To Build on the Priority Areas Identified in Our Mission Action Plan

Our Vision

To build on the priority areas identified in our Mission Action Plan

1, Engaging with Young Families & Young People

 To actively seek to replace our youth worker after the appointment of a new Associate Priest.  To build on the good work of our previous Youth Workers and continue the excellent work within our schools and to look to offer good quality All Age Worship/ Family Worship in our churches. We also plan to launch a Messy Church within the next six months. 2. Resources.

 To build a small and effective Pastoral Team to take responsibility for designated areas of the benefice, with the aim of reducing the risk of rural isolation, visiting wherever possible the vulnerable, elderly and the sick of the parish.  To look to encourage leaders within our churches to help with Lay Worship and to consider Reader Training or Ordination.

3. Use of Church Buildings

 To open our churches for the use of concerts and theatre. To develop a good working relationship with likeminded organisations who can help to promote and attract future events.  To look at how we can be church outside of our traditional buildings. A recent example of this was using the Blagdon Fete Marquee after the event for a benefice service of Songs of Praise.

4. To build on the success of our established home group and to start a new home group within the benefice, to focus on prayer, teaching and growing in our discipleship.

In all of this we will seek to proclaim the Gospel afresh and encourage and nurture discipleship. We will look to offer quality worship in our churches and to look to serve our communities.

We are looking for a priest who:

 With us, will continue to develop confident Christian communities for a common understanding of where God is guiding us.

 Is prayerful and has a real heart for Jesus.

 Will work alongside our Rector and share with him all aspects of ministry.

 Will deepen discipleship and foster vocations and ministry.

 Is comfortable with a range of worship styles.  Has an understanding and empathy with rural communities, and a willingness to spend time talking with people over the garden (or farm) gate.

 Is able to work with teams, encouraging and inspiring people and will work with others e.g. the Rector, the Readers, the Children’s, Schools’ and Families’ Worker, local schools, etc.

 Wishes to build on ecumenical links and a range of partnerships within neighbouring communities.

 Has good communications skills with people of all ages and basic IT skills (email etc.).

 Is a well-rounded human being with a good sense of humour What we can offer;

 Active and supportive lay people.

 A united church family for whom worship, prayer and discipleship are central to our Christian lives.

 Readers and others willing to minister and lead services.

 Supportive Church Warden(s) in each parish.

 Benefice Coordinator to provide administrative support.

 Attractive rural location.

The Blackdown Benefice

Who’s Who Rector: Rev Jim Fallon

Readers: Peter Hopcroft, David Dobinson

Children’s, Schools’ and Families’ worker: James Hall

Church Wardens:  Buckland St Mary and Birchwood – Jon Mayled

 Churchstanton – Shirley Hooper, Alice Hodges  Corfe - Ann Jeffrey, Keith Vodden

 Otterford – David Ruthven, John Gale

 Pitminster- Charlotte Willson Pepper

Benefice Coordinator - Jayne Fallon

Organists:  Buckland St Mary – Bernard Gready and John Crump (4th Sunday David Yates)

 Churchstanton- Bernard Gready

 Corfe- Shirley Grinter

 Otterford- Bernard Gready

 Pitminster- David Yates, Birgit Griffiths

Tower Captains  Buckland St Mary – Keith Every

 Churchstanton - Ian Hooper

 Corfe- Keith Vodden

 Pitminster- Robin Williams

Our Rector Rev. Jim Fallon

Jim joined the Blackdown Benefice in April 2015, from his previous parish in Chard where he had been their Curate.

An intensely family man, Jim lives with his wife, Jayne and three of their teenage and young adult children in the Vicarage in Pitminster which is now alive with the buzz of young people. Jim originally comes from Staffordshire and retains many links there, not the least being his love of Stoke City Football club.

Having been involved with the church throughout his life, Jim finally felt called to the ministry in 2007. He undertook his theological training at the Queens Foundation in Birmingham and was ordained at Wells Cathedral in 2011.

Prior to this he had had a varied working with a firm of Independent Financial Advisors for over 20 years. His wife Jayne is a nurse, although not currently practising. He has many interests including a love of sport and, in particular, rugby union.

