Parish Profile

This form is designed to give an overview of a parish to be used in a vacancy for the appointment of a new parish priest. It will be accepted as the "statement describing the conditions, needs and traditions of the parish" required by the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986. Additional information may be given by way of printed documents or written submissions.

Please write in black ink

These numbers are mainly based on the 2011 Census, so while they are not “new” we do not expect the numbers to have changed significantly since.

I. Parish Information

1(a) Name of parish(es) to which this information Birstall, West Yorkshire relates:

(b) Name(s) of parish church(es): St Peter’s

2. Name(s) of other C of E church(es)/centres for Methodist Church, Birstall Community Church, public worship in the parish: St Patrick’s RC Church

3. Cluster or group of parishes within which you We work informally with St Saviour’s Brownhill, work (formally or) informally: e.g. sharing Ash Wednesday morning/evening, and cover for vicar’s absence.

4. Deanery: Dewsbury and Batley

5. Population: The 2018 population of the Birstall Parish is 5861. We are not aware of any new house The 2011 census information gives the building or other factors which would have following figures. Please indicate how this changed this significantly away from longer term

might have changed since then. demographic trends. 6(a) Number on Electoral Roll: 90

(b) Date of APM when this number was declared: 16/09/2020

7. Attendance at worship in each church

Please provide details of average attendance at Sunday and weekday services

Church/Service Time No. of Adult Under 16 communicants attendance Sunday Traditional 9:00 36 36 Sunday Modern 10:30 35 35 6 Wednesday 9:30 12 12

8. Occasional offices

Number for last 12 months in each church

Funerals taken by clergy not in church Funerals Church Baptisms Confirmees Weddings in church

St Peter’s 3 4 9 10

9. Communications Names, Addresses, Telephone Numbers and E-mail addresses for each church

Church Clergy Readers Lay staff - pastoral Churchwardens ministers

St Peter's Church N/A Leif Wilks Elaine Jackson Denise Gosling Kirkgate, Birstall, 109 High Street Pastoral Care 2a Whewell Street West Yorkshire Birstall 205 Ealand Road, Birstall WF17 9PB West Yorkshire Batley, West Yorkshire WF17 9HW West Yorkshire, WF17 9PQ 01924 440511 WF17 8JL 01924 420479 leifwilks7@gmail. elaine.jackson10@ denisegosling@uw com sky.com club.net

Wendy Harper Solly Wilson Miles Lawson 24 Fieldhead Pastoral Care 49 Enfield Drive Lane, 3 Melbourne Batley Birstall, Street, West Yorkshire West Yorkshire Liversedge, WF17 8DY WF17 9BH West Yorkshire 0786 6688759 wharper1943@bt WF15 7WW mileslawson@virgi internet.com sollywilson@hotm nmedia.com ail.com

Alison Sowden Pastoral Care 11 Bronte Road, Birstall, West yorkshire WF17 9JL bongobean.as@g mail.com

II. Parish/Community Information

1(a) Briefly describe the population mix of the(se) All numbers according to the 2011 Census of parish(es) in terms of its employment, cultural, Birstall : ethnic, age and housing mix. Age: ● 0-15: 18.7% ● 16-29: 17.1% ● 30-44: 19.4% ● 45-64: 28.2% ● 65 and over 16.6%

Ethnicity: ● English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British: 95% ● Mixed/multiple ethnic groups: 1.3% ● Asian/Asian British: 1.6% ● Black/African/Caribbean/Black British: 0.4% ● Other white 1.7%

Religion: ● Christian: 67.7% ● Muslim: 1% ● Buddhist/Hindu/Jewish/Sikh/Other: 0.7% ● No religion: 24.6% ● Other religions: 6%

Household:(demographics) ● One person household,all ages : 29% ● One person household over 65: 8.5% ● Lone parent household: 10.5% ● Dependant children in household all ages: 30.9% ● Cohabiting: 12.4% ● Lone parent: 7.4% ● Other: 1.3%

Household Tenure: ● Private owned outright:30.3% ● Private owned with Mortgage:35% ● Shared ownership:0.4% ● Social Rented (council):17.9% ● Social Rented ( Private):8.9% ● other: 7.5%

Employment: ● Employed full-time: 41% ● Employed part-time: 14.4% ● Self-employed: 7.8% ● Unemployed: 4 5% ● Student: 3.0% ● Retired: 17.4% ● Looking after home or family: 3.3% ● Long-term sick or disabled: 4.3%

(b) Are there any special social problems (eg high No particular problems, although the church unemployment)? school is aware of some ongoing child poverty and social issues.

