PRIEST-IN-CHARGE OF THE GROUP

& ASSOCIATE PRIEST OF THE ASHBOURNE GROUP

Parwich

Thorpe

Ashbourne

THE PARWICH GROUP

The United Benefice, known as the Peak Five, falls within the Carsington Deanery. The group of five churches benefits from an excellent team of two lay readers. Each church has committed PCCs with strong lay leadership – the management and upkeep of the churches, and their finances, is very good. The church- es are interesting historically but also play an active part in the community. They offer a variety of forms of worship from modern and informal styles to traditional and more formal. All five churches are open to visitors during the day. The United Benefice Parish magazine has a circulation of around 300. There is a Benefice website, which is regularly updated- http://peakfive.org and also a Facebook account https:// www.facebook.com/fivechurches/ The villages of Parwich and also have Methodist churches. At Tissington there has been some joint work, including the Well Dressing in May, and in Parwich there is real ecumenical co-operation. For many years members of both churches have attended each other’s worship. The Methodist Chapel in Par- wich closed in May 2008 and the members were offered the use of the Lady Chapel at St Peter's. Here they meet for worship twice a month at 2.30pm and have been warmly welcomed and feel very much "at home". A very small, but dedicated group, they contribute to the life of the whole church and wider community in Parwich, particularly at special occasions. The minister lives in Ashbourne. There are two patrons for the Benefice; Sir Richard Fitzherbert of Tissington Hall, and Mr. Robert Shields of Parwich Hall. There has been participation in the Ashbourne Churches’ Ecumenical Youth Work Project, in which an overall co-ordinator helps to resource and guide youth work in the churches of the Deanery and the Ash- bourne Methodist Circuit. Good links have been established with the CofE V.A primary school in Fenny Bentley, and also with the LEA primary school in Parwich, where the head teachers and governors are very supportive of links with the church (assemblies, services in church, etc). The previous incumbent established a good network of Benefice-wide children’s events, assisted by a paid helper from the Alsop-en-le-Dale par- ish. This included whole day events, and “Let there be Light” mornings on 5th Sundays- these had recently become over-subscribed with more than 70 children.

The 5 parishes all lie north of Ashbourne, in South in the National Park. The nearest town is Ashbourne (population 10,000) which has a good range of individual shops/delicatessens, and 5 supermarkets, including Waitrose, Sainsburys, M&S and Aldi, and many cafes. It has a leisure centre, and its own hospital. Further east is the city of , with a new shopping mall, the Intu Centre. Further away lies the large city of , with a concert hall, and theatre, and , with the famous Crucible theatre. To the north lies , a beautiful Georgian spa town, which hosts a renowned two week summer opera, music and literary festival. The city of is about 40 miles north of the area. The nearest airport is , about 1 hour’s drive away, and the M1 motorway is about 45 minutes away. Mainline trains run from Derby Station (for example, 90 minutes).

United Benefice Contact : Martin Compton 01335 390529/ 0770 483 1769 [email protected] Ashbourne Group contact The Reverend Duncan Ballard 01335 343825 [email protected] 2

MAP OF THE PEAK FIVE UNITED BENEFICE

T H E

U N I T E D

B E

Ashbourne to Alsop-en-le-Dale 73 miles Parwich to Thorpe 7miles

ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS, ALSOP-EN-LE- DALE

Community Situated in the White Peak area of the Peak District National Park, a short walk from , Alsop en- le Dale is a small village of only 8 houses and the church. Four of the buildings, including the church, are listed as being of historic and architectural im- portance. It is surrounded by several farms, for which the church of St Michael and All Angels is the only meeting point. Apart from the village itself, the parish also encompasses part of the , a disused railway line now used by walkers and cyclists, which used to serve the Alsop limestone quarry works, and Alsop Moor, which consists of the houses once occupied by the quarry workers, as well as two farms and at- tached dwellings. Newton House Guest House and the Rivendale caravan park, campsite and café are also within the parish. Church Life There are three services a month. The church is well attended at Easter, Harvest and Christmas, when the congregation often includes former parishioners and people who have a family connection with the church. The Alsop Family Group attends a special service here every year in June. Otherwise there is a small but strong and active core congregation of approximately eight to ten, with the same number on the electoral roll. We have a resident organist and a recently ac- quired two manual electronic organ. Building and History The church was founded in Norman times, but nothing is known of the nature of the original foundation. In 1883 the church was restored and a bell tower was added. In the book ‘The History and Topography of Ash- bourne and The Valley of the Dove’ we read: ‘At one end of this dell, almost shut out from the traveller’s view, is a little village, consisting of a few farmhouses, the church and the remains of an ancient manor house, to which has been given the appropriate name, Alsop-en-le-Dale. In this neighbourhood it was that THOM- AS BECON, one of the most laborious and useful preachers and writers among the British Reformers, took refuge from the furious persecution of his enemies during the reign of Henry v111. Brecon is reputed to have

