The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is essentially the Board of Trustees for the church of St James.
In the Church of England, the PCC is the executive body that works alongside the Clergy (the Vicar or Rector) to run the parish. It is a legal entity, and its members are responsible for the “whole mission of the Church” in that area.
Who is on the PCC?
The council is usually made up of:
- The Clergy: The Vicar, Curates, and other licensed ministers.
- Churchwardens: The senior lay leaders responsible for the building and order.
- Elected Members: People from the congregation who were voted in at the APCM.
- Deanery Synod Reps: People who represent the parish at a regional level.
The members of our PCC are as follows:
What are the PCC’s main responsibilities?
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Eric Lomax | Chair |
| Vacant | Secretary |
| Simon King | Treasurer treasurer@stjamesbiddenham.com |
| Laurie Hurn | Churchwarden & Deputy Chair |
| Vacant | Churchwarden |
| Edwin Martin | PCC member |
| Michael Hurford | PCC member |
| Chris Haydn-Jones | Deanery rep |
| Peter Leverkus | PCC member |
| Margaret Lowe | Deanery rep |
| Lois Nash | PCC member |
| Jonathan Tedd | PCC member |
The PCC has a lot of work to do behind the scenes. Duties fall into four main buckets:
| Category | Responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Financial | Managing the church budget, paying the “Parish Share” (contribution to the Diocese), and overseeing fundraising. |
| Legal/Safety | Ensuring Safeguarding policies are strictly followed, managing insurance, and complying with charity law. |
| Maintenance | Looking after the church building, the churchyard, and any other property. |
| Mission | Consulting with the Vicar on spiritual matters, community outreach, and the general “vibe” and direction of the church. |
How it Works in Practice
Meetings: The PCC usually meets 4 to 6 times a year.
Decision-making: While the Vicar leads the spiritual side, they can’t unilaterally decide to spend large sums of money or change major policies without a vote from the PCC.
Trustee Status: Because most PCCs have an income over a certain threshold, the members are technically Charity Trustees. This means they have a legal duty to act in the church’s best interest.