The United Benefice of Bloxham with Milcombe and South Newington Benefice Profile Autumn 2015 TABLE of CONTENTS

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The United Benefice of Bloxham with Milcombe and South Newington Benefice Profile Autumn 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS:

FOREWORD FROM THE BISHOP 1 APPENDICES

BENEFICE OVERVIEW 2 APPENDIX 1 - OUR LOCATION 15

WHAT WE ARE PRAYING FOR 3 APPENDIX II - BENEFICE SUNDAY SERVICES 16

PARISH PROFILES APPENDIX III - OUR FINANCES 17

BLOXHAM 4

MILCOMBE 7

SOUTH NEWINGTON 9

OUR SCHOOLS 11

THE VICARAGE 12

WHAT WE CAN OFFER 13

THE DEDDINGTON DEANERY 14 FOREWORD BY RT REVD. COLIN FLETCHER, BISHOP OF DORCHESTER

one and the Archdeacon, Parish Development Adviser, and I will, as ever, do what we can to offer our help to you.

It is good to be proved wrong as a bishop. I warmly commend this post to you.

Normally I look to move things on in a vacancy to make sure that it does not last too long. After all longer ones can damage the life of a benefice. Bloxham, Milcombe and South Newington are, however, an exception to that general rule. It took courage not to appoint when we had a chance to do so, but the result has been, to quote this profile, ‘A realisation that the Holy Spirit (has been) at work during the vacancy drawing out the talents, resources, and skill sets amongst the congregations and lay leadership of the benefice’.

Looking back, these months have been a period of growth and development in the life of these congregations. This post has always been a good one with plenty of opportunities for development in one way or another, but it is an even better one now.

There are challenges around whether in terms of finance or numerical growth or the significant new housing areas in Bloxham but each village has a core of praying people who long to see things being taken forward under the guidance of the new Vicar. The Deanery too is a strongly supportive

1 THE UNITED BENEFICE OF BLOXHAM WITH MILCOMBE AND SOUTH NEWINGTON

generations, and many who have moved in more recently is a sizeable and thriving Baptist congregation, with whom The United Benefice of Bloxham with Milcombe and to the new housing estates, in Bloxham and Milcombe we hold several joint services. South Newington is comprised of three villages, each with especially. This has had significant impact on the villages. a very individual character, and is set within the Deddington Working together as a Benefice is a challenge! However, Deanery. Bloxham is the largest of the villages. Banbury, While the villages appear to be affluent and thriving there we currently have a central Benefice Office (at present in Chipping Norton, and the Cotswolds are only a few miles are pockets of deprivation and social dysfunction where part of the vicarage) which serves as a unifying point of away. The Benefice provides a beautiful and peaceful place pastoral care is needed. In both Bloxham and Milcombe contact for all Benefice matters. The office is staffed by a to live. there is some social housing, and there are also traveller rota of volunteers for five mornings each week from 9:30 and fairground sites on the outskirts of Bloxham that to 12:30. The area has been prosperous since the Middle Ages, both introduce different social issues into the village dynamics. for the wool trade as well as for being a source of ironstone. We publish a weekly pew sheet for all benefice news and As a result many of the buildings within the benefice are of Employment opportunities within the Benefice are events, and a monthly Sharing Prayer leaflet to encourage a fine stone construction, some of which are listed. limited, but many work in the surrounding areas. Banbury, our communal prayer life. To help our community being the nearest town, provides significant employment engagement, we are in the process of developing a benefice Our churches are beautiful, historic and inspiring and are opportunities, as do Bicester, Oxford, and Milton Keynes. website. all Grade 1 or 2 listed. The fact that Bloxham was under With fast rail connections many also choose to commute direct royal patronage for centuries, and the area had a to London and Birmingham for work. We worship together as a Benefice in each church on set significant role during the English Civil War is reflected occasions, at Epiphany, on Ash Wednesday and during Holy in the local history of the church buildings. The buildings The Benefice has the A361 running through the heart of it Week. Bloxham and Milcombe alternately host a monthly themselves are all in very good repair and each local village and also a regular day-time bus service between Banbury Prayer Breakfast. supports the preservation of each church’s fabric. Each and Chipping Norton connecting the villages. This is the PCC plans their own projects with a view to encouraging only public transport from the benefice to both of the We are all looking forward to welcoming and supporting further community use. larger towns and the local secondary schools. It acts as a a new incumbent who will help us to work together more vital lifeline in our rural communities. However, given its closely and creatively as a Benefice and build upon our All three of the villages were traditionally rural, however in limitations, many in our smaller communities can still feel common strengths. We prayerfully offer this profile to recent decades agriculture has been less of a feature. isolated. you, that through the grace of God you will be led to work with us. Our communities are well established with a mix of There are a number of other denominations represented families some of whom have been in the villages for several and active in the benefice. Most notably in Bloxham there

