Our churchwardens are elected each year at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting and are members of the Parochial Church Council.

Churchwardens have many formal duties but most importantly they assist the clergy in their work of ministry. This requires that the church buildings and their contents are kept in a fit condition for services of worship. more

What is a Reader? Is it someone who reads the lesson in church?  No! A Reader is a lay minister in the Church of England who holds the bishop’s licence to preach and to teach. He or she can also act as a bridge between the Vicar and the congregation and can often be seen as someone who is able to answer questions ‘without bothering the Vicar!’ Readers are often called upon to assist in Baptism and Confirmation preparation. They are also able to conduct funeral services.  They are able to take communion to the housebound and share in the pastoral work of the parish.

Who is a Reader? It is a person who having felt called by God offers themselves first to their local Vicar then to their Deanery Chaplain as a candidate. Then there follows an interview before a selection panel composed of the Warden of Readers, the officer for Reader Formation and the Chaplain. Having been accepted for training there follows three years of study and tutorials.  During this period the Bible, Church History and Social Issues will be covered. The method of tutorial training has altered over the years from being academic and essay based to one of oral presentation and discussion. Towards the end of training there is a period of secondment to another parish with a different type of churchmanship. During the training there will be two sermon assessments, one in the first year and one in the second.

At the end of the training Readers are licensed by the Bishop at a special service in the Cathedral in the presence of all the other Readers together with families, friends and parish supporters.

PCC (Parochial Church Council)

PCC’s were established by an Act of Parliament in 1921 to enable lay people to have greater share in the work of the church. They took over some of the duties and responsibilities of the churchwardens.

Membership

This is by election at the Church’s Annual Meeting. Those eligible to stand must be communicant members of the Church (or in good standing as members of another Church), and on the Electoral Roll. The PCC can also co-opt to membership in certain situations.

Primary Roles and Functions

• To plan and implement a strategy for the whole mission of the Church in this parish (worship, pastoral care, outreach, education, financial, social);
• To be responsible along with the treasurer for the good ordering of the finances;
• To be responsible for the main tenants of the Church, Churchyard, and Church Hall under the leadership of the Wardens;

The PCC meets monthly on the first Monday. Through the secretary it makes an annual report to the annual meeting. This body has authority to decide numbers and terms of PCC membership. After 3 years four members stand down and are replaced by nominations, proposed / seconded prior to the annual meeting. If more than four are proposed then a vote is taken.

Good Practice

A guide to good practice as a member of the PCC:-

• To pray regularly for the work of the PCC and each member;
• To attend each meeting;
• Be well informed about PCC plans;
• To raise matters made to you in good time;

At the meeting:-

• Attend on time;
• Send apologies on time;
• The meetings will be chaired by the Chair and Vice Chair, please address remarks to whoever is chairing the meeting for each item;
• Keep to the agenda items;
• Listen courteously to each member in discussion and respect different points of view, ask to speak ‘through the chair’;
• Raising items – these should be notified in advance to the Secretary (some items may be dealt with by the Vicar and Churchwardens when appropriate);
• Keep prayer to the fore as we are here to do God’s will

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