Parish Profile

St Edmund’s: view of the north porch entrance from the churchyard

Jesus said: ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water’. John 7.38 Living Brook is a benefice fed by the living water of God, growing in worship and prayer and in numbers. We want to share that joy-giving, living water with all our communities, that all may be transformed by the love of Jesus.

2021 Welcome

Welcome to the Parish Profile of St Edmund, King & Martyr, , , as we look forward to appointing the 54th Vicar in the history of our church. It is our intention that this document, read in conjunction with the profiles of Piddington with Horton, Quinton and Preston Deanery, and St Mary the Virgin, Northampton, will provide a flavour of the life of this parish and benefice. We can offer: • a small but loyal and able congregation, willing and eager to serve

• a church that desires spiritual and numerical growth, recognising that it has a challenging journey ahead

• a variety of styles of worship, including the monthly Eucharist supported by the benefice choir

• a vision to develop our work with families and children, our local schools, the lonely and the vulnerable in our community, building on existing foundations

• an historic and atmospheric church building, which is in good condition, and for which reordering plans are in process

• a parish, set on the ridge above Northampton; a suburb clinging to its village roots, about to double in size and with the Brackmills industrial estate within our boundaries

• a parish with ancient ties to Delapré Abbey, that have recently been revived to extend our outreach via heritage and wellbeing initiatives

• a modern Vicarage just a short stroll from the church building, on a quiet lane overlooking the Nene valley, with extensive countryside walks from the doorstep

• a church currently in a weak financial position, dependent upon the support of the other two churches in our existing benefice

If you believe you have the attributes, skills and enthusiasm to fulfil this very varied position and, with the assistance of a committed Ministry Team, lead our congregations young and old, in faith and discipleship, please take time to consider this profile of Hardingstone parish.

Together with the needs of St Mary’s in , and working with the other parishes in Living Brook Benefice for the timebeing, this wide-ranging role will provide some amazing opportunities and considerable challenges. We pray that these documents will help you decide whether God is calling you to continue your ministerial journey with us.

John Wilson Churchwarden

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Contents

Hardingstone Parish ...... 1 Welcome ...... 2 Contents ...... 3 Hardingstone Parish and its Setting ...... 4 Vision and Mission ...... 9 Future Direction ...... 10 Church Buildings ...... 13 Sunday and Weekday Services ...... 16 Other Services ...... 18 Support Available ...... 19 Youth and Children’s Work ...... 21 Church Groups and Activities ...... 23 Finance ...... 24 Organisation ...... 26 Person Specification for St Edmunds ...... 28 A position for you? ...... 29 Appendix - Growth Action Plan 2017 - 2020 ...... 30

Acknowledgement The Parochial Church Council of St Edmund, King & Martyr, Hardingstone, would like to thank our church members and friends who have contributed towards the preparation of this document.

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The Parish and Its Setting Hardingstone Hardingstone is an important survival of the medieval villages that surrounded Northampton and have now been largely incorporated into the Borough of Northampton.

Sitting on a hill above the town and separated by the main A45 to the south of the town, Hardingstone retains this village atmosphere but is administratively a suburb.

The grade 2* Church of St Edmund, King & Martyr, is the most important and certainly the oldest building in the village, sited to the west of the visual centre of the village green.

The core of the old village is a conservation area, made up of attractive ironstone cottages dating from the 18C-19C century. Many properties were built as part of the old Delapré Abbey estate, whose parkland (now woods and a golf course) stretches down the hill to the outskirts of Northampton.

Housing expansion between the 1920s and 1980s to the south of the historic centre, towards Wootton, includes a wide range of 1,024 houses representing a variety of socioeconomic groups. 21C housing developments have started to be built to the east of Hardingstone, sited off the Road. The large sustainable urban development, Landimore Park, will double the size of the village in the next 5 years. The parish extends over the A45 and to the east of Road, down the valley slope to the . This area is a remnant of the estate lands of the historic Delapré Abbey, and includes the site of the Battle of Northampton and a Queen . Further east along the valley, and still mostly in our parish is Brackmills. The landscaped country park links the industrial estate, home to Barclays and other large employers, to the village. Several footpaths, including the ancient Portway make a pleasant walk up to Hardingstone village. Northampton is easily accessible from the M1 and has good transport links to Birmingham, Milton Keynes and London. The centre, with its ancient open market square and historic churches, is only two miles away.

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Map of Hardingstone in relation to Northampton Town

Aerial view of Hardingstone, south of the A45

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Community

Hardingstone is an interesting mix of characters. There are some families born and bred in the village, others moved ‘up from Northampton’, or ‘over from Wootton’. Most people have chosen to move here, because it is a lovely place to live but there are some transient residents in the social housing properties. There are many retired people in the community, but the majority of residents work either in Northampton or commute to larger cities.

