The Rt Revd Rachel Our ref: DB/09/19 Treweek September 2019 Bishop of Gloucester The Bishops’ Office

2 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LR Dear Candidate [email protected] Tel: 01452 835511 Priest-in Charge (Vicar Designate) The United Benefice of Thornbury and Oldbury with Shepperdine

Thank you for looking at this profile. These are lively and outward looking worshipping communities keen to grow and to respond to the needs of their benefice. Thornbury is growing rapidly with new and planned housing and this is an exciting time to be looking at how the Church engages with this in creative ways.

We believe this to be an exciting and varied role, working in the flourishing ancient market town and parish of Thornbury together two small lively village communities, Oldbury with Shepperdine (which together form one parish). The benefice is within easy reach of Bristol, Gloucester and the M5/M4. There are good local schools and employment opportunities for family members.

The worshipping communities have continued to thrive throughout the vacancy and have worked together exceptionally well, both in continuing mission and ministry within the benefice and in preparing their profile. They identify clear objectives:

i) to build upon the work that has already begun to grow younger congregations ii) to cherish every member of these diverse communities and foster their talents and enthusiasms iii) to continue the work of outreach and evangelism iv) to continue to work in partnership with the local schools v) to develop stewardship in all its forms across the benefice vi) to be a place of education and training, building upon considerable experience of welcoming curates and others, in the early stages of ministry.

They are greatly looking forward to welcoming their new Priest-in-Charge and are committed to working with that person to grow in faith and share the gospel with those around them. They see this as a shared endeavour and will value someone who is prepared to share their own gifts, foster the gifts of others and work collaboratively. You will be very well supported with a stipendiary curate in her third year, retired colleagues, active lay people and two administrators who job share.

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You will be part of a lively deanery, again offering excellent support and the opportunity to contribute to its life. In short this is an exciting post, full of opportunity, well supported and with the potential to be immensely rewarding.

As a Diocese we are committed to the wellbeing of all our clergy. We are small enough to know each other well, to care across our traditions and rejoice in each other’s gifts. We are large enough to be well resourced and you will find good support for your ministry from a dedicated team. Bishop Robert and I seek to know and be known by our clergy and place a high value on engaging with communities across the diocese and building positive networks of relationship. We are a pilot diocese for Setting God’s People Free and are committed to developing a culture of confidence in faith in all our people. In short, I believe this is a good Diocese to belong to!

You can explore this further by looking at our ‘LIFE’ vision at www.gloucester.anglican.org/about/vision and our Culture and Values for ministry at www.gloucester.anglican.org/about-us/our-vision/cultures-and-values-of-ministry At its heart we want to be well equipped to share ‘The transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ’, so that people may ‘know life in all its fullness.’

I certainly don’t expect you to match every aspect of this role, and the people of these churches will be partners in the Gospel, but if you think that this is a ministry that has the potential to connect with your gifts and be one in which you will be able to be fulfilled and grow further then I very much hope you will apply so that we can further discern together if this is the right place for you.

If you have any questions or want to know more please do not hesitate to contact the Ven Hilary Dawson, Archdeacon of Gloucester for a conversation on 01452 835555 or email [email protected] Applications should be returned to Sue Strawbridge, PA to the Archdeacon of Gloucester [email protected] or by post to The Bishop’s Office, 2 College Green, Gloucester GL1 2LR by 12 noon on Monday 14 October 2019. Interviews will be held on Tuesday 12 November 2019.

With all good wishes and thanks

The Rt Revd Rachel Treweek Bishop of Gloucester

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