Registered Charity No 1138069

Rev Michael Garland (Vicar, Chairman)
Anne Grinter (Churchwarden, Vice-Chairman)
Gordon Wenham (Churchwarden)
Alan Smith (Treasurer)
Anna Tonge (Secretary)
Rev Leonora Hill (Curate)
Jean Huckett (Reader, Diocesan Synod)
Ann Haseler (Deanery Synod)
Fiona Barnaby (Deanery Synod)
Yvonne Brawn (Deputy Warden)
Martin Grinter
Helen Hart
Sylvia Johnson
Dilys Jones
Guy Priestley

Click here to see the Vicar's Annual Report on church life and business in 2010.

Click here for reports on recent PCC meetings.

There are five PCC Committees. PCC members serve on at least one committee, and the Vicar, Curate and Churchwardens may serve on all of them. Some committees also co-opted members.

Standing Committee

The Standing Committee has the power to transact PCC business between PCC meetings, subject to PCC directions. The members are:-
Rev Michael Garland (Vicar, Chairman)
Anne Grinter (Churchwarden)
Gordon Wenham (Churchwarden)
Alan Smith (PCC Treasurer)
Anna Tonge (PCC Secretary)
Martin Grinter (Chairman, Estates Committee)
Jean Huckett (Chairman, Liturgy Committee)
Dilys Jones (Chairman, Outreach and Parish Life Committee)
Rev Leonora Hill (Chairman, Youth Committee)

Estates Committee

The Estates Committee is responsible for the management of the church building, the Parish Centre, and their grounds. The members are:-
Martin Grinter (Chairman)
Gordon Wenham (Vice-Chairman)
Yvonne Brawn
Ann Haseler
Sylvia Johnson
Derrick and Margaret Walker (Parish Centre Letting Agent)
Nigel Jones (co-opted)

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee monitors income and expenditure and promotes stewardship (planned giving, Gift Aid). The members are:-
Alan Smith (Treasurer, Chairman)
Jim Downes (FWO Recorder)
Antony Gilder (Assistant Treasurer)
Martin Grinter
Linda Ricketts (Gift Aid Officer)
Anna Tonge (PCC Secretary)

Liturgy Committee

The Liturgy Committee advises the clergy on aspects of worship and services. The members are:-
Jean Huckett (Chairman)
Rev Michael Garland (Vicar)
Rev Leonora Hill (Curate)
Neil Fortin (Director of Music)
Dilys Jones
Rev Pauline Smith (Ministry Team)
Derrick Walker (Head Server)

Outreach and Parish Life Committee

This Committee fosters relations with the world beyond the church family. It oversees selection of charities for Outward Giving; links with other churches (parishes in linked dioceses in S India and Sweden, other churches in Charlton Kings, other churches in Cheltenham East Mission Area); the parish magazine; the noticeboards; and the website. It is also is responsible for developing the social life of the church family, including arranging social events. The members are:-
Dilys Jones (Chairman, Magazine Editor)
Marie Aston (co-opted)
Yvonne Brawn
Helen Hart
Ann Haseler
Sylvia Johnson
Siobhan Kingston (Parish Secretary)
Alison Talbot (Church Neighbours)
Guy Priestley
Linda Ricketts (Webmaster)
Margaret Walker (Catering Adviser)
Gordon Wenham (CWG rep)

Youth Committee

The Youth Committee sets the strategy for all youth and children’s work. The members are:-
Rev Leonora Hill (Chairman)
Fiona Bromelow (Little Fishes)
Neil Fortin (Director of Music)
Helen Hart
Fiona MacAdam (Brownies)
Sarah Nicholls (Junior Church)
Lucy Parkes (Guides)
Guy Priestley

There are six PCC meetings a year, and an Annual Parochial Church Meeting. They are held in the Parish Centre beginning at 7.30pm, usually on Thursdays. Dates of meetings are below. For a full church diary, click here.
Thursday 9 February
APCM Thursday 15 March
Thursday 29 March

Have you just been elected to the PCC, or are you considering standing for election? You may be sure of a warm welcome!

PCC members are usually elected for a 3-year term. As well as the PCC meetings and the APCM, you will be asked to choose at least one PCC committee to serve on. For fuller background information on these, and also various rules and legal matters you need to be aware of, please click here.

