The Parochial Church Council

The parochial church council (PCC) is the executive committee of a Church of England parish. It consists of the clergy and churchwardens of the parish, who are ex-officio members, together with representatives of the laity, who are elected annually at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. Legally the council is responsible for the church’s financial affairs, maintaining the church building and for promoting the mission of the church.

The current PCC members for St. Margaret’s Church, are listed below.

Richard Stainer
	Rural Dean Richard Stainer took up the position of rector of the Grand Union Benefice in 2019, having previously been vicar in the parishes of Higham Ferrers w Chelveston for five years.

Linda Dards
	Linda is the longest serving member of the PCC, having joined more years ago than she can remember. In 2020 Linda became joint Church Warden. She is secretary and electoral roll officer. Linda is also one of the people responsible for the delicious refreshments on offer after services (and many other occasions), for which St. Margaret's and Alderton generally is so renowned! She and her husband Paul also edit and publish GRASS, the monthly benefice newsletter. Linda is also known for her now legendary 'Alderton Antiques' white elephant stall at our annual fundraising event, the Art Festival.

Linda Dards

Linda is the longest serving member of the PCC, having joined more years ago than she can remember. In 2020 Linda became joint Church Warden. She is secretary and electoral roll officer. Linda is also one of the people responsible for the delicious refreshments on offer after services (and many other occasions), for which St. Margaret's and Alderton generally is so renowned! She and her husband Paul also edit and publish GRASS, the monthly benefice newsletter. Linda is also known for her now legendary 'Alderton Antiques' white elephant stall at our annual fundraising event, the Art Festival.

Margaret Hall Townley
	In 2020 Margaret became joint Church Warden. Margaret, whose working life has been in the visual arts with London University, Goldsmiths, was originally co-opted onto the PCC in 2016 for the sole purpose of co-ordinating efforts to restore an oaken effigy of a medieval knight, which is located in the church. The effigy of the knight, believed to be Sir William de Combemartyn, was in a fragile state and in desperate need of conservation. Sufficient funds have been raised to permit ‘Hugh Harrison Conservation’ to take on the work and the effigy is now conserved and cleaned. Currently a comprehensive programme of fundraising events to raise the funds that will be required to complete the project is underway.

Margaret Hall Townley

In 2020 Margaret became joint Church Warden. Margaret, whose working life has been in the visual arts with London University, Goldsmiths, was originally co-opted onto the PCC in 2016 for the sole purpose of co-ordinating efforts to restore an oaken effigy of a medieval knight, which is located in the church. The effigy of the knight, believed to be Sir William de Combemartyn, was in a fragile state and in desperate need of conservation. Sufficient funds have been raised to permit ‘Hugh Harrison Conservation’ to take on the work and the effigy is now conserved and cleaned. Currently a comprehensive programme of fundraising events to raise the funds that will be required to complete the project is underway.

Brian Patton
	Brian moved to Alderton from Leighton Buzzard with his wife, Maureen in June 2010 and very soon got involved with village events and activities, in particular, initially, the Alderton Art Festival; when we are able to hold the Art Festival, he can be found behind his trusty barbecue, serving burgers, hot dogs, bacon sandwiches etc. to our many visitors. Brian has been a member of the field committee for several years and took on the job of Treasurer to the church in 2020. If anything needs to be done in the village, Brian is one of the first to volunteer and just gets on with the job in his own quiet, efficient way. He is currently in the process of trying to raise funds for the church generally, which is particularly difficult in this current climate, and for the church toilet and servery project via the National Lottery Grant Scheme.

Brian Patton

Brian moved to Alderton from Leighton Buzzard with his wife, Maureen in June 2010 and very soon got involved with village events and activities, in particular, initially, the Alderton Art Festival; when we are able to hold the Art Festival, he can be found behind his trusty barbecue, serving burgers, hot dogs, bacon sandwiches etc. to our many visitors. Brian has been a member of the field committee for several years and took on the job of Treasurer to the church in 2020. If anything needs to be done in the village, Brian is one of the first to volunteer and just gets on with the job in his own quiet, efficient way. He is currently in the process of trying to raise funds for the church generally, which is particularly difficult in this current climate, and for the church toilet and servery project via the National Lottery Grant Scheme.

