When your vicar retires or moves on the parish will enter a period of vacancy. During this time the responsibilities normally borne by the Incumbent or the priest in charge are given to a number of people – principally the Rural Dean and the Churchwardens of the parishes that make up the benefice. This is called a process of sequestration and those responsible become the sequestrators.
It is the responsibility of the sequestrators to provide services including Sunday services, baptisms, weddings and funerals, to look after the church building and monuments in the churchyard, to take care of any clergy housing and help with the appointment process for a new Priest.
What happens now?
Once you have had a meeting with a Diocesan staff member, your Archdeacon will arrange to visit you. This is an opportunity to ask any questions and for the Archdeacon to explain the whole process, including any specific legal requirements for your benefice.
A detailed paper describing the legalities of the appointment process is available here.
A detailed paper describing the responsibilities during a vacancy is available here.