Sub-fonds L - Ruridecanal papers

A rural deanery is a group of parishes within a given area, headed by rural dean who is appointed by the bishop of the diocese. A group of rural deaneries forms an archdeaconry. The office of rural dean is ancient, and duties were formerly important, but these were gradually absorbed by archdeacons. Today, rural deans can be seen as a channel of communication between parishes and the bishop. The rural dean is president of the Ruridecanal Conference, i. e., the incumbents and clergy within the deanery with some elected lay members.

The Ruridecanal Conference has a number of functions, including: the regular assessment of the needs of the rural deanery in respect of finance, manpower and buildings; planning for pastoral care and worship throughout the deanery; consideration and discussion of matters concerning the Church in Wales or otherwise of religious or public interest; implementation of any provision made by the Representative Body and Governing Body of the Church in Wales and of the Diocesan Conference; and the arrangement of the ruridecanal budget and the allocation of the diocesan quota between the parishes.