| Altar Servers, Acolytes and Crucifers | A team of servers assist the priest in the liturgical rites at Eucharist services. The Sunday duty-rota calls for five servers at the 9:30 am service and one at the 8:00 am service. For enquiries, . |
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| Baptism Preparation Team | There are three teams called Alpha, Baps and Orbit. Each team covers four months per year on a rota basis. Team members visit the parents and child(ren) in their own home before the baptism. This is to read through the baptism service, to give explanation where necessary and to discuss what it all stands for. The same team members try to be present at the service to assist with duties and to provide a friendly face if the family is unfamiliar with St Michael's Church. The teams also get together for social events, either as individual teams or collectively. For enquiries, . |
| Bellringers | The church has eight bells - a ring of six dating from 1723, plus two trebles added in 1885. The tenor bell weighs 875kg (17.5cwt). Sunday ringing is from 8:55 to 9:25am, and from 5:30 or 6:00 until 6:30pm. Quarter-peals are normally rung each month on Sunday evenings and before special church services. There are also occasional peal attempts. Practice night is Wednesday, 7:30 to 9:00pm. A ringing simulator has recently been installed so that additional practice sessions can be held without the public being aware. Newcomers to ringing, as well as experienced ringers, are very welcome. Bellringing calls for a modicum of coordination and rhythm but does not require great physical strength. (Visitors, please use the doorbell on the West door of the tower.) The ringers participate in striking competitions, hold an annual outing to ring at churches in a not-too-distant region and enjoy social events such as an annual dinner. For enquiries, . |
| Car Watch Rota | Unfortunately, due to occasional bouts of vandalism, it has been necessary to establish a rota to keep watch over parked cars during some services. For enquiries, . |
| Chalice Assistants | A team of licensed Chalice Assistants assist the priest with the distribution of bread and wine at Eucharist services. The Sunday duty-rota calls for four assistants at the 9:30 am service (when two altars are in operation) and two at the 8:00 am service. For enquiries, . |
| Choir | At the 9:30 am service on most Sundays, singing is led by a good-sized, robed, four-part choir. Anthems and other choral works are often performed at significant festivals and other major events of the church's year. From time to time, as numbers permit, a Youth Choir may be formed, with practice on a weekday after school and support for participating in courses run by the Royal School of Church Music. For enquiries, . |
| Coffee Rota | A team of church members provide refreshments in the Parish Centre on Sundays after the 9:30 am service. For enquiries, . |
| Crèche Rota | A crèche is run during the 9:30 am Sunday service when justified by the number of infants and toddlers regularly in attendance. There is no crèche at the moment, and so some parents with small children like to make use of the large mat at the back of church. Bags of quiet toys are available from the Parish Centre. For enquiries about setting up a rota, contact the Churchwardens |
| Leaders of Intercessions | Several church members take turns to lead the congregation in prayers at the 9:30 am Sunday service. The Rector advises on the content and format of intercessions. For enquiries, contact the Rector |
| Lesson Readers | There is a duty-rota for reading the first two readings (the 'Old Testament' and 'Epistle' lessons) at all Sunday services. This involves a large number of church members. The Gospel reading is read by the Minister. For enquiries, . |
| Licensed Lay Ministers | Over the years, several members of St Michael's church have experienced a calling to serve Christ by taking an active part in his Ministry. Often this has taken the form of training for the Licensed Lay Ministry which enables an important, part-time role to be fulfilled. Some have gone on to seek a full-time role within the Ordained Ministry. For enquiries, contact the Rector |
| Marriage Preparation Team | St Michael's Church runs a marriage preparation course for couples who are about to be married at church or who have recently held their wedding there. This is led by a team of church members who share their personal thoughts and experiences, and who help the group to explore the meaning and importance of marriage. For enquiries, . |
| Music Group | This comprises a number of instrumentalists (brass, wind, string) with a range of ages and musical experience. The group often plays at services on Christmas Day and for other major services during the year. For enquiries, . |
| Ordained Ministers | Over the years, a number of members of the congregation at St Michael's church have experienced a calling which has led them into various forms of Ordained Ministry. For enquiries, contact the Rector |
| Pastoral Visitors | St Michael's Church now has a group of Pastoral Visitors who are ready to visit parishioners in their homes or in hospital, as a Christian service of listening and fellowship. For enquiries, . |
| Pianist / Reserve Organist | An organist is employed to play the organ at the majority of church services. (Where this role includes the leadership of the choir, it is referred to as the Director Of Music.) Reserve organists are required to provide cover from time to time. Pianists are also required for other occasions such as children's services and concerts. For enquiries, . |
| Sidesmen / Sideswomen | Sidesmen are Officers of the Church and must be on the Parish Electoral Roll. Their duty is "to promote the cause of true religion in the parish and to assist the Churchwardens in the discharge of their duties in maintaining order and decency in the Church and Churchyard, especially during the time of Divine Service." There is a rota of Sidesmen for all of the Sunday services. Duties include preparing service books and seating arrangements, welcoming visitors, ushering, counting communicants, making the offertory procession, tidying up afterwards and counting donations. Sidesmen also help people with mobility problems, keep alert in case of illness or accident and take action in case of emergencies. For enquiries, . |
| Transport Provider | A number of church members with transport or mobility difficulties are assisted by others with cars. Such arrangements are normally set up informally, although the Churchwardens do monitor the situation from time to time in case a co-ordinator needs to be appointed. For enquiries, . |
| Vergers | The verger is often the first to arrive at church, prepares the church for the service, and leads the procession into and out of church. The experienced and committed team provides a verger at every service. For enquiries, . |