A few numbers from the 2011 census are above or below the national average by a significant amount:

Category Birstall National average

No 28.7% 22.5% qualifications

Level 4 19.7% 27.4% qualification (degree or higher)

Jobseekers 4.5% 3.3% Allowance

Any benefits 15.4% 13.5%

2. Please list for each ● Local Schools: ● St Peter's C of E (VA) J&I EY, ● Birstall Primary Academy ● Fieldhead Primary Academy ● St Patricks RC Primary ● Birstall preschool ● Youth centres: ● No specific youth centres

● Hospitals: ● None in the parish, main hospital in nearby town of Dewsbury ● Nursing/elderly persons' homes: ● Priestley Residential Care Home

● Places of worship of other faiths ● Birstall Methodist ( From our research we cannot identify ● St Patrick’s Catholic Church any other places of worship of other ● Birstall Community Church faiths in the Birstall parish- other ● St Saviour's church Brownhill church denominations have therefore ● Howden Clough Methodist Church been listed ) ● Local Businesses: ● PPG in Birstall is Europe’s largest manufacturer of Architectural Coatings and decorative paints. Also Mars Pet foods are the two largest employers but there are many more besides-- all SMEs. ● Neighbourhood initiatives: ● Birstall in Bloom

● Associations eg tourist group: ● Bridge club ( at St Peter's church) ● Some activities such as knit & natter are conducted at Fieldhead community center. ● Irish club ● Birstall Library ● Birstall conservative club ● Birstall Cricket club ● Park Run at Oakwell hall

● Describe any civic responsibilities which ● Remembrance service and parade the clergy have:

III. Church Information

Please give details for each church

1(a) What percentage of the congregation lives 25% outside the parish?

(b) Describe the mix of the congregation in terms Based on responses to a church questionnaire: of age, employment, cultural, ethnicity, age and gender. ● 65% of the congregation are 65 and over ● 16% are in the age group 56 to 64 ● 68% are Female and 32% are Male ● Almost all are British and white

2(a) How would you describe the churchmanship ● Evangelical/broad tradition of each church and give details of ● Previous vicar invariably wore alb and robes and vestments worn by officiants? stole ● Readers robe (cassock, surplice and scarf) to preach

(b) What is the regular average weekly giving of ● £11.15 = average weekly giving based those 16 years & over and what proportion of on a usual Sunday attendance of 71 the giving is gift aided? adults ● Proportion of giving gift aided is 88.5%

3. How does each Church supplement its direct ● Fundraising events - summer fete, giving in order to meet its financial needs? bonfire night, Christmas Fayre, music and entertainment evenings ● During 2019 we held special events to celebrate 900 years of worship in the community ● Hire of the fellowship area within the 6

church 4(a) What amount of working expenses were paid to Reimbursement of vicar's expenses claimed - the clergy in the last financial year? £914.36

(b) Were these met in full? Yes

(c) Is there an annual discussion about the level of Yes including major projects and updates and expenses as part of the PCC’s budgeting progress reports are provided at each PCC process? meeting

5(a) What amount of Share has (a) been requested; Share requested Share Paid and (b) been paid from the parish in: ● last year? £45,177 £45,177 ● current year? £46,545 £46,545 ● next year ? £46,545

(b) Will this year’s be met? Yes

6(a) Is there any capital project in hand at the Yes repairs to roof of both north and south moment? aisles. Work to commence April 2021.

(b) Please give brief details with costs and state The contract costs are £69,032 excluding VAT how they are to be met. This is fully funded by donations received, grants obtained and the sale of shares in a restricted fund.

A temporary loan has been agreed with LDBF to cover VAT until this can be reclaimed 7. Please attach a copy of the last PCC accounts. Attached

8(a) What is the general state of repair of: Once the roof has been completed the Church(es) - please list the building will be in a good state of repair. There are various projects on our 'wish list'. These include: ● a roof alarm, ● a replacement intruder alarm, ● provision of two toilets (replacing the existing toilet) with one being an accessible toilet, ● an accessibility entrance, ● a kitchen update. (b) Please give details of major maintenance All work highlighted by the last quinquennial needed following the last quinquennial. inspected has been carried out in full, except a small amount of repointing still to be addressed.

IV. Outreach and Mission

1(a) What are the regular mission and outreach Wednesday lunch club (Bridge), Weekly activities of the parish? Playtime, Messy church. Occasional events, e.g. Walk of Witness, All Souls, Carols in the Market Place. Food cupboard and support of local foodbanks. (b) What are you doing to help people find out We have held ‘Start’ courses for those who about Jesus? want to find out more. Whatever may be the aggregate of individuals’ personal contacts. Not a lot in a structured way. (c) What are you doing to help grow people in Courses like 40 Days. House Groups. discipleship?

(d) What are you doing to grow people in This is something that needs addressing leadership?

2(a) Please give details of the support of the Church Tithe payments were made during 2019 to overseas: nine overseas christian organisations, aid agencies, etc.

