The Vicar is supported by the churchwardens and a Parochial Church Council (PCC) , both of which are elected and have various legal and other responsibilities.
Churchwardens
Churchwardens are chosen by the parish to be leaders in the life and mission of their church community, working with the vicar and representing the congregation. They have a responsibility to promote unity and peace within the parish, for running the church and caring for the building. PCCs have a key role in promoting mission and as trustees of their parish’s resources.
St Mary’s is entitled to two churchwardens who are elected annually at the Parish Meeting in April or early May.
The Parochial Church Council (PCC)
The Parochial Church Council is elected by members of St Mary’s who are registered as electors. To be eligible as an elector you must have been baptised and either reside within the ecclesiastical parish or are a regular worshipper at St Mary’s.
Elections to the PCC take place each year when a third of the membership retires and either leaves the PCC or may seek re-election. Member of the PCC must themselves also be registered as electors. There are nine elected members of the PCC.
There are also ex-officio members of the PCC: the vicar and the ministry team, the Treasurer and the two elected parish representative members of the Deanery Synod.
The PCC is a corporate charitable body and the PCC of St Mary’s is itself an independently registered charity and each member of the PCC is a trustee of the charity.
The PCC is responsible for the financial affairs of the church and the maintenance of its assets, including the church building itself, the churchyard and the church hall. It also assists the vicar and the ministry team in the management of church affairs in the parish and promoting the mission of the church.
The powers and duties of PCCs are laid down by the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956. They include the duty to co-operate with the minister in charge “in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.”
The PCC is responsible for the financial affairs of the church, and the care and maintenance of the church fabric and its contents. The PCC also has a voice in the forms of service used by the church and may make representations to the bishop and deanery synod on matters affecting the welfare and pastoral care of the parish.
The PCC is required to appoint a church electoral roll officer who maintains the church electoral roll of lay members entitled to take part in the annual parochial church meeting. A new roll must be prepared every 6 years and revised annually. This duty is currently combined with that of the PCC Secretary.
Committee & Groups
Much of the work of the PCC is managed through five committee or working groups as follows: