What do Churchwardens do in Interegnum with Baptisms?

Answer 1

Churchwardens, in Canon Law, have the responsibility of maintaining services during an interregnum. This does not mean that they have to take services, only to ensure that preachers/priests etc are able to come to take them. In an emergency, where there is no minister available, the churchwarden may take a non-sacramental service such as morning or evening prayer himself (or herself), or the non-sacramental parts of the Holy Communion service, but not the consecration (unless special provision is made for a 'reserved sacrament') or baptism. In practice, the warden often employs the help of the local rural or area dean, who will either take services him or herself or arrange for clergy who are available (eg non-stipendiary clergy and retired clergy) to fill in. In addition the warden can approach local retired or non-stipendiary clergy directly to take services possibly on a rota - and this includes obtaining suitable clergy for the public offices of baptisms, weddings and funerals.