Busy working lives do limit participation in community activities. Nevertheless, the parish survey undertaken in 2019, as research for St Edmunds reordering project, received input from the following groups:

Organisations that replied Community involvement

Hardingstone Parish Council Parish council Hardingstone Academy School has good relationship with the church & community Hardingstone Academy PTA Organise fundraising events for the school 1st Hardingstone Scout Group Providing skills for life for 130 young people aged 6-18 Hardingstone Day Nursery Provide early years care fo children 3m - 5 years, including funded places for 2-4 y/o Friends of Hardingstone Small charity to rekindle commuity spirit & create more united village by encouraging peope to work together for the good of Hardingstone Bouverie House Community Social organisation for seniors (mainly) - coffee mornings, bingo, whist, line dancing & some special events Bouverie WI Friendship, fun and educational opportunities for ladies Hardingstone Players Provide entertainment in the village & an opportunity to participate in performance and other activities Hardingstone History Society Social meeting place for the villagers and those from elsewhere who have a common interest in history. Hardingstone Cricket Club Cricket club with c.50 members, many from the village. Elevenses Service Small informal church service allowing church to remain active and open Benefice Choir Singing at church services, including weddings, occasional funerals and at the Remembrance Service Toddler Praise Growing group of children & carers who listen to stories of Jesus, sing, make crafts & have fun Supporters of St Edmunds Charity for non-churchgoers who nevertheless appreciate their parish church and want it to continue Voluntary Impact Northants Facilitating volunteering opportunities. Some volunteers and service users come from Hardingstone. Manager of Northampton Volunteer Car Scheme is a resident. Northants ACRE Working with rural communities to improve the quality of life for all Missing from this list are the Hardingstone Village Hall Association, the Guides, Brownies and Rainbows, Northampton High School, the Allotment Association, Hardingstone Social Club, Northampton Camera Club, Northampton Model Railway Club and the Northampton Casuals Rugby Club, all of which also have connections with St Edmunds.

Following this survey, the Hardingstone Organisations Together (‘HOT’) was formed, facilitated by the Parish Council, to enable community groups to share information and offer mutual support.

Northampton is in the golden triangle for transport links and therefore surrounded by large warehousing and distribution buildings, some on Brackmills. This is a large presence in the parish, whose community we know little about, as yet......

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Amenities & Health Care

Hardingstone village boasts a Londis Store, a Post Office, two pubs and three hairdressers (one of which is soon to be an Indian takeaway).

Waitrose and Dobbies garden centre, also housing a small Sainsbury concession and a restaurant, are on Newport Pagnell Road along the boundary of the parish, close to the Queen Eleanor roundabout over the A45.

There is a Tesco Extra store and petrol station 1.5 miles away in , situated between a well-stocked public library and the Danes Camp health & fitness centre (with a swimming pool).

Pre-Covid19, there were many classes and activities held in Hardingstone Village Hall, which was the old village school built by General Bouverie in 1866, and there are 3 huts on the adjacent ‘Old Rec’ for the Scouts, Guides and Hardingstone Parish Council (where PCC meetings were held).

The new development of 1,000 houses, ‘Landimore Park’, will be opening in 4 stages over the next 5 years. It will eventually include a shop, another pub, a community centre and a small secondary school but no doctors’ surgery or pharmacist; the nearest health provision is in Wootton or East Hunsbury. Northampton General Hospital is a short 10-minute drive away.

For outdoor recreation, Hardingstone is very blessed. The ‘Rec’ is centrally sited on the old glebe land behind the church, with a large central space and a very well-equipped children’s play area.

Stretching away from the village, down the Nene valley slope, is a green space through which one can walk from the A45 as far as Great Houghton. ‘Cherry Orchard’ and the abandoned ‘Hardingstone Nine’ golf course link to Brackmills Country (‘Pocket’) Park, thence to paths and fields beyond.

There are also a variety of paths through the old Delapré woodland, around or across the golf course, and down to Delapré Abbey (20 mins). A further 15-minute walk brings one to Northampton town centre.

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Schools & Education

St Edmunds has a very good relationship with Hardingstone Academy primary school, part of the Academy Trust, and the private Hardingstone Day Nursery, which was rated an outstanding provider in 2018.

Northampton High School, an independent girls’ school, is within the parish boundary and with whom we are in contact, but it is a relationship with potential to be developed. This is also the case with Wootton Park School, an all-through school opened 2016 – 2020, part of the Northampton Free School Trust and rated an outstanding provider in 2019.

. The Living Brook Benefice and other churches nearby St Edmunds, Hardingstone, is a member of the Living Brook Benefice (LLB) with two other parishes. We have shared Christian worship and mission with Piddington with Horton parish for over 40 years and a close working relationship and friendship has developed over all this time. Quinton and Preston Deanery joined us within the last eight years, when LBB came into being, and together we make a creative and supportive team, with a strong lay presence. LBB has recently been working to support St Mary the Virgin, Northampton, sharing our expertise in infant education and safeguarding with their nursery. Between August – November 2020, St Mary’s have been included in the rota for a monthly eucharist service led by Canon Beverley. This relationship is developing in accordance with the proposed Greater Northampton Deanery reorganisation plan, currently under consultation. The other church closest to Hardingstone is St George the Martyr, Wootton, which is very similar to St Edmunds, and we are not far from St Benedict’s Church and the Abbey Centre Baptist Church in East Hunsbury.

