THE PARISH OF ALDINGBOURNE, BARNHAM AND EASTERGATE
PARISH PROFILE and STATEMENT OF NEEDS July 2020
CONTENTS
Welcome to our Parish . Page 3 Our Vision. Page 4 Summary of what we offer. Page 5 St Mary’s, Aldingbourne. Page 6 St Mary the Virgin, Barnham. Page 7 St George’s, Eastergate. Page 8 Worship in our Parish. Page 9 Our Ministry Team. Page 10 Administration. Page 11 Children and Youth Work. Page 12 Local Schools. Page 13 Study, Prayer and Reflection. Page 14 Social and Fundraising. Page 15 Outreach Activities. Page 16 Parish Finance. Page 17 The Rectory. Page 18 Our response to Covid-19 Page 19
The Priest we seek. Page 20 Appendix—Pattern of Services Page 21
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WELCOME TO OUR PARISH
INTRODUCTION We are a parish of over 9,000 people in the centre of the Sussex coastal plain bounded on the north by the South Downs and to the south by the sea - we are 7 miles east of the Cathedral city of Chichester and 5 miles north-east of the seaside resort of Bognor Regis. We are part of the Diocese of Chichester and our Diocesan Bishop is the Right Revd Dr Martin Warner. Our Deanery is one of the largest in the Diocese and includes a number of small rural communities as well as the towns of Bognor Regis, Littlehampton and Arundel. Originally we were three separate parishes but since 1992 we have been a single entity: The Parish of Aldingbourne, Barnham and Eastergate. There are 151 names on the electoral roll of whom 25 are resident outside the Parish. Our three churches are of equal status and Parish life is managed by six Churchwardens (currently five) and one Parochial Church Council with a centralised financial system. The PCC has 23 members including three Deanery Synod representatives (2 elected and one ex-officio member who serves on General Synod). There are three main sub- committees: Ministry and Mission, Admin and Finance and Social and Fundraising. We have three beautiful churches, a large and enthusiastic congregation with diverse worship traditions and we are keen to reach out in service to the local community. We seek a faithful priest with a pastoral heart to lead us in the next stage of our life together. LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY In Barnham ‘Square’ there is a cluster of shops, takeaways and cafes and there are several pubs in the Parish. There are numerus convenience stores and the whole community is served by the Croft Surgery at Eastergate. There are good links to Chichester, Brighton and London by rail from Barnham. This is a good place to live, and although our villages are constantly expanding they each have a strong sense of identity and community. We have 2 active Parish Councils, well-used village halls and many local clubs and organisations.
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OUR VISION
OUR MISSION ACTION PLAN ATTENDING TO GOD To maintain the rich variety of worship in all three churches, respectful of their traditions. To promote quiet days, pilgrimages and retreats. To encourage a deeper commitment to prayer, Bible study and the sacramental life. To encourage the giving of money, time and talents in the service of God. To ensure that the churches continue to be open daily and adequately sign posted.
BUILDING CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY To develop the website and social media to promote church life. To continue to develop house groups and to support existing interest groups within the congregation To involve children and young people as fully as possible in church life. To ensure that all three churches have adequate heating, lighting and toilet facilities. To build on the close links with other denominations in the area.
COMMENDING GOD’S LOVE FOR THE WORLD To maintain the existing high level of care for the elderly within the wider Parish. To explore new ways of responding to the social needs of the community To extend the use of the Parish Office to provide a meeting place for voluntary organisations as well as church groups. To continue to maintain a close relationship with links with local schools. To develop overseas links.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
We are very conscious that our vision needs to expand and develop in order to meet the needs of our growing community. Within Arun District Council’s Local Plan there is provision for 4000 new homes to be built in the Barnham/Eastergate area, approximately 3000 of which are planned to be built on land to the south of Eastergate church. Further housing developments are imminently to be built within Eastergate village, and others in Barnham. Current proposals indicate that the large development will be provided with various communi- ty facilities including new schools, a library, doctors’ surgery, community hall and other public amenities. ‘Green’ access to Barnham’s village centre and railway station is planned.
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SUMMARY OF WHAT WE OFFER
Three beautiful, historic church buildings, valued by worshippers, villagers and visitors.
