Managing our Parish

We have now set up Core Teams to help better manage key aspects of Parish life, and a new Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) to coordinate the work of these teams and provide advice and support to the Parish Priest.

We would welcome more Parishioners who are prepared to help out with any of these these teams. Please consider volunteering.

If you are interested to find out more, email ppc@saintlaurence.org.uk.

Parish Pastoral Council (PPC)

The PPC held a pilot meeting during April to receive updates from core teams and agree details of the group's operation going forward.

The PPC will begin to operate fully if approved at the Parishioners' Open Meeting on 21st May.

You can read the minutes from the April PPC meeting.

Nominations are open for the positions of Chairperson, Vice-chairperson, and Secretary. Please contact Stephen Warde or Fr Simon if interested.

Membership (pending approval at the Open Meeting):

• Fr Simon (Parish Priest)
• Geoff Cook (Deacon)
• Ciaran Ward (SVP & Finance Committee rep)
• Edward Acton (Office & Staff core team coordinator)
• Guillaume Hennequin
• Helena Judd (Social core team coordinator)
• Jim O'Sullivan (Finance Committee rep)
• Leonie Issacson
• Margaret Martin
• May Agustin
• Michanne Hayes-Prempah
• Nora Darby
• Roberta Canning (Liturgy, education, and faith sharing core team coordinator)
• Ronald Haynes (Communications and outreach core team coordinator)
• Sarah Sykes (Acting Secretary)
• Stephen Warde (Acting Chairperson)

Contact the PPC - ppc@saintlaurence.org.uk.

Read the draft PPC Constitution

Core Teams

These are our teams:

• LITURGY, EDUCATION, AND FAITH SHARING TEAM helps to ensure that Masses and other services are well-planned and supported (e.g., with Sacristy assistance, rotas, planning for feast days, etc.). It coordinates between existing liturgy, educational, catechesis, and faith sharing activities in the Parish, and proposes and supports new ones.


• SOCIAL ACTIVITIES TEAM ensures that social activities are organised, both working with existing activities (such as the Saturday coffee hub & 11am Mass Coffee) and supporting and generating new ideas. We welcome anyone who enjoys bringing people together.


• COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH TEAM considers the face that St Laurence’s presents to the world and how to better communicate with both parishioners and people living within our Parish who are not yet parishioners. It also aims to promote contact with other parishes, Christian churches, and faith communities. We welcome volunteers with communications, marketing, social media, website, publishing, or similar experience.


• BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND FACILITIES TEAM ensures that our buildings and gardens are brought into good order and maintained. We welcome volunteers with skills or experience in facilities management, building, DIY, gardening, or similar.


• PARISH OFFICE AND STAFF SUPPORT TEAM helps the Parish Priest in managing administration of the Parish and Parish staff (e.g., in objective-setting, appraisals, coaching and mentoring for staff). We welcome volunteers for this team who have human resources, management, or similar experience.

The PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL (PPC) will bring the work of all of these teams together and be a place to discuss issues, propose new ideas, advise the Parish Priest, and ensure that things get done.

Could you help?

We are still looking for people who would be willing to join one or more of these teams, making a time-limited commitment for one or two years. For some of the teams, particular skills would be helpful, as mentioned above. But anyone with a little time to give and a willingness to help can join in. This invitation is to everyone – whether you have been here for thirty years or three weeks.

If you have questions about these new teams, or would like to express interest in joining (with no commitment at this point) please just email ppc@saintlaurence.org.uk.

You can also call the Parish Office, talk to Fr Simon or speak to any PPC member.