For Further Details and Application Form Contact

Approved by the PCC 8 March 2010 Final revision: 25 April 2010

For further details and application form contact Canon Roger Salisbury, Secretary, Church Patronage Trust 12 De Walden Street, London W1G 8RN email [email protected] Closing date: 26 May 2010 Interviews 11 June Enhanced CRB disclosure required

DIOCESE OF LONDON: EDMONTON EPISCOPAL AREA

PARISH PROFILE

PARISH Christ Church, North Finchley DEANERY Central Barnet

As a church dedicated to Christ, we believe in the power of Jesus Christ to change lives; and in the importance of God’s word revealed to us in the Bible. Under our present Vicar we have become “a house of prayer for all nations,” reflecting the multi-ethnic community around us. We believe we are a welcoming and caring family, open to worshippers of all traditions and of none, in which lay members can and do grow in their faith and in their own ministry. The congregation live mainly within the parish or just outside it. We have strong links with mission partners and good relationships with other local churches.

1. The Local Community

The church is near the centre of North Finchley. The parish includes middle-class areas and also two ex-council estates. There are shops and offices in the area, but little industry. Underground and rail lines are near, and many residents commute for work. The Strawberry Vale estate, separated from the rest of the parish by the 1 North Circular road, is the one area of deprivation. The Great North Leisure Park (cinema, bowling, swimming pool and restaurants) was built 12 years ago and the Arts Depot more recently. Finchley Memorial Hospital, after a period of uncertainty, is now being developed as part of the local NHS service provision. The area is multi-racial, with older Italian and Greek groups and more recent Asian, African, Afro-Caribbean and other arrivals. There is a Christian bookshop just round the corner from us. There are churches of several other denominations; and a mosque almost opposite the church, which has grown significantly in recent years and attracts worshippers from a wider area. Some key statistics from the 2001 census are given in the table below, with comparisons to the whole of London. Note however that the Woodhouse ward is not exactly coterminous with the parish; and also that the information is now 9 years old. Woodhouse London ward Religion stated Christian 50.5% 58.2% Hindu 11.4% 4.1% Jewish 6.7% 2.1% Muslim 6.0% 8.5%

White 71.2% 71.2% Mixed 3.2% 3.2% Asian or Asian British 17.5% 12.1% Black or Black British 4.4% 10.9% Chinese or Other Ethnic Group 3.6% 2.7%

Other White (not British or Irish) included above 11.3% 8.3%

All People Aged 16 and over in Households (total 12,411) AB: Higher and intermediate managerial / admin / professional 29.1% 26.5% C1: Supervisory, clerical, junior managerial / admin / professional 37.1% 33.0% C2: Skilled manual workers 9.0% 11.0% D: Semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers 12.1% 14.3% E: On state benefit, unemployed, lowest grade workers 12.9% 15.2%

All People Aged 16 to 74 in Employment in Area (total 5,645) AB: Higher and intermediate managerial / admin / professional 27.5% 32.5% C1: Supervisory, clerical, junior managerial / admin / professional 43.6% 40.7% C2: Skilled manual workers 9.9% 10.7% D: Semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers 18.5% 15.7% E: On state benefit, unemployed, lowest grade workers 0.5% 0.3%

Households owner-occupied 66.6% 56.6%

2 The church worshippers reflect the ethnic mix of the area (if not fully), and we have called ourselves “a house of prayer for all nations.” For example, the group who usually lead our music at the 11.15 service currently includes people from Poland, Trinidad, Korea, Brazil, Ghana and England. Overall, “White British” and “Black” are the largest groups, but we also have people from Iran, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Thailand, South Africa, China, Belarus, ...

Confirmation service, 14 March 2010

2. Pattern of worship

On Sunday mornings we have two main services, each with a regular attendance of between 40 and 70. The 9.45 service follows Common Worship Holy Communion (Morning Prayer 1st Sunday) with hymns. In the 11.15 service, the liturgy is more flexible and we start with choruses accompanied by a worship band; on the 1st Sunday, this is an all-age Communion service. At festivals such as Easter and Harvest, we have a combined service at 10.30.

