Getting to Know Your PCC

Getting to know your PCC

2017/18

The structure of the Church of England is quite complex. The Church of England is divided into Dioceses. St Mary's is part of the Diocese of Guildford. The Diocese is divided into Deaneries and we are in the Godalming Deanery. At each level of governance there is a Synod (an assembly of the clergy and laity representatives). The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is nominated and elected by church members (those on the Electoral Roll). The PCC have representatives who serve on the Deanery Synod.

At St Mary's the PCC share the leadership, governance and duty of care with the Rector and Churchwardens. They are responsible for both the tangible and the intangible - the tangible being the building, the church room, the church yard and the finances; the intangible are worship, vision and mission, youth and children's work and the links with St Mary's school. All PCC members have a personal responsibility to upload the vision of the church: to know Christ better and to make Christ better known. They undertake to lead by example, to take responsibility for their growth in faith and to come closer to Christ through regular Bible reading, prayer and worship. PCC members are 'elders' of the church; mature and committed Christians who take their own faith seriously and share responsibility with the clergy to proclaim the good news afresh to every generation.

Meet your PCC.....

Reverend Sarah Brough
Rector / It has been a wonderful privilege to lead St. Mary’s these last 14 years in the village which has become our family home. I grew up at the other end of the Guildford diocese in the Parish of All Saints Weston Green which lies between Esher and Thames Ditton. After A levels I embarked on a career in retail management, first with Bentalls in Kingston and then with the British Shoe Corporation. I managed branches within the Dolcis chain from the late 1980s to the early 1990s before a 12 months secondment on to a ‘change management’ project. I enjoyed this immensely and gained much from working alongside a team of management consultants from Cap Gemini and others drawn from every area of the business.
I became involved with our Parish Church at around 14 when I was confirmed. I enjoyed the thriving Sunday evening Youth Fellowship, but when most of my friends left for
university my church involvement dwindled and I didn’t attend, or think much about God, for a few years. By my mid 20s a hunger and dissatisfaction, or perhaps dissolution,with the merely material things of life emerged and I returned to church and embraced a faith which gradually became more and more my own. From a deepening faith grew more involvement within the Church until I felt called, somehow, to bridge the gap between Sundays and the rest of the week. I had no idea what this might mean but my vicar at the time suggested the possibility of ordained ministry, which set me on a path to theological training at Ripon College Cuddeson, and to ordination as a deacon in 1999 then priest in 2000. I spent three happy years as a curate in the Parish of St Peter & St Paul in Godalming, during which time I met Chris. As a vicar’s son he had a good understanding of what parish ministry entailed, along with a realistic appreciation of what that can mean for a clergy family.
As my curacy drew to a close the Parish of St Mary’s became vacant, and following a complex selection process (the like of which exists nowhere beyond the C of E!), I was appointed as Rector, and on 24th March 2003 was presented with the church key and along with the ‘cure of souls’ for the Parish of Chiddingfold. The following year Chris and I were married here and in 2006 our son Joseph was born.
I look back over the last 14 years and count myself richly blessed. The challenges have, at times, been immense but I have never felt alone or unsupported. It has been a joy to minister alongside such gifted, generous and faithful people and, unsurprisingly, my own faith has grown immeasurably. ‘For what has been, “thank you”. For what is to come, “yes”.’

Beverley Draper
Churchwarden / My name is Beverley Draper and I've been worshipping at St Mary's for over 30 years. My late husband, Hugh was in our church choir for many years and he also joined the bellringers for a while. Our three children were brought up as members of this church and both Annabel and Imogen were Head Choristers in their time.
When Sarah became our Rector, I had already served as Churchwarden for five years and I continued to work with her for another year to help her settle in to her new role as our spiritual leader. We became great friends and I'm sure we will be for life. I'm now retired from my career in teaching and am very involved with my five grandchildren, all of whom live here in Chiddingfold.
Apart from my daily involvement with my family, I am now one of your Churchwardens once again, a role that I feel is a very great privilege and one that
Enables me to get to know many of our church members and others in the community, on a deeper level. My faith and my church life are both extremely
important to me – an integral part of my life. We're all so fortunate to be living here in this glorious part of the world, enjoying our freedom, our surroundings and the friendships we make in our strong community as part of St Mary's, Chiddingfold. As Churchwardens, Irving and I, working together again, hope to serve you and the PCC to the best of our abilities.