2 WE ARE PRAYING FOR:

Someone who can provide consistency and stability for A person of broad churchmanship, who embraces tradition our benefice. but is also aware of the changes required as our churches find their place in contemporary society. Someone who also possesses good organisational and analytical skills, and is reasonably IT literate. Someone to encourage and willing to lead a variety of worship styles including those that will appeal to those Most importantly however, we want someone to help us who feel marginalised. We need someone who can help discern where God is leading us - that we may share God’s us take Jesus to those who do not come to us. love with all and drive forward the Diocesan initiative of “Living Faith.” SOMEONE WITH A GOOD A person of vision with a practical ability to facilitate “ change. Someone, above all, with a good sense of humour who

will enjoy working with us and share our journey of faith SENSE OF HUMOUR ” Inspirational leadership. Someone who can energise, who in years to come. sparks and reignites a passion for Christ; a person whose enthusiasm is contagious.

A new vicar who will have an understanding and ideally experience of rural ministry. “SOMEONE WHO SPARKS AND Our new Vicar to be instrumental in drawing us together in new ways to help us form a united voice for the Benefice RE-IGNITES A PASSION FOR CHRIST ” whilst respecting the individuality of each parish.

Someone who is open, and transparent, outgoing and friendly. Our new incumbent should be as much at home in the wider community as they will be with our congregations.

3 How we are “Building Our Future”: Four years ago a committee was commissioned to start to 4 work on a large scale “once in a generation” re-ordering of the church. The architecture firm JBKS has been appointed and plans are now up to RIBA Stage C (Concept Design). As it stands the project is estimated to cost well over £1m. A member of our congregation is spearheading the higher level fundraising effort. We are currently pursuing the first phase of this project which entails installing a new sound system and opening up the West Door as a main entrance. The rest of the project will be reviewed together with our new priest. There is a sense of optimism and excitement both from the PCC and congregation about the plans for the reordering of the church.

A Charity...for a Charity? The Friends of St Mary’s. The Friends of St Mary’s is a separate charity to raise funds from the wider community to assist with and improve the fabric of the building. It is run by an enthusiastic and dedicated committee and the Vicar is invited to become President. Always trying new and innovative fundraising ideas, they hosted an inaugural Christmas Tree Festival in 2014, which looks set to become a biennial fixture.

