Parish Statement 2019

St. Mary’s of the Purification Church

St. Andrew’s Mission Hall

St. Simon and St. Jude’s Church

OUR NEW INCUMBENT

The United Benefice of Blidworth and Rainworth are looking for a new Incumbent. Could it be you?

The types of qualities we are looking for in our new priest include the following:

Qualities Required

• A person of prayer and deep faith who will put God at the front as we are led into the future.

• Someone who is committed to being a leader in our church and the community, building on our work with Partnership for Missional Church in a way which encourages, supports and motivates.

• A priest whose experience has shown them that good pastoral care is a vital basis for wider engagement and evangelism within a parish.

• A person who is supportive of our style of worship, whilst seeking to bring fresh insight.

• A good communicator who sees the strengths of social media in sharing the Christian faith.

• Someone who values good management of time and resources and is confident in speaking about Christian giving.

In return you will find that we are friendly, welcoming people, who are eager to move forward in faith and meet the challenges of the future.

If you have these qualities and are interested in our Benefice please read on and see what we are about.

WHERE ARE WE?

You can find us towards the north of Nottinghamshire in a less well-known area of the county. We are two adjoining villages north of Nottingham, sandwiched between the A614, A60 and A617, with easy access to the M1. Mansfield is the nearest town at 5 miles away and the City of Nottingham is about 12 miles south of us. Sutton in Ashfield, Chesterfield, Newark and Southwell are other towns close by. Sheffield’s Meadow Hall (large shopping centre) can be reached within 50 minutes and the train service from Newark to London now only takes an hour and a half.

The surrounding countryside of Blidworth and Rainworth is very attractive with a mixture of farmland, heathland and forest. There are some fabulous views from high points in the villages.

Clumber Park, Rufford Abbey, Sherwood Forest and Newstead Abbey are all within easy driving distance and there are numerous footpaths and cycle tracks around. Center Parcs is only 8 miles up the road and we have local amenities for children such as Wheelgate Park and White Post Farm.

Major Oak at Sherwood Forest

The economy of the area has changed dramatically since the decline of the coal mining industry. There has been a lot of housing development in the last 20 years and many of the new inhabitants commute to Nottingham and further afield. Light industry has also been developed locally.

Autumn at Rufford Park

WHERE YOU WOULD LIVE

The Vicarage, at 27 St Peter’s Drive, Rainworth, was built c.1977. It is a detached, 4 bedroomed dwelling. It has a lounge, dining room, large study and a separate garage, as well as ample extra parking.

Front view of the house.

The house has lawned gardens with planted borders at the back. Also at the back of the garden is land belonging to the church and Diocese but it is overgrown at the moment. When cleared there would be a path directly to the church.

The back view of the house.

Side view of the house showing study window.

Parking for several cars. Garage on right.

WHO’S WHO In the United Benefice of Blidworth and Rainworth

Licenced Lay Minister Marilyn Brown (Readers) Stephanie Smart Sharon Winders

Reader Emeritus Leila Southcott Stephen Fox

Recognised Lay Minister Maureen Garner

Church Warden Blidworth Kathleen McCready

Church Wardens Rainworth Susan Daunt Marie Wealleans

Our Licenced Lay Ministers are very conscientious and work hard throughout the Benefice. They lead worship, preach, conduct funerals and take ‘Home’ Communion. They are a good team and work well together.

Our readers below from left to right are Marilyn, Sharon and Steph

Our Licenced Lay Ministers deliver courses that we run in our churches, including the Space to Pray sessions, as well as the Lent and Advent courses with support from our Recognised Lay Minister.

We are also very fortunate to have living in the United Benefice three retired Priests: • Reverend Geoff Maltby Canon Emeritus • Reverend Janet Heath • Reverend Canon Tony Evans.

They help by taking occasional services and Reverend Tony Evans is currently Chaplain of the local British Legion. We really appreciate their support.

There are several members of the congregation who have the Bishop’s permission to assist with the distribution of Communion.

Each church has its own Churchwardens and PCC. The churchwardens and readers meet on a monthly basis with the incumbent to discuss what is happening in the benefice. Here are Marie Wealleans, Sue Daunt and Kath McCready our Churchwardens.

Our Mission Statement

As a church we try to: • Participate in events and projects in the community and seek to meet and work with others who are not involved with the church.

• Celebrate the joy of laughter and friendship through joint social events within the church and community.

• Grow links with the community.

• Share the message and insights of scripture by ‘Dwelling in the Word’ and ‘Dwelling in the world.

• Ensure that at all times, in all places and in all dealings with other people Christian attitudes and values are promoted and upheld.

