The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is the executive committee of the parish of St Michael & All Angels, Bedford Park, and consists of clergy and churchwardens of the parish, together with representatives of the laity. Legally the council is responsible for the financial affairs of the church parish and the maintenance of its assets, such as churches and church halls, and promoting the mission of the church. You can read recent minutes of the PCC meetings in the Parish Office.
New PCC members
St Michael’s PCC is looking for new members. It’s a good way of becoming more involved in the work of the Church and of great value to St Michael’s. It meets about six times each year, normally on a weekday evening. It is a friendly group where all contributions are welcome.
The PCC works with the Vicar to make decisions about the finances and fabric of the building and to promote the mission of the Church. This year we should particularly like to hear from someone who could shadow the PCC secretary and eventually take over the role, but we would also like to hear from people with other skills.
Elections for the PCC occur at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting and to stand you need to be on the electoral roll. The term of office is normally three years. If you are interested please speak to one of the Wardens or Fr Kevin, or contact Alison Baker, the PCC secretary.
The members (from April 2023) are:
You can read more about them below (more entries to follow).
Father Kevin became Vicar of St Michael’s on 24th May 1996. He was born and educated in South Wales and later read music in North Wales, studying composition with William Mathias and Jeffrey Lewis. After this he spent a year in Pakistan, working with USPG in Lahore, before theological college in Cambridge. As part of his formation for ordination, Fr Kevin spent some time in Jerusalem, teaching at St George’s College. Read more on our Meet The Clergy page.
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Father Brandon joined the St Michael’s team in July 2022. He was born and raised in Hackney, East London and later read Theology in Durham University. As part of his studies he spent some time on an Erasmus Year abroad studying at Charles University in Prague. Before starting his formational studies, Fr. Brandon spent two years on CEMES (Church of England ministerial experience schemes) with a four-group benefice in Sunderland, and a year working as a Pastoral assistant at St Martin-in-the-Fields. He received ordination training at Westcott House, Cambridge, on a two year course and completed an MA in Theology, Mission and Ministry. Fr Brandon has a deep interest in Christology, Liturgy and Eastern Orthodoxy. He is also keen on exploring the intersection between Theology and the Arts particularly in relation to contemporary culture. He loves world cinema, reading literature relating to the fields of postcolonial and liberation theologies and attending local art exhibitions.
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I started coming to St Michael’s about ten years ago, having just retired from working as a director of education in health-related charities. I was initially attracted by SMAAA’s involvement in the arts and I quickly became drawn into front of house volunteering at the festivals and concerts held at St Michaels. I was not familiar with the Anglo-Catholic tradition and although I loved the ceremony and liturgy at first it seemed rather mysterious and a little intimidating. However, I soon realised St Michael’s is a very welcoming and supportive community. I have been an elected member of the PCC for five years now and the secretary for four years. My role involves taking the minutes, chasing up contributions for the agenda, preparing the Annual Report and acting as a point of communication between the PCC and the congregation. Fr Kevin said recently my role involves herding cats – it is a good job I like cats!
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We moved to Shepherds Bush in 2001 and, pregnant with our first child, I felt compelled to reconnect with my faith. Searching around the local churches, I came along to a Sunday mass at St Michael and All Angels and was immediately taken with the relaxed and friendly greetings of the sidesmen, who were welcoming but unobtrusive. The other thing that struck me was how beautiful the service was and I was compelled to return time and time again. I was involved in the creche and then Children’s Church when my own children were small and went on to be Children’s Church leader for many years, working with other parents and congregation members to deliver children’s worship in a fun and meaningful way. In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, I was asked to become one of the churchwardens and have been learning on the job ever since. I feel very lucky to be part of such a wonderful church and a great team of people.
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I first came to St Michael’s when I moved to London in 2005 and joined the choir at the first opportunity. Shortly after, I started my first rotation on the PCC and became involved in Planned Giving, ran stalls at Green Days and also had the privilege of helping families prepare for their children’s baptism for three years. My husband and I were married at St Michael’s and it was a wonderful experience to walk into a church filled with our church family and be sung down the aisle by my friends and fellow choir members. I work with the church in my professional life, facilitating Reflective Practice groups for Vicars in the Diocese of London and Pastoral Supervision for military chaplains. I am delighted to be able to apply my previous experience as a Chartered Accountant and Corporate Treasurer to church life by serving as St Michael’s Treasurer since January 2023. The parish and our community has been so supportive to us as our lives evolved, through parenthood, changes to profession and all that brings.
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I have been attending St Michael’s since the Autumn of 1983 when we moved to Acton from Nottinghamshire. For ten years I worked as the administrator at Maples Nursery School in Acton, and then for four years in our parish office as the first administrator. Through these thirty-two years my sons have grown up, I lost my husband, and now have three grandchildren, and all of this sustained by the community at St Michael’s. I have done most things from dusting the pews to serving on the PCC. I have sung in the choir for almost thirty years. In 2006 I became the Sacristan, which means I look after the vestments and all the supplies needed for our worship. I was licensed as a Lay Reader or Lay Minister in 2011 after a three-year training period, so I am now part of the preaching ministry here, and occasionally have the privilege of taking Communion to people who cannot get to church. All this provides me with a deep sense of fulfilment, and has given me a place in a wonderful community of friends.
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We moved to Hammersmith in 2014 and after a few years of trying different churches in the area we came to St Michael and All Angels in 2016. It was the day of the skirmish of St Michael and the Dragon: our three kids were made angels and a soldier and were encouraged to slay the dragon which they immensely enjoyed! It instantly felt like we belonged, it was so friendly and welcoming. We knew then that this was the place for us. My wife Clare and I started helping with Children’s Church pretty much straight away, as our kids were still little and we wanted to contribute. We really enjoy the structure of the service and love the way we can worship here: for us it is how church should be. Our two daughters were confirmed in February 2022: it was an amazing day and all our family came to celebrate with us. They all loved it and were very impressed with the whole presentation especially the choir. What was especially nice was that my family in South Africa and Australia could watch it all live online – even though we were so far apart, they could be a part of it and we felt that connection. Our son is in Year Five at the moment, so it will be his turn soon. I became a member of the PCC in 2022. It has been very informative and made me very appreciative of all the work that goes on behind the scenes. I look forward to the many years we will call this church our home.