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Vision and Mission

Church tradition We pride ourselves on being an open and inclusive church with Jesus and worship at the centre of our focus, remaining true to traditional worship but at the same time recognising the needs of our community and how we can reach out to them. We would welcome male or female priests to the incumbency. Our Vision At the Living Brook Benefice Vision Day in June 2017, we prayerfully committed to an action plan for 2017 – 2020 (see Appendix). This was to have been reviewed at an Away Day in June 2020, when we would have also formulated a Vision statement to take forward. We have plenty of ideas, but now await the right opportunity to express them. Meanwhile, we have chosen this text as our inspiration for 2021:

‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you

wherever you go.’ Joshua 1:9

Our key areas of focus and unfulfilled potential There is an abundance of change ahead for St Edmunds and LBB; the principal challenges are: • Build up our congregation, especially children and families, and the PCC • Worship and pastoral care in a time of Covid-19 and beyond • Start a Community café and Wellbeing partnerships • Progress the Reordering project • Deanery reorganisation proposal • Schools and youth organisations • Brackmills • Landimore Park

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Future Direction

How our new vicar might contribute

A good way to start would be a day of prayer, together as one body, led by an experienced enabler. We recognise that we need to take time, listening to Christ’s voice, while we: • give thanks for what we value and appreciate about St Edmund’s and LBB • review the 2017 - 20 action plan • acknowledge our achievements • learn from what has been done well, and what has not • consider the challenges that we face • discuss our hopes and our vision now • plan how these might be accomplished • then go out and do it! We think this is quite a big task, requiring courage, honesty, determination and cheerfulness. In essence, our new vicar will be someone who is a good shepherd, keen to nurture and increase their flock, encouraging and guiding us to new and abundant pastures.

Our key opportunities and challenges, & actions underway

We hope the following precis of where we stand now, with reference to the 8 key areas of focus and unfulfilled potential identified above, is helpful.

Build up our congregation, especially children and families, and the PCC

2019 figures ASA Worshipping community 2021 Electoral Roll Children 0 – 17 4 21 n/a Adults 18 – 69 12 28 10 Adults 70 + 14 22 24 Total 30 71 34

However, 2020 has affected these figures adversely, with so many people shielding, not having online access, and there being few seasonal or children’s services. When church services were able to be held in 2020, only two families attended regularly. Occasions for fellowship and spiritual growth, for cross generational activities, and social occasions (that can generate much needed funds) have also been limited in 2020. Opportunities need to be developed to re-establish St Edmunds’s at the heart of the existing community, and then reach out to our new neighbours as the development at Landimore Park proceeds. Our links and standing in the local community are good and should be sustained; however, we recognise that certain areas of our parish, perhaps those more deprived areas, are under-represented in our congregations. The PCC is also fragile, with only 1 churchwarden, a joint secretary/treasurer, and the fundraising team is now just 1 person.

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Worship and pastoral care in a time of Covid-19 and beyond Whilst we did adapt and hold some services in church in 2020, contact with many of the worshipping community has lapsed. The weekly ‘pew sheets’ that Piddington prepare and share with Hardingstone were sent out by email, where known, and 15 printed copies have been hand delivered in the village every week. However, we know that many people have not heard much from us, mostly due to a shortage of able volunteers. We know that church members of long standing have supported each other during 2020, but we have no formal team to ensure organised pastoral care is easily available to anyone in need.

Community café and wellbeing partnerships This is a positive story, strongly linked with our plans to reorder St Edmunds. Research for the feasibility study identified ‘loneliness and the care of older people’, and a ‘lack of facilities for children / teenagers’ as the two most important issues for Hardingstone that the church can help with. We cannot wait for the reordering to be completed before helping as best we can. Therefore, we have a coffee machine, purchased with a grant from the parish council, ready to be used. We are in contact with Delapré Abbey and the Northampton wellbeing hub based there, about working together and using our strong, historic, local connections to benefit the wider community. Our aim is to get started as soon as it is safe to do so, and we have applied for grant funding to help us do this well.

Reordering project This is probably best summarised by using extracts from the architectural feasibility study prepared for the PCC and carried out by MEB Design since June 2020: The church has had to start to think carefully about the future of its building and what it needs. For the church community, facilities are very limited for anything other than traditional liturgy, or weddings and funerals. Essentially this study presents ‘a strategic idea’ for the future of St Edmund’s - which could be completed in stages. Three main issues are addressed: 1. How to resolve the operational difficulties - so the building is better placed to serve its local community 2. How the proposals will look after the historic importance and special interest of the building, based on a clear understanding of that special interest. 3. How to face the recent additional Anglican Church of challenge: to become ‘net zero carbon’ by 2030. The study attempts to balance the best solutions to the needs of the church community with this special interest, and the problems of climate change. The principal areas identified in the Statement of Need, and addressed in the feasibility study, include the following: Heating system Fixed pews in Nave and Aisles and state of floor: PA / AV system Difficulties serving refreshments: No Church Hall WC location: Height of the Bell Ringing platform: Mobility issues generally Welcome: Storage issues: A redundant Chancel Exciting plans have been drafted, and the Stage 1 order of cost is now being prepared by a Quantity Surveyor, to help us refine our priorities and complete the report by the summer. The architects and QS fees are being paid by the ‘Supporters of St Edmunds’ charity (see page 26).

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Deanery reorganisation Covid19 has prevented any proper presentation, consultation or open discussion about the planned proposals. Several church members of long standing have expressed their strong concerns, and so some means must be found by which these can be addressed. The PCCs of St Edmunds and St Marys have started to build upon the support and expertise that we were able to offer to their nursery during the last two years. Likewise, Hardingstone have been very encouraged by the success of their Community Café. It is difficult to meet up, form relationships, allay fears and discuss our futures while restrictions are in place, but we hope to all meet up for a picnic at Delapré Abbey in the summer.