OUR PARISHES

Blidworth Parish showing St Mary’s Church and St Andrew’s Mission Hall

Rainworth Parish showing St Simon and St Jude’s Church

BLIDWORTH

ORIGINS AND HISTORY

Although the village is much older, the first mention of Blidworth is in the Domesday Book, where it states that, before the Conquest the Archbishop of York had a manor at Blidworth. The village was originally surrounded by Sherwood Forest and is frequently referred to in connection with the Robin Hood legend. It is said that Maid Marian lived in the parish prior to her marriage and Will Scarlett is reputedly buried in Blidworth churchyard.

The construction of Blidworth colliery, which opened in 1924, greatly increased the size of the village and the number of people living in it, transforming it from a small farming community.

CHURCH HISTORY

The church at Blidworth would originally have been a wooden structure replaced by one of stone during the Saxon period. It was known as the Chapel of St Lawrence until c.1485 when a tower was built onto “The Church of St Mary”. The tower is the only remaining part of this old church as the rest of it fell down in 1736. The repaired church was reopened in 1740 and further enlarged in 1839.

BLIDWORTH TODAY

The population of Blidworth is approximately 5000, made up of a few “old Blidworth” families, retired miners from the closed colliery and newcomers inhabiting the recent housing developments and vacated council and “pit” houses.

There is a GP Surgery and pharmacy in the village, as well as various shops which include a small Tesco’s, McColl’s, a Post Office and several food outlets. Blidworth also has an Industrial Estate and a Fire Station which is staffed by on-call fire fighters, who respond from home or a place of work when required.

The neighbourhood also has a Miners’ Welfare, a Leisure Centre, a Library and three public houses including the establishment at the nearby hamlet of Blidworth Bottoms. There is a range of activities on offer in the community, for example Brownies, Army Cadets, quiz nights, a football club and riding stables at Blidworth Bottoms. The local primary school Blidworth Oaks, is on Haywood Avenue and invites us to take assemblies each half term.

There are three care homes in the village where we try to visit on a monthly basis.

In November 2007 a war memorial honouring local soldiers was unveiled by the Blidworth family of a young soldier killed in Afghanistan. The area around it on Main Street has been landscaped and planted with flowers and shrubs to create a truly stunning feature and a magnificent monument. We lead the Annual Remembrance Service alongside the British Legion and Parish Council. This is well supported by the villages and the road is often closed.

ST MARY’S CHURCH

St Mary of the Purification was initially the mother church of the area, with both Ravenshead and Rainworth churches growing from it. The church building stands on a hill on Main Street and is now situated at the edge of the village as a consequence of the construction of the colliery and its associated housing built some distance away on farmland between

Blidworth and Rainworth. St Andrew’s Mission Hall is centred in this area.

The church itself is grade II listed, in a good state of preservation, with seating for about 120 people. The latest quinquennial inspection was in 2017. There is a very passionate group of bell ringers who practise weekly on Thursdays. The peal of six bells is rung on a monthly basis and for special occasions. The Tower Captain worships at Rainworth

Unfortunately, there is no car park at the church but there is an arrangement with the local pub for parking in their car park.

The churchyard, which is maintained by the District Council, has now been closed to new burials (exceptions are for families with a plot and approved faculty). Ashes can be interred in the Rose Garden adjacent to the church building or in a family plot in the graveyard. There are some war graves in the graveyard.

ST ANDREW’S MISSION HALL

The hall is situated in the area of the village which was built to house colliery workers. It has a kitchen, toilets including facilities for the disabled, a chapel able to accommodate about 30 people and a small office. The Benefice’s photocopier is located here. An Ecclesiastical report in 2016 highlighted some work that needs doing and is still in progress. Subsequent to the report applications for grants for the work were applied for, which have recently been rejected. The PCC has therefore re prioritised the “priorities” from the report and are addressing these issues.

Talk and Tea, a group formed to promote the welfare of more isolated people, meets here on the 3rd Monday of the month. It’s also used for our Sunday Lunches Service, monthly coffee mornings, weekly Bingo and joint social evenings.

The hall is hired out for functions as well as being used by local groups including Brownies, Guides and Studio 96 School of Dance.

WORSHIP

Major festivals are celebrated in a variety of ways and special services include an Annual Memorial Service, Tree of Memories and Christingle.

The tradition here is mainly in the middle ground of Anglican Worship. Common Worship is used at the 9am Eucharist services, which are held every 1st and 3rd Sunday. Morning Prayer takes place on the 2nd and 4th Sunday. Each service is followed by coffee at the back of church.

On the first Sunday of the month there is a Communion Tree of Memories Service at St Andrew’s followed by lunch. The weekly Communion Service is at 9.30am on Wednesdays is also held at St. Andrew’s. When there is a fifth Sunday in the month, a joint Eucharist service is held here at 10am. On this Sunday there are no services at St. Mary’s and St. Simon and St. Jude’s. See page 27 for full service pattern. Attendance for Communion services on the 1st and 3rd Sunday is around 20. The Electoral Roll stands at 40 as at March 2019. The congregation is mainly elderly but very enthusiastic and willing.

