The PCC (parochial church council) is the church’s governing body. The priest, two churchwardens and three Deanery Synod representatives are ex-officio members. The remaining 12 members are elected for a three year term on a rolling basis. After serving a term they must then stand down for a year. The Deanery Synod representatives are elected together every three years and represent All Saints to the Synod and the Synod to All Saints. All these elections take place at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM). Anyone on the Electoral Roll of the church is able to vote in these elections.
The two churchwardens are each elected for a year in office and may serve up to six years continuously before they must stand down. This election takes place at the Vestry Meeting that immediately precedes the APCM. The Vestry meeting is open to those on the Electoral Roll and the Local Government Register of Voters for the Parish. After election the churchwardens take up office after they have been sworn in at the Archdeacon’s Visitation in May and then become the Bishop’s Officers until the next Archdeacon’s Visitation. Churchwarden is an ancient and honourable office of great significance in the life of the church.
The PCC is assisted in its work by several sub-groups:
- Child Protection
- Finance and Property
- Health and Safety
- Shared Ministry Development Team
Coronavirus Covid-19 Update
Changes in the Church Representation Rules extended the time available to hold the APCM by a month which extended the time the Deanery Synod representatives take up office by a month also. Due to the Coronavirus and an inability to hold gatherings this timetable has been further amended by order of the Bishop of Durham for the APCM to be held by Oct 31 2020 and the elected representatives to the Deanery Synod take up their roles on Dec 1 2020.
Ex-Officio | Priest-in-charge | Vernon Cuthbert |
Churchwarden (elected annually) | Marie Philpott | |
Jenny Grant | ||
Deanery Synod (elected to synod for three years to 31 May 2020) | Cathy Barnes (Vice Chairperson and PCC Secretary) | |
Jenny Grant | ||
Keith Higgin (Treasurer) | ||
Elected for 3 years | until APCM 2020 | Lesley Smith |
(vacant) | ||
(vacant) | ||
until APCM 2021 | Nigel Thomas | |
Beverley George | ||
Robina Lawson | ||
until APCM 2022 | Anne Hudson | |
Helen Belsham | ||
Rob Lawson |