Churchwardens

 

THE NATURE AND DUTIES OF A THE CHURCHWARDEN

The churchwarden in the Church of England have important legal duties, but the office also has a vital spiritual, pastoral and mission dimension – the duty to be foremost among the laity in the life and mission of the Church in the parish. Churchwardens are chosen annually at the annual parish meeting, but are encouraged to stand for more than one year, to provide continuity and enable a churchwarden to grow into the job.

The duties of a Churchwarden as being elected from those on the electoral roll of St. Lawrence are as follows:

  1. Are the officers of the bishop (not the incumbent or PCC)
  2. They must be the foremost in representing the laity and co-operating with the incumbent
  3. They must use their best endeavours by example and precept to encourage the parishioners in the practice of true religion and to promote unity and peace among them
  4. They must discharge the duties assigned to them by law and custom
  5. They must maintain order and decency in the church and churchyard, especially during the time of divine service
  6. They have a duty to care and pray for the parish priest. This includes a concern for his family, his expenses, and his time off.
  7. They hold legal title to the movable goods of the church, must keep an inventory of those goods and keep it up to date, and must hand over the goods to their successors, who must check the inventory. They should, together with the priest, also ensure that the terrier and log book are kept up to date.
  8. They should ensure that a faculty or a de minimis is obtained before any item is added or disposed of, and before any major repairs are carried out
  9. Notwithstanding the great value an experienced churchwarden can have for the parish as a whole, it is vital for the churchwarden to encourage all the lay members of the congregation to take an active role in the work of the Church in the parish and to serve in whatever capacity they can
  10. The office of churchwarden should be seen in the context of lay ministry as a whole.  The churchwardens have legal duties, as do members of the PCC and other officers, but all forms of lay service are important and should be recognised and affirmed by the minister, the PCC, the parish as a whole and the diocese.