Archdeacons’ Visitation News
Dear Churchwardens
I wonder if we are tempted to cry out – as the Israelites did in the wilderness (or as a child on a long journey) – are we nearly there yet? Yet even in that wilderness journey, God’s presence went before them, beside them, and behind them. As we work towards enabling revitalisation in our parishes, I wonder if it is sometimes hard for us to notice where God is already at work among us.
But if you pause for a moment and reflect on the past year – or even the past six months – can you discern the quiet, faithful ways in which God has been moving within your church or parish? Perhaps that coffee morning you planned to start is now up and running; perhaps that small building project is steadily nearing completion; or perhaps deeper, less visible, but even more significant transformations are taking place.
I wonder if you have taken a moment to reflect on your ‘Three Things’ that were sent in at the end of last year? If not, perhaps now would be a good time. How has it gone? What’s working? What did you try that didn’t work? Where have you seen God’s grace bearing fruit – expected or unexpected?
And as you look ahead, what might God be calling you to do next?
Mission Action Planning reminds us that our top ‘Three Things’ are not static commitments but part of a living, regenerative process – one in which we continually seek God’s guidance and remain open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is more than acceptable to adjust and adapt them as you go along; in fact, all of your Diocesan colleagues would wholeheartedly encourage this. For we are not journeying alone, but walking with the God who renews, restores, and leads us forward in hope.
We hope you find encouragement in the articles in this publication and with those with whom you serve.
The Venerable Darren Miller Archdeacon of Ashford
The Revd Canon Estella Last Archdeacon of Maidstone
The Venerable Will Adam Archdeacon of Canterbury
Archdeacons’ Visitation Services 2026
Churchwardens elected at the 2026 APCMs, along with their clergy, PCC members and others are invited to attend the Visitation services for prayer, worship and the formal admission of Churchwardens.
The visitations will be held at 7:00pm with the exception of 15 June which will be held at 5.30pm as part of Evensong in the Cathedral.
Tuesday 9 June 7:00pm - Canterbury archdeaconry, Canterbury Cathedral
Monday 15 June 5:30pm - All archdeaconries (during evensong), Canterbury Cathedral
Tuesday 16 June 7:00pm - Ashford archdeaconry, Canterbury Cathedral
Wednesday 24 June 7:00pm - Maidstone archdeaconry, St Faith’s, Maidstone
Tuesday 30 June 7:00pm - Ashford & Maidstone archdeaconries, St Mildred’s, Tenterden
The Visitations are not ticketed events and there is no restriction on numbers attending. Churchwardens should attend whichever service suits them best and will receive a warm welcome whichever archdeaconry they are connected with.
Churchwardens need to be admitted to office as required by s6 of the Churchwardens Measure 2001. That stipulates that those elected at the current year’s APCMs must be duly admitted to office by 31 August or their post is deemed to be a casual vacancy and new elections are required. For this reason, attending a Visitation service is not an option for a Churchwarden: there is a legal requirement to attend and until a Churchwarden has been admitted by the Archdeacon, he or she is not legally entitled to hold office.
Training for Churchwardens
Whether you are newly elected or have been a Churchwarden for some time, our Churchwardens’ training sessions are an opportunity to find out more about what support is available and connect with other Churchwardens.
Churchwardens are invited to attend whichever date suits them best and are not confined to the archdeaconry to which they are linked.
Upcoming Training in 2026:
Wednesday 22nd July 7-9pm (Canterbury Archdeaconry)
St Paul’s Parish Centre, Church Street, Canterbury CT1 1NH
Wednesday 29th July 10-12pm (Maidstone Archdeaconry)
Maidstone Archdeaconry, 4 Redcliffe Lane (off Boxley Road), Penenden Heath, Maidstone ME14 2AG
Thursday 30th July 3-5pm (Ashford Archdeaconry)
Charing Barn (next to St Peter & St Paul, Charing), Market Place, Charing TN27 0LP
The Bishop of Dover writes
In 1998 I became the vicar of the United Benefice of Holy Trinity with St Philip, Dalston and All Saints, Haggerston. Holy Trinity was the home of the Annual Clowns Service. Every year on the first Sunday in February, clowns from all over the UK, and many travelling from abroad attended and participated in ‘Being a fool for Christ’. The colourful service attracted hundreds. It was at one of these services that the actress Ruth Madoc attended and sang the song, “Day by day, day by day, oh dear Lord, three things I pray. That I would love you more dearly, day by day; See you more clearly, day by day; follow you more nearly, day by day.”