Schools and youth organisations There is a good base to build upon: see ‘Schools and Education’ (page 8) and ‘Youth and Children’s Work’ (pages 21-22). And there is great potential to develop our relationship with Northampton High School, to begin to work with Wootton Park School and then the new school at Landimore Park in the near future. We acknowledge that the majority of the LBB Schools’ Team is based in Piddington, but Hardingstone has a strong presence locally through Toddler Praise (page 21). 1st Hardingstone Scout Troop is the largest and most successful scouting group in the county, and they are very supportive of St Edmunds. Rainbows and Brownies also met in the village before Covid19, but as their leaders are shielding these groups are in abeyance.

Brackmills Pete Squires (Diocesan Giving Officer) invited St Edmunds to join him in reaching out to the many businesses on Brackmills, a mission with considerable challenges and opportunities. Weekly prayer meetings were held from January - March 2020 in Bouverie Court at 8 am each Monday, inviting Christians who work on Brackmills to come together and encourage this mission. Contact was also made with a bible study group at Barclaycard. It is hoped that this can resume when it is safe to do so, and the possibility of finding an industrial chaplain be pursued. The Tower room at St Edmunds could be a base for them to use (being the parish church and at the other end of the estate to Bouverie Court).

Landimore Park – the first new development A mission project for the next few years......

?

How we can meet our new neighbours and share Jesus’ love with them has yet to be considered.

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Church Buildings The Church St Edmund, King & Martyr, is a grade 2*listed building situated on High Street in the historic centre of Hardingstone. The church is set well back from the road on level ground with surrounding mature trees and an impressive boundary wall. The church is originally 13C but has been added to and modified over the centuries culminating in a major Victorian restoration in 1869, largely paid for by General Bouverie, of Delapré Abbey. The connection with the abbey dates back to 11C, although the first known incumbent was here in 1223. Following the dissolution of the monasteries, the church became the burial place of the families living at Delapré Abbey: the Tates, Clarkes and Bouveries. The monuments and 17C tombs are part of the reason for the listing, but full details of the building and contents and our history can be found in the 2019/20 Statement of Significance (for the reordering) on the LBB website.

The church can safely accommodate 120 people, although our record is 252 adults and children attending the Scouts carol service in 2019! By reordering the building into a flexible space, the capacity would be considerably increased.

The building is in good repair and due for a quinquennial inspection later this year; all the repairs highlighted in the previous QI have been completed.

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The Churchyard The Churchyard is closed for the burial of bodies and is the responsibility of Northampton Borough Council, who have subcontracted its maintenance to idverde. There is an allocated space for cremated remains, and there were 4 burials of ashes in 2020 (2019- 5). We have benefitted greatly from using this beautiful, peaceful space for outdoor worship during 2020.

Aerial view of St Edmund’s Church. The Old Vicarage Outdoor Communion 19th July 2020 (sited to the SE of the building) is now a private residence. First service after lockdown – great witness

In 2019/20 we launched a wildlife project, with the help of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Wildlife Trust. Over 20 people came to an initial volunteer meeting in January, after which St Edmunds entered the Trust’s Churchyard Conservation Award scheme.

This has proved so worthwhile to many residents of Hardingstone during the lockdown restrictions in 2020. Although we haven’t been able to hold meetings, the volunteers have adopted graves to tend and sow wild flower seeds in. The Friends of Hardingstone gave a grant which has been spent on water butts, support for a dead hedge, and bird boxes for the trees in the wild area.

Since the outset, idverde have been very supportive, agreeing to leave the eastern wooded area of the churchyard unmown, and adopted graves unstrimmed and chemical-free. They have also offered to organise workshops for children in the future. BCNWT have given expert advice an guidance too. This initiative has aided both mental and physical wellbeing for residents during 2020, and is a firm foundation for future projects. The Northampton wellbeing hub at Delapré is keen to work with us.

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The Vicarage

The Vicarage, 29 Back Lane, Hardingstone, Northampton NN4 6BX The Vicarage is a well-appointed 4-bedroom property with a substantial well-stocked garden, situated on a quiet lane in the Hardingstone conservation area. The ground floor office/study at the front of the house enjoys magnificent views over the Nene valley.

Downstairs there is the study, hall, cloakroom, a good-sized lounge, dining room, a large well- equipped kitchen and a small utility room. Upstairs there are four bedrooms; the master bedroom has a fitted cupboard and there are two other double bedrooms. The walk-in shower room includes more storage space, there is a separate toilet, another cloakroom and two further cupboards.

The large garden can comfortably host outdoor occasions and staged the climax for the memorable Living Nativity pageant in 2017, with the summerhouse used as the stable. The small garden shed is currently used as an outside chapel. There is a double garage and easy parking for 4 - 5 cars.

There are countryside walks immediately opposite the vicarage and the church, the schools and all local amenities are within easy walking distance.

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Sunday and Weekday Services Monthly Service Structure Since March 2020, LBB has changed the structure and format of our services considerably, in order to adapt to both the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 and to accommodate St Mary’s into our pattern of services. Details of our traditional monthly service structure and the services we now provide in response to the coronavirus pandemic are given below.

