Action Groups

At St Mary’s, much of our ministry, mission, and day to day life is shaped and supported by our Action Groups (AGs). These teams bring together gifted members of the church family to serve, lead, and help our community flourish. Each group has a specific focus, ensuring that many people are actively involved in the life and work of the church.


1. Communication & Publicity AG

Leader: Dominic Gardner - Team: Heather Ursell, David Wicks 

Aim: To publicise major services and communicate church life effectively.

Responsibilities: 

  • Promote major services (Easter, Harvest, Christmas)
  • Edit and oversee church posters and publicity 
  • Organise external advertising when appropriate
  • Oversee all interior and exterior noticeboards
  • Maintain the church website and upload weekly sermon recordings
  • Prepare the weekly “news loop” for services
  • Develop creative new ways of communicating God’s love and church life


2. Traditional Services AG

Leader: Funmilayo Vaughan 

Aim: To oversee and facilitate worship at our traditional services.

Responsibilities: 

  • Monitor traditional services (Sundays 9.30am & 6.30pm; Wednesday 11am)
  • Support improvements and research alternatives
  • Maintain the schedule of annual services (Easter, Harvest, Remembrance, Christmas)
  • Help coordinate joint services on Remembrance Sunday and Christmas Day
  • Identify training needs for service roles and potential trainees


3. Fabric AG

Leader: David Kidney

Aim: To oversee the maintenance of all church buildings.

Responsibilities: 

  • Maintain and replace soft furnishings 
  • Set up contracts and liaise with the Operations Manager
  • Conduct annual building appraisals (including the rectory interior)
  • Plan financially for future maintenance and equipment replacement


4. Missionary AG

Leader: Heather Ursell 

Aim: To monitor, review, and promote our missionary agencies.

Responsibilities: 

  • Review mission partners every three years
  • Maintain links with primary mission agencies:
         London City Mission, Haven in Romania, and SAT 7
  • Ensure fair distribution of St Mary’s financial gifts
  • Appoint representatives to liaise with mission agencies
  • Promote mission partners in notice sheets and prayer diaries
  • Arrange annual Mission Sundays • Oversee donations to CPAS, Evangelical Alliance, and occasional beneficiaries 
  • Track contributions to Frinton Mission (FM), and Frinton Area Churches Together (FACT) - soon to be Coastal Churches Together (CCT)
  • Receive updates from secondary mission agencies
         (e.g., Samaritan’s Purse, Jaywick Project)


5. Training, Outreach & Evangelism AG

Leader: Peter Wood 

Aim: To equip and encourage the church to reach the community with the Good News of Jesus.

Responsibilities: 

  • Plan training courses, outreach, and evangelism opportunities
  • Coordinate discipleship and nurture courses 
  • Ensure suitable evangelistic literature is available whenever required 
  • Encourage targeted outreach (Men’s Breakfasts, Women of Worth, Guest Dinners)
  • Support Easter and Christmas outreach
  • Support local ministries (Jaywick Project, Uniform Bank) 
  • Support the Christmas Fayre and welcome visitors


6. Pastoral Care AG

Leaders: Malcolm Bryden & Tricia Hamilton 

Aim: To develop and oversee pastoral care for all church members.

Responsibilities: 

  • Support the elderly and unwell at home, in hospital, or in residential care
  • Receive names of those needing visits (lonely, bereaved, isolated) 
  • Offer Holy Communion where possible 
  • Consider individual needs and offer appropriate support 
  • Provide pastoral training, including safeguarding 
  • Share prayer requests with the Church Office (with permission)


7. Standing Committee AG

Chair: Funmilayo Vaughan - Deputy: Jean Allen 

Aim: To monitor Action Group activity and support PCC decision making.

Responsibilities: 

  • Oversee employment contracts (staff and contractors) 
  • Work with the Treasurer on expenditure and budgeting 
  • Make emergency decisions on behalf of the PCC 
  • Suggest PCC agenda items and monitor decisions 
  • Coordinate Health & Safety and Safeguarding matters
  • Ensure AGs fulfil their duties and monitor expenditure 
  • Work with the Fabric AG on special projects and faculty applications 
  • Support church premises use as a revenue stream


8. Children, Youth & Families AG

Leader: Funmilayo Vaughan 

Aim: To grow children and young people in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.

Responsibilities: 

  • Organise training, nurture, education, and events 
  • Oversee groups such as Smallsorts and Sunday Kids 
  • Help run community events, holiday clubs, and school visits
  • Ensure Safeguarding and Health & Safety remain high priorities
  • Ensure volunteer systems and contracts are followed 
  • Support volunteer teams and ensure adequate staffing 
  • Support any Children’s & Families’ Worker and involvement with Frinton Mission
  • Draw on diocesan and wider church resources


9. Prayer AG

Leader: Graham Dallisson 

Aim: To oversee the prayer life of the church and help people engage in prayer.

Responsibilities: 

  • Oversee coordination of the Church Prayer Chain 
  • Promote prayer and prayer ministry in services and noticesheets 
  • Oversee and develop corporate Weekly, and Missionary Prayer Meetings
  • Keep prayer life fresh and appealing with new initiatives 
  • Pray for needs arising from AG activities


10. Homegroups AG

Leader: Heather Ursell 

Aim: To support homegroup leaders and encourage spiritual growth within groups.

Responsibilities: 

  • Suggest study materials and books 
  • Support leaders through shared ideas and encouragement 
  • Identify and nurture future homegroup leaders 
  • Liaise with the Training, Outreach & Evangelism AG (especially for Alpha) 
  • Maintain accurate membership lists and share needs with the Pastoral Care AG
  • Maintain an overview of homegroup sizes and styles 
  • Encourage congregation members to join a homegroup


11. 11am AG

Leader: Funmilayo Vaughan 

Aim: To bring strategic thinking and vision to the 11am Service.

Responsibilities: 

  • Recommend new resources and materials
  • Liaise with other AG leaders on shared items 
  • Identify training needs and potential trainees 
  • Maintain an overview of the Sunday year and special services 
  • Contribute to planning special services, especially Christmas 
  • Consider how to encourage and support church growth 
  • Maintain an overview of all services offered to the community


12. Concerts AG

Leader: Duncan Archard - Deputy: Susan Hare 

Aim: To maintain an overview of the concert year at St Mary’s.

Responsibilities: 

  • Arrange summer lunchtime concerts and others throughout the year
  • Book premises, heating, kitchen, and hall as required 
  • Book personnel (sound, camera, projection) 
  • Manage equipment movement and return 
  • Ensure premises are cleared and secured afterwards 
  • Set rates of payment according to hire guidelines 
  • Oversee advertising (posters, website, tickets, Reception information)


13. Safeguarding AG

Leader: Dominic Gardner 

Aim: To supervise and facilitate all aspects of safeguarding at St Mary’s.

Responsibilities: 

  • Ensure safeguarding compliance across all church activities 
  • Maintain diligent safeguarding practice
  • Create and enact the PCC safeguarding action plan 
  • Prepare updates and policy proposals for PCC meetings 
  • Support regular safeguarding training