THE ARCHDEACONRIES

The archdeaconry records held in the Lichfield Record Office when the superceded Cumulative Handlist was produced were assigned to the same series as those used in the main diocesan classification scheme. However, subsequent accessions consisting largely of more recent material have required modifications to be made to this scheme in order to accommodate new record types and to reflect the fact that each archdeaconry produces its own distinct group of records. The archdeaconry records as a whole have therefore been reappraised and recatalogued. The main divisions of administrative, court and visitation records have been retained (although there are currently no archdeaconry court records in the Lichfield Record Office), but records from each archdeaconry are now listed separately and the series within each of the three divisions are different from those in the main diocesan scheme. For example, the pre-20th century completed visitation articles of enquiry were formerly part of the series of mixed visitation bundles (A/V/3). Further details of changes in reference codes are given in the detalied lists.

Derby: visitation book, 1823-1824 (A1/V/1); completed articles of enquiry and related papers: 1856-1871 (A1/V/2). At the time of publication, there was a court book for the archdeaconry of Derby, 1678-1724, in the Worcestershire Record Office (829 BA 2234).

Salop: visitation books, 1816-1837 (A2/V/1); completed articles of enquiry, 1864-1885 (A2/V/2); general visitation records, 1726-1922 (A2/V/3); processes, 1690-1887 (A2/V/4). At the time of publication, there were six deposits of records from archdeacons of Salop, including visitation books and quinquennial reports on church fabric, in the Shropshire Records and Research Centre (accessions 2473, 3689, 3916, 3937, 4135, 4830)

Stafford: general administrative records, 1877-1973 (A3/A/1); records concerning church extension and parochial reorganisation: 1924-1970 (A3/A/2); parish files relating mainly to matters of local controversy in which the archdeacon arbitrated, 1852-1939 (A3/A/3); records concerning the property and income of benefices, 1884-1886 (A3/A/5); records concerning Lichfield Cathedral, 1923-1977 (A3/A/6); visitation books, 1829-1841 (A3/V/1; formerly A/V/1) completed articles of enquiry and related papers, 1852-1975 (A3/V/2); general visitation records, 1779-1937 (A3/V/3); processes, 1759-1882 (A3/V/4); quinquennial reports and other surveys of church fabric, 1945-1994 (A3/V/5). The series of fabric reports which begin before 1981, when the name of this archdeaconr was changed to Lichfield, but continue after that date have been listed here rather than being split. However, all other records of the archdeaconry of Lichfield are listed separately under the overall reference A5.

Analysis and transcript of visitation books

David Robinson in 'Visitations of the Archdeaconry of Stafford, 1829-1841', Staffordshire Collections, 4th series, X (1980)

Stoke-on-Trent: records concerning the property and income of benefices, 1884 (A4/A/5); completed articles of enquiry and processes: 1877 (A4/V/2); general visitation records, 1920 (A4/V/3); quinquennial reports and other surveys of church fabric, 1957-1970 (A4/V/5)

Lichfield: records concerning church extension and parochial reorganisation, 1986-1996 (A5/A/2); parish profiles, 1992-1997 (A5/A/4); completed articles of enquiry and related papers, 1992-1995 (A5/V/2); quinquennial reports and other surveys of church fabric, 1981-1995 (A5/V/5)

• <corpname>Church of England, Archdeaconry of Derby</corpname>
• <corpname>Church of England, Archdeaconry of Salop</corpname>
• <corpname>Church of England, Archdeaconry of Stafford</corpname>
• <corpname>Church of England, Archdeaconry of Stoke-on-Trent</corpname>
• <corpname>Church of England, Archdeaconry of Lichfield</corpname>