ROCKINGS

The church is the location for the annual Rocking Ceremony. This was usual in churches dedicated to St Mary of the Purification all over Europe at one time, but as far as can be ascertained, ours is the only church anywhere continuing with this custom. The ritual came into being as a Bible play with the object of teaching. It consists of rocking a baby boy before the

altar in a flower-decked cradle in memory of the Infant Saviour’s presentation to God at the Purification. The service takes place on the first Sunday in February. The youngster selected, is the boy born closest to Christmas Day in the village. He is baptised during the Sunday morning service and the Rockings Service takes place later that afternoon. Nowadays the help of the local midwives is much appreciated in finding a suitable child. The cradle is decorated by our own Stephen Fox.

In 2022 we will be celebrating the centenary of the Rocking Ceremony.

2019 Rocking Baby

2019 Rocking Ceremony

CURRENT FINANCES

Parish share is currently paid by a payment of £1000 per month and topped up when funds are available.

Overview January to June 2019

Receipts Payments Planned Giving £5,304.00 Parish Share £5,900.00 Collections £724.00 Utilities £451.00 Donations £220.00 Printing £92.00 Gift Aid Reclaims £1,404.00 Salaries Admin/Organist £180.00 Occasional Office Fees £1,312.00 Clergy and Staff Expenses £278.00 Coffee Mornings £1,752.00 Insurance £2,227.00 Fund Raising £294.00 Church Running Expenses £628.00 Rents £903.00 Cleaning St Andrews £75.00 St Andrews Bills £896.00 Framework (Homeless £38.00 Fabric Fund Savings £850.00 Charity)

Framework (Homeless Charity) £38.00

Total Receipts £11,951.00 Total Payments £11,615.00

Excess receipts over payments £336.00

Parish Share Account Balances

2019 - £17,832 General Account as of 28 June £2,505.00 Estimated Shortfall - £5,932 Fabric Account Balance £4,687.00

London Account £4,876.00

The estimated October shortfall of £4,000 which is about the normal for this time of year. Gift Aid claims, Christmas Fayre and The 200 Club may make up the shortfall.

RAINWORTH

LOCAL HISTORY

Rainworth started as a settlement close to a Roman road that went through Mansfield and Newark and provided access to the coalfields of Derbyshire for the Roman settlements in the area to the east of Nottinghamshire. The sheltered location and access to clean water from the River Idle (now called Rainworth Water), meant that the area was often used by travelling Romans as a camp site.

In the 16th century, it was recorded that it was a peaceful hamlet with 13 dwellings: -

• Three Thorn Hollow Farm, • Six houses in the Old Square known as Ramsden Croft, • The original `Robin Hood Inn` (now Tesco’s) named the "Sherwood Inn", • The toll house nicknamed `The Inkpot` • and a handful of houses on the road leading to Mansfield

The people who lived in Rainworth were farmers or nurserymen. Until the opening of the railway line linking Mansfield to Southwell in 1871, there was no public transport and the only way to get from place to place was to walk.

In 1911, two mineshafts were sunk marking the start of work at Rufford Colliery. Only two years later the colliery suffered its worst pit disaster when 13 men were killed in an accident. As the pit prospered, so the need for housing grew and new housing was built along Kirklington Road.

In 1914 Heathlands, the first school to be built in Rainworth, was opened and soon after Python Hill School in 1924. It wasn’t until 1962 that Joseph Whitaker School was built giving Rainworth its own secondary school

As well as growth, Rainworth has also seen decline. The local railway service was stopped and the station closed in 1965. Also, along with many other pits in the area, Rufford Colliery stopped producing coal in 1993.

RAINWORTH TODAY

The modern village of Rainworth is now mainly a commuter village for the towns of Mansfield, Newark and the city of Nottingham. The population is approximately 8000 and there is a variety of housing from former colliery homes and those owned by housing associations, to privately-owned homes of varying sizes. Rainworth is split between the Newark and Sherwood District and the Mansfield District of Nottinghamshire.

Currently, there is no heavy industry within the village but there is a growing industrial estate on the edge of the village, which includes car showrooms, office space and shops. The village itself has 3 small supermarkets as well as a variety of small shops and businesses, including several hairdressers, car sales and a DIY and car repair business. There is a petrol station near the shopping area on Kirklington Road and another small shopping area on Preston Road. Rainworth is very well served for takeaway food: - Chinese, Indian, Fish and Chips and Pizzas.

There is modern and well-equipped Health Centre and a GP surgery with an adjacent pharmacy, as well as a dental surgery. The village also benefits from a mobile library. There are 4 public houses and a snooker club as well as a Village Hall and the Miners’ Welfare. There is also a football club and pitches opposite the Miners’ Welfare.

The Village is by-passed by a dual carriageway, which is part of the A617 Mansfield to Newark Road. The main road through the village is a traffic-calmed area, with road humps.