Rich and engaging worship centred around the Eucharist.
An enthusiastic worshipping community with deep commitment to public worship, private prayer and Christian service.
A desire to grow, both in numbers and spiritual depth, and to share the love of God in our community.
A willingness to respect differences of opinion and embrace each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.
An experienced team of lay and ordained colleagues with excellent administrative support.
Five dedicated churchwardens, an active PCC and centralised finances.
Commitment to the pastoral care and spiritual development of young and old.
Strong and fruitful ecumenical and overseas links.
A vibrant social life with excellent fundraising and outreach initiatives.
Commitment to fulfilling financial obligations and charitable giving.
STATEMENT ON PRIESTLY MINISTRY IN THE PARISH The Parish of Aldingbourne, Barnham and Eastergate encompasses a wide range of theological convictions and we seek to celebrate our diversity and respect our differences. We recognise that this is not always easy and has at times led to tensions.
At St Mary’s Barnham, sacramental ministry is offered in accordance with the discipline of The Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda (SSWSH). Fr Graham Reeves, a priest of The Society, has been licensed by the Bishop of Chichester as Associate Vicar in the Parish with special responsibility for St Mary’s Barnham.
Under this arrangement, whereby the Rector has been responsible for occasional offices at St Mary’s Barnham and for pastoral care of its congregation and parish, the celebration of the Eucharist on Sundays and Feast Days has been delegated to Fr Graham (assisted by other male priests as may be necessary). It is the practice that women priests do not undertake a sacramental ministry at St Mary’s Barnham. This arrangement has been underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding between the Rector, Fr Graham and the churchwardens of St Mary’s Barnham.
At St George’s Eastergate and St Mary’s Aldingbourne, worship and ministry follow a more contemporary style with the Eucharist celebrated by both male and female clergy. Both churches sit within the central Anglican tradition: St George’s has a strong emphasis in ministry to families and children while St Mary’s Aldingbourne provides ministry to a largely older congregation within a traditional Anglican style of worship.
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ST MARY’S ALDINGBOURNE
The civil parish of Aldingbourne is large and includes the communities of Norton, Nyton, Westergate, Woodgate, Lidsey and part of Fontwell as well as the village of Aldingbourne; the church is some distance from the growing population of many of these communities.
St. Mary’s is a Grade 1 listed building which has witnessed over 900 years of Christian worship. There is evidence of mediaeval wall paintings and post-Reformation texts in the nave and the pre- Reformation altar slab lies beneath the present altar. There is a ring of 5 bells and a large churchyard. The church is open daily for visitors and the Blessed Sacrament is reserved.
St. Mary’s is the largest church in the Parish with seating for over 200 people and is equipped with kitchen and toilet facilities. Being the largest of the three churches it is used for combined services and special occasions such as Bishops’ visits and induction of clergy and is very popular for weddings. The removal of some pews at the west end has created a larger area for refreshments after services and for many social events. There is hope for future development of the building including new heating and lighting.
There is a 10.00am Parish Communion every Sunday. The liturgy is Common Worship Order 1 in contemporary language with seasonal variations and there is strong lay involvement in worship. Over recent years the Patronal celebration has grown and is now an established and well attended event. There is great potential for a new incumbent to develop the worshipping life of St Mary’s and raise its profile in the local community. Currently there is one churchwarden and a committee of seven. 6
ST MARY THE VIRGIN BARNHAM
Barnham Church was recorded in the Domesday Book and originally the village was clustered around the Church, The modern village of Barnham has spread northwards and this has left the Church in comparative isolation surrounded by country and farmland. St Mary’s is a Grade 1 listed building which has been sensitively reordered to create an open space where the congregation can meet to enjoy refreshments. The church is open daily and the Blessed Sacrament is reserved.
The Anglo-Catholic tradition has existed at St Mary’s for over 100 years and historically there
was a daily Mass. Church life declined in 1980s- 90s and the church was very nearly closed for worship however in recent years it has recovered its traditional Catholic identity and there is a growing congregation with a strong devotional and social life.