Since only one of the services is Communion each week, the average number of communicants is 55.

3 During the 11.15 service, we hold Sunday school (“Gateway”) for 3 to 10 year olds, a Pathfinder group for 10-13s, and provide a crèche.

A small youth group meets at 4.30.

On Sunday evenings there is a 6.30pm service which has taken various forms over the years and is currently running in an informal house group format but also leaves room for the Holy Spirit to lead.

On the 1st Thursday morning, we have a Holy Communion service.

3. Number on Electoral Roll

148. 64 are resident in the parish, and most others live just outside it.

4. Occasional Offices

Average number per annum over past 3 years:

Baptisms 9 Confirmation Candidates 6 Marriages 8 Regular house Communions for the sick or housebound 4 Funerals in church 3 Funerals in crematorium 20

5. Church organisations

123 (mother and toddler) English Tuition Club (as second language) Thursday Lunch Club (for older people) Sunday School (Gateway) Pathfinders (school years 6 - 8) Youth fellowship (school years 9 - 13) Bus Stop Prayer

15th Finchley (Christ Church) Scouts join us for 3 annual Parade Services

4 6. Regular groups for Bible Study/other study/prayer etc.

We have many midweek activities including house groups where we aim to relate the Bible to our lives, and encourage and support each other to live out our faith. Since 2003 we have focussed on the five purposes of evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and worship (based on the principles of the Purpose Driven Church), with the aim of ensuring that all aspects of church life remain well balanced. We currently have seven small groups; a Women’s group; and a Contact group for mothers of young children, on Monday morning . There is a Unity prayer meeting in church monthly; and a Contemplative prayer meeting, also monthly.

7. Lay Ministry

Our Readers regularly preach and lead services. Other members of the church sometimes lead and/or speak at the 11.15 service. There is no formal structure for lay pastoral care, but the groups (section 6 above) include this function. Prayer ministry team: 2 members of a trained ministry team are available to pray with individuals after both morning services. They are supervised by the pastoral assistant (Vicar’s wife). This has developed to be a significant element of our pastoral care. One of the current churchwardens has served for 6 years and the other 2. The last three to leave office served for 4, 5 and 1 years respectively. The current Treasurer has served for 8 years and the PCC secretary for 5.

8. Mission

Evangelism is a priority, and we run Alpha Courses frequently. Several of the activities listed in 5 and 6 above have an evangelistic element. We offer prayer and refreshment outside the church (“bus stop”) on a Saturday morning once a month. Our statement in response to the Diocesan Challenge 2012 is attached. Four of our youth group have taken part in a 10-day outreach and community service project with other North London churches in each of the last two summers (Hope 08, Go 09). See also sections 10, 11 and 12 below.

5 9. Vocations

Rev Nick Burton ordained 2006 Kostakis Christodoulou to be ordained SSM in 2010 Diana Young offering for ordination 2010 Christine Denny offering for reader training 2010 Sheila Anderson joining Wycliffe to train for literacy work in Nepal

Stephen Demetriou currently on 6-month mission

10. The Deanery

We share Ash Wednesday and Ascension Day Communions with St Paul’s Long Lane. Several activities are led by St Barnabas Woodside Park in our parish with our goodwill and some participation: Fallowfield estate; Strawberry Vale estate (where our vicar supports Helen Shannon - ordinand); Hope House Project (now much less active); and Saturday Healing Prayer outside the Tally Ho Pub.

11. Ecumenical

There are 9 churches actively involved with Churches Together in Finchley. We meet for clergy lunch and lay organised prayer (once a month). We exchange Preachers in January for Christian Unity week. We organise Lent courses together. We share a walk of witness and a Good Friday service. We share a summer coach outing. There is a monthly executive meeting. We have also in recent years held some joint meetings with the two synagogues in the parish and the mosque opposite our church. In Lent 2008 we held a series of meetings inviting clergy from other faiths and teachers from local faith schools and medics from hospitals to share the values they work with in serving the community. We have visited the mosque and the two synagogues: 19 from Christ Church attended a Passover meal 2009, and smaller groups have three times attended celebrations at the end of Ramadan.

