A Resource for those working for and involved in the life of the church in the benefices of Bishop's Lydeard, Deane Vale, Lydeard St Lawrence, Milverton and Wiveliscombe.

We endeavour to update this website regularly. Much of the information is collected from members of our own parishes. If you have any useful information, or are aware of any inaccuracies in the information already included please contact our administrator.

Annual Church Meetings

It is important to distinguish between the
Annual Meeting of Parishioners and the The Annual Parochial Church Meeting
even though the meetings are usually held together.
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The Annual Meeting of Parishioners is the meeting at which churchwardens are elected for the forthcoming year.  All parishioners can attend and those entitled to vote are:
The qualifications for being a churchwarden are that he or she
The Churchwardens Measure 2001 also stipulates that churchwardens with 6 years continuous service cannot stand for re-election.  However the annual meeting of parishioners may by resolution decide that this rule does not apply to the parish concerned.  It has to be regarded good practice to allow churchwardens two years off after six years' continuous service, but it is recognised that some smaller parishes have too few candidates to choose from and so use this resolution.
 
To download a copy of a Churchwarden's Nomination Form, click here.
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The Annual Parochial Church Meeting ("APCM") must be held on or before 30th April, it usually follows on immediately from the Annual Meeting of Parishioners and is only open to those on the electoral roll of the parish.  It is an important meeting at which the congregation elect the PCC, ask questions and comment on finances, the church building and any other matters of concern. The PCC must also present the Annual Report (see below) to the meeting.
 
The APCM requires some preparation
I have prepared a pro-forma timetablewhich you can download and adapt for your parish or parishes. You will need the date of your APCM and work the timetable deadlines out from there.  I suggest that you then distribute copies to the ERO, Treasurer, PCC Secretary and Incumbent.
 
An Annual Meeting Pack is available to buy from Church House publishing for £4.99 (dispatched within 48 hours). If you want to buy a pack, it contains three of each of the following forms (not available separately):
SG1 - Application for Enrolment on the Electoral Roll
SG2 - Revision of church electoral roll (was SG4)
SG3 - Notice of preparation of new roll (was SG40)
SG4 - Notice of Annual Parochial Church Meeting (was SG20)
SG5 - Election of Churchwardens (was SG21)
SG6 - Nomination of candidate for election as churchwarden
SG7 - Result of elections (was SG24)

Here is a link to the right page of the Church House bookshop website: http://www.chbookshop.co.uk/product.asp?id=3691 

Elections and appointments at the APCM:
  • every third year members should be elected for the deanery synod
  • the PCC should be elected (for parishes with under 50 ER (electoral roll)  = 6 PCC members , 51-100 ER = 9 PCC members and 101-200 ER = 12 PCC members)
  • any sidesmen should be appointed
  • the independent examiner or auditor should be appointed.

To download a copy of a Nomination form for election to PCC, click here.
 
 
After the meeting:
  • the new PCC should hold its first meeting and appoint its officers
  • a notice giving the names of the churchwardens and PCC members should be put in the church
  • the annual report of the PCC and the financial statements should be displayed in the parish
  • information such as the new electoral roll and results of elections should be submitted to the diocese.
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The Annual Report
The PCC is required to prepare an Annual Report on its proceedings and the activities of the parish in general for the APCM.  The Charities Act, and in particular SORP 2005, set out strict requirements for the format of the Annual Report which includes
  • Reference and administrative information
  • Structure governance and management
  • Objectives and activities
  • Achievements and performance
  • Financial Review

This information is set out in detail in Chapter 6 of "The Charities Act 1993 and the PCC" (available from Church House Publishing - www.chpublishing.co.uk).  Click on the following link for details of The Annual Report - What should be included?  For a sample Annual Report, please click here.