APCMs are a chance to hear what the church has been doing in the previous year, to approve accounts - and see where the money was spent! - to look forward to the year ahead and to elect representatives to groups such as Parochial Church Councils and Synods, and - in some cases - Churchwardens.

As we get ready for these meetings, it's important to make sure that anyone who qualifies to vote at them is actually included in the electoral roll. This is a specifically church roll - a list of those who consider themselves active participants in church life - and is not the same as the civic electoral roll.

To that end, there is a period of revision each year before the APCM, when anyone who would like to add their name to the roll (or remove it, perhaps because they have moved away) is invited to do so. After that time, the roll is closed until after the APCM, when it is then re-opened for new applications throughout the year.

Lists will be displayed in the church porches for you to check.

You qualify to join the roll of your parish church if you: are baptised in any part of the Christian Church (Members of other Christian denominations are welcome, but are required to receive Communion in the parish church at least twice a year.), are over 16 years old, and either live in the parish or have worshipped regularly at the church for six months or more.

To apply for your name to be added to the roll, please contact your parish's ER officer: Ann Greenhalgh on 01454 294200.