Recent News
Christian Aid Cycle Ride
This year, the parishioners of St Matthew's, St Sidwell's and St Mark's in Exeter are marking Christian Aid week in an unusual way.
Three members of the preaching team in the parishes, the rector Simon Croft and two of the readers, Tina and David Smith, are cycling across Devon in a two-day sponsored ride, on 16th & 17th May. On their way, they plan to stop and pray at the churches they pass o... More >
This year, the parishioners of St Matthew's, St Sidwell's and St Mark's in Exeter are marking Christian Aid week in an unusual way.
Three members of the preaching team in the parishes, the rector Simon Croft and two of the readers, Tina and David Smith, are cycling across Devon in a two-day sponsored ride, on 16th & 17th May. On their way, they plan to stop and pray at the churches they pass o... More >
Other News:
NIGHTCHURCH PIONEER Course - starting June 2008.
New Cathedral Canons.
Community Priest and Pioneer Youth Minister..
Parish Admin > Parish Admin Downloads
Literature to help with the running of parish life - from building a Church Noticeboard to running a Deanery.
Full details of the new Common Fund system
The Church of England’s Church Urban Fund has launched a free online resource, Just Employment, to promote excellence in employment by faith-based charities involved in social and community projects. The guide contains advice and case studies about the specific issues faced by faith-groups, such as whether discrimination laws prevent them from excluding people who are not of their particular faith and what to do about employees whose values clash with an organisation’s ethos.
The guide also includes sections that are applicable to any community group, covering such areas as policies and procedures on health and safety issues, disciplinary and grievance procedures, performance management, work-life balance and child protection laws. The documents, which will be updated annually, were put together by an employment specialist. The contract to produce the resource will run until 2010.
In order to access Just Employment, potential users must register via the following link: http://www.cufx.org.uk/
The purpose of this guide is to explain the new legislation on the appointment and tenure of office of churchwardens and its background, and to recommend appropriate ways of implementing it in practice.
Churchwardens Measure 2001
Literature to help with the running of parish life - from building a Church Noticeboard to running a Deanery.
Full details of the new Common Fund system
Electoral Roll Application Form (85 KB)
Complete this form to apply for enrolment on the roll of a parish.
Complete this form to apply for enrolment on the roll of a parish.
Electoral Roll 2008 (125 KB)
All parishes should be revising their electoral roll (in accordance with the Church Representation Rules) in time for the 2008 Annual Parochial Church Meeting which will take place between 1 January and 30 April 2008.
You can download this years Electoral Roll Certificate along with:
Notice of Revision of Church Electoral Roll
Notice of Annual Parochial Church Meeting.
Notice of Meeting of Parishioners for the Election of Churchwardens
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Synod Office.
All parishes should be revising their electoral roll (in accordance with the Church Representation Rules) in time for the 2008 Annual Parochial Church Meeting which will take place between 1 January and 30 April 2008.
You can download this years Electoral Roll Certificate along with:
Notice of Revision of Church Electoral Roll
Notice of Annual Parochial Church Meeting.
Notice of Meeting of Parishioners for the Election of Churchwardens
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Synod Office.
Statistics for Mission 2007 (119 KB)
Statistics for mission form 2007 for parishes to complete and return at their archdeaconry visitation in May 2008
Statistics for mission form 2007 for parishes to complete and return at their archdeaconry visitation in May 2008
Statistics for Mission Notes (82 KB)
Notes to assist parishes to complete the 2007 Statistics for Mission form
Notes to assist parishes to complete the 2007 Statistics for Mission form
Mission Figures: Finance Form (82 KB)
Download a copy of the Mission Finance Form to be completed by parishes and returned at the Archdeacons' Visitation in May 2008. Please note: the APFR form is normally printed on green coloured paper to make it easily identifiable and to aid efficient sorting at your visitation.
Download a copy of the Mission Finance Form to be completed by parishes and returned at the Archdeacons' Visitation in May 2008. Please note: the APFR form is normally printed on green coloured paper to make it easily identifiable and to aid efficient sorting at your visitation.
The Church of England’s Church Urban Fund has launched a free online resource, Just Employment, to promote excellence in employment by faith-based charities involved in social and community projects. The guide contains advice and case studies about the specific issues faced by faith-groups, such as whether discrimination laws prevent them from excluding people who are not of their particular faith and what to do about employees whose values clash with an organisation’s ethos.
The guide also includes sections that are applicable to any community group, covering such areas as policies and procedures on health and safety issues, disciplinary and grievance procedures, performance management, work-life balance and child protection laws. The documents, which will be updated annually, were put together by an employment specialist. The contract to produce the resource will run until 2010.
