Woven Wide Electoral Roll

 

What is the Church Electoral Roll, and Why Should You Join?

The church electoral roll is basically a list of people who are members of the church and want to help shape its future. If you’re on the roll, it means you get to have a say in how the church is run. You can:

·        Vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM)—a yearly meeting where big decisions about the church are made.

·        Help choose church leaders.

·        Even stand for election yourself to help run the church, like joining the Parochial Church Council (PCC), which helps make decisions about the parish.

Who Can Join the Roll?

You can join if you:

·        Have been baptised (this just means you’ve been officially welcomed into the Christian faith).

·        Are at least 16 years old or will be turning 16 this year.

You also need to meet one of these conditions:

      1. You live in the area covered by the church (called the parish) and are happy to be known as a member of this church, as part of the Church of England.

      2. If you don’t live in the parish, you need to have attended worship at the church regularly (at least once a month) for the last six months and are happy to be known as a member of this church, as part of the Church of England.

      3. You have previously belonged to another Christian church that believes in the Trinity (that’s the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and, having attended worship regularly for six months or more, you are happy to be known as a member of this church, as part of the Church of England.

The roll is only for “lay people”, which just means it’s for regular church members, not clergy (like curates, vicars, associate ministers or retired priests).

How Do You Join?

It’s super important to know that your name won’t be added automatically, even if you live in the parish or come to church every week. To join, you need to fill in and sign an application form. Don’t worry—it’s simple!

You can join the roll at any time of the year, except for the short period just before the APCM. Once your name is on the roll, it will stay there unless you ask to be removed. However, every six years, we have to start a brand-new roll from scratch, which means everyone has to reapply. This is happening in 2025, so make sure to fill out the form if you want to stay on the roll or join for the first time.

Why Should You Bother?

Being on the roll shows that you care about the future of your woven church. It’s your way of saying, “I’m part of this church, and I want to have a say in how it’s run.” It also means you’re helping shape decisions not just in your local church, but in the wider Church of England too.

 If you’re passionate about the future of the church, joining the roll is an easy but important way to get involved.


Need Help?

If you’re unsure about anything or need a hand filling out the form, just speak to your church leader. They’ll be happy to help you!