Your answer: An assistant archdeacon is just what it says: a male or female person in Holy Orders who acts as assistant to an archdeacon in a variety of ways, e.g. during an interregnum; taking a service in a Forward in Faith church if the Archdeacon is female, or vice versa; standing in during holidays/sickness, etc.

Archdeacons — reduced from two to one in Truro diocese — may have larger territories, and not be able to attend more than one event or service a day.

(Miss) Primrose Peacock
Truro

Your question: There is notification (Gazette, 15 June) of the Revd Maureen Desborough’s appointment as house-for-duty Assistant Curate in a Yorkshire benefice of 20 parishes. Which benefice consists of the most parishes?

J. T.

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