St Mary’s Churchyard ST MARY’S CHURCH Where We Worship (Our Church Building) When the historic churchyard of St Mary’s started to fill up, A magnificent Grade 1 listed medieval church, St Mary’s we were gifted a parcel of land for use as an extension. This BLOXHAM Bloxham has been described as “one of the finest in the has been consecrated and cleared. A project is underway country.” Much of the existing fabric is from the 14c, with between all key organisations, to agree a churchyard burial The Village some fine examples of earlier Norman stonework. With plan and associated landscaping. This provides a long term Bloxham is one of the largest villages in Oxfordshire Morris and Burne-Jones windows, three organs, a 15c font, solution for burials in the village. with a population over 3,300. There are several new and a rood screen supposedly gifted from Cardinal Wolsey, developments planned or recently built, which likely bring the church has a rich architectural history, much of which Our Space - The Parish Rooms: the population to nearly 4,000 if not more. Many people is still visible today. To share this with the community the Part of the same ancient barn which was converted to are attracted to the village, because of the good schools church is open every day during daylight hours. In 2014 become the vicarage, the Parish Rooms are our primary and excellent road and rail networks. Bloxham has we had our Quinquennial review, and the new report meeting spaces. Run by a committee, the Parish Rooms services and leisure activities for all ages. Further details raised no major concerns. have regular bookings (both day time and evening) for of village clubs and societies can be found on the Bloxham church and secular groups, and are largely self-sufficient. Broadsheet website at: http://bloxham.info/broadsheet How We Worship: Are we a social bunch – you bet! The church is liturgically quite traditional, using Eucharistic Our fundraising committee organises several medium vestments, with both servers and choir being robed. The and large events annually including our annual Bake Off intercessions are led by the laity. Currently our main and Fete. In addition to fundraising, the PCC hosts a Communion Service uses liturgy from Common Worship. “thank you” afternoon tea for church volunteers annually, We offer an 8:00am traditional BCP Communion Service a monthly Parish breakfast as well as other ad-hoc social on Sundays, followed by a 9:30am service of Holy events such as our Harvest Supper’s, BBQ’s, and Bring and Communion. On the fourth Sunday of the month we Share’s. have a family service of the Word. BCP Evening prayer is said (often by laity) on most Sundays, with a choral Make a Glad Sound to the Lord – Music: evensong on the fourth Sunday of the month. There is We view music as central to our worship. With a robed a mid week Communion Service on Tuesday at 11:30am. choir and a long history of organ music, our church has We also reach out to our local care home (directly beside exceptional musical gifts, especially given the size of the the church) with a weekly communion for the house congregation. Our music group, who generally play for bound (currently held on a Sunday afternoon). The PCC our family services, consists of individuals who sing and is keen to review the pattern of worship in order to better play several instruments (flautists, pianist, guitarist, and a meet the changing needs of the village. violinist.) We have been able to have this diversity without the aid of an appointed Director of Music, however our What about Occasional Offices and Seasonal dedicated volunteers are looking to hand over to someone Services? new, and we need to re-think how we structure this. We have a significant amount of weddings, funerals and baptisms each year – with an important portion of our Reaching Out – Community Engagement income deriving from this. Last year we had 12 baptisms,10 The Church is committed to reaching out and broadening weddings, and 24 funerals. Our seasonal services such as awareness of our presence and what we have to offer Remembrance and Christingle attract large congregations, the wider community. We work alongside the Bloxham with the most popular ones filling the church to capacity. Baptists to engage with the schools, the British Legion for civic services, and the Parish Council as a key stakeholder What do we have to offer young people? in the village governance. We recognise that the church There are many activities for families and young people. building represents a fantastic venue for community events Some of these ministries are only attracting a small but and regularly host concerts and theatrical productions. very committed number, but we have seen them grow The PCC is currently enhancing the way we are able to (e.g. Bumps and Babies, After School Church Club at reach out and appeal to new segments of the community, Bloxham Primary School, BYG (Bloxham Youth Group) and are excited about the possibilities this presents. and Bloxham Boys Brigade. With 44 boys, our Boy’s Brigade is the largest in the diocese. We are blessed to have such Specific activities include a monthly ‘Soup Saturday’ an active group of committed volunteer leaders. They are inaugurated to provide both a meal and hospitality for hoping the new incumbent will be their chaplain. those who are alone at weekends. We also actively support and promote the biennial Bloxham Faith and Literature Festival. This autumn the Riding Lights Theatre company is bringing their current production ‘Baked Alaska’. 5 Leading together – The PCC The PCC meets ten times a year, and consists of 8 members (including three ex-officio members). The PCC is very active and its members have a wealth of professional skills and experience. They look forward to working collaboratively and transparently with the new incumbent.

We recognise that while it is important to grow and reach out in new ways, we need to sustain ourselves and nourish our own journey in Faith. To this extent we have two House Groups that meet fortnightly, and the UCB “Word for Today” is made available for the congregation. We also have a history of having a Benefice wide Lent Course. There is also an active Mothers Union in the parish which meets regularly and has a large attendance.