Information about services post-March 2020 When it is possible to meet, Eucharist services can be celebrated in church, with limited numbers and Covid19 precautions in place. If the weather is suitable, these services are held outside in the LBB churchyards. Using a mobile phone, these have been livestreamed via LBB Facebook page, then later uploaded to the LBB website and YouTube. In periods when congregations are not allowed to meet the Sunday Eucharist has been celebrated by a priest mainly in their own home. For those not online, service booklets have been printed for home use, and distributed to members with the weekly pew sheet that gives details of lectionary readings, prayers and notices. A small Bible Study Group has continued to meet whenever possible over the last 12 months. Since March, other services have been introduced, including Morning Prayer via WhatsApp during the working week and a contemplative service via Zoom on Wednesday evenings.

The big change in July 2020 was the inclusion of St Mary’s in the LBB monthly service rota, resulting in communion being led by our vicar just once a month in each church at 10 o’clock. At St Edmund’s we are fortunate to have two members in training for lay leadership, and a team was encouraged to develop 3 lay-led services every month, to ensure that worship would be celebrated in Hardingstone every week. And thus ‘Praise@10’ was initiated, based on our previous informal ‘Elevenses@StEdmunds’ held on alternate Sundays (after the earlier Said Communion).

An order of service was devised, based on PRAY (pause, reflect, ask, yield) but there is a different focus for each week in the monthly service rota. These are: Coffee & Chat Celebrating God’s Creation Focus on pastoral care Making use of outdoor spaces

Craft & Creativity Traditional Sung Communion Worship to inspire young families Eucharist with LBB choir

Although numbers have been small, the Creation weeks outside have been popular and attracted new people to join us. We plan to resume in 2021 whenever it is safe to do so. It should be noted that this is a big change for people who have previously always been able to take communion at St Edmunds every Sunday.

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Information about services pre-March 2020 Both the 8 a.m. Said Communion and 11 a.m. Sung Communion were traditional services, and printed orders of service were given out at the welcome desk. The clergy robed for all Sunday services and the LBB organist and choir contributed twice per month with traditional hymns and psalms. Recordings of more modern worship songs were played at the informal ‘Elevenses@StEdmunds’.

LIVING BROOK SERVICE ROTA up to MARCH 2020

DATE HARDINGSTONE PIDDINGTON QUINTON and with HORTON PRESTON DEANERY

MONTH 1st & 3rd Sundays 8 am Said Communion 9.30 am Holy Communion 11 am Elevenses@StEdmunds Sung Communion

2nd & 4th Sundays 8 am Said Communion 9.30 am Holy Communion 11 am Sung Communion

The ‘Toddler Praise’ service, a Fresh Expression of church introduced in 2015, was held in every Wednesday morning during term time and was very successful despite the constraints of the building; see section ’Youth and Children’s Work (p21). The group have continued to meet virtually via WhatsApp, with stories and resources being shared to 14 families with 39 children at Christmas 2020.

Statistics for 2019 The average level of attendance at these services in 2019 was as follows:

8 o'clock 11 o'clock Elevenses Toddler Praise Children Aduts Children Adults Children Adults Children Adults

AVERAGE 0 9.8 4.5 35.3 3.1 7.3 11.2 7.5

Of the 34 members on the Electoral Roll, 6 live outside the parish.

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Other Services

Services for Christian festivals and Holy Days are shared between the 3 churches in LBB, and some services have been traditionally always held in a certain church: Piddington hosts Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, while Hardingstone had a family Service on Christmas Day. During Advent, St Edmunds hosts a Nine Lessons & Carols service for the parish, at which the Supporters’ ‘Lights for a Loved One’ are also remembered, and the Christmas Eve afternoon Crib/Christingle service is very popular. In 2020, the replacement ‘Christmas Around the Tree’ service outdoors in the churchyard still attracted 60 worshippers. We also usually have very popular carol services for the Scouts and the Guides, go carol singing around the village with the Hardingstone Academy PTA, and welcome the children to their school nativity service in church. The Schools’ team hold events in church or in school for the children to learn about Jesus and Christian festivals (page 22).

Hardingstone regularly shares a Lent course with the other churches, and St Edmunds traditionally holds the Service of the Cross on Good Friday, and the Easter Day Service of Light Eucharist.

Other festivals celebrated at St Edmunds are a Harvest Festival, when we support the Hope Centre and food bank, a Service of Remembrance at All Souls, and a patronal celebration later in November.

There is always a large turnout in Hardingstone for the parade on Remembrance Sunday, from the Village Hall to the War Memorial for a short service led by the vicar and choir, returning to the church for the Scouts’ parade service. The parish council organise wreaths and the temporary closure of the road, while the Friends of Hardingstone arrange for every community group in the village to place a cross in the Garden of Remembrance.

Members of the PCC help out with Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals. The statistics are: Baptisms Weddings Funerals Burial of ashes 2020 - 2 4 4 2019 16 - 11 5 2018 5 3 7 6 There should be 3 weddings in 2021 and 2 potential confirmations. We have had considerable success with outreach by welcoming children from the school to mock weddings and baptisms.

