Did you know that 28% of the Windsor and Maidenhead population are signed-up members of a sports club? (Probably if that survey had been done in the first week of January the number would have been higher.)

What does it mean to be a signed-up member? Maybe it encourages you in your commitment to the activities or your team. For most clubs you cannot even join the classes or teams or use the facilities until you’ve signed your name on the dotted line.

Is this the same as being a member of a church?

Ephesians 2:19-20 says,

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”

Being a member of a church is to be a member of God’s household. We are fellow citizens, part of the same team. The church’s doors are open wide and all are welcome through them.

But do you need to ‘sign up’ to be a member of God’s household?

Of course not! But…!

The electoral roll is the closest thing we have to an official membership of the church. It is a register of people who come regularly to St Mary’s, participating in the life of the church. Being on this register is a way of confirming your commitment to St Mary’s and the sense of ‘belonging’ to our church.

But does it benefit me?

It can do. Like some sports clubs, being on the electoral roll opens opportunities for you to participate in the church in different ways. Like being on a council register, it means that you can vote! If you are on the electoral roll, you can attend and vote at the APCM for the PCC members and the Church Wardens who represent the church family. You can also propose someone or stand for election yourself to the PCC. But more than that, it is a step in your commitment to the church. A statement of belonging if you like.

Hmm! Not sure. Does it benefit St Mary’s?

Absolutely yes! Signing on to the electoral roll is also important for St Mary’s. The number of people on our electoral roll determines how many members of our church can represent St Mary’s on the governing bodies of the wider church. These include the Maidenhead Deanery Synod, the Oxford Diocesan Synod and the General Synod. It is a statement of strength of our church in the local community, and in the Diocese.

1 Peter 2:5 says,

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

As believers we all share an individual responsibility as a living stone to build our church. We don’t need to sign a form to be a living stone, but as we build it is helpful to know, and to show, how many stones there are.

Okay. So, who can apply?

To apply for the church electoral roll, you must:

  • be baptised
  • be 16 years old or over (although you can apply in the year you become 16 and you will be eligible to be on the electoral roll once your birthday has passed)
  • either live in the parish or have attended St Mary’s regularly for at least 6 months.

(You can even be on the electoral roll of more than one church but can only be on the PCC, etc, of one.)

Okay. I’m in! I want to show my commitment to St Mary’s. What do I do next?

Every six years the electoral roll is wiped clean. So, this year EVERYONE needs to sign up again.

To do so please either click this link to fill in the form online, or pick up an application form in the church foyer, complete and return it to the church office or in the box in the foyer.

The deadline is Monday 7th April 2025.

If you do have further questions, please do contact the church office.

Thank you.