What are our Finances like? Can we pay the bills? Well, yes…mostly. Having eaten into our reserves, they are now depleted. We have an Operating Plan and a balanced budget alongside forecasts showing the path to financial recovery. Our share payment never dropped below 50%, and we are dedicated to getting to a point where we can pay it in full as part of a balanced budget within the next three years. All other critical financial commitments are being met, expenditure is being monitored and income is growing, and we are well on our way to recovery.

Mission and Charitable Giving We are a Fair Trade Parish and promote fairly traded goods at some of our social events and have a Fair Trade stall after some church services and at special events. We have a number of charities – local, national and international that we give to regularly. World Vision, Water Aid, Christian Aid, Banbury Young Homeless Project, and Katharine House Hospice have all been recent recipients of our giving. The PCC has a commitment to Church Mission Society (CMS) which we support with monthly titheing. Alongside this, there is a longstanding tradition of generating shoeboxes for the Samaritans Purse Christmas shoebox appeal. 6 The village community regards the church as a valued amenity and is supportive for special occasion services and 7 maintaining the fabric of the church building, most recently the roof refurbishment.

There is a bus route through the village connecting to Banbury, Bloxham and Chipping Norton.

There is no school in the village so children need to be transported to Bloxham or other nearby villages for primary education and to Bloxham or Banbury for secondary schools.

There is a village website www.milcombe.com and a monthly village newsletter where village activities and church matters and events are publicised.

