This mailing is to remind you of the various procedures relating to the preparation of the Electoral Roll, the Annual Parochial Church Meeting and the returns which need to be made after the meeting. The APCM must be held between 1 January and 31 May. It is being sent to all PCC Secretaries/administrators, Electoral Roll Officers and Incumbents.
APCM meetings in 2025 must be held in person but there can be a remote link for people to attend and vote online. The requirements for APCMs are set out in the Church Representation Rules 2022 which are available to purchase from Church House Publishing or at www.churchofengland.org/more/policy-and-thinking/church-representation-rules. The published rules usefully include a copy of the Churchwardens Measure 2001. Amendments to the Rules were passed in 2024 which allow for remote voting by those attending online.
The current term of office for Deanery Synods is 1 July 2023 – 30 June 2026, so elections to Deanery Synods are only required in 2025 if there are casual vacancies to be filled.
Detailed guidance, including updated notes for 2025, the 2025 timetable and links to download the required forms for notices and nominations are available on our website from the link below.
These forms are also availabe from the Parish Resources website.
Electoral Roll for 2025
There must be a complete renewal of the Electoral Roll in 2025 – which must be completed before the 2025 APCM is held. Notice of this renewal must be displayed at least two months before the date of the APCM.
The required forms for giving notice of this renewal and for applications for enrolment are also available on the link above.
Training
Training for Incumbents, PCC Secretaries and others will be run on two dates next month, on Wednesday 15 (evening) and Thursday 23 (afternoon) January 2025. These two training events, which will be held online, will include an introductory presentation and a question-and-answer session. The intention is to provide training for all those who feel they would benefit from it, enabling effective and compliant APCMs to be held. Joining details will be circulated in early January.
Churchwardens
Churchwardens are elected at the Meeting of Parishioners, which usually takes place on the same day as the APCM. Please note that forms confirming the election of churchwardens should be returned to the Archdeacon’s office, as detailed on the form. Please see further information regarding the election of churchwardens on our website, which will be updated with 2025 information in early January:
After the meeting
After the meeting, forms and documents should be submitted as follows:
1. Copy of Electoral Roll Certificate (pdf if possible) – as soon as possible and by 1 July 2025 at the latest.
(i) Send via email to diosecpa@stalbansdiocese.org (or by post to Holywell Lodge, 41 Holywell Hill, St Albans, Herts, AL1 1HE).
(ii) Send to the relevant Deanery Synod Secretary
2. Names and email addresses of those Elected to Deanery Synod casual vacancies – as soon as possible after the meeting
(i) Send via email to diosecpa@stalbansdiocese.org (or by post to Holywell Lodge, 41 Holywell Hill, St Albans, Herts, AL1 1HE).
(ii) Send to the relevant Deanery Synod Secretary
3. Parish Accounts and Annual Report – within 28 days of APCM.
Send to the diocesan finance team – details of how to do this will be confirmed to you in February 2025, as the process may be changing
Any questions?
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries.
Specific questions regarding the APCM process / Electoral Roll renewal or Deanery Synod membership/elections can also be directed to Ruth Carl, Governance and HR OperationsManager.
With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
Yours sincerely
David White
Diocesan Secretary