Our Constitution

ST. THOMAS' DISTRICT CHURCH, BOWLEE

CONSTITUTION

From its erection St. Thomas’ Church was a Mission Church under the supervision of the Vicar and Churchwardens of All Saints, Rhodes; from 1922 it was subject to the control of the Parochial Church Council of All Saints until the Synodical Government Measure 1969 was passed. Then the following Scheme was drawn up in accordance with Schedule 3, Clause 16 (1) (b) of that measure, passed by the Parochial Church Council and Annual Parochial Meeting of All Saints, 16th April, 1970 and certified by the Diocese of Manchester in a letter dated 8th April, 1970.

The Church shall be called the District Church of St. Thomas, Bcwlee, in the Parish of All Saints, Rhodes, Rural Deanery of Middleton, Diocese of Manchester, and shall be administered as follows:

(a) A general meeting shall be called as soon as this Scheme has been approved by the Annual General Meeting of All Saints, Rhodes, subject to the approval of the Bishop's Council and the Standing Committee of the Diocesan Synod, for the purpose of implementing this Scheme.

(b) The Annual General Meeting shall be held each year at least one week prior to the A.G.M. of All Saints, Rhodes.

The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING shall

(a) appoint a Committee known as the St. Thomas, Bowlee District Church Committee, consisting of -

(i) the Vicar, who shall be Chairman

(ii) one Deputy Churchwarden nominated by the Vicar

(iii) one Deputy Churchwarden elected at the meeting

(iv) fifteen other persons

(v) one lay person elected to represent St. Thomas on the Deanery Synod.

(This has the effect of reducing the representation of the Church of All Saints, Rhodes, on that Synod of two.)

(b) receive reports from-

(i) the Vicar

(ii) the Committee Secretary

(iii) the Committee Treasurer

Eligibility

Any person may attend the A.G.M. who

(a) is on the Electoral Roll of All Saints, Rhodes, and

(b) regularly attends St. Thomas’ Church, Bowlee.

Any person eligible to attend the A.G.M. shall be eligible to be elected to the Committee.

Committee

The Committee shall operate under the rules laid down in the Synodical Government Measure 1969, Schedule 3, Appendix 2 - General Provisions relating to Parochial Church Councils, i.e., it shall operate within the village of Bowlee as if it were the P.C.C.

Report to the Parish Annual Meeting

Annually a report on the working of St. Thomas’ Church, Bowlee shall be made to the A.G.M. of All Saints, Rhodes.

Diocesan Quota

The whole Parish of All Saints, Rhodes, shall be considered one unit for the assessment of the Diocesan Quota, and St. Thomas’ District Church shall pay its proportion in accordance with the rules laid down by the Diocesan Synod.

Amendments

Any amendment to this Scheme must be approved by a General Meeting of St. Thomas, Bowlee, and by the P.C.C. of All Saints, Rhodes, each with a simple majority, be approved by the A.G.M. of All Saints, Rhodes by a 2/3rds majority, and be submitted to the Secretary of the Diocesan Synod, as under Para 16(5) of Schedule3 of S.G.M. 1969.