PCCThis section is taken from the CofE Key Roles and Responsibilities of Church Office Holders and Bodies Practice GuidanceThe PCC is the main decision maker of a parish. Its members are clergy, churchwardens and others elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) of the parish. Its powers and duties are defined by legislation and can principally be found in the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956.It has the responsibility, along with the incumbent to promote the mission of God in its parish.Legally, the PCC is responsible for the finances of the parish. It also has ultimate responsibility for the care and maintenance of all church buildings and their contents. Although these responsibilities are executed by the churchwardens, all PCC members must share in the oversight. It has a voice in the forms of Service used by the church and may make representations to the bishop on matters that affect the welfare of the parish.All PCCs are charities, most do not the need to register with the Charity Commission, except those with an annual income of more than £100,000. Therefore, every member of a PCC is also a charity trustee. If a PCC is a charity it must comply with the Charity Commission guidance and legislation in relation to charities.Charitable status certificateDownload certificate (top right)SafeguardingIntroductionThe PCC of St Lawrence have adopted The House of Bishops 'Promoting a Safer Church: Safeguarding Policy Statement. Details of this can be found on Promoting a Safer Church - The Church of England.More details can be found on the Diocese of Newcastle website safeguarding sectionIf you have concernsIf you have any concerns personally or about another individual there is very helpful guidance in the following document 'You will be listened to'If you have concerns, here are details of people you can contact for help:Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser : Carol ButlerTel : 07825167016 Email : c.butler@newcastle.anglican.orgBenefice Priest : Helen O'SullivanTel : 01665712002 Email : aswvicarage@gmail.comParish Safeguarding Officer : Ann PopayTel : Email : safeguarding.stlawrence@gmail.comParish Policy DocumentsYou can find copies of the Parish Safeguarding Policy, download certificate (top right)GDPR - Data ProtectionData Protection Policy and Data Privacy Notice for St Lawrence approved by the PCC on 24th June 2020Download certificate (top right)
What makes a Christian marriage distinctive are vows that couples make, promising a depth of relationship that puts the other’s needs before our own and inviting the love of God to support and uphold a couple in their commitment to one another. Please make contact to complete the initial forms and talk about provisional dates and times. There is rarely any problem about having a service at a date and time to suit you. The priest who will take your service will explain other legal requirements (eg the calling of ‘banns’); and what the Church part of the day will cost (usually a minuscule amount compared with what other plans for the day might involve). The officiating priest will arrange for you to meet with him/her at intervals, to clarify arrangements and to talk some more together about your hopes and expectations for your marriage.Shortly before the Wedding Day, there will be a rehearsal for all those involved in the service, designed to put everyone at ease prepare you to experience fully the deep significance of the ceremony itself.St Lawrence Church is for everyone within the community. We are always glad to receive enquiries from those interested in getting married at St Lawrence. The law allows you to be married here if at least one of you: Is resident in the parish Has been regular in worship over at least six months Was baptized or confirmed hereHas ever lived in the parish for six months or moreHas at any time, regularly attended worship here for six months or moreIf one of your parents has lived for six months or more in your lifetime or has regularly attended worshipIf your parents or grandparents were baptized or married here You have been granted a special license, issued only through the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Faculty Office. We can provide appropriate information.If you have been married before and divorcedWe will explore with you whether it would be appropriate for you to marry each other in a Christian ceremony. A decision is made based on three areas of enquiry:Whether there is now insight into what caused earlier relationships to founder, and a capacity to ‘be different’ Whether continuing responsibilities to children or other dependents are being properly metThese area have to be explored together in confidence before other arrangements can be made.Civil Partnerships and same-sex marriagesThe law does not currently allow for civil partnerships or same-sex marriages to take place in Church of England buildings. However, that doesn't mean we don't want to support you or celebrate with you. Please do get in touch, we are an inclusive church and all are welcome whatever their personal circumstances.For further information and advice see https://www.yourchurchwedding.org/
Every person from the parish of Warkworth or with a connection to it (whether regular churchgoers or not) has the option of having a service in church either prior to, or following a burial or cremation. The cemetery at Warkworth is open to parishioners and is a beautiful resting place. Funerals taken by a minister of the Church of England provide an opportunity for thanksgiving and the celebration of a life and also, just as important to us, is the care and consolation of those who have been bereaved. Not simply on the day of the funeral but also in preparation for it, and in the months following it.When someone is close to death we can support you with our prayer and practical help. Those who are sick may appreciate being remembered by name in our prayers, you can choose to receive Holy Communion at home or in hospital and you might even perhaps want to make preparations for your funeral service when the time comes. The sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) can also be helpful for some.When someone dies we work closely with your chosen Funeral Directors to ensure that the service meets your needs. Please give them clear direction about where the service is to be held and who should be asked to preside at it.Prior to cremation or burial (traditional or ‘woodland’), a service can be held at St Lawrence or at a Crematorium, led by a minister of your choice. Occasionally families have asked for a brief service at the Crematorium, followed by a Thanksgiving Service for all friends and neighbours in Church. All of these arrangements can be made between the Funeral Director and the officiating minister.The Minister will meet with the closest family and is more than willing to offer and receive suggestions about the funeral service itself.Bereavement is a process that can stretch over some years. The Church wants to offer its support and to encourage the bereaved to use this as a time for renewing their own relationship with God. We can offer friendship as well as pastoral support and spiritual comfort.All Souls, each year, at the beginning of November, we invite bereaved families to a Memorial Service at which those who have died in the past year are remembered by name. Anyone can add names to the list of those to be remembered whether or not their funeral was held in church.You can also ask that the name of someone who has died be entered in the Memorial Book in Church. Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon them.See also: https://churchofenglandfunerals.org/
Offering our times and giftsAll the time we need our members and friends to ‘get involved’, in all sorts of ways. Here are examples of the areas in which we would welcome offers of help:WORSHIPWelcomer'sAltar ServersReaders and IntercessorsHelp with refreshmentsADMINISTRATIONSecretarial and admin supportPUBLICITYGraphic design skills‘The Pelican’ writers, editors. assemblers and distributorsMAINTENANCERegular cleaning on rotaOccasional maintenance jobsChurchyard gardeningFlowers for decorationCOMMUNITYInvolvements with local organizations and charitiesLocal support for national charitiesVolunteering for helping agencies locallyHelp with organizing church/community social eventsPASTORAL WORKCaring for neighboursVisitingWhat are your particular skills? Contact Rev Helen O'Sullivan to discuss these and other possibilities.Offering our Money for God’s workAll that we have comes from God and part of our Christian commitment must be to return a portion of it in support for the Church’s work locally and nationally. The Church of England invites its members to work towards giving 5% of our incomes for this purpose (and hopes that a further 5% will be offered to other charities etc you want to support) . Because of ‘Gift Aid’, if you are a tax payer, your gift can be enhanced by a further 25% through the church being able to reclaim the tax you have paid on what you give. What St Lawrence's needs is to know what income it can expect and to be receiving it regularly through the year. Please will you ‘share responsibility’?Friends of St Lawrence's ChurchA company of ‘Friends’ has been formed to provide extra financial support for ongoing maintenance and repair work that the church will require in years to come. This will be of special interest to those who have Shilbottle links but perhaps don’t live here anymore. You can have individual or joint membership on an annual or lifetime basis.