Irving Johnson
Churchwarden / Although I was born in Westbourne Sussex I moved to Portsmouth when only a few months old. Being born into a Christian family I attended Sunday School at our local church for a few years. My real introduction into Christianity occurred when the choirmaster at Portsmouth Cathedral mistakenly thought I could sing and I joined the choir as a chorister. I thus attended church twice on Sundays and once or twice a week for evensong and choir practice. I then went to Leeds University to study Dentistry and 18 months after qualifying bought a Practice in New Malden which I expanded and ran for 35 years. My wife, Wendy, and I moved south after we married in 1977 to live in Witley and then on to Chiddingfold in 1983. We have three children and two grandchildren. Our eldest son Martin and his family are well known to all, living in the village for the last couple of years. Our younger son and his wife commute between England and France and our daughter lives in Wimbledon.
I have attended St Mary’s for many years and was privileged to serve as Churchwarden for six years at the Millennium,thus acting during the interregnum and being in office at the start of Sarah’s incumbency. I was greatly honoured to be asked to be Churchwarden again in 2016 following the sad times of the previous year.
Besides being Churchwarden I (with great help from Wendy!) am responsible for the delivery of nearly 700 parish magazines each month, and attend the churchyard working party most months. Outside of the church I am the treasurer of the lunch club and also organise and act as one of a team of devoted drivers.
My hobbies include golf and dancing of all kinds but especially Ballroom, Latin and Scottish both of which I try to do twice a week and bridge. I am an active Freemason in both Hampshire and Surrey having been a member for over 40 years. Finally of course I spend many Saturday afternoons in Portsmouth having watched Pompey for over 60 years! (Does that deserve a medal for bravery?!).
I feel so grateful to God that I am privileged to live in such a beautiful village surrounded by such wonderful and caring people.

Mike Jones
Treasurer / I am Mike Jones and I sit on the PCC by virtue of being the PCC Treasurer, a position that I have held since 2011. This is therefore my seventh year.
I am a dentist who retired from practice eleven years ago in April 2006. My experience in accounting and administration comes from running a multi-surgery dental practice for some 25 years. The PCC treasurership has therefore been a new challenge for me.
I was brought up in a Christian family in a Baptist Church in Birmingham. The Baptists were rather strict and attendance was expected three times every Sunday.
If there was a decisive moment in my faith journey, it was at a Billy Graham meeting at the age of about 14 when I made a declaration of faith. This has remained valid for the too many years since that day. I moved to London to attend Guys Hospital to complete the dental degrees where I attended Bloomsbury Baptist Church whose minister was the Revd Howard Williams.
After a period of eight years in South Africa, we settled in Chiddingfold in 1978, since
which date I have attended St Mary’s regularly, but not three times every Sunday!

Hannah Pye
Youth & Children’s Work
Focus Group / I grew up in a little Norfolk village fully immersed in all village life has to offer including the centre of the community; the Church. Having grown up in a very active Church, Church life has always been a really important part of who I am, and even whilst at university I strove to find the local parish church for an inter-generational and community-focused feel.
I graduated York St John University with a first in theology and spent the subsequent years exploring and delivering Youth Work in a variety of Christian settings. My faith has always been a part of my life but really became grounded during my teenage years through our weekly "Youth Cell" group.
Since then listening to, praying and following God has led me to so many opportunities and kept me grounded and supported through the tough times. Becoming the Youth and Children’s minister in Chiddingfold has been such an incredible adventure following where God might call!
When I’m not in and around church you might find me reading, swimming, searching for some live music or in a tent in a glorious field somewhere. I love camping and escaping to nature away from technology and the business of daily life! Alongside all of this I’m very proud to be a Guide leader and encourage young girls to serve their communities, and themselves, in various ways! Through my life, wherever I am, my Church Family has been so key and influential, so I'm both excited and humbled to be able to serve it in this way!

Ron Baker
Maintenance Focus Group / I am a retired electronics engineer who used to design computer hardware and software for Air Traffic Control systems, including the UK system. I married Christine here at St Mary’s in 2011.
In 2007 Christine’s eldest son Hamish died tragically. My faith arose from the tremendous support and love we received at that time from the St Mary’s community.

Matthew Bartlett
Maintenance Focus Group / Age 50. Married to Rachel with two children, Lucy and Rowan.
Have been a self-employed gardener for 20 years but now working more and more as a driver for Waverley Hoppa Community Transport - a locally-based charity.
Main interests are cricket and long-distance walking.
Came to faith through the Roman Catholic Church growing up in a strict Catholic family.
Latterly joined the congregation at St Marys where I have been worshipping for the best part of 26 years and helping out with the Churchyard Working Party.