The National Cycle Network goes through Rainworth Heath to Clipstone, along the old railway line. This heathland site covers over 16 hectares and includes areas of both wet and dry heath. As heathland is now very scarce in the UK, Rainworth Heath, along with Rainworth Water, has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The Joseph Whitaker School (secondary and sixth form) is situated mid-way between the villages of Rainworth and Blidworth and takes in pupils from the surrounding villages. The village has three primary schools, Python Hill Academy, Lake View Primary and Heathlands Primary. Sure Start is also located in Lake View School grounds. We have good links with Python Hill and Lake View and are developing The Parables, school visit new links with Heathlands. The church hosts

Harvest, Christmas and Leavers services including Experience Christmas, Easter and The Parables for Python Hill, Lake View and Blidworth Oaks.

Rainworth is also home to Dawn House School. This is a specialist school run by ‘I CAN’ for children with severe or complex communication difficulties including Asperger’s Syndrome.

There are also two nursing homes which are visited on a monthly basis when possible.

Standing in the Church grounds there is a war memorial. The main Remembrance Parade alternates between Blidworth and Rainworth with a smaller service held at the other memorial.

THE CHURCH BUILDING The Church of St Simon and St Jude is situated in the centre of the village at the junction of Kirklington Road with Southwell Road East. In 1890, Rainworth’s first church, a wooden building, was built. However, it was later replaced by a red brick building, which was built in 1938 and opened in June 1939. The entrance is on the south side of the church and has a ramp for wheelchair access. The church has a large foyer and an upper room, but there is currently no disabled access to the upper room. There are some catering facilities in both areas and there are also toilet facilities, including one with disabled access, in the foyer.

The upper room is used by the Rainbows, Brownies and on a Friday morning by a mental health craft group.

The latest quinquennial report was in 2017.

WORSHIP

The tradition here is again mainly in the middle ground of Anglican Worship. Common Worship is used at the 10.30am Eucharist services, which are held every 2nd and 4th Sunday. Occasionally we have used a variation of a communion service from the Iona Community. The third Sunday is All Age worship (currently Morning Worship) with the first Sunday being Morning Prayer. See page 27 for full service pattern.

Services on Sundays are followed by coffee in the foyer, served by a rota of people.

There are 65 names on the electoral roll, with the average attendance at Sunday services being around 45.

CURRENT FINANCES

Parish share is currently paid monthly.

Overview January to June 2019

Receipts Payments Planned Giving £10,978.00 Parish Share £13,212.00 Collections £1,619.00 Utilities/Insurance £2,635.00 Donations £386.00 Printing £386.00 Gift Aid Reclaims £2,734.00 Salaries Admin/Organist £545.00 Occasional Office Fees £749.50 Clergy Expenses £351.00 Coffee Shop £1,575.00 Other Staff Expenses £113.00 Fund Raising £285.00 Church running Expenses £1,243.00 Rents £595.00 Cleaning £135.00

Missional Expenses £120.00 Children’s Society £183.00 Fabric Fund Savings £1,200.00

Framework (Homeless £57.00 Charity) Children’s Society £183.00 £57.00 Framework (Homeless Charity)

Total Receipts £19,161.50 Total Payments £20,180.00

Excess receipts over payments -£1,018.50

Account Balances

General Account as of 28 June £1,912.00

Fabric Account Balance £3,698.00

LIFE IN THE BENEFICE

PARTNERSHIP FOR MISSIONAL CHURCH The Partnership for Missional Church (PMC) is an exciting initiative, delivered in the UK by Church Mission Society (https://churchmissionsociety.org/churches/partnership- missional-church/), that helps to set churches free into their mission call. It was recently given a seal of approval in an independent report. It is a three year process for churches to help them to connect with the activity of God, each other, their mission and their local area.

We decided to take part in this initiative four years ago and have completed the three years, but it continues to shape the life and work of the Benefice.

During the three years of the PMC process we saw the introduction of several new spiritual practices including:

• Dwelling in the Word - in which we listen to each other and are listened to as we reflect on a Bible passage that we return to again and again over a period of time. • Announcing the Kingdom – a discipline of actively noticing God at work and sharing this with others so that they can see it too; • Dwelling in the World – a practice of engaging with those we meet outside of the church, discovering their passions and discerning where we might join with them; • Hospitality – taking time both to welcome and listen to people and to allow ourselves to be welcomed as we receive hospitality from others.

These practices have not just been introduced to church members, but they have also been used with people from the wider community. (Appendix 1).

In September 2017, the People of Peace (POP) group was formed, with members from both villages and churches. Members include local businesses, schools, Detached Youth Group and a local councillor. Spiritual practices are an essential part of this group’s meetings, these include opening and closing prayer as well as “Dwelling in the Word”, currently led by church members. The whole group has engaged comfortably in these practices.

