Every year, within the 42 dioceses of the Church of England, the archdeacons' 'visitations' take place. In the Diocese of Lichfield these are held in deanery groupings within each of the four archdeaconries - Lichfield, Salop, Stoke-upon-Trent and Walsall - following the annual election of churchwardens by the end of May.
Formerly, the visitations were a court where all clergy and churchwardens were cited to attend. More recently the format has changed so they take the form of a service, the key part of which is the official admittance of churchwardens as office holders of the diocesan bishop. During the service, the archdeacon also delivers a sermon called the 'archdeacons charge', the aim of which is to offer advice, encouragement and support to parishes in general and churchwardens in particular.
It is expected that those standing for election or re-election as Wardens undertake an enhanced DBS check to work with adults and children. This is because the role of Church warden is considered to contain leadership and management duties that will likely bring them into contact with children and vulnerable adults. Therefore all churchwardens must confirm that they have a valid DBS certificate to be admitted to their post at.a Visitation, by including the number of the certificate on the churchwardens declaration form. Please note that if you are not able to provide the DBS certificate number at the Visitation you will not be admitted to office..
Church Wardens are invited to attend at the earlier time to complete paperwork, before the service at the later time.
| Deaneries | Date | Time | Venue | Postcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Archdeacons of Lichfield and Walsall |
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|
All Deaneries in Wolverhampton Episcopal Area |
Monday 29 June | 6.00pm for registration. Service at 7.30pm | Lichfield Cathedral, The Close, Lichfield | WS13 7LD |
|
All Deaneries in Wolverhampton Episcopal Area |
Thursday 2 July |
6.30pm for registration. Service at 7.30pm | St Francis' Church, Freeman Road, Friar Park, West Bromwich | WS10 0HJ |
|
All Deaneries in Wolverhampton Episcopal Area |
Tuesday 7 July | 6.30pm for registration. Service at 7.30pm | St Paul's Church, Emsworth Crescent, Pendeford, Wolverhampton | WV9 5LS |
| All Deaneries in Wolverhampton Episcopal Area |
Thursday 9 July |
6.30pm for registration. Service at 7.30pm |
St Peter's Church, Church Hill, Hednesford. |
WS12 1BD |
Archdeacon of Salop |
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| Ellesmere and Oswestry | Wednesday 17 June | 6.30pm for registration. Service at 7.30pm | St John the Baptist, Church Street, Whittington | SY11 4DF |
| Telford and Edgmond and Shifnal | Tuesday 7 July | 6.30pm for registration. Service at 7.30pm | St Mary Magdaline, Vicarage Fields, High Street, Albrighton. | WV7 3EQ |
| Wem and Whitchurch and Hodnet | Monday 29 June | 6.30pm for registration. Service at 7.30pm | St Mary's Church, Church Street, Shawbury. | SY4 4NH |
| Shrewsbury and Wrekin | TBC | 6.30pm for registration. Service at 7.30pm | Shrewsbury Abbey, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury. | SY2 6BS |
Archdeacon of Stoke-upon-Trent |
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| Staffordshire Moorlands | Monday 8 June | 6.45pm for registration: service at 7.30pm |
St Giles the Abbot, High Street, Cheadle. |
ST10 1HU |
| Unitary Authority of Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle Borough |
Tuesday 9 June |
6.45pm for registration: service at 7.30pm |
St Peter ad Vincula (Stoke Minster), Glebe Street, Stoke-on-Trent. |
ST4 1LP |
| East Staffordshire Borough | Monday 22 June | 6.45pm for registration: service at 7.30pm | St Mary The Virgin, Church Street, Tutbury. | DE13 9JE |
| Stafford Borough | Tuesday 23 June | 6.45pm for registration: service at 7.30pm | St John The Baptist, Westhead Ave, Stafford. | ST16 3RP |
