Each Deanery in the Diocese meet at Deanery Synods convened by the Rural Dean. These consist of all clergy licensed to a benefice within the deanery, plus elected lay members. They act as an intermediary between the PCC’s of each parish in its deanery and the Diocesan Synod. CRR 26 requires the Diocesan Synod to make Rules for Deanery Synods,* which, in this Diocese, were most recently amended at the March 2015 Diocesan Synod. A booklet containing Guidance for Deanery Lay Chairs is available here. * Each Deanery also has a Pastoral Committee.
* References to dates within these publications have now been superseded by the CRR 2025 which amends the date of membership for each triennium for Lay Deanery Synod members to 1 July in the first year – 30 June in the final year.
Information regarding the number of lay representatives to be appointed to Deanery Synods from each parish can be found on the APCM page of our website. Deanery Synods for the current triennium (1/7/23 – 30/6/26) were elected at APCMs in 2023. Those for the triennium 1/7/26 to 30/6/29 will be elected at APCMs this year.
Within each deanery, parishes are governed by their own PCCs.