Jim has made a big impact in the Benefice in his two years with us and has encouraged us to work together and to prayerfully develop a vision for our benefice. He is, however, very willing to listen to other’s views and to engage the whole church family and wider community in a vision for the future so that we can all move forward together in our mission worship, discipleship and prayer

We recently held a Benefice Thinking Day which was attended by over 60 people from the churches and the wider community. This helped to develop a better understanding of what we do well, what resources we have and which ones we are lacking, where we want to be and ideas and plans for how to get there. These are exciting times for the Benefice.

But Jim needs help in order to deliver our vision. As parishioners we are willing and able to help in our lay capacities, but we do need an Associate Priest to help and support Jim and also to bring their own ministry, skills talents and ideas for the future so that we may grow as a Christian family in the Blackdown Benefice. General Information

The Benefice comprises five parishes (six churches) across an area of approximately 80 square miles in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). All our churches are open during the day. The parishes are predominantly rural and, outside the villages, feature undulating farmland, scattered hamlets, farm houses and buildings and small pockets of woodland. Apart from the busy A303, which passes along the parish boundary of Buckland St Mary, most of the Benefice is served by narrow, winding country lanes.

The predominantly (mainly dairy) farming community in the Blackdowns has been augmented in recent years by incoming professional and retired people. The demography is mixed, but includes some increasingly elderly and frail people. For those who are ill, have mobility problems or no transport, life can be difficult in the villages; rural isolation is a problem. Local young adults cannot afford to buy property in the area and social housing is very limited. There are young families in our communities and many attend church at Easter and Christmas, but only a few attend regularly throughout the year.

There is an excellent parish magazine (the CBO News) for three parishes of the Benefice, which advertises church services, local events, tradesmen etc., and also contains articles by the clergy team, the Chapel Minister and others, plus reports of parish council meetings.

There is a similar magazine for Corfe and Pitminster, ‘Community Matters’, which covers community events and issues, and also advertises for the local pubs, tradesmen, hairdressers, fitness classes etc.

The Blackdown Support Group helps the elderly or infirm in Churchstanton and Otterford by organising lifts to and from hospital or other appointments or to social events, offers a wheelchair loan service and respite for carers etc. See www.blackdownsupport.btck.co.uk for more information.

Those who do not work in rural occupations tend to work in local towns such as Taunton or Yeovil (25 miles from Taunton) in the service industries, schools and colleges, hospitals, Westland helicopters (Yeovil), UK Hydrographic Office (Taunton), Local Government and the Armed Services (40 Commando is located just outside Taunton; RNAS Yeovilton is about 25 miles away).

We are looking to appoint an Associate Priest to work two days a week to work with and support Jim. A House for Duty would be made available for the successful candidate, if required, or a sum could be paid in lieu of such accommodation if this is not needed.

The Benefice has, until recently, been well supported by a number of Readers; however currently we only have the one reader and we are praying for and looking to nurture new leaders within our churches. There is therefore a need to recruit and train some new lay people and/or Readers to take some services in the future. The Benefice joins together every third Sunday and fifth Sundays in the year for a joint morning Eucharist service. These services rotate around the churches. This arrangement offers the opportunity to worship and share prayer and fellowship with a wider Christian family. These services, are generally very well supported and have enriched our Christian lives and helps to build closer relationships between the Parishes.

Parish statistics

Buckland & Churchstanton Corfe Otterford Pitminster Birchwood Membership 23 25 11 7 29 Electoral Roll 55 31 26 15 57 Average attendance 13 14 10 7 27

Benefice Pattern of Services

Buckland St Churchstanton Otterford Corfe Pitminster Mary + First 09.15Birchwoo Holy 10.45 Holy 18.30 Compline 08.00 Holy 10.45 Sunday Communion Communion (CW) Communion Morning (BCP) (CW) (BCP) Worship

1830 Compline (9) Second 10.30 Morning 18.30 09.15 Holy 10.45 Sunday Worship(CW) Compline Communion Holy (BCP) Communion 10.30 Sung(CW) Open On Sunday (Cafe Church) Third 08.30 Holy Communion (BCP) Birchwood Chapel Sunday 10.30 Benefice Holy Communion Fourth 10.45 10.30 Holy 10.45 Shared service of Sunday New Style Communion Holy Communion (CW) Family (CW) Alternates between Service Pitminster & Corfe