St. Laurence’s Church – The Building The church is centrally placed in the village and is open every day for visitors and quiet prayer. The church retains a modified Norman tower and stained glass windows and there is evidence of the original 14th century building over the belfry entrance and in the decorated rood screen. Much of the church was reordered by GE Street in the 1850’s. There are four bells, three are hung for Ellacombe chiming . ST LAURENCE’S CHURCH The village age profile is broad with most people needing to commute to Banbury or further afield for employment. The building is easily accessible and new lighting, a hearing MILCOMBE loop and sound system were installed a few years ago. The village, set amid undulating arable farmland, boasts one The most recent Quinquennial Inspection reported the Milcombe Village and Community of the best examples of a listed early 18C Dovecote in the fabric of the church in good order. The slate roof and The small village of Milcombe lies five miles south west of country. There is a village shop and a thriving public house, associated rainwater goods were completely replaced and Banbury just off the A361 between Bloxham and South the Horse and Groom, with bed, breakfast and restaurant the inside ceiling redecorated in 2014. Plans are in hand to Newington. There are approximately 700 residents, some facilities, The Village Hall, within the church curtilage, repair the front wall and then at a future date to provide of whom have lived in the village with their families all provides a venue for social and fund raising events for cloakroom and kitchen facilities . their lives and others who have moved in as a result of both church and village organisations. Rye Hill golf course new housing developments. The most recent, in 2014, and Conference centre are situated on the outskirts of A recent extension of the Churchyard allows the comprised 36 dwellings in two areas consisting of private, the village. Residents visit Bloxham for doctor, dentist, post churchyard to remain open for the foreseeable future. The affordable and social housing. office and garage facilities. Parish Council pays for grass mowing and is responsible for maintenance of the tower clock. Our Church– who we are and what we do hot dog lunch , an Easter coffee morning, and a Christmas Our congregation is mostly mature with an Electoral Roll tree lighting ceremony with children’s activities . of 16 and an average attendance of 18, although recently we have been attracting younger members of the village We have a PCC of six members who meet monthly to services and special events to participate and to help. and are represented on our Deanery Synod. We have We hold Services of Common Worship Holy Communion recently been developing a Mission Action Plan based on at 11.15am on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sundays of the month the Diocesan Living Faith initiative to help us to share the with a more interactive All Age Worship service on the love of Jesus with the village community and to grow our 4th Sunday. During the vacancy this has been lay led. church. The 5th Sunday is a joint Service of Holy Communion alternating between the Churches of Milcombe and South Our church finances are sound; we have always paid our Newington. full parish share although we are beginning to dip into our reserves. Milcombe hosts the Benefice Ash Wednesday service and services in Holy Week and provides and leads the We tithe our income to a different charity each quarter Benefice Prayer Breakfast alternating each month with year and also annually support our local hospice, Drop In Bloxham. Other Occasional services during this year have centre in Banbury with dried goods at Harvest time, the included four baptisms, two funerals and two interments, Samaritan’s Purse Christmas shoebox appeal, the Royal we have a wedding booked for next year. British Legion at Remembrance and the Children’s Society at the Christingle service. We have a Chancel Investment During services the congregation participate by fund; it is not possible to draw on the capital but interest is welcoming, serving, reading lessons, leading intercessions paid annually into the current account (2014= £1381.30p). and administering the chalice. Church members further Fund raising has been carried out on an ad-hoc basis as contribute to the life of our church by cleaning, making required, but consideration is being given to a more coffee, arranging flowers,, bellringing, caring for the structured approach. churchyard, leading small groups in a home group and for Lent courses and running a Fairtrade stall as we are a St Laurence’s church has been very blessed with regular Fairtrade parish. support from our retired clergy for which we are very thankful. We look forward to working with and supporting Our special occasion services for Christingle, Mothering our new priest who we pray will work alongside us and Sunday, All Saints and Remembrance attract the largest recognise us for what we are, and in our aim to see God’s congregations as they are supported by the village love in action in our church and community. community. As part of our mission and outreach to the village, and particularly young families, we have recently organised a series of special services and events which have been very well supported and much appreciated. These have included regular soup lunches, Services of Commemoration for WW1 and VJ70 with afternoon tea, a Patronal festival with a Teddy bears picnic and parachute drop, an Easter Garden making party with Egg hunt and 8 ST PETER AD VINICULA three or four generations, and people who have joined us in the last few months. SOUTH NEWINGTON South Newington has a strong sense of character, proud South Newington is a small village three miles from of its annual Flower and Produce Show which is very Bloxham and one mile down the hill from Milcombe. It has well loved in the area for its traditional charm, but also 128 houses of all shapes and sizes, and although it is mainly very modern with a website, Facebook and Twitter feed, residential it is lucky in having some thriving businesses and even super-fast broadband.There are many regular including a gastro pub, blacksmith, a car mechanic and activities in the village, with a weekly youth club, art class, MOT centre, a thatcher and a topsoil farm. yoga group and circle dancing in the Village Hall, plus annual events such as the Flower Show, rounders match, and the The community is a mixture of young and old, with at last sell-out Harvest Supper. count 40 children in the youth club age range (8 – 16) plus many toddlers; families who have lived in the village for 9 Most of the annual events are organised specifically to Not all the villagers who support the church in so many raise funds for the church or to celebrate our community different ways are actually church goers, and we feel that by a small group of church supporters, although we don’t there is a great opportunity for the new vicar, who, with manage to meet our Parish Share even after a boisterous a visible presence and a positive attitude will be able night of bingo or entertaining evening of wine tasting. to encourage more people to attend the services and worship with us. Large seasonal church services are as you would expect well attended, including the Epiphany choral service which is particularly beautiful in the first week of January, and we are lucky in having a very long-serving and talented organist, Hazel, who organises this for us. Plus we have a rota of flower arrangers lead by Jean and a dedicated team of cleaners too.

Our church building is in exceptionally good running order, thanks to the outstanding work of the Fabric Sub Committee, which has over recent years, seen the church yard and grave stones restored and catalogued; interior walls repainted; windows repaired; roof re-tiled; Doom painting preserved; lead restored and a burglar alarm installed. Not forgetting every single item mentioned in the last quinquennial report, all of which have been seen to. The group has also organised some very handsome exhibition panels and materials and is currently working on plans for a welcome area just inside the church.

A quick read through the visitor’s record book will show that we welcome people from all over the world to see our rare fourteenth century wall paintings, and we are very grateful for the help we have received in preserving these beautiful images and our church for future generations. The church is open every day from April – October.

We are just as keen to support attending services as we are in preserving the lovely wall paintings and we are looking for a vicar who can help us on this mission.

