Your Archdeacons Parish Review (APR)
Under canon law, Archdeacons are required to periodically inspect parishes to ensure they are in good order. This is traditionally achieved through the Articles Of Enquiry and the Visitation process. In the Diocese of Liverpool, over a number of years, we have tried to make this a supportive process. So we have established the Archdeacons Parish Review (APR).
The purpose of the APR is for the PCC and incumbent to review the ministry and mission of your church with your Archdeacon in order to identify strengths to build on, issues to be addressed, and how additional resources might be sign-posted or provided as you seek to multiply disciples and leaders.
This page explains the APR process in brief
The APR Review Process
Our aim is to guide you through a process where you can be open and honest with yourselves about the health fo your church. By doing this you can be realistic about the challenges you face and we can help you find support in your areas of weakness.
So four months before your review we will contact you with all the details you need. You will be sent a series of questions that will allow you to reflect on and assess all aspects of parish life and business. You will also be sent a document outlining what information should be included in a church’s annual report.
Parish Review Documents
You will need a few documents to help you with the APR process
Annual Report
Every year the PCC has to write an annual report for the APCM and this should set out:
· what has been achieved in the past year
· what the objectives are for the coming year.
This document along with your answers to the questions in this review will form the basis of the discussion during the meeting with the Archdeacon.
Dashboards
St James’ House will prepare dashboards for you to review prior to meeting the Archdeacon.
Questions
The questions draw upon the evidence-based insight gained in the Church of England’s research report on church growth, ‘From Anecdote to Evidence’.
You might find it helpful to read the report which will be referred to frequently by your archdeacon and may be found at: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/church-growth-research-programme/anecdote-evidence
Need help or support?
We will contact you 4 months before your APR is due but if you have any questions then contact archdeacons@liverpool.anglican.org