The church is run by the Parochial Church Council (PCC). This is the key decision making body of a Church of England parish. It consists of clergy, churchwardens and others elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) of the parish.
Its powers and duties are defined by certain Acts of Parliament and other legislation, principally the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956. It has the responsibility, along with the incumbent (rector, vicar, or priest-in-charge), 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. However, buildings and money must not obscure the PCC’s fundamental role in wider areas of mission.
Outreach: The PCC needs to work with the incumbent to promote within the parish the whole mission of the Church – pastoral, evangelistic, social, and ecumenical and to enable every member of the church to play a full part. Many parishes have church schools which are central to the mission of the parish.