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. This message is being sent to all PCC secretaries/administrators, electoral roll officers and Incumbents. If there is someone else in your parish who needs this information please forward this email to them.
APCM meetings in 2026 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 2025 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.
Deanery Synod lay members from parishes need to be re-elected at APCMs in 2026. The term of office for members elected at this year’s APCM is 1 July 2026 – 30 June 2029. Please note that Deanery Synod members form the electorate for elections to the General Synod, which will take place later in 2026.
Detailed guidance, including updated notes for 2026, the 2026 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 2026
Your electoral Roll needs to be revised prior to your APCM and the revised role must be published at least 14 days prior to the meeting date.
The required forms for giving notice of the revision and for applications for enrolment are also available on the link above.
The next complete renewal of the Electoral Roll will take place in 2031.
Training
Training for Incumbents, PCC Secretaries and others will be run on two dates in January – Tuesday 13 (evening) and Thursday 22 (afternoon) January 2026. 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 shortly via email.
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 2026 information early in the new year:
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 2026 at the latest.
(i) Send via email to governance@stalbansdiocese.org.
(ii) Send to the relevant Deanery Synod Secretary.
2. Names and email addresses of those Elected to Deanery Synod – as soon as possible after the meeting
(i) Send Certificate of Election via email to governance@stalbansdiocese.org.
(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 via email to parishaccounts@stalbansdiocese.org.
Any questions?
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries.
Specific questions regarding the APCM process / Electoral Roll revision or Deanery Synod membership/elections can also be directed to Ruth Carl, Governance and HR OperationsManager.
With best wishes for the New Year.
Yours sincerely
David White
Diocesan Secretary