Vacancies are an integral part of the life of all benefices. They can be a time for opportunity and growth, but may also be a time of anxiety and difficulty but the M&P team are here to support you through each step in the process. The process of appointing a new priest to fill a vacancy is a complicated one, governed by a legal process: The Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 as amended by the Legislative Reform (Patronage of Benefices) Order 2019.
If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact your archdeacon or Gemma Shearwood.
Appointments
The appointment process is one where, under the guidance of prayer, the benefice seeks to find a priest who feels called to work in the benefice and who is acceptable to the benefice, to the Bishop (who shares the cure of souls) and to the patron (if that is a body or individual other than the Bishop).
- There are several points to bear in mind as you begin the search for a new priest:
- The process depends on whether the new priest is to be appointed as an incumbent or as a priest in charge.
- Responsibility for liaison with the parish throughout the vacancy process rests with the archdeacon, who maintains close contact with the bishops and other senior colleagues.
- All the formal paperwork is routed through the Diocesan Office
- The designated officer (Mr Jonathan Wood) has the responsibility to ensure that the processes of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 as amended by the Legislative Reform (Patronage of Benefices) Order 2019 are adhered to.
Guidance Documents
At the start of a vacancy, the Archdeacon’s office will send our two guidance documents:
A fuller guidance brochure for the PCC is also available and can be found here.
During the vacancy process, other guidance brochures and documents will be sent to the parish. These include:
- A parish profile proforma. This will be pre-populated with parish data before it is sent but a blank un-populated version can be found here.
- Form 34 or Form 34S for recording the details of the elected parish reps
- A guidance booklet about how to write a parish brochure
- A guidance booklet about how to welcome your new priest
The table below gives an overview of the paperwork and the times when they are sent.
| Document | Sent by | Sent to | When |
| Going into vacancy – A practical Guide for Churchwardens | Archdeacon’s office | Churchwardens | First vacancy meeting |
| Introduction Booklet | Archdeacon’s office | Churchwardens and PCC Secretary | First vacancy meeting |
| Parsonage House Guidance | Diocesan Office (Property team) | Churchwardens | Before Vacancy date |
| Parish Profile Proforma | Diocesan Office | PCC Secretary | Before Section 11 meeting |
| Form 34 / Form 34s | Diocesan Office | PCC Secretary | Before Section 11 meeting |
| Parish Brochure Booklet | Diocesan Office | PCC Secretary | After Section 11 meeting |
| Example Parish Brochures | Archdeacon’s office | PCC Secretary | After Section 11 meeting |
| Parish Profile (completed) | PCC Secretary | Diocesan Office and Archdeacon’s Office | After Section 11 meeting |
| Form 34 / Form 34s (completed) | PCC Secretary | Diocesan Office and Archdeacon’s Office | After Section 11 meeting |
| Parish Brochure (completed) | PCC Secretary | Diocesan Office and Archdeacon’s Office | After Section 12 meeting |
| Welcoming Your New Priest Booklet | Diocesan Office | Churchwardens | After appointment is announced |