10 OUR SCHOOLS: Secondary education in the Benefice is provided by the Warriner School, an 11-18 comprehensive, which recently (1st August 2015) became The Warriner Multi Academy Trust in partnership with 3 of its nine partner primary schools. The school has an excellent reputation and was rated as “Good” by OFSTED inspectors in 2014. The Education features strongly within the Benefice although school also boasts a 120 acre (48ha) School Farm which all is centred in Bloxham. both supports and enhances its curriculum and outreach.. The Chaplin from Bloxham School serves as a Church Provision for young children is well catered for in Bloxham. presence on it’s governing body, as a result of it’s recent There is a privately owned and run Rainbow Pre- school change to become an Academy. and nursery, operating from the Court House adjacent to www.thewarrinerschool.co.uk/ St Mary’s Church.

The Butterfly Meadows Children’s Centre is one ofa Bloxham School (All Saints School) is an independent, co- network of centres run by Oxfordshire County Council educational boarding and day school for boys and girls aged for children under five and their families and is based on 11 to 18. It is part of the Woodard Corporation. Excellent the site of the Primary school. However, Oxfordshire relationships exist between the school and church with is proposing to withdraw the funding of all its Children chaplain and one of the Deputy Heads (Ex Chaplain) both Centres and restructure the service completely so the Bloxham Pre-School, also on the primary school site, attending and presiding regularly at Benefice services. future is very uncertain. provides term time care for 3-4 year olds. www.bloxhamschool.com

Bloxham Church of England Primary School is a large voluntary-controlled school which serves the children from Bloxham and surrounding villages. It was reported as “Good” for its last OFSTED inspection in 2012 and had an “Outstanding” SIAMS report. www.bloxhamprimary.co.uk/

The school uses the church in Bloxham for teaching aspects of RE and services of celebration. There is a weekly After School Club held at the school and run by members of the congregation.

The Vicar holds an ex officio Foundation Governor post for the school but is not expected to be the Chair of Governors. There are two other church governors and a vacancy. 11 THE VICARAGE the Benefice Office) and garage can be accessed via the utility room or externally. A wide open staircase opens The Vicarage and adjacent Parish Rooms, both of local onto the landing off which are four bedrooms. There is a Hornton stone are barn conversions constructed in 1989 family bathroom. A further large room on the upper floor and are reached by a short private road shared with three has a loft ladder leading to the single garage. other properties. There is a manageable enclosed garden to the rear with a The Vicarage has an entrance hall, toilet and study which is lawn, mature flower beds and a small summer house. The separate from the private accommodation. The residence garden is accessed by side gates, one to the Church via the consists of a dining room, lounge with French doors giving Churchyard. access to the garden, a kitchen and utility room both of which are newly refurbished. The kitchen also has access to the garden. A Play Room (which is currently used as 12 WHAT WE CAN OFFER:

A realisation of the Holy Spirit at work during the vacancy Our love, and enthusiasm to welcome you into our church drawing out the talents, resources, and skill sets amongst family, taking us into a new era of spiritual growth and the congregations and lay leadership of the benefice. development.

Regular voluntary administrative support – from the organisation of baptisms, weddings and funerals to rotas An optimism and excitement in looking forward to getting and weekly notice sheets. At present the Benefice Office to know you and supporting and enabling you as our new is open 5 days a week, 3 hours per day on a voluntary basis. vicar. “OUR TALENTS, RESOURCES, All usual expenses as detailed in the clergy expense handbook. AND SKILLS ” Enthusiastic and experienced laity who are able to lead a diverse range of worship.

A recognition and opportunity to review the pattern of worship across the benefice. “OUR LOVE AND ENTHUSIASM... A Bloxham prayer ministry team, which meets monthly to pray for various ongoing issues. The incumbent has OPTIMISM AND EXCITEMENT always been included in these prayers. We all offer you ” our support through prayer.

A large number of retired clergy living in and around the Benefice who have been very supportive during the vacancy. They have regularly taken services, and helped to support outreach ministries.

