Working as PCC Secretary is a good way of ‘feeling part of something’

A big thank you to all officers on Parochial Church Councils (PCC) working hard across the diocese.

There are more than 200 parishes in the county with PCCs which include a Secretary, Treasurer, Chairperson. Vice Chairperson, and others.

In this series we will be hearing from people on PCCs discussing how they work – find out more about their roles and their advice to those thinking of taking up the position.

If it were not for the PCC, the churches would not run as smoothly as they do.

Zoe Stafford has travelled the globe, taught in the great outdoors and offered her talents to support music in the church – now she’s taken up the baton as Parochial Church Council (PCC) Secretary.

Arriving in Cornwall last year (2024), Zoe threw herself into life at St Cuby Church in Tregony, including helping to organise the Christmas Fayre.

Growing up in a Christian family, faith has ‘always been there’ and she attended Sunday School regularly.

“As a child, God was part of life,” she remembers. “That’s just how it was. I took faith for granted, it was just there.”

But whilst studying at Exeter University, circumstances saw her move away from Christianity.

Thanks to an Alpha course later in life, she found her faith reignited and joined a church in Newbury, Berkshire, where she sung in the choir.

She says: “The Alpha course was amazing – and I got baptised and confirmed.”

Zoe now runs a holiday accommodation business in Cornwall which has allowed her the flexibility to take on more responsibilities at church.

She is also not afraid to try new things. This is evidenced in her past expeditions to places including South America and South Africa, as well as volunteering with the Tall Ships Youth Trust.

As a trained teacher, specialising in outdoor education, Zoe felt her skillsets could help her as PCC Secretary – believing that sometimes ‘you should just go for it’.

“It is a very good way of feeling that you are part of something, and you are serving and doing what you can to serve.” – Zoe

Thinking about the role, which she took on in May this year, she says: “I have never done anything like this in my whole life.

“Being a PCC secretary takes up as much time as you can give it – although I have never been to so many meetings in my life.

“I think I am enjoying it. It is a very good way of feeling that you are part of something, and you are serving and doing what you can to serve.

“I would say, go for it and just give it a try and you might be surprised.”

She added that she has been given a lot of support from friends at church others in the PCC and the Diocese of Truro website.

She adds: “You don’t have to have any particular skills; you just have to be there and be willing to try. You need to be organised.

“I would say if you are thinking about it –just give it a go.”