In addition collections and appeals are made in support of specific events and disasters for example :- Maize Mara Appeal in 2018 and Mozambique Disaster Appeal in 2019. (b) How much is given annually? During 2019 a total of £2,278 was given.

3(a) Give details of the support for home missions Tithe payments were made during 2019 to and charities: fifteen home missions covering a wide section of the community including children, those with disabilities, women, the elderly, sick, homeless and research. (b) How much is given annually? During 2019 a total of £2,350 was given.

3(a) Does the parish have an overseas link? Yes

(b) If so, please state where/who? Mugumu Parish, Mara Diocese Tanzania

4(a) Is there an organised system of outreach and Yes - historically the vicar has asked new welcome to new families? families or visitors to complete a contact card and information is sent onto them about St Peters. (b) If so, please describe: New families and first time visitors are invited to give their contact details and receive a welcome letter.[check with pastoral ministers] 5. What part does the church play in community We maintain an emergency food cupboard and care? we support a local food share. We are regarded as a ‘Dementia Friendly’ church.

6(a) Are there any Lay Eucharistic Assistants who Yes take communion to the sick?

(b) If so, who are they? Solly Wilson Elaine Jackson Leif Wilks Wendy Harper Ray Gallagher 7. What work does the church undertake with Reading partners in school young people, other than in church based organisations (eg open youth work)?

V. Ecumenical Relations

1(a) State involvement in local Council of Churches: St Peter’s is a member of Churches Together in Birstall (CTiB)

(b) Is there a formal covenant with any other Only under the constitution of CTiB denomination?

2. What informal ecumenical contacts are there? Annual CTiB service Lent study courses

VI. Church Education and Social Provision

1(a) Name of Church School(s) if applicable: St Peter's Church of England Junior School

(b) ● Aided? Aided ● Controlled? ● Foundation?

(d) If aided, does the PCC support the school? Yes - Taking assemblies, 4 Church Governors including Chair but much more could be done.

VII. Lay Education and Participation

1. What education and training work takes place ● Junior Church : 2 groups,( age 2 to 10 in the Church for the following (give approx and 10+), Registered children totalling 8 numbers): ,(but not all regular attenders). Currently the groups are without a ● Children coordinator, having had a long term dedicated coordinator for many years. ● Young People ● In previous years there have been ● Adults around 17 members of teenage years in 9

crosskeys , now renamed Rock solid, this has currently 2 or 3 . ● The rock solid and junior church leaders have attended several diocesan courses over the years. ● In order to outreach to the local families in the community there is a St Peter’s Playtime group to serve preschool children and their carers and Messy church has been one of the activities run to help support this and others in the parish with small children. ● Education and training for adults mainly involves the Sunday services and occasional training courses which have been offered by the lay readership at a local level. These are mainly lent studies or introduction courses to Christianity. There are 4 house groups but each is left to its own devices and has never been centrally coordinated or properly integrated and used as an instrument of church life. ● There are links to the local school which have given some input to the Church sponsored school of St Peter’s , assemblies and recently an online christingle service for the whole school . 2(a) Give details of house/prayer groups: ● There is a prayer group for the whole church aimed at praying for renewal and church life in general . ● A more active area of church prayer life is the email/phone prayer chain which many of the congregation use for themselves, friends and any other issues of particular concern. ● There are 4 house groups which whilst being independent serve a good function for fellowship within a context of christian learning. (b) Are the leaders clergy or lay? ● There has been one main leader( vicar), and two lay readers in the past. 3(a) How do you rate the strength of lay leadership? ● A massive strength of the lay readership is the dedication and faithful service given to the church . This has been amply illustrated with the way they have helped organise and cope during the covid 19 crisis and and during the current interregnum. Not only have they kept the church ticking over but have had the vision to undertake and

improve the online presence by working with talented members of our congregation and drawing upon their skills rather than trying to be a jack of all trades and master of none. ● There is still room for improvement but hey we are all lay christians at the end of the day!! (b) To what do you credit this strength, or lack of ● We credit the strength of our Lay it? Readers with their deep relationship with God, their integrity, wisdom and knowledge of the scriptures and to also mention their long length of service.

VIII. Mission

1. List areas of Church life which you consider in ● The church needs to develop need of development. relationships with St Peters school with a view to reaching families and inviting them back to church. ● To bring members of the messy church group into church. ● Encourage work within the community e.g. Nursing Homes and Hospices ● Teaching the congregation to get involved with special events for young people ● Look to expand the excellent work of online services to reach into the community ● Consider further supporting Foreign Mission via organisations such as Mercy Ships ● Utilise the special community events of the Christmas faire, Summer Faire and Bonfire nights as an opportunity to reach out to the folks in the community. 2. What are the main areas of mission that you ● Working with St Peters school to think the new priest should prioritise in their provide them and families with much ministry? better pastoral support. i.e. poverty in school children's homes. Through giving to the school with practical things, e.g. food tins, tea, coffee, sugar etc.

