Benefice Profile 2020

Overview of church activities.

Name of All Saints, St. Peters, St. Swithins, St. Dubricius, St. James, Church Bishopswood Dixton Ganarew Whitchurch Wyesham Residents 400 250 in parish but 140 1495 2500 people come from outside parish

Local Retirement age School next door. Nearly all retired. Mixed, many General mixed Community mainly not too Mostly owner commute. housing with 53 many young occupiers. Many new houses bring- families retired. On edge ing in new families of Monmouth town. Average 10 10 12 32 15-25 number of worshippers Average age of 60 -85 68+ 65 65 70+ worshippers Plus some middle age Description of Endowed in 11th Century with Grade 11 Victorian Parts date back to Victorian. Plans to the church 1841 Victorian addi- built in 1850 to 13th century modernise. Within tions. Grade II* replace an earlier walking distance of Listed. Very near Saxon building the vicarage. River Wye so occasional floods.

Repair of Good Chancel roof Reasonable repair Good Reasonable repair Church replaced 2019. Reasonable repair. Good heating system. Warm and Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes welcoming to all Mid-week None None None Thursday said com- Weekly prayer Church munion followed by group. Monthly Activities a discussion. 2nd prayer group with Friday Taize Service. local Wyesham Hosts reflection days Christian Fellow- ship

Nearest Town Ross on Wye Monmouth Monmouth Ross on Wye Monmouth with large shops and doctors surgery

Church Services. The five parishes have a variety of services through the month. In general the services are Holy communion, Sunday Praise, with a Benefice Service once a month in a different church. Lay led services take place as well as Taize services at St Dubricius.

Thank you for showing an interest in the role of Priest in Charge (Vicar designate) for the Wye Reaches group of parishes.

This is an exciting post in a vibrant and friendly Benefice.

A great deal of prayer, thought and planning has gone into the preparation of this Benefice profile. It provides an outline of the role, the skills and experience that we are looking for. This is an exciting time to join in the work of this group of parishes and the Diocese. As the Vicar you will have pastoral oversight for the communities and churches and also play a major role in mission across the whole Benefice in line with the gifts which you bring. There is considerable potential for growth and a willingness to engage in mission.

As a diocese we are committed to spiritual and numerical growth – growing Christians of all ages and backgrounds, contributing to the common good and reimagining ministry. Our vision is one of proclaiming Christ, growing disciples and inspiring each generation to follow Jesus Christ. There is a real energy to reconnect with our communities and reimagine our calling as God’s church for this and future generations. And of course we are greatly looking forward to welcoming Bishop Richard Jackson to lead us as our new Diocesan Bishop in early 2020.

More information about the diocesan context is provided as a separate file.

Unusually this post may require the person appointed to live in temporary accommodation whilst the new vicarage is built, however we are committed to providing a modern, newly built vicarage for the successful applicant. All costs associated with moving will of course be met by the Diocese.

Thank you for taking the time to consider and pray for this opportunity. If this is a role that ex- cites you, we would very much like to hear from you and look forward to receiving your application. If you would like an informal conversation about any aspect of the post please do get in touch.

Please submit your application on the application form downloadable from Pathways.

Yours in Christ’s name and service

Ven Derek Chedzey, Archdeacon of Hereford

Introduction from the Rural Dean.

Welcome to the Wye Reaches Benefice. Thank you for taking the time to have a look at this group of five parishes in Herefordshire and Monmouthshire. We are part of a large Deanery covering the market town of Ross on Wye and many villages and hamlets.

We face a number of challenges as we continue to proclaim the good news of Jesus in our Deanery. One of those challenges is how we best use the skills of lay people and clergy. As a Clergy Chapter and with the Deanery Mission and Pastoral Committee we are looking at how we deploy those talents across the Deanery. This means a change in the way that clergy work and we are keen to break out of the fixed parochial roles that clergy have traditionally held.

In view of this, we are hoping that the new person will be able to split their time with 80% going to support the parishes and 20% to the Deanery. We are looking for someone who has skills in helping the churches reach the unchurched, younger generations. We know we have lots of contacts, but turning them into followers of Jesus can be a difficult job, but supporting each other can be a way of helping us grow the kingdom of God.

You will find a welcoming and supportive Chapter and Churchwardens, PCCs and other officers and people keen to develop the church and its mission in the area of south Herefordshire and Monmouthshire.

Please feel free to contact me informally at any time on either 01981 540390 or via email [email protected].

Mark

Preb. Mark Johnson, Rector of the Wormelow Hundred Group and Rural Dean.

Our Team.

Penny originally from rural Devon has spent time in Tanzania, trained as a further education teacher. She was licensed as a Reader in 2003 and then ordained as a priest.