4 found the people of Alsop-en-le-Dale to be ‘of very good wits and apt understanding’.’ The building is well maintained by a small group of willing volunteers. Finances The church’s finances are generally in good order and include a maintenance fund in case of any unforeseen contingencies. Our Parish Share is over £3,000, but we make every effort to pay as much of it as we are able to. We would very much like to donate on a regular basis to charity, but with such a small community we have to concentrate most of our fund raising efforts towards meeting our running costs and future provision as mentioned above. So we give what we can when we can. Strengths

 As mentioned above, fund raising for such a small parish has been difficult, so for a number of years now we have provided homemade refreshments for walkers and tourists on the four spring/ summer bank holidays, and we see these occasions not only as vital to our finances, but also as providing a much needed service to those who support us.

 Many of these people return regularly and spend quality time conversing with the congregation or en- joying the Norman church architecture and the stunning, new east window, which was designed by Henry Haig and commissioned for the Millennium. Others simply enjoy the peace and quiet of our beautiful valley, with the cows and sheep grazing the stone walled fields.

 Visitors staying in the village’s holiday cottages are informed of the service times and often attend.

 St Michael’s has a reputation for being friendly and welcoming, and we are very grateful for the sup- port of those who may not be able to attend services regularly but can be relied upon when cakes need to be baked, the churchyard tidied or extra funds raised. Challenges

 With no communal facilities in the village, other than the church building itself, we look to the other churches in the Benefice, for opportunities to work together so that the needs of all ages in our com- munity are met.

 It is difficult to imagine people who could replace the current ageing team.

 We have a small congregation (ageing) with a lack of young people.

The Way Ahead

 We will continue to work to provide a regular opportunity to worship, to welcome visi- tors, support one another and to be open to new ideas that will help maintain and increase our congregation.

5

FENNY BENTLEY, ST EDMUND, KING AND MARTYR

The Community

Our village population is approximately 165, which has been fairly static. Planning permission has been applied to develop Ashbourne Heights Caravan Park from basically a touring caravan site to a permanent static caravan site with 160 homes. This would triple the local village population if the planning permission were passed, and would represent a significant opportunity for the Church, (although it should be noted that there is some local opposition to such a major development). There are no shops in the Parish, although the caravan park has one and some sports facilities open in the summer months; these would be developed and opened longer should the development of the park proceed. More recently Ravenscliffe Farm has been sold to a children`s charity (CHICKS) which gives needy children holiday breaks in our countryside. There is little ethnic diversity in the village. The majority of homes are privately owned and are long settled. Many school children at the village primary school travel in from outside the village, chiefly from Ashbourne and surrounding villages. Local employment is mainly at a large quarry, 4 working farms, three pubs and some home-based businesses in the village. Most residents travel to Ashbourne, Derby or elsewhere for work. The level of unemployment is low, at less than 2%.

FitzHerbert V.A. Primary school is in the village; it has 56 pupils on roll, and is nearly full. It has close links with the Church; this relationship is something that makes it special.

6 Worship takes place daily and not only in school. Regular church services with the Vicar in attendance help to promote the Chris- tian ethos. They would very much like to continue and strengthen these links through worship, R.E, and community projects. They would hope that the new incumbent, as a school Governor, would be able to give advice and guidance to school and equally that the Church may grow through the support of the school community. The Church inspection in 2008 recognised that, as a foundation governor, the Vicar had given important pastoral and spiritual support to the whole school community and made an invaluable contribution to pupils’ knowledge of the Christian Faith. The FitzHerbert School feeds into Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Ashbourne.