There was some concern before the first meeting about how the community members would react to the practice of dwelling in the word. It wasn’t a problem, however, as they were happy to take part and share their thoughts on our reading, relating it back to their own lives. Lighting up the Community - Rainworth

Since the formation of the POP group who meet in Sam’s Workplace (which offers work experience to young people with a learning disability) the members have arranged a number of community events including ‘Lighting up the Community’ where there was a ceremonial lighting up of the Christmas Tree outside Rainworth Church; showering the villages with homemade angels with messages of peace at Easter and regular Community Litter Picks. The latest project was working together to arrange the OneLIFE Community Harvest Celebration in September 2019.

Village litter pick with POP

One of the many angels found around the villages

OneLIFE Community Harvest Celebration

The OneLIFE weekend happened when we would normally have had our Harvest Festivals in our Churches, so we asked the members of the People of Peace Group if they would be prepared to help us with a Community Harvest Celebration.

There was overwhelming support, and all were keen to help.

• We explained that there would be a Christian element to the event and that we would be having a short service and speakers who would talk about Jesus. All were in agreement. • It is always understood that People of Peace events would have no cost implications for those who attended and so we agreed to approach the Diocese for a grant from the ‘Growing Disciples Fund.’ • We decided that we would use a community venue rather than hold it at church. Blidworth Miners’ Welfare was approached, and gave us free use of the room and outside areas. (We sent a cheque for the requested fee and deposit, but they tore it up after the event.) • Sam’s Workplace provided the tea and coffee, and served it for us. • We approached the local baker, who does catering for other church events, and he provided hot cobs, and all the accompaniments, reducing the usual price by more than half, also sending his staff to serve for us. • The local Social Action Hub, and Youth Club provided activities for children, face painting, making flowerpot men, games with a parachute, ball games etc. • The ‘Miner to Major’ Environmental group came with objects bringing the natural world into the lives of people who came, and offered painting and craft activities. • The Newark and Sherwood Play forum came with Harvest related activities for children. • The service was developed and delivered by Steph Smart and Maureen Garner, with the speaker being the Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend Paul Bayes. • We had well over 100 people at this event, most of whom joined in with the service, and children were very willing to come up and participate. • The Public address system and microphones etc were lent to us free of charge, by a friend of one of our PoP members. • All in all we had a very successful afternoon, which was enjoyed and appreciated by all who came. • Each service leaflet included and invitation to a ‘Travelling Together’ course, which would take place during the next few weeks. (adapted from ‘Essence’).

LIFE ON THE PCC

There are two active PCC’s who work together to support the Benefice. Each PCC has its own secretary and treasurer. Both PCCs have vacancies. We meet every two months.

One of the outcomes of the PMC process was joint PCC meetings which have been happening now for the past year. Although members are only able to vote for their own PCC actions, it has encouraged a shared ownership of the Benefice especially in our outreach. It Rainworth Churchwardens Sue and Marie has also enabled all members of each PCC to understand the difficulties they each face with finances and the fabric of the buildings and to offer support and advice.

At each PCC meeting, we, Dwell in the Word, note where we have been to receive Hospitality and Announce the Kingdom. Each secretary takes it in turns to minute the meetings.

Blidworth Churchwarden Kath

OUR MISSION

We follow our mission statement (see page 6) and have three year action plan which is shared with the Benefice and community as a handy leaflet. (See Appendix 2)

Our three year action plan:

Year 1 – September 2018 to September 2019 Has now been completed successfully and we are now in the process of putting SMART plans together for year 2.

Year 2 - September 2019 to September 2020 The focus is on being ‘Open and welcoming’ through • Church buildings open and accessible to all • Different service times and days • More use of St. Andrew’s Mission Hall • Making our buildings look more welcoming • Dwelling in the World

Year 3 - September 2020 to September 2021 Need to remember and plan for Rocking’s Centenary February 2022

To keep us on track we have an annual pattern of PCC and PMC work:

Month Action

September Putting in place next 12 months focus November Reporting back January Reporting back March Reporting back May PCC away day to work on next 12 month plan June Review previous year and start bringing SMART plans together for September

All work and events that have taken place over the year are reported in our Annual Reports Booklet in preparation for the AGM held in April.

MUSIC BY GORDON FOSTER, MUSIC DIRECTOR

In terms of music we tend to be middle of the road. Because the organ is the main means of accompaniment in both churches, we tend to choose the type of hymns which the organ does best, but this is not to infer that we only use traditional music. Many modern hymns and worship songs work very well with the organ, and for those

that don’t, we have not only the guitars, but also keyboards available. Both regular congregations enjoy their singing and know how to take the roof off, which also makes it a joy for me to accompany them.

At Rainworth, we have a small but competent unison choir. The choir are not on duty on the third Sunday when the music group leads the music, nor the Fifth Sunday services held at the mission.

