Parochial Church Council

Journeying together, we worship God and serve the community. 

The Parochial Church Council is the body of people, lay and ordained, elected and ex-officio, that runs the administration and finances of the church in the parish, the local church community. The concept of a PCC was first given legal status in the years immediately following the First World War. This marked the moment when the administration and finances of the parish ceased to be almost exclusively the prerogative of the incumbent (the priest in charge of the parish) and the churchwardens, and the general body of parishioners began to have some say in these matters. Every Church of England parish has a PCC whose composition and procedures are regulated by the Church Representation Rules set down in 1956 and amended in 1969. In order to be a member of a PCC or to vote for its members it is necessary to be on the church electoral roll, the list of those qualified to vote in the ecclesiastical parish. 

The five villages of Newnham, Nately Scures, Mapledurwell, Up Nately and Greywell share one PCC. In 1983, when the Revd Brian Cowell was the incumbent, there was much consultation and discussion and in due course a constitution was drawn up which formalised the relationship between the five churches. It was felt that this would maximise the effectiveness of the Church community in the five villages and draw people closer together in fellowship and understanding.

So some responsibilities, especially those matters that are required by law and relate to the Diocese of Winchester, are shared by the five villages.

* Every parish pays the diocese a ‘parish share’ – their share of the total cost of ministry provision in the diocese – and that is paid centrally – so financial matters feature large on any PCC agenda.

* The diocese too has to approve any work that we want to do to the church building. We have to obtain a ‘faculty’ – the church equivalent of planning permission – and these have to be at the request of the PCC.

* The PCC also has responsibility for supporting and helping the parish priest in all aspects of her work and the development of the spiritual life of the parish. So we might discuss baptism policy or Bible study groups or Christian outreach.

* The PCC is also the grass roots level of the church’s system of government and has representatives on the Deanery Synod, who in turn elect those who serve on the Diocesan and General Synods.

* There is an annual parochial church meeting, usually held in April at which reports are given on all aspects of the church’s work during the past year, as well as the election of churchwardens and PCC members.