Fenny Bentley is only 5 minutes by car from Ashbourne. It has a regular bus service. The main road (A 515) that links Ashbourne to Buxton bisects the village. Village Organisations — the Fenny Bentley Initiative (FBI) is a Community Trust for the benefit of Fenny Bentley, formed in 2001 to implement objectives identi- fied in the Village Plan. It was conceived as principally a fund raising body to develop and enhance the village and has been reg- istered with the Charities Commission. The Vicar is a Trustee. As in any community, there are active participants, passive sup- porters and those who do not feel fully included for myriad large- ly historical reasons. Whilst it remains a key objective for the FBI to be fully inclusive, it remains a challenge that cannot be deliv- ered by the FBI alone. Over recent years, the former Vicar had made concerted attempts in this regard, and it would be a key hope of the FBI that a future Vicar continues driving towards this goal. The FBI has also enjoyed extremely active and enthusiastic par- ticipation in its activities by the Vicar, whose talents and commitment have been an important factor in the success of many FBI events and activi- ties. Again it would be a key hope for the FBI that an incoming Vicar would continue this support in a similar capacity. Sadly the FBI is dormant at the moment. The Tissington, Thorpe and Fenny Bentley Over 60’s club meets monthly, usually in Ashbourne. As part of the Peak NationaI Park, Fenny Bentley is located in one of the most beautiful locations in the UK. There are many local amenities, such as the Tissington Trail - which attracts a number of walkers, cyclists and other tourists to the area, particularly in summer. The village church is kept open for tourists, and many clearly enjoy visiting it, but usually not for services. Attracting tourists into the church for services and for fund raising events remains a key opportunity.

The Church Life

We have a small but committed number on the PCC who have helped to keep the church running whilst Church Wardens were being found. Although church attendance is moderate, the church does receive much support from the parish in other ways. We have a number of people who make regular

7 financial contributions to the church, and we have a committed team of people who undertake church mowing, cleaning of the church and flower arranging. The patterns of Worship is 1st Sunday in the month 3.30pm Family Service, with tea/coffee, (Communion when a Vicar is available). At- tendance approximately 6 regulars. 3rd Sundays in the month 3.30 pm in Winter, Evensong BCP or Songs of Praise alternatively . Worship is regularly led by Readers supported by retired clergy but there are no Bible or Prayer groups at present. There are 8 Electoral Roll Members from within the parish. The organ has been recently refurbished and we currently have an occasional organist but no choir. In school term time, there is a Monday morning Worship Club from 9 -1 pm which was run by the Vicar and 3 helpers; currently 46 children aged 4-11yrs attend. The PCC ladies hold a coffee morning every Wednesday in aid of church funds- everyone is welcome. The church building is used by the FBI for some activities eg the Easter Egg Hunt. There is usually a Beresford (local family) Society Service in May. There is also a book exchange in church.

Church Building

The Church of St Edmund at Fenny Bentley dates back to the l4th century but it was very heavily restored in the 19th century when the spire was added to the west tower. Much of the stained glass also dates from the 19th century. The 2 impressive features of the church are its 16th century screens and the alabaster Beresford tomb, which represents Sir Thomas Beresford, his wife Agnes and their 21 children all completely shrouded. Sir Thomas Beresford had fought at Agincourt along with some of his sons. It is said that everyone with the surname Beresford is descended from them and Fenny Bentley is still the meeting place of the Beresford Family Society (http://www.beresfordfamilysociety.org.uk) every spring. They had a major reunion for people bearing the Beresford surname in 1987, (the first recorded deed men- tioning Beresford is dated 1087), and other large reunions in 1997 and 2007. Unfortunately the church has no other facilities, not even water other than a portaloo loaned from the church warden so we use the school hall or the local pub for large gatherings.

Parish Finance

We are currently meeting all of our financial obligations.

Parish Strengths  Small but committed PCC  Support from the Beresford Society  Refurbished organ  Regular donors  Many visitors all year — the church is open every day  Strong links with school

8  Active FBI that organises many social events in the village (currently dormant)  Popular for weddings and baptisms  Large congregations on special occasions eg Harvest, Xmas, Easter  Weekly use of the church by the village school  Regular number of congregants  Beautiful architecture well maintained and decorated by volunteers  Monthly coffee mornings

Parish Challenges  To improve attendance at church, particularly families.  To increase pastoral care in the village.  To look at ways in which the church can become the focal point for the whole village.  How to afford the maintenance of the church.

The Way Ahead  There has been some work done in the past regarding alterations to the church building to make it more accessible and welcoming for community use, for example evening classes. This has raised mixed feelings among the village residents; the new incumbent would need to sensitively move the project for- ward with the support of the majority of the villagers.