In order to access Just Employment, potential users must register via the following link: http://www.cufx.org.uk/
The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 - Guidelines (41 KB)
These guidelines have been drafted to guide parishes through parts of The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (‘The Act’). As many of us are becoming more conversant with website design, Powerpoint, desktop publishing and the wealth of resources seemingly available to us on the Internet, we need to be aware of how The Act operates to protect the rights of copyright owners, authors and artists.
These guidelines have been drafted to guide parishes through parts of The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (‘The Act’). As many of us are becoming more conversant with website design, Powerpoint, desktop publishing and the wealth of resources seemingly available to us on the Internet, we need to be aware of how The Act operates to protect the rights of copyright owners, authors and artists.
Notice of Election of Church Wardens (26 KB)
Download the Notice of Election of Churchwardens form
Download the Notice of Election of Churchwardens form
Churchwardens Measure (29 KB)
Changes made to the Churchwardens Measure in 2002 mean that a person is disqualified from holding the office of churchwarden when he or she has served as churchwarden in the same parish for six successive years without a break of at least two years.
Changes made to the Churchwardens Measure in 2002 mean that a person is disqualified from holding the office of churchwarden when he or she has served as churchwarden in the same parish for six successive years without a break of at least two years.
A Guide to the Appointment Process (116 KB)
Guidelines explaining the appointments process involved in the recruitment of a new parish priest. Search terms: patronage, appointment, appointments.
Guidelines explaining the appointments process involved in the recruitment of a new parish priest. Search terms: patronage, appointment, appointments.
Communications (41 KB)
A leaflet about communication in the Diocese and the work of the Communications Unit, including contact details
A leaflet about communication in the Diocese and the work of the Communications Unit, including contact details
Rural Deans' Handbook (363 KB)
An Overview of the Office of Rural Dean:
A recent publication described the Deanery as “for many years a Cinderella in the structures of the Church of England, but now finding that it is time to go to the ball”.
I have no doubt of the importance and potential of Deaneries in the mission and ministry of the Church at the present time. Larger than the parish or benefice, but smaller than the vast expanse of a diocese such as ours, a deanery is the unit which most often relates to what the French call a ”zone humaine” – communities of shared experience and interest, in location and history, health and education, commerce and industry, recreation and leisure. In areas of finance and stewardship, pastoral organisation and ministry deployment, mission strategy and the development and use of buildings, and in fostering effective ecumenical co-operation the role of the Deanery is going to be increasingly important. And so is the role of the Rural Dean, working closely with the Deanery Lay Chairman.
I welcome this handbook as a valuable source of information, and inspiration, for those chosen for this office. I commend it to you, and on behalf of us all offer thanks to those who have worked so hard in its production.
+Michael
An Overview of the Office of Rural Dean:
A recent publication described the Deanery as “for many years a Cinderella in the structures of the Church of England, but now finding that it is time to go to the ball”.
I have no doubt of the importance and potential of Deaneries in the mission and ministry of the Church at the present time. Larger than the parish or benefice, but smaller than the vast expanse of a diocese such as ours, a deanery is the unit which most often relates to what the French call a ”zone humaine” – communities of shared experience and interest, in location and history, health and education, commerce and industry, recreation and leisure. In areas of finance and stewardship, pastoral organisation and ministry deployment, mission strategy and the development and use of buildings, and in fostering effective ecumenical co-operation the role of the Deanery is going to be increasingly important. And so is the role of the Rural Dean, working closely with the Deanery Lay Chairman.
I welcome this handbook as a valuable source of information, and inspiration, for those chosen for this office. I commend it to you, and on behalf of us all offer thanks to those who have worked so hard in its production.
+Michael
The purpose of this guide is to explain the new legislation on the appointment and tenure of office of churchwardens and its background, and to recommend appropriate ways of implementing it in practice.
Churchwardens Measure 2001
Grants available from Central Church Fund (25 KB)
Details of grants for a range of church projects
Details of grants for a range of church projects
Guide to the Appointments Process (116 KB)
This guide explains the process for getting a new parish priest when there is a vacancy.
This guide explains the process for getting a new parish priest when there is a vacancy.
Keep or Bin? A guide to looking after your parish records (44 KB)
Guidance on the long-term care of parish records, including what needs to be kept.
From the Church of England Records Centre
Guidance on the long-term care of parish records, including what needs to be kept.
From the Church of England Records Centre
Parish Noticeboards (294 KB)
A leaflet giving good advice on the design and construction of Parish Noticeboards
A leaflet giving good advice on the design and construction of Parish Noticeboards
Guidelines for Content of Parish Websites (583 KB)
Great care needs to be taken when preparing material for your parish website, considering both legal constraints and good practice.
This leaflet offers a summary of things to be aware of, both for churches planning a website and for existing web-teams.
Great care needs to be taken when preparing material for your parish website, considering both legal constraints and good practice.
This leaflet offers a summary of things to be aware of, both for churches planning a website and for existing web-teams.