Each month retiring collections are taken at every Sunday service at St Mary's for a charity chosen by the PCC, and the PCC also makes a contribution to the charity.

The charities that will be supported in 2012 are:-
January: Mission to Seafarers. Cares for seafarers around the world. See www.missiontoseafarers.org.
February: Camphill Village Trust. Supports adults with special needs, learning disabilities and mental health problems living and working together in communities. See www.cvt.org.uk
March: USPG. Supports the work of Anglican churches in over 50 countries. See www.uspg.org.uk
April: Listening Post. Offers counselling to adults in Gloucestershire suffering from emotional distress. See www.listeningpost.org.uk
May: Christian Aid. Box in church, as well as the house-to-collection.
June: Slum Doctor. Volunteers from the medical profession take time out to provide free medical care to deprived communities in the developing world. See www.slumdoctor.co.uk
July: Shining Life. Works to improve the lives of disadvantaged children in Sri Lanka, focussing on the family. See www.shininglife.org/
August: no chosen charity.
September: The Churches Conservation Trust. The national charity saving historic churches at risk. See www.visitchurches.org.uk
October: College of St Barnabas. Cares for elderly Anglican clergy and their spouses. See www.st-barnabas.org.uk
November: Society of Martha and Mary at Sheldon. Specialist resource for people in Christian ministry, offering retreats, study and sabbatical facilities as well as support in stress or breakdown. See www.sheldon.uk.com
December: no chosen charity.

These are the PCC guidelines for publishing photos of people on the church website. They comply with diocesan guidelines.

1. For group pictures of adults, people should be aware that photographs are being taken for publication and given the chance to opt out.
2. For images of individuals, permission should be sought, and specify if the name is to be published too.
3. For group photos including young people, written permission must be sought if they are recognisable. A teacher may be able to provide it.
4. For photos of individual under-16s, written permission must be obtained from a parent or guardian, specifying that the photograph is for use on the website.

Blank permission forms can be obtained from the Parish Secretary, the webmaster, or the Child Protection Officer. Completed forms should be returned to the Parish Office.

St Mary's Church and Churchyard is an ancient site of historic importance set in a conservation area. The Church and several monuments are listed property and no repairs or alterations can be made to the site without the appropriate planning permission and the issuing of a Faculty by the Chancellor of the Diocese of Gloucester.

Summary of Regulations

The churchyard is closed for new burials. Burials in existing family graves may be allowed if space permits. Cremated remains may be buried in the Garden of Remembrance or in an existing family grave.

It is important to note that there is no automatic right to erect a memorial in a churchyard. Permission must be sought from the Vicar who has discretion to grant approval in most circumstances providing certain conditions are met.

Requests for repairs, alterations or additions to memorials must be made in writing to the Vicar. These are usually submitted by the stonemason working on behalf of the family.

Wreaths and fresh flowers may be placed on any grave but should be removed as soon as they have withered. Artificial flowers are not permitted except Remembrance-tide poppies and Christmas wreaths. These should be removed after a reasonable time.

Glass containers are not permitted in the churchyard and the area around graves and cremation tablets should be kept clear in order that the area may be mowed easily.

The use of chippings, stones, portraits, photographs and other items is not permitted. Trees and shrubs should not be planted without the prior and written consent of the Parochial Church Council.

These regulations are designed to make the care and maintenance of the churchyard easy and safe. The PCC reserves the right to remove memorials or items that are in breach of these regulations. A full copy of the Gloucester Diocesan Churchyard Regulations is available at the Parish Office in New Street.

Click below to download information of relevance to employees of the PCC.

The Employee Handbook

Annual Leave Card

Self-certificated Sick Leave Form

Expenses Form

(Please note that the rotas below do not include any private swap arrangements.)

This is the rota for the noticeboards outside the West Door.

2012

February:  Sylvia Fry

March:  Megan Hozier

April:  Yvonne Brawn

May:  Don Sherwell

June:  Michelle Grainger

July:  Brenda Davitt

August:  Pauline Smith

September:  Sylvia Fry

October:  Megan Hozier

November:  Don Sherwell

December:  Mary Lidgard

2013

January:  Yvonne Brawn

February:  Michelle Grainger

March:  Brenda Davitt

If you would be prepared to assist with the noticeboards, or would like more information on what is involved, please email the webmaster. There is plenty of advice available, together with ideas for topics and material.

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