VISITATION CALL BOOKS

This series contains call books for each archdeaconry 1940 - 1956 and a call book for the whole diocese 1924 (previously referenced DS/VB). The books list the parishes by deanery and record the name of the church and names of the churchwardens elected for the year. DS/VB/001 - 003 are indexed by place.

<p>See also Visitation Books (DS/VB) and Visitation Papers (DS/VP).</p>

Access by permission of diocesan registrar for records less than fifty years old.

AC/63/27, AC/65/06.

Visitations (standardised in canons 109 to 119) are the act of the bishop, who visits persons and places in the diocese with a view of maintaining faith and discipline, and of correcting clerical and lay abuses. It was usual that the bishop held a primary visitation during the first year of office and then repeated as ordinary visitations at intervals of three to four years. The business of visitations and the hearing and judging of accusations was normally conducted not by the bishop in person, but by his official.

Prior to a visitation, the churchwardens of each parish in the diocese were called to appear before the bishop's surrogate (deputy) to exhibit their presentments (reports describing the state of the parish including church fabric, churchyard, church fittings, the conduct of clergy, parish officers and parishioners) and the list of churchwardens chosen for the year.