Unfortunately, there is no longer a regular choir at Blidworth, but a few of the former members are still there in the congregation and join with the Rainworth choir for some United Benefice services, including weddings and funerals when appropriate, when their contribution is much appreciated.

It has been our practice down the years for the Vicar and me to meet on a monthly basis to choose the hymns together for the following month. I would be more than happy for this to continue.

Up in the rafters at St Mary’s church

At St Simon and St Jude’s Church

COFFEE SHOPS

Every Friday and Saturday morning from 10am to 12 noon there is a coffee shop in the foyer of St. Simon and St. Jude’s. This has been running for over 25 years and is well supported by the villagers and church alike. The coffee shop serves hot beverages, homemade cakes and toast. On the first Saturday of the month there are cooked breakfasts. The coffee shop is a welcoming place where you can come to meet and make friends. In the foyer we also have a well-stocked second-hand bookstall.

A monthly coffee morning also takes place at St. Andrew’s Mission Hall on the last Saturday of the month except August and December. This event is really important in raising money for the church. The coffee morning is again supported by the villagers who come to socialise, enjoy something from the breakfast menu and perhaps buy from one of the stalls or win something on the tombola. In

November the event becomes the Christmas Fair with a large raffle.

Both coffee shops are run by a dedicated team of volunteers and provide essential funds for the churches.

SUNDAY LUNCHES

On the first Sunday of each month, Sunday lunch follows a short Eucharist service in St. Andrew’s. This allows people to attend a service who would otherwise find it difficult to do so, as well as to have a chat and to eat together. At the moment we cater for approximately 20-25 people.

TALK AND TEA

Talk and Tea takes place on the 3rd Monday of each month at St. Andrew’s at 3pm. It provides an opportunity for people who are lonely, perhaps because of bereavement or isolation or just lack of company, who would welcome being able to have a cup of tea and a chat with others.

There is always a delicious afternoon tea, followed by a quiz or occasionally a guest speaker. After tea there is a short act of worship in the chapel, with people able to choose their favourite hymns. Over the past couple of years there have been trips to the Tea Room at Hollybeck Garden Centre and on a few occasions students from Joseph Whittaker School have come along and prepared the afternoon tea.

It is lovely to have an extension of our church family who come together in a different way.

LENT AND ADVENT GROUPS

Lent and Advent groups are held each year along with Space to Pray which is held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. In 2018 we held an eight week course ‘Time for Scripture’ using material from the Bible Society, which was well attended. Following on from this we have a monthly Bible Book Club which meets to study and learn together.

There are also plans in place for an Essence course to run after the oneLIFE event in September 2019. The Essence course for week1 was fully prepared and refreshments provided. Six church family members came to be welcomers and to support the team. Unfortunately, no one came. A decision was made by the leaders not to proceed.

SOCIAL AND FUNDRAISING

Summer and Christmas fairs and cream teas take place in each church in order to raise much needed funds. Alongside this Blidworth runs a 200 club and Rainworth a 50/50 club.

There is a variety of social events organised by an active social committee for the whole Benefice. For the past three years, we have enjoyed taking over the Archer, a ‘Landmarks’ Specialist College, for an evening Christmas meal.

FOODBANK

The Benefice actively supports the Foodbank and donations are taken to Mansfield Woodhouse for distribution. As indicated previously regarding the split boundaries, a decision was taken to support Mansfield rather than Ollerton.

FAITH AND LIGHT

We had a very successful Faith and Light community (working alongside people with special needs) for 25 years. However, last year it came to a natural end. The good news is that some members still regularly attend the weekly Sunday worship with their carers. They are viewed as part of the Congregation.

SHERWOOD HOUSE

Sherwood House is a secure Men’s Mental Health Unit. For many years we had had strong links to the unit, both with the residents and staff. We visit on the 1st Tuesday evening of each month and monthly on Thursday mornings, sharing fellowship over coffee and biscuits. Our Christmas Carol service is greatly appreciated and everyone looks forward to it. Some of the residents also attend Sunday worship under supervision. Members of Sherwood House are accepted as part of the Congregation.

PASTORAL CARE

We have a small but very active Pastoral care team who meet on a Saturday morning once a month. The team visits the sick and housebound and on request will also take ‘Home’ Communion. There is also a team who visit the nursing homes regularly.

BELL RINGERS

St. Mary’s has a peel of six bells. As previously mentioned, there is an active band of bell ringers who meet on a Thursday evening between 7.45pm and 9pm.

CHURCHES TOGETHER

This is a monthly meeting and members are drawn from leadership teams from the churches within the Benefice the two Methodist Churches and Sherwood Community Church. We have worked together to run a children’s club for a few days during the school summer holidays. We dish out mince pies together at Christmas. Once a year they take part in a pulpit swop and during Easter support the Good Friday Walk of Witness from Blidworth to Rainworth.