The Parish Mass is celebrated at 11.15am every Sunday using the modern rite. Incense is used on Sundays and feasts. Evening Prayer is said in church 7 days a week using the Book of Common Prayer with lessons from the King James Bible. There is a small 10am Family Service an 8am Low Mass monthly and a Mass on Thursdays. Evening Prayer and the Family Service are lay-led.
Since 2008 Mass has been celebrated at St Mary’s on Monday mornings by the local Roman Catholic community and there is an excellent relationship between our two communities. The Walsingham Cell meets monthly for Mass, devotions and
fellowship and plans are in progress to revive the lapsed Ward of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament. St Mary’s is a Corporate Member of the Prayer Book Society. The greatest impediment to future growth is the lack of toilet and kitchen facilities at St Mary’s however, despite the lack of basic facilities, lunches, suppers and celebrations are a very important part of church life at St Mary’s. 7
ST GEORGE’S EASTERGATE
Eastergate Parish is mentioned in the Domesday Book and a Saxon window in the chancel provides the earliest evidence of a place of worship in Eastergate since records began. The church, a Grade 1 listed building, and dating from the 12th century, is situated in a farmyard with views across the fields. The churchyard is large, having been extended in recent years, and well maintained. The church is open daily for visitors and the Blessed Sacrament is reserved.
There is seating for about 80 at St George’s Church, and the pew ends have been adapted to
provide additional seats. The congregation has grown significantly in recent years with many young families finding their spiritual home at St. George’s. Frequently the church is filled to capacity, not only on special occasions, but at regular services too.
The principal Sunday service is the Family Communion at 10.00am. This is a simple and inclusive celebration based on Common Worship Order 1. Seasonal booklets are used and there is a mix of traditional and contemporary music. On
the first Sunday of each month there is a non- Eucharistic Family Service.
Contemporary worship is balanced with traditional services based on the Book of Common Prayer. Each Sunday there is Morning Prayer at 8.00am (BCP as found in CW) followed by Holy Communion at 8.30am (CW Order 2 with RCL lections). There is also a monthly Evensong with sung psalms and responses. On Wednesday mornings there is a simple said service of Holy Communion (Order 1).
An active Sunday School meets at St George’s and on weekdays the church is used by the Play and Play group and Parish Mothers Union branch. There are two churchwardens and a strong church committee. 8
WORSHIP IN OUR PARISH
We believe worship should be rich and life-giving and our witness in the community flows from our joyful encounter with Christ in Word and Sacrament. Our traditions are varied but overall worship is inclusive, liturgical and sacramental, with the Eucharist at the heart. An example of typical monthly services can be found on page 20. Vestments are worn at all services and at each church there is sacristan, Eucharistic ministers, servers, readers and intercessors. Music is an important part of our worship and we have a team of 7 organists, some of whom regularly play in more than one church. Weekday Eucharists are currently celebrated on Tuesdays in the Parish Office at 8.30am (average attendance 4), on Wednesdays at St George’s Eastergate at 10am (average 7) and on Thursdays at St Mary’s Barnham at 6.30pm (average 9). In recent years Mass has additionally celebrated at St Mary’s Barnham on Tuesdays and a BCP Holy Communion at Aldingbourne on first Fridays. Attendance at daily Evening Prayer at Barnham is typically around 200 each month.
AVERAGE SUNDAY ATTENDANCE DURING 2019 Aldingbourne 31 adults, occasionally 1 or 2 children Barnham 46 adults, 5 children Eastergate 67 adults, 13 children (ave.18 children at monthly Family Service)
CHRISTMAS WORSHIP 2019 Each church has a Crib Service and Vigil Mass/Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and a Eucharist on Christmas morning. There are also popular Carol Services, two Christingle services and school worship not included in the figures below. Aldingbourne 114 adults, 23 children. Barnham 166 adults, 47 children. Eastergate 260 adults, 59 children.
EASTER SUNDAY WORSHIP 2019 There is a reflective Maundy Thursday Eucharist and lively Good Friday Family Service at Eastergate. At Barnham the ceremonies of the Easter Triduum are celebrated in full. Aldingbourne 60 adults, 4 children. Barnham 107 adults, 17 children. (including 5.30am Vigil Mass) Eastergate 120 adults, 34 children.
