Please note that Parochial Visitations should not be confused with the annual Archdeacon Visitations for the admittance of churchwardens.
The Archdeacons are responsible for ensuring a visitation to every parish (and usually to all the church buildings within the parish) is carried out every five years. The purpose of the visitation is to check that the parish is complying with the requirements of various Measures; in particular, the Inspection of Churches Measures 2019, the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978 and the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 2018.
The normal cycle of these visits was interrupted due to COVID, but are re-starting in 2025.
Please be assured, the purpose of the visit is not to find fault but to support you and work together to help the local church have everything in place that it needs to have in place, so that you (and we) can rest assured that your church is compliant with legislation and regulations, and safe for those you are here to serve and welcome.
The visitor will require to see and inspect all parochial registers and records held in the parish, the inventory and log book, the minute and account books, insurance policies, the PCC’s policies on safeguarding, employees’ contracts, and insurance policies; to review progress on quinquennial works; and to inspect the storage of valuables and to inspect the buildings and curtilage, and security and safety systems.
To see the full list of items your visitor will be looking at, please click here for the Winchester Archdeaconry or click here for the Bournemouth Archdeaconry.
All parishes will be given a minimum of 3 months’ notice before their visit date. For more information on completing the Terrier and Inventory please click here.