WIDER, YOUNGER, DEEPER

As a Benefice we actively support the mission ‘Wider, Younger, Deeper’ and feel that through our work with PMC and the resulting POP group, this has created more opportunities for outreach in the community.

Wider Younger Deeper

Continue to build on PMC School links growing PMC

POP (people of peace) POP meet in Sam’s Monthly Space to Pray Workplace Lighting up the Experience events for the Opportunities for the community, Christmas local schools congregation to share event arranged by the what God is up to POP (Announcing the Kingdom). Remembrance services Developing links with the Worship including the Tree of local youth club Memories Heritage Links with Sherwood Monthly Space for House, residents and staff Scripture Rockings Service Links with nursing homes, Trust with each other, residents and their staff able to share and discuss without fear. Talk and Tea Continued links with Faith Allowed to grow spiritually and Light Supporting the Foodbank Good Friday Walk of Witness, with Churches Together Posada figures, moving around the villages during December During Easter showering the villages with Angels, arranged by the POP. oneLIFE harvest event arranged by the POP

CURRENT SERVICE PATTERN

St Mary’s Church St Simon and St St Andrew’s Jude’s Church Mission Hall 1st Sunday 9am 10.30am 12.30pm Holy Communion Morning Prayer Holy Communion Sunday lunch 2nd Sunday 8am 10.30am Said Holy Communion Holy Communion 9am Morning Prayer 3rd Sunday 9am 10.30am Holy Communion All Age (currently Morning Worship) 4th Sunday 9am 10.30am Morning Prayer Holy Communion 5th Sunday 10am in a month Holy Communion

MIDWEEK SERVICES

St. Mary’s St. Simon and St. Jude’s St. Andrew’s Church Church Mission Hall Tuesday 8.30am Morning Prayer Wednesday 9.30am 1st, 3rd, 4th Holy Communion Wednesday 9.am 2nd Morning Prayer Thursday 9am Morning Prayer 9.30am Holy Communion Friday 8.30am Morning Prayer

During 2018 there were 17 baptisms, 7 weddings and 58 funeral services, including those taken directly at the local crematorium. In the last 5 years including fresh expressions approximately 40 have come to faith within the United Benefice.

Baptisms currently take place at St. Simon and St. Jude’s on the 2nd Sunday at 12.30pm and at St Mary’s on the 3rd Sunday at 4pm.

Vestry hour for information and booking of weddings and baptisms is held every Thursday at St Simon and St Jude's 6.30-7.30pm

BLIDWORTH SWOT ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

• Beautiful historic Church • Church located at the top of a • St. Andrew’s Mission Hall well steep hill on edge of village positioned in the parish. Useful for • Parking by courtesy of the local routine activities, special events public house means that it is and generating income from sometimes restricted lettings • Distance between the church • Good at fund-raising and St Andrew’s Hall • Full payment of the Parish Share • Old listed building needs • Friendly, cheerful, willing and constant maintenance welcoming congregation conforming to standards for • Unique Rocking Service heritage buildings • Good attendance at outreach • Ageing congregation services • Not enough able-bodied people • Occasional community services to take on extra activities • Weekday service in St Andrew’s • Reasonable sized congregation, Hall Chapel but weekly attendance affected • Bell Ringers by ‘one-in-three Sundays’ syndrome • Constitution of the village has changed since the closure of the colliery OPPORTUNITIES THREATS

• More use of St Andrew’s Hall • Age of congregation members • Much visited churchyard • Need for relentless fundraising • Proportionally small numbers in congregation compared to population of village, leading to lack of money and personnel

RAINWORTH SWOT ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES • Warm, cheery welcome to every • Ageing congregation with few service. Newcomers quickly young families. accepted and involved. • Some feel that styles of worship • Friendly and lively congregation. better suited to older people. • Variety of worship accepted by most • Plain, redbrick building, not as people. attractive as traditional church. • Well established small choir. • Village is served by 2 separate • Quota paid in full district councils • Many experienced and gifted people • Difficulties selling land who contribute in a voluntary capacity in many areas of church work. • Coffee shop well used by villagers and those living in local supported accommodation. • Good relationships with local businesses and public houses. • Church building used by a variety of community groups. • Well-maintained church building. • Large foyer/meeting room and upper room. • Toilet and limited kitchen facilities. • Good parking and disabled access. • No burial ground

OPPORTUNITIES THREATS • Install disabled access to upper • Now a commuter village room therefore little community spirit • Faith and Light group no longer • Youth culture of intimidation and meet but a few members still attend vandalism services