Doris Knights
	Doris joined the PCC several years ago now. She is the street church co-ordinator for the Grand Union Benefice and organises the volunteers when the benefice team is on duty three times a year, as well as the donations of food and drink. She always helps out at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church on those occasions and collects and delivers clothing and bedding to them in between times for the homeless and other socially excluded people in Northampton. She is also known for the delicious home-made soup she provides for village events. Doris looks after the fine linen which is placed on the altar at each service – she takes it home, launders it, and returns it to the church for the next service, snowy white. When we have services, she prepares the altar for Communion.

Doris Knights

Doris joined the PCC several years ago now. She is the street church co-ordinator for the Grand Union Benefice and organises the volunteers when the benefice team is on duty three times a year, as well as the donations of food and drink. She always helps out at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church on those occasions and collects and delivers clothing and bedding to them in between times for the homeless and other socially excluded people in Northampton. She is also known for the delicious home-made soup she provides for village events. Doris looks after the fine linen which is placed on the altar at each service – she takes it home, launders it, and returns it to the church for the next service, snowy white. When we have services, she prepares the altar for Communion.

Anna Brooks
	Anna co-ordinates the exhibition and sale of paintings at our annual Art Festival and is the person who liaises with the artists as well as dealing with all the paperwork and finances. She also acts as treasurer for this event, which is the main fundraising event for St. Margaret's Church. She is not a regular churchgoer, but believes it is important to continue to have a church in a small community like ours and is therefore willing to do her bit to keep it open. Anna has the unenviable task of compiling the rotas for church cleaning & flowers and churchyard maintenance, so if you would like to volunteer to help with either (or both) she would love to hear from you!

Anna Brooks

Anna co-ordinates the exhibition and sale of paintings at our annual Art Festival and is the person who liaises with the artists as well as dealing with all the paperwork and finances. She also acts as treasurer for this event, which is the main fundraising event for St. Margaret's Church. She is not a regular churchgoer, but believes it is important to continue to have a church in a small community like ours and is therefore willing to do her bit to keep it open. Anna has the unenviable task of compiling the rotas for church cleaning & flowers and churchyard maintenance, so if you would like to volunteer to help with either (or both) she would love to hear from you!

Roger Gavan
	Roger has lived in Alderton for 25 years. He has taken on the job of lighting the church up for the Christmas period and providing the electrics for the art festival during this time, but since semi-retiring, he has played a more active role in church and village life. He is a fixer rather than a thrower away, and is always on hand for anyone who needs help with broken washing machines/cookers/fridges etc, or for providing a tool that no one else has. Roger is happy to don an apron to assist with the famous bacon butties and burgers every year on the barbecue at the art festival. He is currently involved in talks with builders and architect regarding the church servery and toilet, which hopefully will help to make the church a more focal and useable point in the village.

Roger Gavan

Roger has lived in Alderton for 25 years. He has taken on the job of lighting the church up for the Christmas period and providing the electrics for the art festival during this time, but since semi-retiring, he has played a more active role in church and village life. He is a fixer rather than a thrower away, and is always on hand for anyone who needs help with broken washing machines/cookers/fridges etc, or for providing a tool that no one else has. Roger is happy to don an apron to assist with the famous bacon butties and burgers every year on the barbecue at the art festival. He is currently involved in talks with builders and architect regarding the church servery and toilet, which hopefully will help to make the church a more focal and useable point in the village.

Maureen Patton
	Maureen has lived in Alderton since June 2010 and was really impressed with the community spirit and friendliness of the village. She has helped at the Alderton Art Festival over the years and also volunteered at Streetchurch. Maureen feels that the village benefits greatly from having the Church as a focal point which is why she became a member of the PCC.

Mrs Hilary Spurrier

Victoria Kellett

Church Meetings

Church Documents

The Parochial Church Council