The office of Churchwarden is an ancient one, whose rights and responsibilities have been modified by statute. They are officers of the bishop who are charged with co-operating with the incumbent and PCC in promotion of mission and ministry. They represent the laity and have a duty to inform the Bishop or archdeacon if there are serious problems in the parish.
The present rules governing the appointment and responsibilities of churchwardens are contained in:
References to churchwardens also appear in the Pastoral Measure, 1983 (Section 27(5)) and the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure, 1991 (Sections 4 and 5).
Much of the essential content of the above legislation is helpfully reproduced in chapters 7 and 8 of the latest edition of A Handbook for Churchwardens and Parochial Church Councillors (published by Mowbrays).
The appointment of churchwardens is governed by the Churchwardens' Measure 2001.