12. Financial and Prayer support for Mission work

We support and regularly communicate with mission workers with Wycliffe, Crosslinks, Middle East Christian Outreach, the Church’s Ministry among Jewish people and the Lanka Bible College. We also support Homeless Action in Barnet, whose premises are in the parish.

13. Finchley Memorial Hospital

The vicar is the Anglican chaplain to Finchley Memorial Hospital, and makes frequent links with other churches and faiths through the patients and staff. We hold a monthly service in one ward, as part of a rota with other churches.

6 NHS Barnet has ambitious plans for developing the buildings and the services provided at the hospital.

14. Is there an agreed policy on Christian Initiation (Baptism & Confirmation)? A baptism enquiry is followed by invitation to worship. A clergy visit follows and when two or three enquirers are ready we run a short three session course. They meanwhile are invited to regular worship and other ways of sharing our corporate life, so that usually after some months a baptism will happen for several children or adults. Parents are invited to Alpha (a basic Christianity course), “Contact” (a weekly study and prayer group for Mums) and 123 (mother and toddler group) also Crèche or Gateway on Sunday morning. Continued membership of these is encouraged afterwards and Confirmation recommended where appropriate. Both are advertised periodically. After the end of Alpha, a Confirmation is usually planned, where Alpha has effectively been the preparation course. There are about four opportunities for Baptism per year and Confirmation is approximately biannual.

15. Church Buildings

The church was built between 1867 and 1891, with a large nave, two aisles, and a chancel. It holds a prominent place on the main road (the A1000) between East Finchley and Barnet. An extension to provide a second vestry, an office and toilets was built in 1967. In the late 1970s, the front rows of pews were replaced by a dais in front of the chancel arch; the chancel and the sanctuary are now little used. The roof was replaced and the heating improved in the 1990s. In the last decade, a projector and screen have been installed. There is a temporary office for the vicar (in addition to the study in the vicarage) in the narthex at the entrance to the church. We have recently appointed a new architect to help us plan repairs and improvements to the building, including accessibility. Behind the church, the Stephens Memorial Hall was built in 1938 (to replace an earlier hall on a different site) and was re-modelled in 1983. As well as the main hall with a stage, it has two smaller rooms and a good kitchen. It is used for our children’s work on Sundays and the 123 club on Tuesdays; for our English tuition classes and the Thursday lunch club; and for some other church meetings. Wider community use includes badminton, short mat bowling, dancing, a daily playgroup, Kumon classes, and parties. The paid church administrator, based in the office, is also responsible for hall bookings. Income fully covers the running and maintenance costs of the hall. There is a car park and some small grassed and garden areas, but no churchyard. We own the end-terrace house next to the church, which was used by the curate and by other church workers, but is currently let.

7 16. Vicarage

The vicarage is a 1930s detached house, near the church, which was purchased in the 1980s to replace the original 1870s vicarage. It has four bedrooms. The dining room is suitable as the vicar’s study with a downstairs toilet nearby. There is a new kitchen, and newly fitted bathroom with separate shower. All 27 windows have now been double glazed, in three phases. There is space for 6 cars in front and a shared garage at the bottom of the garden. The garden is enclosed, of moderate size and with four fruit trees. There are good neighbours.

The vicarage – front ...... and back

17. Church School

There is no school directly linked to the church. In the parish, however, we have the Wren Academy, a significant new Church of England academy which is fed by twelve C of E Primary schools in many Deanery parishes.

18. Resources

The finances of the church are sound. A copy of the 2009 accounts is attached*. The annual contribution to Diocesan Common Fund is £49,800, and this is paid regularly. We have a well-established Christian Stewardship scheme. The numbers of parishioners giving to the church by banker’s order, covenant and in an envelope scheme are: 30 by standing order 22 by envelope scheme 6 by regular CAF vouchers etc Of the above, 38 have signed Gift Aid declarations.

