Strengthening PBS for the Years Ahead

The Trustees have approved a reorganisation of the Prayer Book Society’s staff structure as part of the Society’s 2024–29 Strategic Plan.

The purpose of these changes is to ensure that PBS is well equipped for the next phase of its life: building on what has been achieved, while strengthening capacity for growth, wider engagement, and long-term sustainability.

The Strategic Plan reaffirms the Society’s commitment to the Book of Common Prayer as a resource for mission, discipleship, and community in the life of the Church. It also places renewed emphasis on widening engagement, supporting growth, and ensuring that PBS has the organisational capacity needed to sustain and extend its work in the years ahead.

In recent years, much of the Society’s work has quite properly had a strong pastoral character, supporting clergy, congregations, schools, and individuals with care and attentiveness. That work remains valued.

At the same time, the Trustees believe that the Society now needs to place greater emphasis on growth: growing membership, strengthening communications, extending reach, and securing the long-term future of PBS’s work.

Alongside these changes, the Society continues to be served by a small and committed staff team working closely together.

• Sarah Caffrey leads on membership, member support, and the administration of the Annual Conference, working with senior members.
• Gemma Thatcher is responsible for finance, including budgeting, payments, and financial reporting.
• Claire Baker manages the Cranmer Awards, coordinates the Society’s events programme, and will serve as Deputy Safeguarding Lead. In a small team, colleagues continue to support one another across roles to ensure continuity and resilience. A new marketing and development post will be appointed by the incoming CEO to enable serious growth in both corporate and individual membership.
• The Society also continues to work with Nick Clarke as its Press and Communications Consultant, and with Sarah Blackburn on IT, digital, and social media support, ensuring access to specialist expertise alongside the core staff team.

As part of the reorganisation associated with the new strategic plan, John Service has left the Society. John is being elected as an Honorary Life Member and Honorary Life Vice-President of the Society, and he will continue his voluntary involvement as Chair of the Oxford Branch. The Society records its deep appreciation for his many years of dedicated service.

The Trustees are pleased to confirm that a new Chief Executive has now been recruited. Further news will be shared with members next month.

In the meantime, David Harvey will continue to serve as Interim Chief Executive until the formal handover takes place. The CEO leads on strategy and its implementation, supporting the trustees, on outreach and external relationships, overall co-ordination with members and safeguarding and looking after the office.

Overall staffing costs remain well within the Society’s current and future budgets, reflecting the Trustees’ commitment to careful stewardship of members’ subscriptions and donations.

These changes are about preparing for the future. The Trustees remain focused on continuity of mission, good governance, and ensuring that the Prayer Book Society is well placed to flourish in changing times.