UNITED BENEFICE SWOT ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

• Diverse and well organised • Lack of administrative support in activities: coffee mornings, Lent some areas and Advent Groups, Monthly • No Parish magazine. Sunday lunches for elderly and • No facilities for children or young housebound people • Outreach includes schools and nursing homes, mental health unit, Churches Together, PACT. Baptism and marriage preparation, Christingle, Remembrance Day and Memorial services. • Good links with schools, local nursing homes and local businesses. • Weekly pew leaflet. • Rapport between Rainworth and Blidworth congregations. • Hard-working and successful social committee. • POP (People of Peace) community group set up as a result of PMC, which has created better communication and links with other village groups. • Development of outreach despite a shortage of individuals in good enough health • Joint Benefice service at St Andrews on the fifth Sunday • Talk and Tea, monthly outreach and service at St Andrews • Three Licensed Readers • Retired clergy willing to officiate • Joint PCC meetings

OPPORTUNITIES THREATS

• Developing relationships with • Irrelevance of Church Family life schools. in 21st century • Expanding children’s work • Complacency and apathy. • Developing choir and music • Deanery changes in the • More variety in services allocation of clergy. • Develop the website and better use of social media

Appendix 1

BLIDWORTH AND RAINWORTH PEOPLE OF PEACE

The ‘People of Peace’ came together in September of 2017, as a result of the work that had been done over the previous 18 months through our Benefice involvement with the ‘Partnership for Missional Church’. Our aim is to work together in a peaceful community, and for members of the community to connect with each other. We are very keen, as a church, to make sure that people in the community know who we are and what we do, as well as for us to find out, and join in with things that are happening in the community and to join in with them.

There are many ‘People of Peace’ in our Community, many of whom help and attend events that we put on over the year. However, there are about 15 of us who meet fairly regularly over the year, mainly when we are planning something for the community. The group consists about 50/50 of people from our churches, and others from the community. These include a local councillor, youth workers and social action entrepreneur, charity shop manager, community café manager, community association chair and members of the Rainworth Co-op. There are others who join us sometimes as part of our planning. We meet in Sam’s Workplace Community Café, as it was important that the community feel that we are part of them, rather than that we expect them to become a church group. However, each of our meeting start with prayer, and ’Dwelling in the Word’, when our members often bring out things which we, as church people, have not considered. They often relate things from the passage to their own lives.

It was one of the lay members of our group who decided to call us a POP Group, and it definitely has had an impact. People around the villages, and even in the District council, as well as the Diocese have heard about us. Another member came up with a mnemonic, for PEACE, People Enthusiastic About Community and Environment, and all felt that the late Jo Cox’s words were an inspiration: - ‘WE ARE FAR MORE UNITED AND HAVE FAR MORE IN COMMON WITH EACH OTHER,

THAN THINGS WHICH DIVIDE US.’

We have held several community litter picks, covering as much as we could in both villages in 2 hours on a Saturday morning. Over the 2 sessions we held last year we had 55 volunteers and collected 139 bags of rubbish, 2 Tyres and a duvet. We are grateful to N&SDC who loaned us the equipment. We have had 20 hi-visibility jackets donated so that not only are we safe, but the community sees who we are and what we are doing. They have ‘People of Peace’ emblazoned on the back, and it certainly gives rise to comments and questions.

We had our first ‘Angel Shower’ during Holy Week 2019 when we showered the 2 villages with over 900 handmade angels, each with an inspirational tag. We invited social media responses and were overwhelmed by the photographs and remarks made by the community. We decided to do it again in 2019, with many more volunteers from the community, e.g. a knitting group from the local pub, and gave out 1600 angels. This time the people who had helped make them were invited to attach the labels and to distribute the angels around the villages. This made many more people aware of the churches, the PoP Group and the fact that we are not just in a building, but out in the community too.

The labels also had an invitation to the Easter Services on the back.

At the beginning of December 2018 we held our second, very successful ‘Light up our Community’ event, this seems set to become an annual event and reaches many people who might not otherwise come to church. We have support from the local shops, who give all the food and drink free of charge, Sam’s Workplace, who serve all the refreshments, with their Adults with Learning Disabilities. We

33 have up to 400 people attending this event, which takes to form of a brief Service of Carols, and a Nativity Tableau by the local youth Group, (not a church group), as well as Christmas songs, Santa

Claus, and a Round Table Group with their sleigh etc. As a result of our connections with the community, we have taken part in other events, as a church family, which include, holding stands at community information events in Blidworth, attending a ‘Question Time’ event with the Sherwood MP, the Notts Police and Crime Commissioner, the Chair of N&SDC and a local head teacher, when we were able to talk about our POP Group, and we had a free activity for children at Rainworth Village Hall summer Fair, where we also had some ‘Jesus Deck’ experiences with adults.

One of the best things about working together with People of Peace from the community, is that they have many ideas and contacts which we did not have ourselves, and also their willingness to not only take part, but to do much of the organising and practical work of preparation. Their enthusiasm for joining in with our activities and inviting us to theirs is wonderful.

Our latest venture was to organise a Community Harvest Celebration as part of the Archbishop of York’s OneLIFE Weekend in our Diocese. (See separate page.)