As a diocese we have all been asked to reflect on three things. I am making the words of this song the focus of my ‘Three Things’. I recognise a deep desire within me to love God more. So, I am going to love the Lord, by taking every opportunity to offer praise and worship; I want to see our Lord more clearly and will therefore spend more time steeped in the scriptures, ‘sitting at the Lord’s feet’ allowing ‘The Word’ to speak to me and direct me; I will also follow our Lord more nearly, by seeking to live generously, patterning our God’s generosity, justice and mercy.
The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin
The Bishop of Dover
From the Diocesan Secretary
This year’s Visitation theme, ‘Three Things’, has been an invitation for all of us – parishes, deaneries and diocesan teams alike – to reflect on where God is most clearly prompting growth, renewal and deeper discipleship. I am grateful to colleagues across our diocesan support teams here at Diocesan House who have themselves engaged in this process, discerning their own Three Things so that the help we offer is ever more aligned with the needs and opportunities emerging in our parishes.
I also want to express my sincere thanks to you, our Churchwardens. Your commitment, steadiness and prayerful leadership continue to sustain the life of our churches. The remarkable response to the diocesan ‘Three Things’ request –well over three quarters of parishes submitting thoughtful and hope-filled priorities – simply would not have been possible without your encouragement and local coordination.
As we move forward together, your insights will remain vital. Thank you for all you do, often unseen, to enable worship, witness and community life to flourish.
Iain Blythe Diocesan Secretary
The Director of Communications writes
The Media and Engagement Team has chosen ‘Three Things’ for 2026 which we hope will better serve our parishes. We want to work alongside clergy and parish officers to celebrate good news, support confident communications and provide a better website, centred on the needs of our users. Specifically, we aim to:
▪ Celebrate and share stories of faith and transformation across our parishes, highlighting the vibrant life, growth, and mission of the Church within our communities.
▪ Provide the tools, guidance, and support that help parishes communicate confidently, build strong local relationships, and make the life of the Church visible in every community.
▪ Deliver a dynamic, accessible diocesan website that strengthens communication, celebrates parish life, and extends the Church’s reach to new audiences and communities.
As ever, please get in touch with us if we can help with any of the above or even if you know you want to improve your communications within your church or to your local community but aren’t quite sure where to start.
Orla Garratt Director of Communications
The Head of People Services & Operations writes
Employment within our parishes is becoming increasingly common. From administrators and children’s and youth workers to cleaners and musicians, lay colleagues make an important contribution to the life and mission of our churches. As we move further into the third decade of this century, it is natural that roles and structures may need to evolve in response to changing missional priorities and local context. In many places, for example, administrative roles are developing beyond traditional tasks to include local coordination, publicity and digital engagement, reflecting the ways our communities now connect.
People Services is here to support parishes in navigating these changes confidently and well. We can provide templates and guidance for best practice recruitment, support with drafting or updating job descriptions, and advice when managing change –whether reshaping a role or undertaking a restructure. We also
offer practical guidance on day-to-day employment matters such as probationary reviews, managing sickness absence and employee relations concerns.
Where situations are complex or require formal legal advice, parishes may need to engage an employment solicitor but even then we are here to have an early conversation and help you think through the options.
Michael Keeler-Walker Head of People Services & Operations
The Clergy Housing Team writes
In recent months there has been significant change and development for the former Property Team now known as The Clergy Housing Team, with my recent appointment of a new Head of Service and the formation of a refreshed and developing team. This has provided an opportunity to review how we work and to strengthen our focus on providing a responsive, supportive, and well-planned service for clergy housing.
Our primary focus is on clergy housing, ensuring homes are safe, well maintained and fit for ministry. Alongside day-today repairs, the team is working to improve planning and move towards a more strategic approach to planned works. By identifying issues earlier and programming works more effectively, we aim to reduce the number of reactive repairs and improve overall value for money, while minimising disruption for clergy and their families.