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Support Available

Benefice Teams LBB is blessed to share the gifts and talents of the: • Ministry team • Organist and choir • Schools team (see next section) • Children’s and families’ team (see next section)

Ministry Team LBMT is an active group drawn from the 3 benefice churches that are key to the delivery of the yearly themed verse throughout the benefice, and of the lay led services of Praise@10 at Hardingstone. The ministry team meets on a monthly basis to review all areas of worship, plan for future festivals and events. and assists in the delivery of sermons throughout the year. Whilst our members are few in number our knowledge is great and, working as a team, we do offer strong support to the vicar. Members of the ministry team have designated key roles helping with the administration, co-ordination and leadership of: • Baptisms, Baptism celebration services, 1st Communion • Marriages • Deaths • Praise@10 services of Café, Creative and Creation, preparing services in line with the lectionary and the chosen theme of the year. • Writing and delivery of the All Souls service • Morning Prayer via WhatsApp = co-ordination of readers, song choosers and benefice prayers • Contemplative Wednesday evening worship via Zoom • Management of the Facebook and You Tube pages

Two members of the ministry team are currently in training, which will be completed in the autumn of 2021; they will be a Lay Licensed Evangelist and a Lay Licensed Minister, with a BAP assessment being completed in March 2021. Another member is completing a Pastoral Training course with the Diocese.

Organist and the benefice choir The church organist is a strong supporter of the clergy and works creatively and flexibly with the vicar. The benefice choir is a small but a close-knit group, who enhance sung communion in both Hardingstone and Piddington churches, and sing at weddings and for other special occasions.

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Hardingstone Parish

The PCC

John & Hilary Wilson Richard & Angie Milne Julie Austin Churchwarden & Angie is safeguarding officer Toddler Praise leader & Treasurer/Secretary & training for lay ministry training for lay ministry

Libby Sheppard Bob Draper Rose Marie Coogan Verger & former Joint treasurer Deanery synod rep churchwarden

Other Volunteers Within the church community with have a number of valuable volunteers for roles during services, leading in prayer, writing intercessions, readers, servers, sacristans, verging and sidesmen. A group of flower ladies keep the church in full bloom and the sidesmen count the collection, which is banked by the assistant Treasurer. There are also rotas for serving refreshments after services and for cleaning the church building. We are fortunate that a parental connection to the local school has enabled the adornment of the church with beautiful artwork from the children, appropriate to festivals and celebrations. For many years the monthly ‘churchyard tidy-up’ group have tended the grounds of the church, aided by workers from the Community Payback scheme during 2017-19. Much of the churchyard had been completely overgrown, but it is now both manageable and better used. Many of the tidy-up team also joined the churchyard Wildlife project, and the new Praise@10 Creation services have also encouraged a keen interest in re-wilding during 2020.

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Youth and Children’s Work

Sundays For during the Holy Communion services, we have a designated Children’ Activity Table (CHAT) led by a member of the ministry team with themes and activities that link into the lectionary and the Sunday service.

An additional play area is accessible for younger children throughout the service. There has been no special provision for children at the Praise@10 service, because the format of the lay-led services is still developing. Toddler Praise The Toddler Praise group forms our second largest congregation in Hardingstone and is a Wednesday morning service during term time for pre-school children and their carers. It is a fun and interactive service where everyone is encouraged to take part in play with interactive toys, Bible story time and prayers, snack time, a craft table and some movement to music with instruments. Our mascots are Faith bear and her friend Dougie, who sit in their dedicated display area engaging with everyone who comes to worship. The topical displays are changed regularly and Faith bear has donned many disguises over the years.

Toddler Praise has continued to grow in number and has to spread out around the church, as usable space becomes very tight and less child friendly. The children and adults all enjoy exploring their faith, with some joining us for other services. It has been a privilege to celebrate the baptisms of toddlers who attend this service. Whilst only offered in term time, the Toddler Praise relationship is greatly valued, and has continued during the current Covid restrictions via a WhatsApp group.

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Schools and youth organisations The LBB dedicated Schools’ team engages with all year groups in Hardingstone Academy and CEVA school, both on the school premises and in the church. The rector and members of the team, together with volunteers, have offered such experiences as: • Mock Weddings • Mock Baptisms • Experience Easter • Experience Harvest • Experience Young Jesus (visited by Bishop Donald and Archbishop Justin in 2019)

Children from the Hardingstone Day Nursery also visit St Edmund’s, and the rector has reciprocated when invited.

The local scout and guides groups are most engaged with special services such as Remembrance Day, and for their Christmas carol services.

The scouts have used the church for many events, including Christmas pantos and for badge work, and the rector occasionally visited some of their many camps.

In return, the Scouts supported the ‘First Flying of the New Flag’ on St George’s Day 2019. This event was organised by the Supporters of St Edmunds (page 25) to celebrate being able to safely access the top of the tower once more, with new ladders etc. funded by the charity.

Other activities A key activity has been our involvement with the transition days for the Year 6 children in the village school, that have been held both in the church building and at the school. As an open church (until the coronavirus pandemic), we have facilities in the building for children and their carers to enjoy during the school holidays, including prayer stations, artwork and ‘Eye Spy in St Edmunds’ leaflets. As part of the Wildlife project, we had planned a family day of events for National Heritage Week in September 2020. Idverde offered to organise workshops (for pre-booked family bubbles) to build bird boxes and a bug hotel for the churchyard. Other heritage and wellbeing outdoor activities were also planned. We hope that this may be rescheduled during 2021.