Solemnities are celebrated with a Sung Mass at St Mary’s Barnham. Harvest is very popular and each church celebrates its Patronal Festival with worship, feasting and fellowship.
THE OCCASIONAL OFFICES We are delighted to celebrate Baptisms and Weddings in our churches. Funeral ministry and care for the bereaved is an important part of our ministry. In 2019 we celebrated 36 Baptisms and 9 weddings . 31 funerals were conducted by our clergy. 9 candidates from ABE received the Sacrament of Confirmation in May 2019.
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OUR MINISTRY TEAM
The Revd Tony Brant The Revd Sheila Higgins The Revd Graham Reeves SSC Our new Rector will be supported by a dedicated team of clergy and lay ministers, each of whom brings distinctive gifts and pastoral wisdom that enriches our common life.
Fr Tony Brant was ordained in 1982 and is an experienced social
worker. He has ministered in ABE for over 20 years. The Revd Sheila Higgins was ordained in 2010 to serve in ABE The Revd Michael Palmer MBE after a career teaching Religious Studies at Christ’s Hospital. Fr Graham Reeves was ordained in 1994 and is licensed as Associate Vicar with special responsibility for St Mary’s
Barnham. Fr Michael Palmer was ordained in 1968 and lives part of the year in France. When in Sussex he assists at St Mary’s Barnham. Fr Andrew Wadsworth was ordained in 1987 and has recently The Revd Andrew Wadsworth SSC retired. He celebrates Mass at St Mary’s Barnham on Thursdays. Fr Robert Dixon was ordained in 1982 and has recently retired to
the area. He assists at St Mary’s Barnham.
Maggie Courtnadge and Caterina Brown have undertaken the new Authorised Lay Ministry training programme and were commissioned in 2019 to assist with The Revd Robert Dixon SSC pastoral ministry in the Parish.
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ADMINISTRATION
THE PARISH OFFICE The ‘Church in the Market Place’ is owned by the Parish and situated in the centre of Barnham village. The Office is open weekday mornings for general enquiries, and on Saturday mornings from 9-10am. The Parish Office location gives an opportunity for local people to drop in and make a personal connection with the church community. Holy Communion is celebrated in the Parish Office on Tuesdays at 8.30am and the Parish Prayer Group meets there on Tuesday evenings.
PARISH ADMINISTRATOR The current Parish Administrator has served the Parish for many years, dealing with many tasks including processing Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, as well as supporting the incumbent with many varied secretarial and administrative duties.
PUBLICATIONS The weekly ‘Contact’ leaflet is printed in the Office, giving details of services and forthcoming events. A monthly Prayer Diary is also produced giving a guide for prayers locally and worldwide. The monthly Parish News magazine has a strong editorial team and is delivered by volunteers to approximately 800 homes in the Parish, and is available in the churches and Parish Office. It is a profit making publication, printed at the local Secondary School, providing an income of several thousand pounds for the Church each year.
WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA The Parish of ABE has a strong online presence with a website and Facebook account. Additionally St Mary’s Barnham and Play and Pray have their own Facebook pages which are linked to the Parish site. St Mary’s also has a Twitter account.
SAFEGUARDING The Parish of ABE recognises that all safeguarding issues must be taken seriously and addressed appropriately. There is a Parish Safeguarding Officer whose brief covers all three churches, and we seek to implement Diocesan Safeguarding Policies which are accessible via the Parish website homepage. All clergy, lay ministers, churchwardens, Sunday School leaders and PCC members have the necessary checks and training, and safeguarding issues are a standard agenda item at all PCC meetings.
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CHILDREN AND YOUTH WORK
We are committed to the inclusion of children and young people in all areas of worship and Parish life. The activities are lay-led but supported by the clergy. SUNDAY SEEKERS Sunday Seekers is for children aged 4 upwards and meets all year round. The sessions are held in Eastergate School and the children join St George’s congregation in time for Communion. They attend all of Family Service on the first Sunday of the month. Average attendance is 10-15 children. Sessions begin with a worship time of song and prayer followed by a talk and activities based on the Scripture Union “Light Live” material that reflects the liturgical year.