Clear communication and shared understanding are central to this work. Plans are underway to update and promote the Clergy Housing Handbook so that both clergy and the Housing Team are clear about responsibilities, processes, and expectations, helping to build confidence and consistency across the diocese.
The team has been busy implementing Fixflow for both contractors and clergy. This new repair management system will streamline the reporting and management of repairs, improve communication, and reduce the risk of issues being missed in long chains of emails. Together, these changes mark a positive step forward for clergy housing and the service that supports it.
Ellenor Poole Head of Clergy Housing
The Generous Giving Advisor writes
In October, we said goodbye to our Giving Advisor, Lindsay Yates, as she began her new role as Resident Canon Precentor at Canterbury Cathedral. We wish her every blessing and hope to announce her successor soon.
We have just launched our ‘Inviting Visitors’ initiative, encouraging churches to open their doors beyond regular service times. Welcoming a wider range of visitors creates more opportunities for one-off and regular donations and can inspire people to leave a gift in their will. A comprehensive online information pack is available , titled Inviting visitors, along with a video message from Bishop Rose encouraging parishes to open the doors of our parish churches and welcome visitors, showing them all that our buildings, and our communities, have to offer:
https://www.canterburydiocese.org/parishsupport/ church-buildings/inviting-visitors/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSsQ1RicXvw&t=3s
This March, we are onboarding a further 30 parishes to Cornerstone, the Church of England’s online generosity tool, with additional workshops planned throughout the year. Cornerstone is designed to help Church of England churches grow generosity, increase giving, and strengthen the long-term financial sustainability of our parishes.
You can find out more about Cornerstone here: https://www.canterburydiocese.org/parishsupport/ generosity-giving/cornerstone.php
Finally, we are hosting our first ‘Meet the Funders’ event this June. The day will feature six major grant funders sharing what they do and don’t fund, along with their application criteria. There will also be practical guidance on how to prepare impactful applications.
A limited number of tickets remain, book yours here:
https://canterburydiocesanhouse.churchsuite.com/ events/xlfeqwpt
Vicky Alford Generous Giving Advisor
The Social Justice Network Director writes
The Social Justice Network (SJN) is a Kent-based diocesan charity and the social justice arm of the Diocese of Canterbury. SJN exists to help churches live out their Christian faith through acts of service, embodying the principle of Faith in Action. We support churches, congregations, and local groups to respond prayerfully and practically to injustice, poverty, and inequality in their local contexts.
Just Three Things
The SJN Team works alongside parishes to support them in embodying Christ’s compassion and justice in today’s world, by walking alongside people who are forcibly displaced from their countries and others who are poor, vulnerable, or excluded by:
▪ Equipping churches to serve their communities with compassion and confidence
▪ Offering guidance, training, resources, and connection to diocesan and local networks
▪ Supporting engagement with stigmatised and marginalised communities.
Parishes can engage with SJN through training, advice, access to resources, and by working alongside the team to support refugees and others experiencing poverty or exclusion.
Please follow our work on our website: www.thesocialjusticenetwork.org and follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesjn
If you would like to join our mailing list, attend the AGM in September, or be in touch about anything, please email me.
The Revd Prof Jonathan Arnold
SJN Executive Director
The Director of Mission and Ministry writes
As the Mission and Ministry Team, our calling is to support you as we live out the diocesan vision of Changed Lives → Changing Lives. This year, our work is shaped intentionally around ‘Three Things’ that we believe will make the greatest difference to parishes over the next 12–18 months:
1. Equipping local, sustainable mission through Focal Ministry
2. Strengthening the spiritual and relational health of parishes
3. Revitalising discipleship through the Deepening Discipleship pathway
1. Focal Ministry: Supporting Local Leadership for Flourishing Parishes
Across the diocese, clergy capacity is stretched, especially in rural and multi-parish benefices. Focal Ministry offers a practical, theologically grounded framework for enabling shared leadership.
Over the coming year we are:
• Implementing focal ministry models in 10 pilot benefices, supported by our Mission Enablers.
• Providing training and resources for clergy, PCCs, and parish leaders.
• Sharing examples and tools that help congregations discern and release local gifts.
This approach sits alongside our wider work in Mission and Growth, where we continue to help parishes clarify their missional calling, engage with God’s mission and develop sustainable patterns of ministry appropriate to their context.