● Work again with St Saviours on a Mission to Birstall cancelled due to Covid. 3. In summary, what are the top three challenges 1. Bringing young families into church with which you and the new priest need to 2. Evangelism and working in the engage? community 3. Family and Church cohesion

IX. Additional Information

Please add here, or on another sheet, anything else which you would like the Patron and the Bishop to know about the conditions, needs and traditions of the parish.

Worship on the site of St Peter’s Birstall has been continuous for 900 years and has commanded a large parish in previous decades with incumbents up to Canon level. Currently two thirds of the congregation are over 65 and 68% are female, according to responses from a church-wide questionnaire sent out in November 2020. This leads us to the problem that as each year passes there are fewer and fewer people to help even if they wanted to, so the workload falls onto a diminishing pool of volunteers. Having said that the generosity of the church members is legendary and they have enabled the church to continue paying its Parish Share in full even during this difficult year.

Whilst the PCC understands the requirement for a ‘Priest-in-Charge’, 74% of the congregation feel it is extremely Important that St Peter’s has its own dedicated vicar to take the church into the future. A further 21% feel that it is ‘Important’. i.e a total of 95%.

A further 65% are either ‘Unhappy’ or ‘Very Unhappy’ to have a ‘Priest in Charge’ even though it was explained the reasons why this was needed by the Diocese.

For many years there have been 2 services on a Sunday morning at St Peters to allow for both Traditional and Contemporary services styles. As a single 10 am service is currently in place, many of the congregation do not yet feel that it is ‘their church’ and a new priest needs to bring everyone together as one body probably allowing for the best of both traditions and being inclusive as far as possible. Healing/prayer ministry during communion has been an important key feature over many years with many positive outcomes.

The current parish has some areas of poverty and deprivation but also some large businesses. St Peters is involved with a Churches Together in Birstall organisation of the different denominations in the Parish. Its main emphasis is to reach out to the community. Carol singing events in Birstall Market place and shared Easter services are important events and raising funds for charities is part of the mission element.

The church runs under the tenets of Ministry, Fellowship, Worship, Discipleship and Mission. For most of these we always feel that there is more to do and ways in which we can do that. A new Vicar will have much to consider and implement. But he/she would be surrounded with a wonderful prayerful supportive congregation.

X. The New Priest

List the qualities and skills you would like to see in the new priest.

The responses to the survey showed there were some areas we as a church feel we should concentrate on. These were the items which respondents said should be top of the agenda for a new vicar:

These themes form our immediate vision for the church.

1. Growing the Church A clear priority for the church is to grow our membership - particularly by reaching out to young people and families. We welcome many dozens of people to our Christmas and Easter services, and our prayer is that we can build relationships with them, so they know more of the grace and love of God.

We do not want “bums on seats” just for the sake of it! However, bums are attached to people - each of whom is loved by our Heavenly Father.

2. Growing together in our faith There was a clear feeling from many respondents that there is a lack of cohesion in church. Several people mentioned preferring either the traditional or contemporary aspects of our worship, so balancing these is going to be an important part of ensuring the church works for everyone.

Some people also said they wanted to grow more spiritually, and that the healing ministry which has been a vital part of the church for so long should continue to serve the congregation. This is wonderful to hear; we obviously have members who understand that faith and action go together.

3. Mission and community outreach The third theme is related to the first, with the emphasis on the church going into the community - rather than just people coming into church. While we’ve been involved in “out of the church building” events for a long time, such as the Easter outreach events, it seems church members recognise that this perhaps isn’t making the tangible difference in our community that we wish to see.

It may be that the increased awareness of local support services, such as the Birstall food-share, is also helping the church to think about how we can engage with our community better - reaching out in love.

Illustrative quotes from the parish survey describing the vicar we would like:

Spiritual:

● "Interested in people and have great interpersonal skills" ● "Someone filled with the spirit and following Jesus' teaching to the best of their ability" ● "Spiritual discernment and dedication to prayer and actions" ● "A huge love for God's children and their families" ● “Works with all ages/types”

Personal:

● "A fine intellectual ability to teach" ● "A people person with a heart for families" ● “Make and nurture disciples” ● “To take us forward in faith with vision and passion” ● "Open to people of all characteristics"

Mission orientated:

● "Engagement with children and young families" ● "A vicar for the whole community, not just a Sunday preacher" ● "Community bound, not office bound" ● "A vicar who believes in developing the faith of all ages and believers" ● "A commitment to pastoral ministry, not reluctant to come alongside those in distress"

Agreed by the PCC of

St Peter’s Church, Birstall, West Yorkshire

on Monday 11th January, 2021