The primary object of the PCC is the promotion of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England. The PCC has the responsibility for co-operating with the incumbent in promoting, in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the church – pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. Formally, 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 and the parish also have representatives on a number of outside bodies, and a nominee on the Hampton Fuel Allotment Charity.
PCC Members
The PCC is an executive committee of the parish with powers and duties defined by certain Acts of Parliament. In addition to their formal duties, PCC members act as representatives for all parishioners in the affairs of the church. The PCC membership consists of:
The Clergy, with the vicar being ex-officio chairman.
The Churchwardens who are elected members of the PCC, representing the laity and responsible directly to the Diocese. They advise and assist the clergy in their work of ministry, having to ensure that the church buildings and their contents are kept in a fit condition for services of worship and maintained as part of our heritage. Churchwardens have a duty under ecclesiastical law to keep an up to date 'terrier' (from the Latin terra - earth or land) of the property and an inventory of the furnishings, ornaments and valuables. They also have a duty to make sure that the clergy can conduct their services and other meetings without hindrance.
Twelve representatives of the laity who are elected directly or indirectly by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting of the parish. The PCC secretary and the treasurer are generally elected or co-opted from the PCC.
Three ex-officio members who are the elected members of the Deanery Synod who report back after synod meetings.
The Standing Committee is the only committee required by law. It has the power to transact the business of the PCC between its meetings.
PCC Teams are like additional specialist committees in addition to the Standing Committee. The elected representatives operate through these specialist teams, each with its own designated responsibilities. They meet between full meetings of the PCC and feed back to the next full meeting. The teams are: The Charity Support Team, The Finance & Planned Giving Team, The Properties Team, The Spire Team, The Hospitalty/Social Team and The Building Development Team. There are many other teams, each responsible for specific work, but they are not actually PCC teams. Details of these teams, and what they do, can be found on the appropriate pages throughout this website.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM)
This must take place by April 30th each year and, at St James's, normally take place in the hall at 11am, following Parish Communion. The Meeting of Parishioners elects two churchwardens for the following year. All parishioners on either the Church Electoral Roll or the Civil Electoral Register can vote at this meeting. There then follows the APCM. All on the Church Electoral Roll can take part in and vote at this meeting. A further election for eleven ordinary members of the PCC is then held. From their number they elect the secretary and the treasurer. An auditor of the PCC's accounts has to be appointed. The auditor must not be member of the PCC.
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting Reports from the vicar, the treasurer and other officers of the Parochial Church Council, on the events of the last year, are produced.
Find out more
The History of St James's Parochial Church Council and The History of St James's Clergy show some of what happened from when records began up until 2017. The Annual Parochial Church Meeting Reports show the annual reports from most teams and groups since then. (Scroll down the document of the year you are interested in to find the report you want).
Contacts
PCC Secretary: Nick Bagge on 020 8941 6003
Churchwardens: Susan Horner on 020 8979 9380 | Nick Bagge on 020 8941 6003