YOUTH GROUP There is a group of 8 children ranging from age 11 to 14 at St George’s who are children of Sunday Seeker leaders and have attended Sunday Seekers from a young age. Since September 2018 they have formed a new group and are trying different formats for meeting together on a regular basis. The group has been involved with running the Shoebox Appeal, helping at Family Services, Messy Church and fundraising events .
PLAY & PRAY This is a toddler group for the under 5s and their parents/ carers. They meet during term time every Friday morning at St George’s church. The session starts with prayer, singing and music followed by a story, craft activities, play time and refreshments. Average attendance is between 10 - 12 children. Once a year Play & Pray leads a Family Service to share their way of worship with the wider congregation.
MESSY CHURCH Once a term a Messy Church afternoon is held in Eastergate Village Hall. Each session has a theme and includes an introductory song and chat, followed by a range of activities for all ages, drawn together in a talk and worship time. We end with the sharing of tea and cake. Attendance is usually around 60 people, including families that are not part of the regular church community. A regular Sunday School at St Mary’s Barnham folded in 2016 however children are encouraged to become altar servers and Church Union Foundations activity sheets are available for young children during the Sunday Mass. Children from all three churches aged 7 and above are admitted to Holy Communion after preparation.
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LOCAL SCHOOLS
We keep contact with our local primary schools: Barnham Primary School, Aldingbourne Primary School and Eastergate CE Primary School. Clergy visit the schools and sometimes lead assemblies. The schools are also involved in community events such as the ABE Summer
Eastergate CE Primary School is a small voluntary controlled primary school. Church members serve on the governing body. Clergy lead collective worship and termly services in St George’s Church and the Parish and school are developing a closer relationship. Other joint community ventures have been organised, such as “Nippers and Slippers”, where older people from our Parish visit the school and join in art, singing and share stories with the younger children. Our oversees link with Kenya is also supported by Eastergate Primary School which actively engages with Mercy School, our link school in Nyahururu, Kenya. The Parish also holds events in the school from time to time such as Lent Suppers, annual Remembrance Service and the APCM. The Parish and school are committed to developing their relationship further, so that all may enjoy ‘life in its fullness’. Further information about the local primary schools may be found on their websites. There are also two secondary schools in our community: St Philip Howard Catholic High School in Barnham and Ormiston Six Villages Academy in Westergate.
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STUDY, PRAYER AND REFLECTION
STUDY GROUPS Across the Parish there are flourishing midweek study groups. Every fortnight a group of young women meet to share the ups and downs of being Christian in today’s world and an all age Bible study group meets monthly. In Advent and Lent there are seasonal meditative groups that meet across all three churches; these meetings are often accompanied by a shared supper.
BETHANY GROUP There is an annual Parish Quiet Day at the Sisters of Bethany in Southsea. The ABE Bethany Group meets monthly for prayer, conversation and mutual enrichment. It is facilitated by a parishioner who is an SSB Oblate.
WALSINGHAM CELL The Walsingham Cell, under the patronage of Our Lady and St Philip Howard, meets at St Mary’s Barnham on the first Saturday of each month for Mass, devotions and fellowship. There are twice yearly pilgrimages to Walsingham, one in the Summer and another in November. Most pilgrims are from the Barnham congregation and are members of the Society of Our Lady of Walsingham.
CHURCHES TOGETHER An Ecumenical group from churches in the Six Villages meets approximately every three months to pray for unity and growing fellowship. Three members of ABE serve on the committee.
HEALING & WHOLENESS Services of healing and wholeness are held at St George’s Eastergate every 3 months and include worship and praise, prayer for healing and the opportunity to receive laying on of hands, anointing and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confessions are regularly heard at St Mary’s Barnham.
PRAYER MINISTRY The Parish prayer group meets in the Parish Office on Tuesday evenings and there is also a Prayer Chain for urgent prayers requests. Each church has a well-used prayer board. The Rosary is prayed at St Mary’s Barnham on Wednesdays and there is a time of intercession followed by corporate silence at the end of daily Evening Prayer.
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SOCIAL AND FUNDRAISING
SOCIAL AND FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES
We have a very active Social and Fundraising committee that works hard to raise funds and provide the church and wider community with enjoyable activities and fun occasions. It is always there, willing and able whenever needed for any event and the whole Parish is greatly indebted to the team.