13 THE DEDDINGTON DEANERY:

Bloxham with Milcombe and South Newington is one of The Bloxham benefice actively supports all these of rural officers throughout the diocese. four benefices in the Deddington Deanery centred on a objectives, and has in the past had an enviable tradition of The incumbents meet regularly for lunch, and the clergy large village to the south of Banbury. Within Banbury, there financially contributing generously to mission elsewhere in chapter is friendly and supportive, with four business are five single-parish benefices, one of which is in a Local the deanery. The Deanery has also benefited over many meetings a year, a quiet day together and summer and Ecumenical Partnership and to the north and west of the years from personnel and hospitality provided by the Christmas socials to which partners are invited. Licensed town there are three large rural multi-parish benefices. benefice and looks forward to it continuing to play a full lay ministers and retired clergy are invited to full chapter The deanery in total has twenty nine parishes with thirty part in the deanery’s mission and outreach in the years to meetings. four churches, grouped into twelve benefices. come.

The deanery, the most northerly in the diocese, is unusual The deanery currently has eleven beneficed stipendiary in bringing together a rural hinterland and an urban area clergy posts, two house-for-duty posts, two curates in that contains some of the most deprived neighbourhoods training, five self-supporting clergy and eight licensed in England. The current estimated population is 65,000, lay ministers. In some of the parishes people have been of whom 45,000 live in Banbury and 20,000 in the authorised for preaching, leading worship, or leading surrounding villages. Banbury is continuing to expand and communion services by extension. there is a prospect of significant housing development around the town as well as smaller-scale development in We encourage all new incumbents to contribute their gifts some of the villages. The Bloxham benefice has a number and experience to the life and benefit of the deanery, and of these new developments. we provide support in terms of a mentor to help during the settling in period and beyond. The Deanery Mission and Pastoral Plan identified as mission priorities planning for an effective Christian At present one incumbent takes the lead in interfaith work, presence on the new estates being built in and around one serves as Deanery Training Officer, one as Ecumenical Banbury, developing our work with schools and young Officer and one as Deanery Vocations Officer. We also people, encouraging and developing lay leadership, and have a lay Rural Officer who is currently a churchwarden making better use of our church buildings as witnesses to in the Bloxham benefice and is available to support links to a living faith. and within the rural community and is part of a network

14 APPENDIX I: OUR LOCATION

Birmingham 60 mins

Milton Keynes 45mins

Oxford 30 mins. London 60 mins

15 APPENDIX II: BENEFICE SUNDAY SERVICES

BLOXHAM MILCOMBE SOUTH NEWINGTON

08.00 HOLY COMMUNION (BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER)

09.30 HOLY COMMUNION (COMMON WORSHIP) (FAMILY SERVICE ON FOURTH SUNDAY) 11.15 HOLY COMMUNION 11.15 ALL AGE WORSHIP (ALL AGE WORSHIP ON FOURTH SUNDAY) (HOLY COMMUNION ONCE A MONTH)

03.00 COMMUNION TO THE HOUSEBOUND (GODSWELL CARE HOME)

06.00 EVENING PRAYER (FOURTH SUNDAY CHORAL EUCHARIST)

16 APPENDIX III: OUR FINANCES

BLOXHAM MILCOMBE SOUTH NEWINGTON

INCOME Unrestricted £ 67,595 £ 11,582 £ 7, 555 Designated £ 5,767 £ 1,414 £ 2,000 Restricted £ 15,971 £ 107,574 £ 11,189 Total Income £ 89,333 £ 120,569 £ 20,744

EXPENDITURE Church Activities £ 60,855 £ 11,368 £ 6,823 Charitable Donations £ 2,590 £ 1,533 £ - Other Costs £ 16,584 £ 85,614 £ 14,476 Total Expenditure £ 80,029 £ 98,515 £ 21,299

Total Parish Share LiabilIty 2014 £ 46,167 £ 5,256 £ 7,200 Total Parish Share Paid 2014 £ 24,000 £ 5,256 £ 2,900

Notes: * All figures taken from 2014 Accounts ** Church Activites include Parish Share, Utilities, Expenses etc. *** Other Costs include Maintenance, Fabric, Administration etc. ****Milcombe and South Newington undertook signficant Captial Projects in 2014, hence the Total Income and Expenditure is much higher than usual.