'Meeting People' The Annual
Parochial Church Meeting at Saint Faith's
This body
am contain some members who are not elected (other clergy
in the parish, churchwardens, Deanery Synod
representatives and Readers for example, who are 'ex
officio' members because of the offices they hold), but
the majority are voted for annually by the registered
members of the congregation, and, although they are
representatives rather than delegates, they are there to
speak for the people, and have the power to make policy
and decisions in many areas. Recently, their status has
been enhanced as under new legislation they are now
appointed as legal trustees of the church. Every
parish has to hold an annual meeting at which those who
represent it are elected. There are technically two
meetings. At the first, or Vestry Meeting, which exists
solely for this purpose, two churchwardens are elected to
serve for the following year. They may be re-elected, but
by Church regulations for no more than six successive
years. This meeting is open to everyone living in the
parish, (but 'outsiders' are rarely if ever seen) while at
the Parochial Church Meeting which invariably follows it,
only those on the Electoral Roll (enrolled regular
worshippers and others, worshippers or not, living in the
parish and wishing to be on the roll) may vote. This
meeting elects PCC members (for a three-year stint, after
which they cannot stand for re-election until a year has
passed) and others, approves the church accounts and may
hear reports and debate matters. It represents an annual
opportunity for those who choose to exercise their
democratic rights, question or challenge those who
represent them and speak about anything that concerns
them. The meeting hears a report from the incumbent for
the year concerned or, in an interregnum, from the lay
chair of the PCC. The financial report is received and
approved, and plans for the future may be put forward. APCMs at our church are usually held soon after
Easter: in recent years on or near St George's
Day, following an evening church service and
refreshments to prepare those who turn up to shape the
church's activity for the year ahead. The 2016 meeting
date is earlier than usual: March 15th. Follow the links
below to read highlights from recent APCMs, including
the Vicar's traditional address to the meetings, and
the brief written reports presented to those attending
and which give a snapshot of the life of our church in
the years concerned. Recent reports also provide links to the
statutory Report and Financial Statement for the
previous year as required by the Church of England and
presented at APCMs. The
2019 Annual Parochial Church Meeting The 2017 Annual Parochial
Church Meeting official report; Chairman's
remarks here The 2015 Annual Parochial Church Meeting The 2014 Annual Parochial Church Meeting The 2013 Annual Parochial Church Meeting The 2012 Annual Parochial Church Meeting The
2011 Annual Parochial Church Meeting The 2010 Annual Parochial Church Meeting The
2009 Annual Parochial Church Meeting The 2005 and 2006 Annual Parochial Church Meetings Back to our home page |