2. Relational and Ministerial Health: Safeguarding, Wellbeing & Supervision
Our second priority recognises that healthy relationships are essential for effective mission. We are committed to strengthening the wellbeing of clergy, lay ministers, and congregations.
This year we are:
• Offering theology-of-safeguarding sessions for archdeaconries to deepen understanding and embed healthy culture.
• Rolling out the PRIME wellbeing course, supporting emotional health and resilience in ministry teams.
• Continuing to embed pastoral supervision and spiritual direction. We are encouraged that 95% of incumbents now engage in regular supervision, which clergy consistently identify as one of the most valued supports for their ministry.
Churchwardens play a vital role here: protecting rest days, encouraging annual retreats, and supporting clergy in maintaining healthy rhythms of life.
3. Deepening Discipleship: Growing Confidence for Everyday Faith
Our third priority is nurturing deeper life in the Spirit and strengthening discipleship across the diocese. The Deepening Discipleship resource is now being introduced for parish and deanery use, offering practical tools to grow confidence in prayer, Scripture, and everyday witness.
This work naturally complements our lay ministry development – from Anna Chaplaincy and funeral ministry to the continuing formation of Readers and Licensed Lay Ministers. New national guidelines for Reader Ministry will be introduced in the coming months, offering fresh opportunities to recognise and support this vital ministry.
Working Together
As Churchwardens, you hold your parishes in prayer and sustain so much of our shared life. The Mission and Ministry Team is here to support you as we focus on these ‘Three Things’ –strengthening local leadership, deepening relational health, and renewing discipleship – so that together we may see lives changed in Christ and communities transformed in His love.
Neville Emslie Director Mission and Ministry
The Diocesan Advisory Committee writes
The number of faculty applications which the DAC is dealing with is lower than it was, especially larger projects. We still receive many applications for smaller schemes but fewer churches are embarking on extensions or major reordering projects, no doubt because of financial constraints. Not least of these must be the effect of the phasing out by the Government of the Listed Places of Worship scheme, which enabled listed churches to recover the cost of VAT.
Nevertheless, some excellent projects to install facilities or improve access have come to fruition in the last year, the benefits of which are now being realised, for instance at Faversham, Cranbrook, Ruckinge, Kilndown, Tenterden and High Halden, to name a few examples. And others are in train.
We get quite a few applications from churches needing to replace gas or oil heating systems and wondering how to apply the Church of England’s net zero policy. A few congregations in bigger churches are considering heat pumps but electric heating is more likely at present to produce an acceptable answer and there a number of options worth considering. In some cases new, more efficient oil or gas boilers are the best solution or hybrid schemes which use or have the flexibility in future to use more than one technology. If your church is thinking about these issues, do talk to us.
We try to deal with all faculty applications as quickly as possible and to be as friendly and helpful as we can. Some proposals may require further discussion, but we will work with you to find solutions that meet your needs while protecting the heritage of your church.
We were very sad to lose one of our longest-serving members, James Ford, who died in 2025. James was inspecting architect for many Kent churches and a lot of you will have known him. His replacement, James Kenton, a conservation architect who works for the National Trust, has just joined us.
Paul
Britton
DAC Chairman
The Finance Director writes
We are so grateful for the generosity and faithfulness shown through Parish Share contributions. Your commitment makes a real and lasting difference – sustaining ministry, supporting clergy, and enabling mission across our communities. An expression of shared responsibility and shared hope.
What has been especially encouraging is how our recent coffee mornings and parish visits have deepened not just understanding, but relationships. Parish Share is not simply about finances – it is about partnership, trust, and walking together in faith. Sitting down and listening, sharing challenges and joys, has strengthened the bonds in ways that spreadsheets never could.
As we continue these conversations, we see Parish Share not as an obligation, but as a collective investment in the life and future of our church family. The relationships being nurtured through these visits are already bearing fruit in openness, collaboration, and renewed vision.
Thank you for your generosity, your welcome, and your commitment. Together, we are building more than budgets –we are building community.
The Finance Team are looking forward to meeting parish treasurers at the Coffee Mornings arranged from 10am on 4 September (Ashford archdeaconry), 16 September (Maidstone archdeaconry) and 28 September (Canterbury archdeaconry). Please add the dates to your diary and more details will follow.
Our diocese is now subscribed to ACAT (the Association of Church Accountants and Treasurers). ACAT is a charity supporting treasurers of churches by providing advice, training, and up-to-date guidance on accounting, financial, legal, and other related issues. To register for free access and find out more about ACAT and how they can support you in your role as treasurer, visit the PCC Treasurers webpage.
Natalia Olszewska Finance Director
Safeguarding writes
Our ‘Three Things’
This year, as a result of our small increase in team capacity, we will be offering the following to continue to support our parishes:
1. Archdeaconry Drop-In Days – We will be situating ourselves as a team, in various locations across the diocese, for anyone who wants to drop in for support with the Parish Dashboards and Hubs, DBS queries, Training queries and any case of issue discussions. We would be pleased to see you at any of the events.
Please see the website for details: https://www.canterburydiocese.org/safeguarding
2. As we stated towards the end of 2025, we have devised a selection of questions for your PCC to discuss at meetings which moves the Safeguarding Agenda item from a tick box exercise to one where collectively you are exploring your culture of safeguarding. These questions explore the messages that a PCC sends about the importance of safeguarding, embedding it into our daily life and ministry of our church.
For further help to change the safeguarding culture in your church, please contact the Safeguarding Team.
3. Finally - building on the success of our Parish Safeguarding Network meetings and appreciating that not everyone can attend an in-person drop in, we will be hosting some online drop-ins periodically throughout the rest of this year. Look out in your regular communications, The Briefing and direct emails for dates and available slots for booking.
Fiona Coombs & Paul Brightwell Diocesan Safeguarding Advisors
Children, Young People and Education writes
Over the past year, the desire from our schools and churches to focus on the spiritual development of children and young people (CYP) and the importance of discipleship pathways has been palpable. Moreover, we are greatly encouraged that the majority of parish ‘Three Things’ emphasise CYP as a genuine priority. So, what are our ‘Three Things’ to support yours?
Firstly, to support parish self-evaluation, helping to discern next steps in missional activity with CYP and connecting you with our department’s structured training and development offer. Courses with expert partners are already helping ministers and volunteers to build knowledge and confidence in children and youth ministry, as well as fresh ideas for their settings.
We also aim to equip churches with a critical mass of children and young people to become thriving and effective hubs for CYP ministry and training, to which we signpost parishes as their local support centre.
Finally, our ‘Flourish’ programme, which engages with established partnerships between church schools and parishes, exploring the potential for missional projects which seek to grow faith in the community.
Our sincere thanks for all that you are doing to bring the gospel to children and young people. Please do contact us if you would like any further support or guidance.
Quentin Roper Jen Tobin Director of Education Lead Officer, Children and Young People’s Ministry
Net Zero Team writes
‘Three Things’ for 2025/26
Caring for God’s creation is an important part of our shared life and mission. The Net Zero Team is here to support parishes across the Diocese as we journey together towards net zero carbon. Over the coming year, we will focus on three key areas to help churches take practical, confident steps forward.
1. Encouraging learning and connection
We will continue to provide advice, guidance and practical resources through webinars, parish visits and online support. Spending time in churches helps us understand local needs so that we can offer tailored support. We also want to create opportunities for parishes to connect, learn from one another and share their experiences. By celebrating good news and linking our work with the wider theme of Care for Creation, we hope to inspire and encourage more communities to take part.
2. Supporting clear and achievable Net Zero Action Plans
We will help churches develop realistic action plans that reflect their buildings, resources and context. This includes exploring energy audit recommendations, identifying next steps and signposting specialist advice where needed. Our aim is to support plans that improve thermal comfort, care for historic buildings and help parishes move steadily towards net zero.
3. Helping parishes access funding
We will support parishes in exploring and accessing grant funding to help move their net zero ambitions forward. This includes providing clear and accessible information about available grants, as well as offering guidance with applications. In addition, we will encourage and support local fundraising through initiatives such as the Give To Go Green match funding offer.
Together, we hope to support parishes in taking meaningful steps that care for creation and strengthen the mission of the Church.
Alyne Godfrey Net Zero Advisor
