The Parish

Didsbury has many churches co-operating with each other, among which are two Anglican churches working together in one parish: St James', on Stenner Lane between the two pubs, and Emmanuel, next to Didsbury Library on Barlow Moor Road.

St James' is the second oldest church in Manchester; parts of it date from 1275. Emmanuel was built in 1858 and was extensively remodelled in 1986. Behind Emmanuel is the Parish Centre. In the centre of the village in Elm Grove is the Church Primary School. Church members' children are given a higher priority under the criteria for admission.

The Parish of St James' and Emmanuel has a Team Ministry, with a Team Rector, Team Vicar and Curate. We also have a full time youth worker and part-time children and family worker.

The Parish is in the Deanery of Withington, in the Diocese of Manchester, in the Province of York within the Church of England (Anglican) Church.

Parochial Church Council [PCC]
All Church of England Churches are run by a PCC. The members of this Council comprise the Clergy, the Churchwardens, Deanery Synod representatives and a number of elected lay members.

The PCC meets about eight times during the year to review, discuss, pray and decide on the mission opportunities and the pastoral work of the parish.

Legally, the Minutes of PCC may not be published, but all approved Minutes are available for inspection at the Parish Office by any church member whose name is entered on the Electoral Roll, or by anyone authorised by either the Lord Bishop of Manchester or by the Bishop of Hulme.

The Annual Report, however, must be published, as the Parish is a registered Charity, and this is available for download from this web-site.
The Churchwardens are elected annually at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, which is usually held in April. There are two Churchwardens for each church building. St James' and Emmanuel has four Churchwardens.

In order to vote at the Annual Meeting - or to be eligible to stand for office - you must be on the Electoral Roll of the Parish.

There are normally 4 Churchwardens, elected each year at the Annual Meeting.

There are also five members of the Church who are elected at the Annual Meeting to serve on Deanery Synod for three years.

For further information on the Deanery of Withington, please contact the Lay Secretary, Christine Sandiford.

There are also 15 people from the Church elected to serve on PCC for three years. A group of five is elected every year.

The PCC elects at its first meeting every May officers to carry out specific tasks.

Details of the current PCC can be obtained can be obtained from the Parish Office.