan Advisory I have worked closely with five Committee during several church rectors, male and female, and projects over the years and have three other churchwardens. I have found members of staff ready to been responsible (with my fellow support and steer us through all the churchwardens) for the smooth legal processes, as well as giving running of church/parish/benefice practical and prompt help when matters during three periods of unforeseen building problems have vacancy of 6 to 12 months. I was arisen. involved in the appointment of three new rectors. I also work alongside the What’s involved? other churchwardens in our benefice The parameters of the role are of four parishes. set out clearly in Canon E1 of the Canon of the Church of England and I have always been very conscious in ‘A summary of Churchwardens’ of the history of the role. It dates Responsibilities’ on the Diocesan back to the fourteenth century. website. Upon reading these, I think Churchwardens are elected by anyone would feel a bit daunted! the whole parish, not just by churchgoers. It’s a great privilege I would advise any prospective to be elected, but there is also churchwarden to take heart from the

8 phrase which is used throughout the I have worked with three wonderful latter document: ‘[Churchwardens] colleagues), s/he will be your should use their best endeavours best support and you can rejoice to...’ We can only do our best in or grumble together whenever whatever we attempt to do. We necessary! would not think about taking up this role if we did not regard it What has gone well? as a ministry in which we were Generally, we have had to face all determined to give of our best – and the problems associated with being that is all that is asked of us. a rural congregation, with an ageing demographic. However, we are in A word of caution about delegating, good heart and determined to ‘keep which all on keeping on’. churchwardens are encouraged Churchwardens We are supported to do: I have are the ‘glue’ by the whole parish found that “ in a peripheral way people are holding parish and most village willing to help residents wish to in a general way and church life have a working but are often together.” church in their midst, unwilling to even if they only take the final come to services occasionally or responsibility for a specific piece of use us simply for marriages, baptisms work or implementation of a policy. or funerals.

Churchwardens are the ‘glue’ holding Pastoral work has developed in parish and church life together. It is the past five years and helps the a very people-orientated job and, churchwardens to keep an eye on the as such brings great pleasure and needs of vulnerable parishioners. satisfaction as you serve God in the world, but can also bring great Liaison between church and the stress at times. Your own worship village primary school (C of E) has and prayer life needs to be protected strengthened in the past few years as much as possible – you will and the Churchwardens have been need the strength and grounding actively involved in encouraging this. in faith that those bring. If you are fortunate enough to have a fellow churchwarden working with you (and

9 Challenges What would I say to Coping with the demands of three someone considering being a interregnums has been a challenge. churchwarden? Trying to calm the anxieties of our The role is a pleasure, a privilege church family whilst having one’s own and a ministry. You will be given a private concerns about parish life special way of serving God and your requires resources of strength and I parishioners. You will need to be have had to ‘let go and let God’ on prepared to work hard, and there many occasions! will be frustrations along the way, but those are definitely outweighed In 2013, after by the feeling seven years of of being very negotiations and a special way of embedded in disagreements serving God and your community (ultimately “ and having the resolved) within your parishioners” opportunity to the parish, we serve it. A sense finally went ahead with a substantial of humour is not only desirable, but project to build a nave altar area in often completely necessary! our medieval church. The start of the work coincided with an interregnum! Take advantage of diocesan training This was a challenge to the for new churchwardens – it is churchwardens of the highest order, excellent. Don’t be afraid to ask but everything went well (mostly!) diocesan staff for help. Appreciate and our parishioners thought the new your fellow churchwarden. Talk with nave altar and stone dais added to other churchwardens in your area. the appearance of the building and improved our worship. Support and befriend your incumbent; you are there for each Most of the issues I have faced other through the good times as churchwarden have been and the more difficult. Guard and resolved by keeping calm, praying develop your own prayer life. Go on at every opportunity and talking quiet or retreat days when you can; things through with people until a they will refresh your soul. compromise has been reached. Enjoy the job… you will never be bored… and thank God for the opportunity to serve him in such a unique way.

10 Being called to the role of churchwarden – thoughts from Christine

The Rector of my is installing a new digital projector church has been system, which involves meeting with an extremely the installers and another faculty. good tutor. These are costly projects and need Three years ago fundraising events and applications he asked me if I for grants. was interested in becoming I have been on various courses at churchwarden. Church House, which were very No one had been nominated. He enjoyable. A churchwardens day suggested I try it for a year and brought us together to explore and said he would help me if I needed solve issues which were of concern. help. I am so pleased I said ‘Yes’. I have thoroughly It was a privilege enjoyed my time to have the being involved in I am so pleased I opportunity to church matters. said ‘Yes’. meet Bishop “ Steven in his The fabric of the building is very home one evening and to talk about important and needs regular his vision of how we should become checking, inside and out. You need more Christ-like. His message that we to make sure the building is safe, should become more contemplative, checking that fire extinguishers are compassionate and courageous has in good working order, checking that stood me in good stead and focuses lead work in stained glass windows me on a daily basis. is not deteriorating, etc. Health and safety issues must be addressed. My role as churchwarden has gone very smoothly. Our congregation We have two very challenging get on very well with one another projects at the moment. The first is a and as a result I have had no real new toilet installation, which involves issues. Our church was reorganised meetings with the architect and last Christmas to accommodate our applying for a faculty. The second Christmas Tree Festival, with the

11 altar being positioned on the south daunting, especially if they were wall and the chairs in a more circular amazing at the job. The task for you position. There were one or two is to put your own stamp on it. You parishioners who were concerned are in control, in conjunction with but I was able to reassure them that your ministry team of course. There is it was only temporary and we should a lot of help out there if you need it. embrace change from time to time. Diocesan Church House will help you with a list of people and businesses To anyone who is thinking of who can advise if there is a problem. becoming a churchwarden I would The role brings you nearer to say ‘give it a go’. Don’t think about God. You are working personally for how previous churchwardens have him representing your church. carried out this role. This can be

What about you? If you think this role may be for you, contact your rector or vicar to discuss it further.

Front cover picture courtesy of Steven Buckley; altar photo courtesy of Maurice Buddin. With thanks to Fr Richard Lamey and Peter Wells of St Paul, Wokingham; desk photo courtesy of Shutterstock.