Fifth Sunday 10.30 United Benefice Holy Communion (CW) (43) Children, Schools and Families Work

The Benefice has been extremely lucky to share a Children, Schools and Families Worker, James Hall, with the neighbouring Seven Sowers Benefice. Sadly James will be leaving us to take up a post in Hong Kong at the end of this school year. However this is funding available to appoint a new part time Youth Worker, which will be considered again once an Associate Priest has been appointed. The post is funded by parishioners. Our Youth Worker has worked closely with schools in both Benefices, running Easter and Summer Holiday Clubs, Open the Book assemblies, Collective Worship, school and residential trips among other activities and also ran a successful Alpha course at the beginning of the year.

Open the Book: Churchstanton Primary School was the first school in Somerset to be introduced to Open the Book. As a th result, it is just beginning its 9 year in that school. Since its introduction at Churchstanton, it has also been launched at Buckland St Mary Primary School, where it is received very warmly and where we have a thriving ecumenical team.

Easter & Pentecost Experience: Five different stations set up, each with its own storyteller. The storyteller told small groups of children part of the Pentecost story before helping the children engage in a short response-type activity. The feedback we’ve gained from these days suggests that not only did the children have a great time engaging with the activities, but they were also able to learn more about Christian faith journey and how God can impact our lives and how he wants to live in and with us.

St Nicolas Parties/Advent Parties and one off family events! At various points in the year we try to put on events suitable for all the family. They often follow a Messy Church type format, with lots of activities linked to a theme, followed by a celebration time together. Past years have seen us transform one of our churches with fairy lights and extra-large sweets and all kinds of whacky things! We sometimes share a meal together, but there is always cake – this is the Blackdown Benefice after all! Annual Summer Holiday Clubs: We have run holiday clubs in the Benefice during the summer holiday days for a few years. We tend to use one of our local schools to hold these events. Our most recent holiday club was called ‘Adventure Cruise’ using material produced by John Hardwick and Barnabas in Churches. It was an exciting and great fun event focusing on some people whose lives changed course when they met Jesus.

Accommodation

A suitable house will be purchased for the Associate Priest, in line with Diocesan policy.

For additional information the Benefice website can be found here: www.blackdownbenefice.org Our Parishes The Parish of Buckland St Mary With the Mission Church (Chapel of Ease) at Birchwood

The Churches St Mary the Virgin at Buckland St Mary was consecrated in 1860 and is a fine example of Victorian Church architecture (Gothic Revival) and Grade 2* listed. It seats up to 300 people. The church is open every day and is well visited in the summer. The peal of 6 bells is rung for services by our bell-ringers and we often have visiting ringers. We are a Fair Trade church.

Repairs to the tower and work to the South windows was completed in 2016. In 2013 new heating and lighting was fitted; the roof was replaced 10 years ago. The PCC is in the process of commissioning a project to introduce water, kitchen, toilet etc. to the church, so that it may be used more for community events, such as concerts, coffee mornings, etc. Plans are at a very early stage and a Statement of Need has yet to be drawn up.

The Birchwood Church (officially a Chapel-of-Ease) is situated in a grove in the hamlet of Birchwood and dates from 1887. It is lit by candles and lanterns and heated by wood-burning stove; Buckland St Mary Church music is provided by a harmonium and its services attract people from all five parishes. Discussions are on-going about introducing electricity for heating to alleviate the damage caused to the fabric – and especially the harmonium - by the dampness and cold. The Parish The parish population is about 475 and there are 49 people on the Church Electoral Roll as at the 19th April 2017 when we held the Annual Parish Church Meeting. There is an active team of sides people in the parish, one churchwarden plus other volunteers who decorate the church with flowers, clean the church and tidy up the churchyard. There is some social housing in the village but most houses are privately owned. There is a reasonable bus service to Taunton, Chard and Yeovil. The village hall is well-used. There is a community singing group which performs at local residential homes and clubs and also sings at key church festivals

Buckland is the only parish in the Benefice to be located in the District of South Somerset. The District Council is based in Yeovil, 20 miles away.

