The properties committee has the responsibility to the Parochial Church Council for the maintenance, upkeep and care of the church, the hall, the vicarage, the curate’s house, the garage, the shed and all other structures, but not the moveable items which are the legal responsibility of the churchwardens.

The churchyard is maintained by the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, overseen by the committee, but their care is pretty basic. Individuals look after family graves and the churchyard is regularly swept but there is scope for more help - from picking up litter as you walk through to taking on the care of a particular flowerbed or area of the churchyard. here is no one currently coordinating the work in the churchyardso if this role appeals to you, speak to Bryan Basdell (contact details below).

The committee has no fixed size but there are usually six to eight members who volunteer to serve on it. It meets three times a year, but much routine work goes on outside these meetings.

There are routine cleaning tasks, details of which are on the cleaning page, organised and led by members of the committee. There are also innumerable other works of maintenance, repair, renovation and sometimes construction which need to be done. These are tackled as they arise usually by committee members themselves.

Although some of the committee have professional skills, some major work requires outside assistance. The committee will assess the work required, obtain estimates and make recommendations to the PCC.

The quinquennial and other inspections of our property, the architect's five-yearly inspection of the church fabric is required, and paid for, by the diocese. The Properties Committee and the Treasurer are always apprehensive at this time, since the maintenance work required by the architect is our responsibility. Quite a lot of that work the Committee members can do themselves; some has to be done by paid contractors. The other inspections are: safety of our fixed electrical wiring; maintenance of our heating system boilers; checks and tests of all fire extinguishers; testing the Hall fire alarm system; tests of all portable electrical appliances; inspection and test of our lightning conductor; and maintenance of the church clock.

The committee arrange for the following six professional inspections and servicing visits each year:
• Church and hall fire extinguisher equipment
• Hall fire alarm system
• Church and hall boilers and heating system
• Church and hall portable electrical equipment
• Church lightning protection system
• Church clock and bells

Historical Background of the Properties Committee
The committee came into being following the Wells Stewardship campaign circa 1960/61. Although this had been primarily aimed at achieving an increased and predictable income, the giving of 'time and talents' was quickly recognised as an alternative and/or parallel form of stewardship. Tackling a neglected churchyard and a backlog of repairs and dilapidations to the buildings was an obvious outlet for those with the necessary aptitudes and energy, and a group soon came together. An early guiding principle was to avoid, as far as possible, the use of any paid labour, keeping building maintenance costs to a minimum. This remains as an underlying philosophy.

Initially, the 'properties' were the church, the churchyard, and Wayside. The Hall in School Road had been leased to the Scout Group, with nominal responsibility for maintenance. Sadly, this was given a low priority, and in 1972, the lease was ended, and the hall also came under the remit of the P.C.C.