The Constitution of the Church in Wales envisages that all Vestry Meetings will take place on or before 30 April in any given year. However, it is not currently possible to hold Vestry Meetings due to the restrictions on leaving home currently in place. The Bench of Bishops issued guidance on 17 March 2020 confirming that scheduled Vestry meetings should not go ahead and that further guidance would follow. The C in W’s Legal Department has now issued that further guidance, dated 3 April, here.

In short:

1. All officers (‘People’s’ Churchwardens, Parochial Church Councillors and parochial representatives) in office as at 30 April 2020 are reappointed and remain in office for a limited additional period from 1 May 2020 until the earlier of:
   a. The date that the 2020 Vestry Meeting is held; and
   b. 31 October 2020.
2. In the event of a vacancy in the above elected offices arising before 30 April 2020 (whether by death or resignation) the Bishops shall exercise their constitutional power of appointment by appointing a person nominated by written resolution or at an electronic meeting of the Parochial Church Council for the same limited period as at (1.) above.
3. Incumbents may appoint the ‘Incumbent’s’ Churchwarden in the usual way, save that the appointment may be made outside of the context of a Vestry meeting, in writing, for the same limited period as at (1.) above.