Chapel of Ease, Birchwood

The parish website provides further information about the life of the village/parish: www.buckland- st- mary.co.uk . The Church of England VA Primary School (www.buckland-st- mary.somerset.sch.uk ) , has strong links with the Church, using it for its own services and participating in the annual Community Carol Service. ‘Open the Book’ takes place in the church each week, presented by members of the church congregation and the local non-conformist Chapel. The school is part of the Redstart Learning Partnership and the Rector is a member of the Local Advisory Board and chairs the Ethos committee, along with our Children Schools and Families Worker he takes an active role in visiting the school, taking assemblies and helping develop the school's RE curriculum. Many of the pupils come from outside the parish.

The village benefits from a village hall, the church and the school. The nearest shop is the Community Shop at Churchinford, three miles away. The Eagle Tavern, while in the parish, is a mile from the village centre and is situated on the A303 trunk road.

Worshipping community There are two services each month, a traditional BCP service which attracts around a dozen people and a new style family worship service with a modern format, including a flexible arrival time with refreshments first and the service starts approximately twenty minutes later, numbers vary between twenty -thirty. We have 6 active members of the PCC plus the Churchwarden.

In 2016/7, we had five weddings, four funerals and one baptism. There is an annual ‘Hymns of Praise Service’, organised and taken by a parishioner. We are very lucky to have two organists in the parish who play for all services.

Buckland St Mary Fountain and School, This year, we have held Plough and Harvest Church and Old Post Office from an original services, a Rosemary service, Rogation pen and wash painting by Andrew Bell Services plus a full calendar of events as part of ©2005 the Benefice at Easter and Christmas. Services are usually taken by the Rector. . The PCC organises a Church Fete, a Christmas Bazaar and other events throughout the year which are very well supported by the local community. There is a Royal British Legion Branch for Buckland St Mary and the District. The parish has a good community spirit and links. We are drawing people into the church building with monthly community coffee mornings (for local charities) & concerts. Regular food donations are made to the local food bank in Taunton.

Giving and Money There is presently around £1.2m in church funds, some of which is ring-fenced for the organ and for the building. The bulk is invested to earn an income to cover expenses and so future fundraising events is often done as a benefit for the wider community, charities and the Benefice as a whole. A sub-committee of the PCC is managing the legacy, with help from a local person who has city experience in handling such large scale investments. The PCC have recently agreed to increase financial support to school related projects as part of a wider mission. The Parish of Churchstanton Our Parish church of St Peter & St Paul, is situated about two miles from the main village of Churchinford.

The church is 700 years old, with Victorian box pews. We have an average congregation of about 15 (although this does increase at festivals), the majority being senior citizens.

During 2017 we have had two baptisms, one wedding and several funerals.

The Church is well maintained, and our Parish Share is paid up to date.

We have a keen band of bell ringers, flower arrangers and cleaners, many of whom only attend Church on special occasions but are always supportive.

There is a fundraising committee so we have a lot of activities to boost our funds, which always St Peter & St Paul, Churchstanton proves to be fun and enjoyable. We also have a popular Home Group.

We have special services on occasion in the village hall – for example, Christingle, and Harvest, taking the Church to the village.

Churchinford is a thriving community with a population of approximately 810. It has a Village Hall, a Community Shop open seven days a week with a Post Office on Mondays and Friday. There is also a pre-school, doctor's surgery, residential care home and pub.

There is a weekly Monday Café which is very popular, and a monthly Market which sells locally-grown produce.

Our primary school is thriving, with about 76 pupils. It is situated about one mile from Churchinford and half a mile from the hamlet of Stapley. Open the Book was launched here some years ago, and still proves to be very popular. The school holds its carol service in the Church each year The Parish of Corfe

Corfe is a village with a population of approximately 200, lying about four miles from junction 25 on the M5 and less than 3½ miles south of Taunton on the B3170.

Corfe Church and War Memorial

There is a small group of former council houses, one of which has been converted into four flats for the elderly and a new development of 13 houses is being built on the north side of the village.

