Archdeacon of Man
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The Venerable Andrew Brown
Mrs Jane Brown
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The office of Archdeacon of Man has a long history in the Manx Church, and the Archdeacon is seen as second in dignity only to the Bishop of Sodor and Man - indeed, into the 20th century, the Archdeacon sat in the Manx Government, Tynwald.
Even today the Archdeacon exercises a ministry well beyond the church, ranging from dedicating War Memorials to attending Isle of Man National Team football matches and is honoured to have access to all levels of government in Douglas and the Isle of Man.
As Archdeacon the role includes routine inspections of churches (the Archdeacon's Visitations) and working closely with the diocese's two senior lawyers, the Vicar General, Sodor and Man's equivalent of an English diocese's Chancellor (Mrs Clare Faulds) and the Diocesan Registrar (Mr Ken Gumbley) to ensure that Manx Church Law is faithfully complied with.
First and foremost the Archdeacon works very closely with the Bishop of Sodor and Man, the Rt Rev Robert Paterson, in enabling the Church of England on the Isle of Man to find out what God is doing and join in: to enable the local congregation to engage in the mission of God and to offer relevant and engaging worship.
The Archdeacon, like the Bishop, plays a key part in ecumenical relations, and is a welcome guest in churches of other denominations as well as the Church of England.
The Archdeacon also chairs some key diocesan committees, and is a member of all of them.
Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC)
The Archdeacon of Man chairs the Diocesan Advisory Committee. The Committee is there to advise parishes on building matters, particularly with regards to the need for a Faculty to undertake major works (e.g. anything costing more than £7500 and some things which cost less), and the DAC advises the Vicar General, who issues most faculties, on the merits of each case.
For full details of the process please see the Diocesan Registry's website
The Archdeacon should be the first port of call concerning all but the most minor of works to church buildings and burial grounds, and he will advise the parish as to which permissions are needed (he can issue Certifciates and Faculties for some works and some works may be exempt) and he will tell you with whom you need to consult e.g. Manx Heritage, the Conservation Officer or one of the DACs experts, etc.
For the Diocesan Registrar's advice on consultation please see here.
For details of the process, and all necessary forms, please see here.
We strongly advise you to consult the Archdeacon about projected works before you have even passed a PCC resolution (although after initial discussions in PCC and a general agreement in principle).
Dates of DAC meetings for the coming year - 10th January 2013: the paperwork for a DAC Certificate (the first stage in obtaining a Faculty) needs to be with the Secreatary to the DAC Mrs Sylvia Lawrinson (synod@sodorandman.im) at least 10 days before a meeting.
For the forms, please see here and scroll down the page to "Schedule 1 Forms"
DAC membership:
Chair : The Venerable Andrew Brown, Archdeacon of Man
Mr Gerry Callister
Mr Ernie de Legh-Runciman
Mr Selwyn Kewley
Mr Tony Pass
Mr Steve Hamer
Secretary Mrs Sylvia Lawrinson (non-voting)
Parsonages Committee
The Archdeacon is also Chair of the Diocesan Parsonages Committee. When Clergy Terms of Service reaches the island in 2013, the Diocesan Board of Finance (of which the Archdeacon is co-Vice Chair and co-Chair of its Executive Committee) will resume responsibility for the care and maintenance of Vicarages, currently held by the PCCs.
The Parsonages Committee is a sub-committee of both the Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) and the Church Commissioners for the Isle of Man, plus some of those who actually have to live in the parsonages, co-opted by the Archdeacon and the bishop.
This means that the Archdeacon is now the first port of call as regards all parsonage repairs costing more than £1500. All works costing between £1500 and £10,000 have to be agreed in detail with the Archdeacon BEFORE a contractor is engaged, regardless of who is paying the bill. Works costing more than £10,000 will have to go to a full meeting of the Parsonages Committee. All paperwork (quotations, architects drawings, photographs, PCC resolutions etc. to be with the Secretary synod@sodorandman.im at least 10 days before a meeting.
Most of our current housing stock is not entirely compliant with the Church of England's guidelines, Parsonages: A Design Guide, commonly referred to as The Green Guide which you will find here
We are seeking to bring our parsonages up to this standard, and to recognise certain principles agreed across the Church of England:
• That under Common Tenure, stipendiary incumbents have a right in law to a certain standard of housing.
• That in the interests of fair play and natural justice amongst our stipendiary Incumbents (i.e. Vicars) this standard has a minimum and a maximum standard.
• That we have to be able to afford this housing as a diocese and we need to steward our precious resources (the clergy) and our material resources (the housing stock) well and wisely.
Dates for the Parsonages Committee are 11th July and 11th October 2012
The Parsonages Committee membership:
Chair : The Venerable Andrew Brown, Archdeacon of Man
Rev Margaret Burrow (Church Commissioners)
Mr Steve Hamer (Church Commissioners)
Rev P Mothersdale (co-opted)
Mr Julian Power (DBF)
Rev Cyril Rogers (co-opted)
Mrs Sue Waring (DBF)
Secretary Mrs Sylvia Lawrinson (non-voting)
The Diocesan Surveyor is also in attendance at our meetings
Grants for Church Building Work
The Archdeacon also chairs the Squire Trust, which comprises of the Archdeacon and the Rural Deans/Mission Partnership Leaders. Each parish church may make an application for a small grant towards building work in each year.
Applications in writing to the Archdeacon by 30th July each year.
Diocesan Organ Adviser
The Diocesan Adviser for all matters involving church organs is Gareth Moore who can be contacted on email at garethmoore@manx.net.