Visitations

Every year, the Archdeacons’ Visitations take place. These are formal church services, during which Churchwardens across each Archdeaconry are admitted.

As well as the opportunity Visitations give for Archdeacons to thank churchwardens publicly and personally, and to pray with and for them, it is also when elected churchwardens are formally admitted to the office of churchwarden. This is a legal requirement, and until this happens those elected are not formally churchwardens. It is therefore essential that you make every effort to attend. If you cannot attend your deanery service, you can attend one of the other local services instead. Churchwardens should take their Declaration Form to the visitation service they attend.

You will need to ensure each of the forms are completed.

Nomination of Churchwardens - Form A

This is for this year’s election of churchwarden and is to be completed before your Annual Meetings. Candidates should be made aware that it is the Diocesan Bishop’s expectation that all churchwardens in this diocese should be DBS-checked.

Download the Nomination paper - word document

Download the Nomination paper - PDF document


The Citation - Form B

This gives details of the date and venue for the Visitation Services in your Archdeaconry. In order to be admitted to office for the coming year, you will need to attend one of these services.

If for a good reason, you are unable to attend a Visitation Service for your Archdeaconry, please contact your Archdeacon’s office so that arrangements can be made for you to attend an alternative service.

Please select your Archdeaconry below to access the forms

Barking Area

  • Barking Archdeaconry

    The Ven Christopher Burke, Archdeacon of Barking
    includes the Deaneries of Barking & Dagenham and Havering

    Deanery: Havering
    Date: Wednesday, 4th June 2025
    Time: 7:30pm, with refreshments from 7pm
    Location: Collier Row, Ascension, RM5 2BA

    Deanery: Barking & Dagenham
    Date: Wednesday, 11th June 2025
    Time: 7:30pm, with refreshments from 7pm
    Location: Chadwell Heath, St Chad's, RM6 6JB

    Download the form - word document

    Download the form - PDF document

  • West Ham Archdeaconry

    The Ven. Mike Power, Archdeacon of West Ham
    includes the Deaneries of Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest

    Deanery: Redbridge
    Date: Tuesday, 10th June 2025
    Time: 7pm, for a 7:30pm start
    Location: All Saints', Woodford Wells, IG8 0NH

    Deanery: Newham
    Date: Tuesday, 3rd June 2025
    Time: 7pm, for a 7:30pm start
    Location: Ascension, Victoria Docks, E16 3HJ

    Deanery: Waltham Forest
    Date: Tuesday, 24th June 2025
    Time: 7pm, for a 7:30pm start
    Location: St Peter & St Paul, Chingford, E4 7EN

    Download the form - word document

    Download the form - PDF document

Bradwell Area

  • Chelmsford Archdeaconry

    The Ven Jonathan Croucher, Archdeacon of Chelmsford
    Includes the Deaneries of Brentwood, Chelmsford, Epping Forest & Ongar and Maldon & Dengie

    Date: Monday, 9th June 2025
    Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
    Location: All Saints, Maldon, CM9 4PY

    Date: Thursday, 19th June 2025
    Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
    Location: St Peter's, Hutton, CM13 1JS

    Date: Wednesday, 25th June 2025
    Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
    Location: St Michael and All Angels, Loughton, IG10 3EJ

    Date: Wednesday, 2nd July 2025
    Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
    Location: All Siants, Springfield, CM1 7HS

    Download the form - word document

    Download the form - PDF document

  • Southend Archdeaconry

    The Ven Dr Sue Lucas, Archdeacon of Southend
    Includes the Deaneries of Basildon, Hadleigh, Rochford, Southend and Thurrock

    Date: Thursday, 5th June 2025
    Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
    Location: All Saints, Chafford Hundred, RM16 6RW

    Date: Tuesday, 10th June 2025
    Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
    Location: St Gabriel, Pitsea, SS13 2AA

    Date: Monday, 16th June 2025
    Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
    Location: St Barnabas, Hadleigh, SS7 2EJ

    Date: Tuesday, 8th July 2025
    Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
    Location: St John's, Southend, SS1 2AL

    Date: Wednesday, 16th July 2025
    Time: 7:45pm, with refreshments from 7pm
    Location: St Andrew's, Rochford, SS4 1EF

    Download the form - word document

    Download the form - PDF document

Colchester Area

  • Colchester Archdeaconry

    The Rt Revd Roger Morris, Bishop of Colchester
    Includes the Deaneries of Colchester, Harwich, St Osyth and Witham

    Deaneries: Harwich and St Osyth
    Date: Wednesday, 4th June 2025
    Time: 8pm, with refreshments from 7pm
    Location: St Peter and St Paul, St Osyth, CO16 8NX

    Deaneries: Colchester and Witham
    Date: Tuesday, 1st July 2025
    Time: 8pm, with refreshments from 7pm
    Location: St John's, Colchester, CO4 0HP

    Download the form - word document

    Download the form - PDF document

  • Stansted Archdeaconry

    The Ven Kate Peacock, Archdeacon of Stansted
     Includes the Deaneries of Braintree, Dunmow & Stansted, Harlow, Hinckford and Saffron Walden.

    Deanery: Braintree 
    Date: Tuesday, 10th June 2025
    Time: 7.30pm, with refreshments from 6.45pm
    Location: St Mary's, Bocking, CM7 5JY

    Deanery:  Hinckford
    Date: Thursday, 19th June 2025
    Time: 7.30pm, with refreshments from 6.45pm
    Location: St Andrew, Halstead, CO9 2LD

    Deanery: Saffron Walden
    Date: Tuesday, 24th June 2025
    Time: 7.30pm, with refreshments from 6.45pm
    Location: St Mary's, Saffron Walden, CB10 1JP

    Deanery:  Harlow
    Date: Thursday, 26th June 2025
    Time: 7.30pm, with refreshments from 6.45pm
    Location: St James, Staple Tye, CM18 7NP

    Deanery: Dunmow & Stansted
    Date: Monday, 30th June 2025
    Time: 7.30pm, with refreshments from 6.45pm
    Location: St Mary, Dunmow, CM6 2SJ

    Download the form - word document

    Download the form - PDF document


Certificate and Declaration - Form C

All elected Churchwardens should print and complete this form on both sides and bring it to the service at which they are to be admitted to give to the Archdeacon.

Download the form - word document

Download the form - PDF document


Articles of Enquiry Form for the year ended 31st December 2024 - Form D

This is a simple form for you to complete. It is a legal requirement that needs your attention before the Visitation Service.

This form should be completed by you and be brought to the Visitation Service to give to the Archdeacon (please keep an extra copy for your parish records)

Download the form - word document

Download the form - PDF document


Do you have everything you need?

You can download and print off the following checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your visitation.

Parochial Inspection form

Area Dean or Lay Chair Parochial Inspection form - word document

Area Dean or Lay Chair Parochial Inspection form - PDF document


For more information or to report anything wrong with this page please contact Chris Copus