The Benefice of Wickham Market with Pettistree Suffolk
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Benefice of Wickham Market with Pettistree Suffolk 1. INTRODUCTION Both PCCs in the Benefice have produced their own “profiles” (Statements under Section 11 of the Patronage (Benefices) Measure 1986 setting out the conditions, needs and traditions of the respective parishes). These Statements have been shared between the PCCs. This overview introduces the deanery and describes the villages of Wickham Market and Pettistree, together with detail on location, surroundings and transport links. There is also information about the benefice and how the churches in the benefice relate to each other. It is hoped that this will assist in understanding the dynamic fellowship and relationship between the two churches. A key part of the role of the next incumbent of Wickham Market and Pettistree will be that of Loes Deanery Youth Facilitator. It is envisaged that this part of the role will take an average of 8 to 10 hours a week counted over 46 weeks per year. Further details of the vison and ambition for this part of the role is detailed in section 3 of this overview. 2. DEANERY OF LOES Loes is a rural deanery situated in a lovely part of Suffolk, here small rivers start and head towards the nearby sea with lovely villages and gently rolling countryside. There are good schools, teashops and pubs! What’s not to like? There are three larger population centres, Debenham, Framlingham and Wickham Market, with the rest being small villages. There is a total population of about 15,000 people across the deanery. Rural communities are varied and socially diverse and good to minister in. Deanery Plan As a deanery we are working together to help us Grow in God in ministry and mission. The Deanery Plan has identified a number of ways we can develop: We are hoping to release some resources for working with young people. The appointment at Wickham Market and Pettistree will be key for this. Supporting lay ministers, especially those taking services. Wickham Market Church with its reordering and excellent facilities is hosting the diocesan course on ‘Enhancing Worship’ at present Knowledge on raising money for projects or for church buildings. Help benefices find stewardship information and support Encouraging co-operation across benefice boundaries and encouraging ways of being ‘Companion Parishes’ together so we can share ministry resources to further our mission. Clergy encouraging and supporting one another and using their area of expertise and interest to build up our shared life. For the Wickham Market and Pettistree post this has been identified as being working with young people. Full copies of the deanery plan are available from the Rural Dean. 3. LOES DEANERY YOUTH FACILITATOR Purpose and hope of this Role The role is to encourage young people to engage with faith questions, develop their faith in God and we hope explore discipleship. The hope is that this might create group[s] possibly linked with Thomas Mills High School and / or Wickham Market Church and maybe with other centres where young people can develop and enjoy worship, prayer and explore what discipleship means. This ties in with the Diocesan strategy of Growing in God by helping young people grow deeper, in number and - within this deanery helping us to grow younger. Size of the Role The role is to take an average of 8 to 10 hours a week counted over 46 weeks per year and is envisaged to be part of the responsibilities of the next incumbent of Wickham Market and Pettistree. Resources for the role The two PCCs have agreed to this and have agreed to continue to pay a full parish share and the firm expectation is that they will not become a larger benefice while this task is included as part of the incumbency. The Deanery Plan highlights working with youth as an important priority and this role has been agreed to and supported despite other neighbouring benefices now being in vacancy. The Deanery Chapter is fully aware of this development and are fully supportive of the role. Expenses – including travel and any printing will be met by a combination of the two PCCs, and Deanery. This has been mentioned at Deanery Synod but would need to be worked into a small budget in the form of a grant to the two PCCs. It would not be expected to exceed £500/annum. One natural resource for beginning this work is with Thomas Mills High School (the school is Ofsted Outstanding, specialising in technology, arts and languages and the catchment school for Wickham Market and Pettistree). The school has some links with St Michael’s in Framlingham (year 7 and other visits and infrequent assemblies) and some with the youth worker in Wickham Market. Such work is already developing in Debenham High School (Church of England academy and also Ofsted Outstanding) which means there are other Christian colleagues to work with The Rural Dean and Wardens recognise that the time, gifts and vision of the new incumbent is the most valuable resource. They are, however, keen to protect the time parameters of this post but also recognise there will be mutually beneficial creative overlaps with work done in Wickham Market and with the activities of the youth worker employed there, for example developing a Christian Union at Thomas Mills School for the benefit of the parishes in the catchment area and hosting deanery youth services where All Saints could provide a springboard for the wider deanery engagement in establishing youth deanery events. Scope of Role To work with school, deanery clergy and youth worker to develop further links with Thomas Mills High School to achieve the aim of encouraging young people to engage with faith questions, and appropriately encourage their growth of faith in God and their exploration of discipleship Encourage the youth sense of worth and capability to impact Christ’s church through facilitating deanery-wide youth spiritual events and attendance at Christian events in diocese or beyond. To help Loes Deanery clergy and synod to engage with the developing Diocesan Youth strategy and the Diocesan Youth Officer (Phil Bailie). This description has been seen and agreed by Deanery Clergy. To assist other benefices, consider and find resources for youth work but given time constraints there is no expectation of face to face youth work in other churches. 4. THE VILLAGES Wickham Market is a large village (or a small town) situated in the valley of the River Deben of Suffolk within the Suffolk Coastal heritage area. It is located some 15 miles north of the County Town of Ipswich and 5 miles north-east of Woodbridge. It sits astride the original A12 road route from Ipswich to Lowestoft (having been by-passed in 1976). The railway station is located approximately two miles east at Campsea Ashe. From there hourly services run south to Ipswich (30 minutes) and north to Lowestoft (1 hour). From Ipswich there is a speedy and frequent train service to London Liverpool Street (fastest trains 1 hour 5 minutes) and Norwich. A mile by road from Wickham Market is Pettistree, a small friendly village of 82 dwellings and 185 parishioners, separated physically from Wickham Market by farmland, and from the village of Ufford and the hamlet of Loudham by the A12 dual carriageway. Easy access to the A12 means that it is practical to commute to London by train from Ipswich or Manningtree, to Cambridge (1hr 30 mins by car), Norwich (1hr 20 mins by car) or Colchester (45 mins by car). Wickham Market is the larger village in the benefice with a population of 2,106 (2011 Census). The census showed that 27.59% of the population are aged between 40 and 59. The Neighbourhood Plan for Wickham Market, Pettistree and adjacent Ufford has identified land for new housing that might allow a further 868 homes to be built in the two parishes. Both villages have an historic core, but Wickham Market also has a large 1970s built estate of Housing Association Social Housing. The majority of these dwellings were originally Council Houses although many have now been sold to former tenants. There are new housing developments in Wickham Market built in the last few years which have brought new residents and church members. There are a few holiday lets, a popular riverside caravan site and some second-homes in the village. In Pettistree there is a mixed population of all ages and occupations, with 25 children and young adults (18 or younger) as of 2016. Some families are involved in local farms and associated businesses. Most of those in employment work away from the village, mainly within the county, but with several of the larger houses having one or more occupants commuting to London for their work. There are a few villagers who are self- employed and work from home. Others are retired, some living independently and some with family support. There is a mixture of owner-occupied and rented property, with two properties currently holiday lets, but there is no longer any council housing in the parish. The benefice has a wide variety of shops and businesses, most of the shops being situated around the attractive Wickham village square known as “Market Hill” or simply "the Hill”. There is an excellent health centre near to the church, a library and a new retirement/nursing home complex. Wickham Market has a good, although dated, village hall which includes an archive room close to the village centre. The Village Hall Management Committee are in the early stages of fund-raising for a new modern hall. Adjacent to the village hall there is a playing field with football pitch, bowls green, skate Park, basketball court and children's play area.