The main fundraising event is the annual Summer Fair held in June. Over 1000 people from the Parish and beyond visit the event and community groups are involved on the day, including the three primary schools.
The Christmas Fair is another successful fundraising event and an enjoyable occasion for the whole community.
Other events include the annual Parish BBQ, and a social at Harvest time.
The three churches are ideal venues for concerts, exhibitions and other community events and there is scope to develop this in the future.
MOTHERS UNION MOTHERS’ UNION in Aldingbourne, Barnham and Eastergate Parish is changing. We are closing the branch and we will become Diocesan Members enabling us to join other groups and attend district and diocesan events. We will still maintain a presence in the Parish by supporting the Parish of ABE in prayer, fund raising, helping at the Pray and Play group and Messy Church. As diocesan members we hope to support local MU charities, including the ‘Away from it All’ caravan and other local diocesan projects. We will continue to hold the annual ecumenical Carol Service where the collection is sent to Mothers’ Union Overseas Projects and also provide refreshments following the 1st Wednesday of the month Eucharist at St. George’s Church, Eastergate.
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OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
FOODBANK The parish has a well developed structure to support the foodbank in Bognor Regis with collection points in all three churches and the Parish Office. Vouchers are available if required and these are issued by the Lay Ministry team. Volunteers from the Parish also staff the foodbank in Bognor Regis on a regular basis and our involvement continues to develop according to the needs of the Foodbank. The following events are arranged to include people from outside our normal congregations and provide social contact, especially for those who would otherwise be isolated. NIPPERS AND SLIPPERS brings together senior citizens with children from the reception class at Eastergate Primary School. The age gap disappears and mutual understanding develops through song, arts and crafts and the ever popular story time. This event is held each school term.
COMMUNITY CAROLS is held at Eastergate Village Hall and attracts a large number from the parish who would not normally attend church.
SING ALONG SUNDAYS are our way of reaching the elderly within the community. We bring them together for a Sunday afternoon to sing their favourite songs of yesteryear. There is a theme for each event with appropriate songs and decor while matching dress is encouraged.
PARISH LUNCH is run once a month on a Thursday to provide a social event with a simple lunch for anybody in the Parish.
SUNDAY LUNCH is run once a month at the Aldingbourne Trust. This brings together people from all around the Parish for an enjoyable lunch and conversation. COFFEE MORNINGS are held in each of the villages and provide very popular occasions for older people to find social contact.
PARISH KENYA PROJECT Our parish has a strong link with the Diocese of Nyahururu in Kenya. There are two strands to this link at present. Firstly the parish has funded the secondary education of two orphan children, Eric and Eunice, at a new diocesan secondary school. Secondly our church primary school in Eastergate has been twinned with St Peter's Academy; a church primary school in Nyhahururu diocese.
JAR OF COMPASSION The Parish supports local charities with a ‘Jar of Compassion’ in each of the churches. The 2020 chosen charity is Sage House Dementia Support. https://www.dementia-support.org.uk/sagehouse/
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PARISH FINANCES
Financially the parish is one of the largest in the deanery and has maintained a satisfactory financial position over the last 10 years.
Receipts have consistently been in excess of £125,000 and the PCC endeavours to cover ordinary running expenditure using regular income. As part of this, the parish is heavily reliant on its talented events team, which currently raises around £11,000 each year, in addition to the £6,000 contributed by the parish magazine. Clergy Fees alone contributed £14,000 last year.
Available reserves are in excess of £80,000 (including circa £60,000 of unrestricted funds). In addition to owning the freehold parish office premises located in a prime position in Barham village shopping centre opposite the station.
All three churches are in a good state of repair, with quinquennial repairs and improvement works having been covered by separate fund raising, occasional grant funding and a number of generous legacies received.
The parish contribution has been met in full each year and is set by a formula used across the deanery. The parish fully covers its own ministry costs and, through the deanery budget formula, makes a contribution to go towards supporting other less fortunate parishes.