Jill was brought up in North Hereford- shire where she trained as a nurse. She was licensed as a reader in 1998, ordained as a deacon in 2006 and ordained as a priest in 2013. She has a Revd. Penny Powdrill Acting Vicar special ministry as Chaplain to local Revd. Jill Stephens

Nursing Homes. 4 What we are looking for in our new Vicar.

 A leader who will take the five parishes forward.  Someone who is keen to get involved with all aspects of parish and community life.  A good listener who can put ideas into action.  The ability to understand the different needs of all five churches. To continue to maintain meaningful worship.  To encourage the parishioners and the wider community to grow in faith.  To bring pastoral care to all generations.

The challenges for the future.

 A need to increase the number of people who attend and support the five churches.  An ageing church population.  A need to attract all generations back to worship.  How to spread to the wider community the warmth and optimism shown by parishioners .

What we have to offer.

 Five individual parishes each with its own distinctive character and plans for the future.  Strong and enthusiastic clergy team  All five parishes work well together in harmony.  Well maintained churches  Fairly good finances. Nothing of concern.  Welcoming churches led by welcoming parishioners.  A popular parish magazine written in conjunction with the neighbouring “ Borders Group” benefice.  Lay led services.  Involvement with Whitchurch C of E , Primary School, Wyesham Primary School and Agincourt pre -prep School. Plus many care homes in the area.  Talented and dedicated organists.

 A strong and enthusiastic non stipendiary team

 As a Benefice we have an ecumenical attitude to all worshippers.

5 Location of the five parishes.

St. Peter’s Church— Dixton St. Dubricius Church—Whitchurch All Saints Church—Bishopswood

Historical heritage of AONB which attracts the vibrant market tourists throughout the towns. year for walking and activity holidays.

St. James Church- Wyesham St.Swithin’s Church- Ganarew Good schools in all nearby towns. Excellent cultural events with local theatres and cinemas. Abergavenny Food Festival and Hay on Wye literary festival close proximity.

Monmouth to Cardiff - 1hour Easy access to M50, M4 and M5. Ross to Hereford - 3/4 hour Easy access to the Forest of No longer tolls on Severn Dean , Brecon Beacons and Bridge. many other scenic treats.

6 The five distinct church communities.

Bishopswood—All Saints Church. Referred to locally as ‘the church in the woods’, All Saints is nestled within the trees high above the River Wye. The church has strong links with the Village Hall – a well established popular hub for the lively village community. All Saints uses the hall on the 1st Sunday of the month to host a Big Breakfast fundraiser. Working both ways, the church supports and shares events at the hall – It is a ‘village affair’ in Bishops- wood! All Saints Church - Bishopswood Whitchurch—St Dubricius Church. A church school within the parish with lots of links with parishioners on the Gov- erning Body. Good, close links with the community. Church runs Knitter and Natter, Good Neighbours Coffee Mornings, Sticky Fingers Playgroup. Thursday said communion followed by a discussion with a Taizé service once a month on a Friday. Community lunches are held every other week. The most utilised church in the parish. There is always something going on. St. Dubricius Church—Whitchurch Ganarew— St Swithins Church. Easy to get to and in an idyllic setting, there is a loyal and welcoming congregation. Two services each month as well as two in the adjacent care homes. The active PCC organises unusual well attended fund raising events, reaching out to a wider community of more than just one parish. There are plans underway to run an Eco– Church at the local farm. St.Swithin’s Church- Ganarew Dixton—St. Peter’s Church. A loyal group of parishioners who come from near and far to worship at Dixton. The church has put on exhibitions of art and music concerts. The building is much loved by walkers, as it is on the Wye Valley Walk, and by many in Monmouth who do not worship there, some of whom recently volunteered to help paint the exterior. It is open all day every day. The church is next door to Haberdasher's Agincourt School, who use it on a regular basis. St Peter’s Church—Dixton Wyesham - St. James. Church The church is at the centre of the community in Wyesham with the vicarage within easy walking distance of the church. Members of the church are Governors at the local school and links are well established. A weekly prayer meeting involvement with other church groups in the area. Once a month a community Coffee Morning with the best cakes in Monmouth. A “pop up” café in the summer months in the church, has brough the community together and forged lasting links. St. James Church - Wyesham

Please note all of our five churches are steeped in history. For more further details please look online. 7 The five distinct church communities and how we work together.

Just a short note explaining how the Wye Reaches Benefice Profile was compiled. A representative of the five churches worked together to come up with ideas. A draft form was taken to each individual PCC for comments and those views and changes were then incorpo- rated in the final document approved at a joint PCC meeting.