The PCC has been contributing £800 per quarter to the incumbent’s expenses of office; this amount is intended to cover the actual expenses.

* The Accounts are not attached on the website version of this document, but are available on request as detailed on page 1

8 19. Communications

Notices and news are given in the weekly service sheet, edited by the administrator. The parish magazine is about to be relaunched.

The parish website has been redesigned recently: http://www.christchurchnorthfinchley.co.uk/

20. Church traditions

Christ Church has a long and strong Evangelical tradition. We are open to people of all traditions and none, and many members do not come from specifically Evangelical or indeed Anglican backgrounds.

21. What are the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for the Church?

We are a warm and welcoming fellowship, where people are genuinely cared for. Members have many gifts and talents, though not all are fully utilised. We are keen to do better at training up and supporting leaders of all types within the church. New community projects have often been initiated by members. We have a main road presence. The church hall is made good use of by the community – which also provides income. Our overall financial position is sound – with some funds to continue work on the building. As a church we are hoping to make the church more accessible to those who are less able to negotiate flights of steps and heavy doors, with a number of ideas for the west porch area and the area between the nave and office/corridor area currently being considered. We are looking for ways to involve our children more in services. Not many people are available in the daytime during the week. We have a large number of international visitors, long-term and short-term.

22. In the light of the parish profile are there particular gifts or skills which you would wish to see in a new incumbent?

Inspiring expository preaching, nurturing and pastoral care for congregations who include mature Christians, people on the edge of faith and people for whom English is not their first language. An ability to relate to youth and build up our youth work.

We seek a gifted communicator who can also motivate and lead others in their contribution.

9 Appendix London Diocesan Challenge 2012 – 7 Commitments Christ Church North Finchley

1 Committed to sharing the Good News a) To continue the Alpha Course and other relational evangelism groups. b) Special emphasis in 2009 on retired and elderly c) Encouraging prayer for Olympics outreach from 2009 onwards d) Special emphasis on Homes and Families in 2010 e) We are considering a Festival of Christian Faith in 2010/2011

2 Committed to equipping the servants a) Through worship and preaching; daily bible meditation; Sunday prayer ministry b) Provide significant discipleship groups for each age and some specialist groups. c) Resolved to see steady growth in the number and quality of Small Groups d) Ensure there is adequate regular training for all leaders e) We should seek two new readers and consider employing a third member of staff f) Parish weekends should normally be biannual

3 Committed to telling the story to each generation a) We have a website which should be regularly updated and fully exploited b) Elderly people cannot be prevented from worshipping because we do not care c) All under 18s should be nurtured by trained and CRB qualified leaders d) Opportunities of Sunday or weekday worship should exist for each age group e) We seek opportunity to speak in schools, pubs, offices; anywhere we are invited

4 Committed to serving all London’s People a) Believe we enter God’s mission field as we leave our church service b) Seek to support Christians in their work, local shops, schools and our hospital c) To encourage CTIF to do better together what we cannot do as individual churches d) Develop our growing links with the Islamic Centre and our two Synagogues e) To being involved in the planning of our new hospital, scheduled for 2010

5 Committed to expressing God’s love in our world city a) Continue to focus on strategic missions with our Church tithe b) Regular “Prayer for all Nations” must be central to our life together c) Managing our Hall effectively we continue to balance community use with ours d) We especially seek to love strangers, widows and single parents, and children e) As “a house of prayer for all nations”- to be open regularly for prayer in the week

6 Committed to supporting the Diocese in making four capital investments We’ll pray in 2012 Ambassadors; Secondary School places; £201,200 for Africa & UK

7 Committed to resourcing and maintaining property so we can respond to the above a) Appointing a maintenance team each year b) Priorities:- repairs to the rose window, stained and plain glass windows; renovation of the West Porch stonework, exterior and interior doors; disabled grab bars; renewal of the sound system; extended dais; redecoration of 622 and its upgrading in order to let it satisfactorily c) Regularly saving; special gift days; and diocesan grants and loans to finance these.