St.Martin of Tours,
Chelsfield, Kent
Electoral Roll & PCC
Electoral Roll:
Every Anglican Parish maintains an church electoral roll, on which the names of voting church members are recorded. The member needs to be baptised, aged sixteen or over, submitted an application form, a Church Member resident in the Parish or regularly attending Church Services but not resident in the Parish. Full details can be found on the Church of England website: Church Representation Rules: All those who attend our services / members of the congregation are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. Although you can be on the electoral roll of more than one church, you may only nominate one of those churches to stand for the Church Synod or to be a PCC member.
The Electoral Roll is revised annually and fully renewed every 6 years. The next full renewal is in Spring 2025. If you are already on the current Electoral Role there is no need to complete a new form this year. The rules applying for removal from the Electoral Role can be found in the Church Representation Rules: (link above). Registration under the second declaration entitlement (listed below) who cannot currently meet the habitual attendance requirements cannot be removed from the electoral role if the person has been prevented from doing so by illness or any other sufficient cause. Link to Application Form:
Parochial Church Council (PCC)
The PCC is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure.
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St.Martin’s the membership of the PCC consists of the incumbent, churchwardens, the reader and members elected by those members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll of the church. Elections are held at the Annual Parochial Church Council Meeting (APCM) held in April each year.
The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish including deciding jointly with the Rector how the funds of the PCC are to be collected and spent. Further details on PCC Accountability. The PCC as a Charity.
There must be at least four PCC meetings a year. The quorum is one third of the members. The minister chairs the meetings, if there is no minister in post then a churchwarden may do so. Matters requiring a decision are decided by simple majority vote. In the event of an equal vote the meeting’s chairman has a second or casting vote.
Under normal circumstances all business should be included in the agenda sent with the notice of meeting and no decisions should be taken on matters not included in that agenda. Special procedures apply in the rare case of genuine emergencies.
Where there is an Interregnum or Vacancy, i.e. when their is no Rector or Priest in Charge, a Church Warden will chair the PCC.
Chelsfield PCC is a registered charity. PCC members are also trustees of the charity.
Would you like to join the PCC?
Would you like to help look after our church by supporting the clergy and the churchwardens as a member of our management committee known as the Parochial Church Council, or PCC? The Annual Parochial Church Meeting is on 21st April 2024 at 4.30pm and several current members are due to retire by rotation (3 years), so we’re looking for new people to join.
If you would like to offer yourself for Election to the PCC please complete a Nomination Form and pass to a church Officer.
The PCC is responsible for the financial affairs of the church parish, and the maintenance of assets, such as the church, parish room and churchyard. It also assists the clergy in the management of church affairs in the parish and promoting the mission of the church. It’s really helpful to have people to represent the views of the congregation from all services at both churches in the parish. If you’d like to know more please contact the clergy, the churchwardens Philippa Rooke & Paul Gosling or the PCC secretary Anne Ireland.