2020 £77,737
2019 £75,480
2018 £73,274 (church insurance removed from Parish share from 2018)
2017 £75,432
2016 £74,663
2015 £75,729
Sustaining a satisfactory financial position is always challenging when set against the annual increase in parish contribution, the sizeable costs of maintaining the three churchyards as well as the general upkeep and services at all three churches. The parish also funds the part time assistance of the parish secretary Vera Saunders and pays three of the organists.
As part of the ongoing support of finances, the PCC has recently embarked on a major campaign to encourage increased personal giving. It is hoped this will help in addressing the current situation in which regular income is not covering ordinary expenditure, such that reserves are being eroded. Additionally, there have been appeals for specific purposes and initiatives to increase Gift Aid, as well as ongoing efforts to manage costs in the interim.
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THE RECTORY
The Rectory
8, Chantry Mead, Downview Road, Barnham. PO22 0DF
Introduction The vacancy in the parish has provided an opportunity for the PCC to work with the Diocese to find a new rectory, to be situated within a more central and convenient location than the previous rectory. A new property, ideally suited for incumbent and parish needs has been found. The Purchase was completed in June 2020.
The new rectory The new rectory, built about 2010, is situated in Chantry Mead, a small development of new houses off Downview Road on the edge of Barnham. It is located in the central part of the parish, close to Barnham and Eastergate village centres. Being a five-bedroom, detached home it has spacious and versatile accommodation across two floors.
The ground floor has a large entrance hall, sitting room, study, downstairs cloakroom, a modern 28ft kitchen diner with double doors opening to the garden, and a utility room.
The first floor has five bedrooms, two having en -suite bathrooms and a separate family bathroom. The house has gas central heating with radiators and double glazing in every room plus an open fire in the sitting room.
Adjacent to the house is a garage and covered car port with parking for four/five cars. A side gate leads to a well-kept rear garden which has a patio and a lawned area with mature established borders on the boundary.
The PCC recognises its responsibility to attend to the maintenance of the rectory together with the incumbent, and will endeavour to decorate one room each year, subject to need, in accordance with Diocesan guidelines. The PCC is also aware of its duty to respect the privacy of the incumbent.
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OUR RESPONSE TO COVID-19
‘Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.’ (Romans 12:12) The spread of COVID-19 across the world has brought with it heart-breaking human suffering on all levels, leading to the suspension of public worship in the United Kingdom. Despite the closure of our church buildings, the voice of prayer has not been silent in the Parish of ABE, and we have sought new ways of serving our community at a time of great change and uncertainty. WORSHIP At St Mary’s, Aldingbourne, worship has taken the form of Morning Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer, conducted every Sunday by Fr Tony. A congregation of up to 35 has assembled each week via the video conferencing platform ‘Zoom’ for this traditional service with hymns, and it is encouraging to note that some local residents have reconnected with the church through this online offering of Prayer Book worship followed by fellowship and conversation. At St Mary’s, Barnham, two services have been streamed via Facebook and YouTube each Sunday: a BCP Mass at 9.30am and a modern rite celebration with music at 11.15am. The BCP Mass has been advertised via the Prayer Book Society’s directory of streamed services and has proved very popular with both regular worshippers and those further afield. In addition to the Sunday Masses, Fr Graham has celebrated all major feast days including the full Easter Triduum, Ascension Day and Corpus Christi. At St George’s, Eastergate, Revd Sheila has celebrated a Family Communion each Sunday, with increasing contributions from families and children. The monthly Family Service has also been streamed online and has provided a valuable point of connection between people of all ages. At the end of each Sunday service there has been a ‘family check-in’, giving individuals, couples and families an opportunity to greet each other and share a positive message. Our weekly prayer meeting witnessed significant growth in attendance during the lockdown, and consideration will be given to how our online ministry can best serve the parish in the future. OUTREACH ‘Sunday Seekers’ and ‘Play and Pray’ have continued online during the lockdown and have proved to be extremely popular, as have our online home groups, attracting those on the fringes of church life. Invitations have been extended those participating in virtual Sunday worship and children’s ministry, but who are not yet part of the church family, to join an enquirers’ course via Zoom, and we look forward to engaging with them in the weeks and months ahead. Our clergy and ALMs have continued to offer selfless and dedicated service to the people of the parish during the pandemic, and their ministry, particularly among the elderly, infirm and housebound, has been truly inspirational. Members of our congregations have risen to the challenges of recent months, and there are many positive signs of fresh engagement with our community emerging from these difficult days. One specific area of engagement has been with Foodbank collections upon which there has been greater demand in recent months. Our monthly magazine, ‘Parish News’ has taken on a new lease of life and is now available online for the first time; and the churchwardens have maintained contact with the regular congregations and wider community via telephone, email and a weekly newsletter. Our social media activity has increased greatly in recent months and our parish website, which contains many helpful resources for use during the pandemic, has been visited a record number of times. Covid-19 has presented us with many challenges, but equally there are many positive signs of growth and new life upon which we wish to build in the future.