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Church Groups and Activities

Spiritual Growth, Fellowship & Pastoral Care All faith groups operate on a benefice-wide basis The small home group focuses on bible studies at their fortnightly meetings, the Wednesday evening contemplative service is now conducted via Zoom, the LBB choir practices every Monday and a bible study group has been conducted by the rector for the benefit of those currently in training. Lent and other such courses have proved popular, but recent offerings of ‘Start!’ courses garnered no interest despite publicity and personal invitations, so this an area for future development. Pastoral care is also shared across the benefice with Piddington leading on collating prayer requests for the weekly pew sheets and qualified to conduct home communion. Although there is no formal pastoral care team now, church members do support each other - but this is an area that needs some careful consideration. Sermon and service recordings are now available on the LBB website, and some printed materials have been shared with Hardingstone members not online since the first lockdown. The PCC secretary is on the editorial team of HP Source, the bi-monthly newsletter published by Hardingstone Parish Council, and ensures there is at least one page devoted to St Edmund’s in every issue.

Church activities, fellowship and fundraising all combine in a variety of community events in Hardingstone, although benefice outings have been enjoyed in the past – most recently to Sandringham for the day.

Community Activities Until the pandemic, there were regular social and fundraising activities held mainly in the church, including light lunches, band and choir concerts, opera, art and craft displays, cream teas and fayres.

During 2020 fundraising ground to virtual halt and the family who were instrumental in these ventures have dropped out due to ill health. We hope to be able to hold some events in 2021.

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Finance Support Available Since March 2020, the joint PCC treasurers are the secretary (a chartered accountant, retired due to ill health) and a volunteer who counts and banks the collection. There have been no other volunteers for finance roles such as stewardship, planned giving or gift aid recovery, and therefore many of these jobs do not take place as they should. Parish Share

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Amount 15,030 14,052 17,224 14,000 18,000 18,000 22,500 28,787 28,500 Paid 15,030 10,500 10,000 11,000 11,000 18,000 18,900 24,400 14,075

Parish share has only been paid in full in the 2 years when a legacy has been received. St Edmunds has always made payment of parish share a priority, and keeps a strict control over other expenditure, so the maximum payment is made in accordance with our reserves policy at year end. Clergy expenses are always paid in full, and we have contributed to the vicar’s hardship fund for discretionary gifts for three years. Whilst we cannot afford to directly support missionary giving, we have organised at least one event each year for named charities. Stewardship and Planned Giving The last stewardship campaign was in 2017, but letters encouraging increased giving have been sent regularly since. Planned giving each month comes from: 10 standing orders 5 parish giving scheme 6 weekly envelopes All but two of the contributors above are pensioners on a fixed income; we are very dependent on donations, plate collections and fundraising activities. Reserves The following Reserves policy was reviewed and approved by Hardingstone PCC in November 2020: Policy It is the policy of this PCC to hold in general reserves the equivalent of three months running costs and committed giving income to cover unforeseen emergencies. In view of the forthcoming missionary work, we have allocated £200 to reserves for potential costs, and a further £200 towards funding the vision of making our church fit for purpose. Any amount in general reserves after making these provisions will be held in a reserve towards payment of parish share 2021. The amounts in restricted funds are thought to be sufficient to meet anticipated costs to the building in the next year. This policy will be reviewed within the next twelve months.

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At 31st December 2020

Year end balances were as follows:

Unrestricted General Fund 9,522 9,911

Designated Funds Church fabric fund 2,000 2,000 Parish share liability fund 9,400 10,000 Vision fund 2,499 2,295 Mission fund 700 500

Restricted Funds David Gommon Memorial Bell fund 1,674 1,674 Clock fund 272 272 Organ fund 121 277 Ekins fund 1,038 1,243 Liabilities fund 215 1,004

Funds of the church 27,441 29,176

Cash at bank CCLA investment account 17,704 13,489 Barclays current account 9,737 15,687

27,441 29,176

Financial Statements The Annual Report & Financial Statements for 2020 were approved by the PCC at their meeting on 17th January 2021 and the independent examiners report will be added before publication. This document is available on request.

Other sources of Finance

Grants An application to the Cultural Recovery Fund has been submitted, to finance improvements to the heritage and cultural activities we can offer at St Edmunds. We have a faculty to fit a projector and drop-down screen, to help the church go paperless for safety and modernising reasons. Using this equipment for presentations to heritage, community café and other visitors, whom we need to attract to boost our finances, forms the basis of this bid. In addition to the necessary equipment, budgets for freelance consultants to provide us with interpretation and marketing advice are included. If successful, this will happen April – June 2021.

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The Supporters of St Edmunds

The Supporters of St Edmund’s is a CIO set up in January 2018 with the objects ‘to advance the Christian religion by the restoration, preservation, repair, maintenance, improvement and beautification of the Parish Church of St Edmund, King & Martyr, Hardingstone.... and the Churchyard.’ The rector of the church is automatically an ex-officio trustee of the Supporters. A further three trustees are appointed by the PCC, who can nominate up to four non-church trustees. There are currently only two nominated trustees: a parish councillor and the owner of the village shop. The charity attracts funds from non-church going members of the parish, and from donors who will not give directly to a religious organisation. There are currently 15 members contributing monthly donations. The Supporters have held regular fundraising events every year since 2018. Plant sales and quizzes are popular, and two big heritage exhibitions have been well received. In 2018, the ‘Hardingstone WW1 Heroes’ on the village war memorial were brought to life and contextualised in the church during the weeks leading up to the centenary of the Armistice. The history department of Northampton High School helped with this exhibition. In 2019, the Supporters were invited to stage an exhibition ‘Delapre Gentry & Hardingstone Villagers’ at the Abbey, explaining the strong historic links between the church and the estate. The late Gospatric Home, patron of both the Delapre Abbey Preservation Trust and the Supporters of St Edmunds, kindly loaned some of his Bouverie ancestors’ memorabilia. The two big fundraisers have been ‘Midsummer Merriment’, and ‘Lights for a Loved One’ for Christmas. MM coincides with the #GreatGetTogether weekend, and several activities are staged around the village. The Decorated Wheelie Bins competition was able to return in 2020 but Open Gardens, Fun ‘n Fines dog walks, the family fun run and prize-giving picnic on the Rec were cancelled. This is one event that all the HOT groups were keen to join in with.