The village hall, which is across the road from the Church, has a large children's play area equipped with several family picnic tables and is a centre for a variety of activities. The Gardening Club, the Short Mat bowlers, the Toddlers group, the Keep Fit group and the Quilters all meet regularly and the Christmas Party and both the Spring and the Summer Flower Shows are well attended village events.

A successful Youth Club for younger members in the Benefice takes place in the Village hall. The hall is available for hire by anyone but villagers get a discounted rate.

The village has no bus service and to fill this void "Corfe Lifts" is run by villagers who organise volunteers to take those without transport to hospital, doctor, or hair appointments or just into town for shopping, when needed - there is no shop in the village. The White Hart is a friendly pub in the centre of the village that serves good food and where a Ladies group of 20 or more meet for a social lunch every two months. The Taunton and Pickeridge Golf course is within the Parish.

The Church was rebuilt in 1840 to replace an earlier building on ancient foundations. It still has an early Norman font and two very old corbels. It is generally in good repair but does need some work to prevent water ingress between the pitch of the roof and the tower. It is expected the building fund will finance the repair. The six bells are in good condition and a loyal band rings before all services. The churchyard is maintained by members of the village and is in excellent condition and the church is open every day.

The small congregation is largely retired but in an attempt to attract younger members the service on the second Sunday in the month is held in the Village Hall, although it adjourns to the Church for those wishing to make their communion in Flower show in Corfe Village Hall, August a shortened service. 2016 There are 26 on the electoral roll and there were 30 in the congregation on Easter Day and 25 on Christmas Day.

In the last 18 months we have had four funerals or services of thanksgiving, four weddings and three baptisms.

The parish share and all expenses have always been met in full. The Parish of Otterford

St Leonard's Church, Otterford

The ancient parish of Otterford lies between seven and 10 miles from the county town of Taunton and six miles north of Chard. It is an extremely rural area located in the heart of the Blackdown Hills, and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with a population of around 380 and a total of 162 residential properties.

Many residents live in Bishopswood, the largest village in the south-east corner of the parish. The village has limited facilities – a chapel, parish hall and pub. A second pub, the Holman Clavel at Culmhead, is owned by the parish.

The parish hall is well used for various regular activities including Soft Tennis and Badminton, Yoga, Keep Fit class, Bridge group and Short mat bowls. A Whist Drive and Bishopswood Ladies Group meet monthly, and the Yarty Gardening club alternates monthly between Otterford and the nearby village of Buckland St Mary.

The Bishop of Winchester held the Parish of Otterford as Lord of the Manor of Taunton Deane from 854AD to around 1822; this was on a secular basis. The history of the parish and the manor are closely intertwined and perhaps the reason why no village has developed around the church, leaving it very isolated.

It is not known exactly when the present church of St Leonard was built. The Grade II th listings give a date of the 14 century. The small church, situated on the western boundary of the parish and some three miles or so from Bishopswood, is thought to have been a pilgrim church, a halfway resting place for pilgrims travelling from Exeter to Glastonbury.

Recent years have seen declining numbers, but this is beginning to be reversed and the time is ready for spiritual progress at Otterford. Otterford sees a fairly regular turnover of residents: in a recent parish questionnaire 71 said they have lived in the parish for five years or less, 38 have lived here for more than 30 years. When asked to describe their status, 79 people – 34.2% of the population – said they were 'retired'. A few one-off services have been held in the last few years including a Sunrise Service at Easter, and a Rosemary service in November where those who had relatives in the churchyard, or had their funeral service at Otterford, were invited to attend. The Crib service on Christmas Eve is always very well attended. It is aimed at families and children, with the story of the birth of Jesus interspersed with carols and even actors and live lambs – always a joyous occasion. The ancient sundial above the door of the church

There are 12 on the Electoral Roll. The PCC consists of one Churchwarden, Treasurer and three parishioners. They meet approximately four times a year. Fundraising consists of an annual Quiz held in the parish hall and the '100 Club'. The church always pays the Parish Share at the beginning of the year to gain the small discount. The Grade II listed chest tombs of the Willie congregation has supported Action Aid Family, dating back to 1666 and since 1978. 1679 The Parish of Pitminster

This is the largest parish in the Benefice (population 956) and serves the villages of Pitminster and Blagdon Hill and the surrounding areas. The Vicarage is situated in Pitminster.