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THE PRIEST WE SEEK
Having consulted our congregations, we are praying for a priest who:
Has energy, vision and a good sense of humour.
Is rooted in prayer, with a solid commitment to the Eucharist and Daily Office.
Is comfortable with leading a variety of styles of worship and will respect our diverse liturgical traditions and theological convictions.
Is a confident and engaging preacher and teacher.
Will develop our work with children and their families through engagement with Sunday Schools, youth groups and local schools.
Will value and encourage our existing lay ministries and foster new ones.
Will be a focus for unity within the Parish, and enable us to work together in the proclamation of the Gospel and witness to our community.
Will befriend and support those in our existing congregations, and work to grow our congregations through outreach in an expanding community.
Will have a heart for pastoral ministry and relate to people of different ages and backgrounds.
Will be a visible presence in the community and regard traditional visiting of the sick and elderly as a high priority.
Will work collaboratively with the other clergy, lay ministers, churchwardens, PCC and admin assistants.
Will initiate, promote and support Parish events, whether they be social or fundraising.
We look forward to welcoming our new Rector, male or female, who is accepting of female ordination whilst supportive of the Anglo-Catholic tradition at St Mary’s Barnham.
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APPENDIX Monthly services in the Parish of ABE
1st Sunday 8.00am Morning Prayer (BCP) Eastergate 8.30am Holy Communion (Order 2) Eastergate 10.00am Family Service Eastergate 10.00am Parish Communion Aldingbourne 11.15am Parish Mass Barnham 6.00pm Evening Prayer (BCP) Barnham
2nd Sunday 8.00am Morning Prayer (BCP) Eastergate 8.30am Holy Communion (Order 2) Eastergate 10.00am Family Communion Eastergate 10.00am Parish Communion Aldingbourne 10.00am Family Service Barnham 11.15am Parish Mass Barnham 6.00pm Evening Prayer (BCP) Barnham
3rd Sunday 8.00am Low Mass Barnham 8.00am Morning Prayer (BCP) Eastergate 8.30am Holy Communion (Order 2) Eastergate 10.00am Family Communion Eastergate 10.00am Parish Communion Aldingbourne 11.15am Parish Mass Barnham 6.00pm Evening Prayer (BCP) Barnham 6.00pm Sung Evensong (BCP) Eastergate
4th Sunday 8.00am Morning Prayer (BCP) Eastergate 8.30am Holy Communion (Order 2) Eastergate 10.00am Family Communion Eastergate 10.00am Parish Communion Aldingbourne 11.15am Parish Mass Barnham 6.00pm Evening Prayer (BCP) Barnham
5th Sunday 8.00am Low Mass Barnham 8.00am Morning Prayer (BCP) Eastergate 8.30am Holy Communion (Order 2) Eastergate 10.00am Family Communion Eastergate 10.00am Parish Communion Aldingbourne 11.15am Parish Mass Barnham 6.00pm Evening Prayer (BCP) Barnham WEEKDAY WORSHIP Mondays 9.30am Roman Catholic Mass Barnham Tuesdays 8.30am Holy Communion (Order 2) Parish Office Tuesdays 5.30pm Parish Prayer Group Parish Office Wednesdays 10.00am Holy Communion Eastergate Wednesdays 6.30pm Holy Rosary Barnham Thursdays 6.30pm Low Mass Barnham First Saturdays 9.30am Walsingham Cell Mass Barnham Third Saturdays 9.30am Low Mass (BCP) Barnham Daily Mon-Sat 6.00pm Evening Prayer (BCP) Barnham
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