Honorary Diocesan Archivist – Part-Time (Flexible)

Honorarium of £400 pa

Based at the Curial Office, Middlesbrough

Starting: October 2023

The Diocese of Middlesbrough is seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and appropriately qualified person to undertake to role of Honorary Diocesan Archivist.

Middlesbrough Diocesan Archives is the main central repository for historical records relating to the diocese and the churches within its present boundaries. As well as primary source documents, the archives contain a library of books on Catholic Church history.

The Honorary Diocesan Archivist is responsible for maintaining the diocesan archives and acquiring new items. The Archivist will also answer any correspondence from third parties requesting information retained in the archives and carry out research to answer these queries where appropriate.

The Archivist will largely work unsupervised and their hours are work will be flexible. An annual honorarium is paid.

The key duties of the role are to:

• Ensure the safe storage of all the material kept in the archive
• Maintain an up-to-date catalogue of all material kept in the archive
• Source new items for the archive and add these items to the catalogue
• Answer correspondence from third parties who are looking for material from the archives and, where appropriate, conduct research to answer queries
• Scan and transcribe documents as part of a programme of digitisation.

Although no formal archival qualifications are initially required, the successful candidate would be expected to acquire some knowledge of archival theory and practice by undertaking in-service training through participating in the activities of the Catholic Archives Society.

The diocese will pay both membership and annual conference fees for this. The successful candidate is expected to have an interest in both church and community history and have good IT skills.

To request a job description, person specification and application form, please email bishopsecretary@rcdmidd.org.uk

Closing Date for Applications: Monday October 9 2023