You may often hear mention of 'The PCC' but may not know what this is.
The Parochial Church Council is responsible for the church's finances and for the care and maintenance of the building. It shares the clergy's responsibility for promoting the mission of the Church in the Parish and has a voice on the forms of service we use.
Some office-holders sit on the PCC because of holding their posts. This includes the Clergy (Vicar & Assistant Minister), Wardens and the Treasurer. Other members of the PCC are elected by the Parish at the Annual General Meeting and normally hold office for three years. All members of the congregation are invited to consider putting themselves forward in order that we get the widest representation and avoid the classic 'activist' phenomenon that is unrepresentative. If you are thinking of standing then have a chat with a current member.
The PCC meets most months and is normally chaired by the Vicar or, in his absence, by the Lay Chair.
For historical note, the Parochial Church Council is a relatively recent invention. Until the early years of the 20th century the administration and finances of a parish were the legal responsibility of the Incumbent (the Vicar) and the churchwardens. The members of congregations had little say in the running of the church except in electing the churchwardens. Parochial Church Councils were first given legal status in 1919. Since then a number of Acts have defined and refined the composition, functions and rights and responsibilities of the PCC.