Fenny Bentley Parish Representatives Mr Dennis Stone 01335 350187/ 07836770945

9 PARWICH ST PETER’S

Community Parwich is a delightful village set in a sheltered valley, surrounded by beautiful limestone countryside, at the southern edge of the Peak District National Park, about 6 miles from the nearest town of Ashbourne. It has a population of about 500, with a mix of old local families, and more recent incomers, in a balanced age struc- ture; there is a healthy proportion of children and young people. Out of about 190 houses, there are a few second homes in the village, and 15 holiday cottages. Employment is varied; some work locally in farming, quarrying, haulage, and refractory brick-making, others work from home, and a number work in the local towns of Buxton, Ashbourne and Derby. Parwich is one of those villages which is sufficiently self-reliant that there is a real sense of belonging and com- munity. Old traditions are still upheld; the Parwich Oddfellows (around 90 members) have an annual, unique parade (now in its 175th year); a march around the village accompanied by a brass band which is preceded by a church service; this is followed by a village Carnival, and a week long programme of community events for Wakes week (held at the end of June).

10 There is an active branch of the Royal British Legion which holds an annual Remembrance Day parade followed by a church service. It has its own premises- run by volunteers it boasts over 100 members and stages various events throughout the year. Previous incumbents have served as “Club Padres”. Parwich has a well-supported primary school with a new Head teach- er; she is keen to expand links with the church and the village com- munity. An excellent secondary education is provided by the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Ashbourne ( http:// www.queenelizabeths.derbyshire.sch.uk/index.php), which was awarded outstanding achievements in the Sixth Form and Special Needs in a recent Ofsted report. ‘A’ level results often include 4 or 5 A* marks for many pupils. Village facilities include our Public house, run by a local family; it won the national Best Community Pub of 2008 Award and now it also contains the village shop. The Pub became famous through the success of a local boy, Tom Chambers, winner of the 2008 Strictly Come Dancing competition. Considering the size of the village, Parwich has many well-supported sports facilities including grounds for tennis, cricket, football, crown green bowls, and good horse riding facili- ties. There is also a children’s playground and duck pond. Many groups and societies have sprung up over the years; these include the Ladies Group, the Horticultural Society (which also organizes an annual Open Gardens Day and a Show), an Over Sixties Club, a Film Club with fortnightly film shows, an active Local History Society which organizes talks and walks, a football club, and a Village Action Group that received an national Award for a low cost housing scheme. The Carnival and Recreation committee stages events including the Annual Wakes week, a bonfire, and a Carol service. A Community First Responders scheme was set up 10 years ago, and provides 24 hour emergency life-saving support to the village and surrounding areas. A static defibrillator has also been located in the church porch. The village hall was rebuilt 5 years ago, helped by a substantial grant of £500,000 by the Big Lottery Fund. It has a large hall, a separate meeting room and a modern well-equipped kitchen. The village has an excellent and lively website - http://parwich.org/ - with news and comment on the local life. Church Life The village broadly supports the church, with festivals and funerals often filling the church. A number of special services are held during the year; including the annual Oddfellows ser- vice and the St Georges Day service and pa- rade involving the Oddfellows and local Scouts groups. The Family service on the third Sunday is nor- mally the best attended service, with up to 25 in the congregation. There is a Family Com- munion on the second Sunday, which can at-

11 tract a number of families. Matins on the 4th Sunday normally draws a few faithful parishioners. A regular organist plays for the services. When the village Methodist chapel recently closed we welcomed the congregation into our church; they hold fortnightly services in our side chapel and we enjoy worship- ping together at occasional joint ser- vices. Support for the Church comes from many who do not regularly attend; there is a committed band of people who maintain the church-yard, provide weekly flowers, and clean the church. A Kneeler Project has evolved, involv- ing many non-church women. The PCC has 6 members, (not all of whom regularly attend Church services). The footpath passes by the church (open every day); we re- ceive a steady flow of visitors during the week and some join our services. Church Building Although there is evidence of an early Saxon church on the current site, the present church of Saint Peter dates from 1873 when the old Norman church was replaced. Certain items of stonework were incorporated into the new building, including the Font, the fine Norman arch leading to the tower and the ancient Saxon Tym- panum. The latter had sadly deteriorated over the last 130 years, but with the financial assistance of the Herit- age Lottery Fund and local History Society, a replica of the Tympanum was housed inside the tower, leaving the original in situ. Also worthy of note are the first two pillars that have carved capitals relating to the dedica- tion of the church to St. Peter. In 1919 a Carillon was installed to commemorate the fallen of World War I and a plain stone memorial cross stands at the gate of the extensive churchyard in commemoration of those killed in both World Wars. To celebrate the Millennium, two windows in the recently refurbished Lady chapel were inscribed with the names of all the children in Parwich at the time. In the main North aisle an Annunciation stained glass win- dow commemorating the Post Mistress was dedicated in 2008. Finances The church has well organized finances, and the Treasurer is a professional accountant; the Parish Share is about £6200, and is paid promptly. (The Electoral Roll numbers 21). The church is in a good state of repair; there is a healthy Fabric Fund to fund future roof repairs. We have the occasional fund-raising events; last year we held a Christmas Fayre over 2 days, and several concerts have been held in the church.