Gill Beckwith
Mission Steering Group / I am an infants school teacher, married to Peter, mother of three adult children and owner of one very demanding dog Meg! I have been a member at St Mary’s since we moved to Chiddingfold 18 years ago, and have served as a Sunday School teacher, school governor, and baptism visitor. I am now on my second stint on the PCC, and a member of the Mission Steering Group, as well as doing our FaceBook page and occasionally cooking bacon baps for the Churchyard Working Party!
My Christian background is Methodism, but since moving to Chiddingfold have found a spiritual home at St Mary’s, in particular finding great strength and comfort in the prayer and spiritual life here, as well as being inspired by the caring and loving atmosphere of our Church and village community and the wonderful quality of preaching and leadership we are blessed to witness.

Jane Bradford
PCC Secretary / I’m Jane and I sit on the PCC in my capacity as PCC Secretary, a role I have held twice in the last 18 years, eight years in my first term and five years in my current term. It has been a fascinating role and I have felt very privileged to serve the PCC in this way.
I was born and raised in south-west London, and came to Chiddingfold 30 years ago with my husband Vic and two of our four children, who are now all but flown the nest. I currently work part-time at the University of Surrey as a Programme Administrator, and fill my spare time with family activities and other voluntary roles within the village.
I was brought up within a Christian family, attending All Saint’s Church East Sheen with my parents, graduating from Sunday School, getting confirmed at 13
and then married at the same church ten years later. Since we’ve lived in Chiddingfold I have been a part of St Mary’s Church, firstly as a regular attendee of the 8am 1662 Prayer Book service, moving to the Pram Praise service and then to the 10am Service as the children grew up and the girls joined the choir. There haven’t been any ‘big’ faith moments in my life, but I have always been aware of God’s presence for as long as I can remember, sometimes to varying degrees over the years, but the knowledge of God’s presence has always been a great source of comfort to me through life’s ups and downs.

John Doig
Maintenance Focus Group / I was born into a ‘Forces’ family and at an early age was sent off to Ipswich School with my brother. Families in the ‘Forces’ moved location about every 2½ years, and my father was no exception. He (we) had already had a tour in Germany when I was 3.
My parents spent a total of 7.5 years out of the UK between 1960 and 1972. We did see them for holidays when they were abroad, so there were some benefits.
When my father left the RAF, they moved to Carlisle whilst I was working in London. I think you could say I had a ‘distance’ relationship with my parents, but nonetheless very loving and caring.
I gained a place at the University of London in 1971 to read Zoology.
Having completed my degree, I started my career, not in zoology or science, but
Industry and generally speaking had a great deal of fun and never stopped learning. Now I’ve served my time and retirement beckons. I’m being put out
to pasture or pasturised if you like! I have a range of interests / hobbies so there is plenty to keep me occupied including picking up on interests from my degree.
My faith has not been such a straightforward journey. Ipswich School was founded by King Henry VIII / Cardinal Woolsey, so we had chapel every weekday morning and a Sunday service. I spent many summer and Easter holidays in the NW Highlands of Scotland with my maternal grandparents who were active members of the Church of Scotland. Every Sunday we attended church and were harangued by the Minister about what a sinful lot we were and how the wrath of god would be visited on us unless we mended our ways. An interesting and different approach to managing your flock to what I was used to.
When I left school, I lapsed with my faith. After my divorce, I met Mary and we moved to Chiddingfold and started to attend St Mary’s, where we were married. Why I returned to faith and what it was that drove me, I don’t know. It just felt right and has brought an inner peace which has helped me through some difficult family and work situations. When the Lord finally gets through to me and redirects me onto the correct path, I’ll let you know.

Richard Flenley
Fundraising Focus Group / I run and this was one of the highlights of a very amateur running career – running the 2017 London Marathon and, in so doing, raising much needed funds for Christian Aid – it was a fantastic collective fundraising effort with many people from many different walks of life helping towards this cause.
I live up at Combe Court Farm on the edge of the Parish with my wife Julie and sons Joshua (10), William (7) and Oliver (5). We have been in the village since December 2011 and have become very active within the village over those five and a half years – I coach at the football and cricket academies and Julie does a number of things both at the School and within the Church.
I grew up in a variety of places (my father is a vicar – and my mother is now also ordained as well) and so we moved around a fair bit. The latter part of my childhood though was spent in a village not far outside of Winchester. Throughout my youth and in adult life, I have been lucky enough to experience a wide range of ecumenical styles, ranging from Christian camps such as Spring Harvest and New Wine to mainstream services, away weekends at Old Alresford Place and worshipping at Alton Abbey. St Mary’s however very much feels like home.
I am a practising solicitor and work for Charles Russell Speechlys LLP in Guildford and London and have a number of interests – many of which are sporting (rugby and cricket for the most part) as well as a love of music (in a former life I played both the trumpet and piano and sang a bit too).