About Us
We are part of the Church of England, in the Diocese of Newcastle (www.newcastle.anglican.org) and in the Deanery of Morpeth.
Since 1980 the three parishes of
· Kirkwhelpington with Kirkharle (population of around 640),
· Kirkheaton (population of around 50) and
· Cambo (population of around 500)
have shared a parish priest which gives them the technical name of a "United Benefice".
The three parishes work together which is expressed in the Local Ministry Group, a team of lay and ordained people who seek to develop the life of the church across the Benefice.
Every parish has churchwardens (4 for Kirkwhelpington with Kirkharle, 2 each for the other two parishes) who are officers of the bishop. Together with the parish priest they share in caring for the parish.
The Parochial Church Council with its ex officio and elected members of the local church promotes the mission of the Church and discharges financial responsibilities in respect of the church, including responsibilities regarding the maintenance of the fabric of the church.
Every year, before the end of April, Annual Meetings take place.
Strictly speaking, every parish has two meetings:
The first one is the Joint Meeting of Parishioners, also called Vestry Meeting, the sole purpose of which is to elect Churchwardens – so it usually only takes a few minutes. All persons whose names are entered on the church electoral roll of the parish and all persons resident in the parish whose names are entered on a register of local government electors by reason of such residence are entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.
The second meeting is the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. This is not a public meeting and only those whose names are on the Electoral Roll of the church can attend and vote.
The Electoral Roll is the official membership list of each parish church as presented to the Diocese. If you are on the Electoral Roll, you are able to nominate, be nominated and vote for PCC and Deanery Synod membership.
To qualify for admission on the Electoral Roll, you will need to be baptised, at least 16 years old, and a member of the Church of England who is either living in the parish or who has worshipped habitually in the parish for the 6 months prior to enrolment. For further details see the Electoral Roll Officer of the parish, or contact the vicarage.
Diocese