The Supporters of St Edmunds charity has helped to fund a number of projects for the church already, but will need to transfer leadership to non-church members, and to grow significantly in order to help the church reordering project be accomplished.

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Organisation

Living Brook Benefice LBB does not have a benefice council, but does occasionally bring all three PCC’s together to consider topics of common concern, especially stewardship. There is one safeguarding officer, who takes responsibility for all three parishes remaining compliant. The churchwardens keep in touch when there are matters of shared concern, and the treasurers and secretaries offer mutual support in matters of finance, governance and keeping up-to-date with regulations.

Communication A subcommittee met during 2019 because we recognised that improvements were needed. After discussing ‘What’ needs to be communicated, ‘Why’, and ‘to Whom’, we reviewed ‘How’ we currently try to do this. Few of the subcommittee’s good ideas came to fruition, due to our inability to recruit any additional help; the two representatives from Piddington and one from Hardingstone already undertake several other roles. Therefore, this is another very important area that will benefit from detailed consideration.

Hardingstone Parish The PCC has met 8 times a year recently, although virtual and zoom meetings present difficulties for the 2 members not online. There are vacancies at present, and we have a challenge in widening the range of members. We have only 1 Churchwarden, who does enlist volunteers to help, and the counsel of the 2 Churchwardens Emeritus. In addition to the Standing Committee, we had sub-committees dealing with fabric, fundraising and the vision group, working on the reordering. However, during the vacancy and while we are few in number, these are suspended and we all work together. The enhancement of the PCC is a priority.

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Person Specification for Hardingstone

We will be delighted to welcome a new vicar who is able to help us work towards clarifying and achieving our vision.

We would be excited and encouraged if you:

• are mission focused with Jesus at the heart of everything

• are a visible, approachable and friendly presence in the community as a whole

• can seek out and encourage new members for our worshipping community, in all corners of the parish

• can balance traditional worship with flexible and creative ideas

• understand the needs and challenges of the benefice, and can sensitively facilitate change

• are keen to continue the growth of faith within local schools and community groups

• are an energetic leader, team player and a great administrator (this is a busy place with limited resources)

• maintain a personal prayer life and spiritual development, allowing time for rest and refreshment

• are community spirited and a compassionate listener, with a caring heart

• have a sense of humour and possibly a dog.

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A position for you?

We hope we have given you sufficient encouragement to find out more about this role. Further information can be found at the following websites: Diocese of Peterborough www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk Living Brook https://livingbrookbenefice.blogspot.com Supporters of St Edmunds www.hardingstone.church

Hardingstone Parish Council www.hardingstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk

Or if you use Facebook, search for ‘Living Brook Benefice’ and ‘What’s On In Hardingstone’.

If you decide that God may be calling you to apply for this vacancy and you would like an informal conversation about the post with the Archdeacon of Northampton, Ven Richard Ormston, or to apply, please contact:

Cheryl Goddard, The Archdeacon of Northampton’s secretary by phoning: 01604 887075 or E-mail: [email protected]

Thank you

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Appendix

Living Brook Benefice Action Plan 2017 - 2020

1. Prayer and worship • Introduce prayer groups around the benefice to listen to God and share our concerns with him • Prayer ministry to happen after all 11 am communion services and on some other occasions, with trained prayer ministers. This should be regularly and appropriately publicised • A new ‘Prayer and Praise’ service, informal with space for the contemplative, to join the regular round of services available for all

2. Learning more about the Bible • The children set this priority, and asked for more Bible teaching across their activities. The children’s and families’ team will explore how to do this well for all ages • Offer Bible Book Clubs for adults and young people (via LBYF if appropriate). If successful, an accompanying sermon pattern may be possible

3. Children • Empower our young leaders • Do more with children in years 5-8 (ages 10-13), looking at what we do for them in regular services and engaging with secondary as well as primary schools • Improve Young Disciples and Youth Fellowship and explore what the right provision is to help 8-14s worship and grow as disciples

4. Engaging with the community • Work towards having a coffee shop for the community in St Edmund’s • Create a ‘drop-in’ facility at SJB Piddington for people who are lonely, recently bereaved, new parents, or need company or support for any reason • Consider social groups with speakers at the pub or elsewhere • Actively invite local people to our events and services

5. Making our churches fit for purpose • Consider the uses of our buildings are currently put to, as well as things we hope to do in the future, and whether our buildings have the right facilities or flexibility. Make an ideal plan for the future layout of our buildings for current missional use – dream dreams! Then consider together how to raise money to pay for any changes involving cost, allowing that parish share must be paid in full first, and no debt is to be entered into. Seek advice about applying for grants and enjoy fundraising opportunities to build community while raising money

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