It is a lively community of all ages which has good facilities and community activities. These include The Old School which belongs to the church and is let out for various groups, a playing/sports field providing facilities for tennis, cricket football etc, a youth group, a fitness club, and various reading groups.

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The church at Pitminster The church has a strong musical tradition but is keen to further expand the thriving choir in order to build on this. There is also a very committed band of bell ringers

The annual nativity play has developed a considerable reputation, drawing in the community and their families from afar both in participation in the play and strong and enthusiastic attendance at the service. 2016 was no exception with the church packed and the rector testing his acting skills

The church supports charities including the local food bank and holds an annual plant sale for Christian Aid. The church owns a row of cottages in Pitminster which are let to tenants with specific needs at a lower than market rent.

The church is currently able to pay its parish share each year in full. There are well developed plans for a reordering of the medieval church to provide a venue for parish and community events to include the provision of a kitchen and toilet.

At present we are just about to begin a £30,000 new heating project to replace an oil fired boiler with a modern electrical heating system. Pitminster parishioners supporting “Annie’s ride”, a fund raising epic ride for St Mary Magdalene, Taunton’s bell appeal.

The parish has links with the USA through the Treat family, whose ancestors (then called Trott) left Pitminster in 1605 to settle in America. Since that time the family has spread to all parts of the USA. Members of the Treat family visit the parish whenever they are in the UK, staying with local church families, and have maintained a very close interest in the church and its life in the community. In 2016 a Pageant was staged in the church, as part of a weekend of events, to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the Trott family leaving Pitminster for the USA.

This depicted the events of the Civil War in Somerset particularly in Pitminster and Corfe. This and all other events over that weekend were hugely well supported by the local community. We were privileged also that 17 members of the Treat family made the journey for the celebratory weekend, one gentleman leaving the States for the first time and choosing to be baptised in Pitminster on that visit.

As a family the Treats have been very supportive in fund raising for various improvements and repairs to the church over a long period of time and are currently supporting our fund raising for a new and improved heating system for the church

In 2016 there were two christenings, three weddings, and several funerals in church. Ilminster Deanery

The Deanery is led collaboratively by a Rural Dean and two Assistants, working with the Lay Chair. The Chapter is working well both in support of each member and in providing a space for the discussion of ideas and new initiatives - either for a particular situation, or for wider application. A valued member of Chapter is our Deanery Rural Adviser, who serves, and is supported by, Ilminster and Crewkerne Deaneries. She has a temporary extension of her brief as part of our and the Diocesan response to the Flood Crisis on the Somerset Levels of 2012-14. Amongst other roles, the Rural Adviser is a great source of liturgical resources to enhance our celebration of the rural year.

The Deanery has also recently begun developing its Vision for the coming years, which is to 'encourage the formation and development of Confident Christian Communities'. An initial discussion leaflet has been circulated to all church members in the Deanery. Each worshipping community is being encouraged to examine themselves in the light of this and to consider prayerfully and honestly what the possibilities are for them in the coming three to five year period.

This is a Deanery which can truly be said to be living in joyful and exciting times, and we look forward to welcoming new colleagues among us.

The Diocese of Bath and Wells

The Diocese of Bath and Wells is centered on the beautiful medieval city of Wells, the smallest city in England, where the Diocesan Office provides a wide range of support, services and resources to the diocese. The Diocesan Ministry for Mission team offers an extensive continuing ministerial development programme to clergy and Readers, together with opportunities for training and mentoring, in particular to those new to incumbency. Opportunities for study leave and sabbaticals are also provided, along with an excellent network of pastoral care for clergy and their families. There has been, in particular, an encouragement to embrace a collaborative style of ministry, both between neighbouring members of the clergy, and between lay and ordained members within each area, drawing on and drawing out the gifts of each Christian.

Finance

The audited parish accounts for the last year are available on request from Rev Jim Fallon. All five parishes pay their parish share in full.