12 Parish Strengths

 A strong sense of village community and support for the church, which is most evident at the major festival services.

 Well-supported Family services.  A village school that wishes to forge more links with the church.  Strong support from volunteers for maintaining the churchyard and decorating the church, so draw- ing together non-worshippers.

 A church that is open each day  A warm welcome extended to visiting tourists  Potential for children’s work with a large modern village hall Parish Challenges

 To draw more of the community into regular church Worship.  Increase Pastoral care in the village

 To raise the profile of the local vicar [and their family] in the village.  Need for more fellowship  More emphasis on the role of church in the community Way Ahead

 Timing and style of services could be more varied.

 To develop the family aspect of church life and make all the services more child friendly.  For a leader to find the talent and quality amongst the laity to take the church out into the village  Joining with other groups in the village Parwich Parish Representatives Mr Martin Compton 01335 390529 Ms Esther Tyson 01335 390622

13 THORPE, ST LEONARD’S

The Community The village of Thorpe lies 3½ miles north of the market town of Ashbourne. It has a population of approxi- mately 175, including a number of retired people and also families with children and young people. It is a happy, caring and supportive community which really appreciates the privilege of living in a beautiful location on the edge of famous Dovedale. One of Thorpe’s strengths is that it has, at its heart, a strong church community which worships regularly in the Parish Church of St. Leonards, and which seeks to reach out with Christian care and concern into the whole village, and to offer a warm welcome to visitors and tour- ists. There are 2 hotels nearby and guests sometimes attend church worship. The church in Thorpe has, over the years, maintained a weekly service. There are two Primary Church-aided schools nearby: one at Fenny Bentley and one in Ilam about a mile from Thorpe on the border. Older chil- dren attend Queen Elizabeth’s School in Ashbourne which has an excellent reputation. There is a Village Hall where PCC meetings are held, as well as other events.

14 The Church Life There are currently 22 persons on the Electoral Roll, and the average Sunday attendance is 13. There is al- ways good support at festival and special services; numbers can reach 30-50. Liturgies are varied in order to suit all tastes, including the Book of Common Prayer, Common Worship, and special ‘lighter’ services such as ‘Songs of Praise’. Coffee is served after every morning service. There is a 3 monthly rota of lesson readers and side persons. There is considerable lay participation in the services. Children The church is concerned that all should grow in the Christian faith, knowledge and understanding. There- fore some midweek study/discussion groups take place in homes, especially during Lent. Christian outreach is another concern and so the church arranges to leaflet each house with Christmas, Easter and Harvest de- tails. These details can also be found in the monthly Parish Magazine. The Church Building St. Leonard’s Church building is Grade I listed; it has been a place of prayer and worship since before Nor- man times and has many historic features. The squat Norman Tower is its greatest treasure and most proba- bly dates from 1100 A.D. The North porch is of particular interest as it still bears the marks on the outer doorway caused by the repeated sharp- ening of archers' arrows in the Middle Ages. The restored font is an original tub font from the 11th century, and is one of only three in the county. There is a simple Norman arch which forms the entrance to the children’s corner, and an attractive window behind on the west wall, inscribed with the words of Jesus:- "I am come that they might have life". The church is kept open every day of the week and has a book for prayer entries which can be used in service inter- cessions. Finance The annual parish share to the Diocese of Derby is now £7,349 and is paid in full by monthly instalments. St. Leonard’s is financially solvent with regular congregational giving, much of which is gift-aided. The church has an endowment which mainly pays for the maintenance of the churchyard. The building is kept in a good state of repair. The P.C.C. stipulates that 10% of its annual income is given to outside relief agencies, mainly Christian charities. Parish Strengths There is much good will in the village towards the church, and people come in good numbers to events that are church related. These include the Shrove Tuesday Pan- cake Supper and the Harvest Supper, both held in the vil- lage hall. The proceeds from the latter are given to two charities, in addition to the 10% tithe. There is also a monthly coffee morning held in the village hall and run

15 mainly by church members; it is a socially interactive gathering with a focus on a different charity each month to encourage giving. Twice a year there is a well-attended churchyard working party to maintain the churchyard in a tidy and at- tractive condition. Parish Strengths

 Welcoming, friendship and fellowship, with good team work.  Well-maintained church, open every day.

 A service each week.  Charitable giving. Parish Challenges

 Lack of young people and children.  A need for pastoral care.  A modern liturgy required.

 Attracting a younger congregation The Way Ahead

 During the interregnum the aim is to continue to maintain the current pattern of services.  Home visiting.  Creating modern services to attract young people. Thorpe Parish Representatives

Mr Clarke Lomas 01335 350265 Miss Ros Hunt 01335 350221

16 TISSINGTON, ST. MARY’S

The Community Tissington is a rural village, a noted beauty spot and famous for its Well Dressings. At its centre sits Tissing- ton Hall, home to the FitzHerbert family for 500 years and centre of the 2000 acre Estate (the Hall is open to visitors and hosts civil ceremonies and other functions, http://www.tissington-hall.com).The communi- ty consists of tourism, farming, and a small amount of cottage industry. These are the main areas of employ- ment within the village whilst others work in the nearby towns and cities. There are two families in the village with young children but a high percentage of residents are of middle age, and some of mature years. The majority of the properties in the village are tenanted and belong to the Tissington Estate. There is a Kinder- garten School situated in the Old School for children aged 2-5. Primary age children attend the FitzHerbert School at Fenny Bentley and then generally attend the QE Grammar School at Ashbourne. Tissington and District WI Group meet in the Village Hall. The Methodist Chapel on Chapel Lane is another place of worship in the village and, despite local cuts, this Chapel has been renovated. The village population is approximately 150 in the 50 or so dwellings.

17

Church Life The Family Service on the first Sunday of month is taken generally by the vicar (or by Readers when the vicar is not available) is the better attended of the services, with a short made-up service pattern. The Third Sunday is 8 a.m. said Holy Communion with the Book of Common Prayer being used and taken by the vicar. The second is Morning Service; this services are usually taken by Readers. The Family Service attracts a congregation of circa 20-25, whereas the other services are generally less well attended. Two organists support the Church, travelling in from Hul- land Ward (9 miles) and Ashbourne (4 miles) respective- ly. CC Electoral roll:12 Baptism and Weddings were at the vicar’s discretion. The workload of the previous vicar has meant a limited amount of pastoral visiting, and this role has not been tak- en up by a lay person. Church Building The Church is of an early Norman date, with a tub-shaped font that is of great interest. Other features in- clude the FitzHerbert Memorial: the Chancel Arch: the Noah’s Ark Window, and the Pulpit. The fabric of the Church is generally in good order and the Churchyard is well maintained. The organ has been completely refurbished at a cost of £22,000, raised by events from 2000 on: this appeal brought the vil- lage together although not in Church but at events around the village. The tower contains three bells, which are rung when ringers are available. The Quinquennial inspection was in 2015 with no major repairs required. The Church paths have been re-surfaced and are now in good order. Finance The latest accounts are available on request. There is a large reliance on income from Well Dressings: the annual Church Fete (in the Hall grounds): and visitor tourism. Regular giving is small and more needs to be done to promote Gift Aid Donations. Nevertheless, the Parish Share is paid promptly. There are three ac- counts:General; Churchyard; and Fabric Fund.

18

Parish Strengths

 The Church is welcoming to all.

 A Family service with children, parents and grand parents in attendance.

 Tourist and visitors are always made welcome.

 A very amiable PCC.

 The upkeep of Church and Churchyard is done by a small group of willing workers (who are rarely seen in the congregation) but are much appreciated.

 The Church is open every day from Dawn to Dusk.

 Groups come together for the annual Well Dressings Parish Challenges • Church attendance is relatively poor- with the major festivals struggling to draw worshippers. • More Pastoral visiting is a major identified need. • Challenge to incorporate both small schools into Church Life. • Increase the Profile of Well-Dressings at Annual Ascension tide. • Lack of interest from the 40-50 age group. • To develop more get-togethers. The Way Ahead

 There is a need to maintain the family service, but a core number of the congregation would be very disappointed if the Holy Communion book of Common Prayer did not continue.

 Mission Statement : ‘To Love God , one another and encourage others to find the Love of God’  To encourage greater Church attendance before the Church becomes only a Tourist Attraction/ Museum and not a place of worship. Tissington Parish Representatives Miss Ann Unwin 01335 390486 Ms D Hougton 01335 350814

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THE NEXT PRIEST- A UNITED BENEFICE VIEW v A person with a Gospel heart who will reach out into the Villages with the message and love of Christ. v A man or woman of God who will inspire and teach the Christian faith, in- cluding regular meetings for fellowship and bible study, and who will seek to deepen and build up the faith of the congregation. v A person with a ‘feel’ for village people and rural life, and who is willing to accept the challenge of encouraging congregations, and fully partake in village life. v A person with an ability to connect, interact, and provide pastoral care for people of all ages. v A person who values the support of a team of lay ministers, and is willing to delegate and to encourage lay participation in ministry. v Someone who can expand new ideas whilst keeping the traditions of the Church alive, and who is willing to embrace a wide style of services. v Someone who is willing to maintain and expand ecumenical links, especial- ly with the local Methodist churches.

20 CARSINGTON DEANERY

The new Carsington Deanery is a beautiful and rewarding place in which to live and work. The Deanery is currently being formed from the two ‘old’ Deaneries centred on Wirksworth and Ashbourne, and runs from Darley Dale in the north down to Norbury in the south, encom- passing 41 parishes served by a dozen or so stipendiary clergy and a similar number of self- supporting ministers and Readers. Within the new Deanery are three main market towns: Ash- bourne, Wirksworth and Matlock, all of roughly the same size and influence. This perhaps gives a clue as to how we relate to each other: we see ourselves as co-workers and colleagues with no church taking precedence, but with many opportunities to learn with and from each other. The Deanery is a key strategic unit for mission and the Chapter and Synod work well to- gether in furthering the mission of the Deanery. Members of the Chapter are expected to play a full part in the life of the Deanery including Chapter meetings (which are primarily for prayer and mutual support), Synod, and taking some responsibility within the Deanery.

The Deanery is responsible for determining the future direction of ministry and mission within the Deanery and with some ten thousand new homes projected in the next fifteen to twenty years this presents some exciting opportunities and challenges. Our Deanery is predominantly rural with some light industry, but the most important employment is probably found through tourism. This in turn brings a unique set of challenges: particularly in terms of supporting small villages, remote hamlets and farmsteads, and a pattern of largely seasonal employment opportunities for young people.

The appointment of a new Parish Priest to the Peak Five Group is a key appointment in our Deanery: not only will the new incumbent help five beautiful parishes to grow and flourish, but will be able to contribute their experience and passion to the Ashbourne group of churches, and serve the wider Deanery, as we explore new ways of serving this fascinating part of the coun- try.

The Reverend Duncan Ballard Area Dean, Carsington Deanery

21 THE VICARAGE

As no suitable Vicarage could be identified in the United Benefice, the new Vicar will live in a modern 4 bedroom house on the north outskirts of Ashbourne, about 5 miles drive from the centre of the group. This has the added advantage that the new vicar can rely upon a team of five ordained colleagues based in Ashbourne, meeting to pray together, share ideas and also to cover each other in times of holidays and illness. The candidates will be shown around the new vicarage as part of the interview process.

THE SPECIALISM

The new incumbent will spend 0.5 of their time ministering alongside the Peak Five parishes, and 0.5 of their time will be spent offering a specialism to the churches that surround the Ashbourne team. We have no fixed expectations concerning what that specialism may be: we are far more interested in the passion and experience that you will bring rather than setting a rigid structure for you to fill.

It may be that you bring certain gifts for working with schools and young people, in which case you will be building upon the excellent work of your predecessor. Perhaps your skills lie more in working with young families: you will find many opportunities for new and innova- tive work with us. It may be that you have a passion for the pastoral care of older folk – that too will welcomed as we have identified this as a key need in our churches. Perhaps you have skills in training, or in growing lay ministry teams, or in working in the tourism industry – whatever your passion and gifts, we are looking forward to exploring how that would bless our parishes. Above all, we want you to flourish in your ministry and to deepen your enjoy- ment of God.

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