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

I. Parish Information

1(a) Name of parish(es) to which this information St Bartholomew West Scammonden relates:

(b) Name(s) of parish church(es): St Bartholomew West Scammonden

2. Name(s) of other C of E church(es)/centres for None public worship in the parish:

3. Cluster or group of parishes within which you Benefice of Ripponden (parishes of Ripponden work (formally or) informally: with Rishworth and Barkisland with West Scammonden)

4. Deanery: Brighouse & Elland

5. Population: 38

The 2011 census information gives the following figures. Please indicate how this might have changed since then.

1 6(a) Number on Electoral Roll: 28

(b) Date of APM when this number was declared: 1st April 2018

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 St Bartholomew Holy 11.15 (first and 11 12 0 Communion (BCP) third Sundays only)

8. Occasional offices

Number for last 12 months in each church

Funerals Funerals taken Church Baptisms Confirmees Weddings in church by clergy not in church St Bartholomew 2 0 1 1 0

9. Communications

Names, Addresses & Telephone Numbers for each church

Church Clergy Readers Lay staff Churchwardens eg Youth worker, Administrator Rev Carol Hirst None None Mrs Christine (retired) Parker St Bartholomew 86 Crow Wood 3 Church Terrace Park, Halifax HX2 Barkisland 7NR Halifax 04122 363095 HX4 0AN 01422 822791

Mrs Susan Greenwood 4 Heald Terrace Barkisland Halifax HX4 0DB

01422 825123

II. Parish/Community Information

1(a) Briefly describe the population mix of the(se) This parish is very rural, sitting on the edge of parish(es) in terms of its employment, cultural, the Pennine moors. Geographically, most of ethnic, age and housing mix. the parish is moorland, and the site of the original village (and most of the population) is now lies under Scammonden Reservoir. Hence the remaining population of 38 is very sparse, mainly agricultural with some artisans and commuters. The majority of the regular congregation live just beyond the borders of the parish, and the congregation is swelled greatly at special services (eg Harvest, Anniversary) when many people living further afield, but with historical connections to the parish, its church and school (now gone) regularly return. The remoteness of the church means that two or three services are usually cancelled each year due to the church being snowbound. (b) Are there any special social problems (eg high There is some rural deprivation in the parish. employment)?

2. Please list for each None.

 Local Schools: The only business to remain within the boundary of the parish following the flooding of the valley for the reservoir was the Brown Cow  Youth centres: pub, but this also closed in 2004.

 Hospitals:

 Nursing/elderly persons' homes:

 Places of worship of other faiths

 Local Businesses:

 Neighbourhood initiatives:

3  Associations eg tourist group:

 Describe any civic responsibilities which the clergy have:

III. Church Information

Please give details for each church

1(a) What percentage of the congregation lives 80% - see answer to question II 1(a) outside the parish?

(b) Describe the mix of the congregation in terms The regular congregation is predominantly of age, employment, cultural, ethnicity, age and white, and splits 50:50 by gender. gender. All are over 60, either retired farmers, artisans or professional people.

Whilst the congregation is ageing, we have had several new joiners over recent years which maintains our number.

We are increasingly getting children (grandchildren) attending as well. 2(a) How would you describe the churchmanship We would probably be cast as an oddity. We tradition of each church and give details of robes are an informal congregation, but prefer and vestments worn by officiants? tradition in service (BCP Holy Communion predominates) and vestments, but we are not averse to conversations between priest and congregation during the service. (b) What is the regular average weekly giving of ‘Average’ is a difficult concept as during the those 16 years & over and what proportion of year we hold services only twice a month. Our the giving is gift aided? key services (Easter, Anniversary, Harvest and Carol Service) are attended by a much larger number (our ‘wider’ congregation) and generate a considerable proportion of our plate income. Aggregate giving for the year (2018) was £6,329; on the basis of aggregate attendances over the year of approx 400 this gives an average giving of £15.82 per visit. 91% of this is gift-aided (and the balance receives gift-aid under GADS). (c) When did you last have a stewardship campaign? 2015

4 3. How does each Church supplement its direct We run a successful ‘100 Club draw@ which giving in order to meets its financial needs? raises about £2,500 and have three key fundraising activities in the year which are always eagerly awaited by the wider community.

4(a) What amount of working expenses were paid to £422 the clergy in the last financial year?

(b) Were these met in full? Yes

5 5(a) What amount of Share has (a) been requested; Share requested Share Paid and (b) been paid from the parish in:  last year? £7,066 100%  current year? £7,642 100%  next year ? £7,775 100% (planned)

(b) Will this year’s be met? Yes

6(a) Is there any capital project in hand at the Yes; major overhaul of bell and its housing; moment? work on roof over organ to prevent dust falling into pipes.

(b) Please give brief details with costs and state how Approx £12,00 for both projects – to be funded they are to be met. from reserves.

7. Please attach a copy of the last PCC accounts.

8(a) What is the general state of repair of: Good. Back in 2002 an extensive programme of the Church renovation was undertaken including a new roof, and this was followed by restoration and repositioning of the organ. Currently consideration is being given to a new heating system.

(b) Please give details of major maintenance It was noted that there may be some minor needed following the last quinquennial. structural movement, and this is currently being monitored by structural engineers. Defective plasterwork was noted and this has been repointed. The quinquennial noted that the church is not connected to mains water, and suggested this be investigated to provide better toilet and refreshment facilities.

6 IV. Outreach and Mission

1(a) What are the regular mission and outreach WE hold regular fundraising events through the activities of the parish? year, encouraging a wider participation in church events

(b) What are you doing to help people find out WE are introducing more ‘all age worship’ about Jesus? services with more input from the congregation and encouraging children to attend.

(c) What are you doing to help grow people in WE are not currently doing anything in this area discipleship? and would welcome help and support to do this

(d) What are you doing to grow people in AS above leadership?

2(a) Please give details of the support of the Church None at present overseas:

(b) How much is given annually? Nil

3(a) Give details of the support for home missions WE have given financial support to local and charities: charities: Barkisland school Air Ambulance Local Hospice

(b) How much is given annually? Between £100 and £300

3(a) Does the parish have an overseas link? No

(b) If so, please state where/who?

4(a) Is there an organised system of outreach and Not currently, being quite a remote parish, we welcome to new families? rarely have any new families

(b) If so, please describe:

7 5. What part does the church play in community WE feel we do not have a large enough area to care? warrant any specific community care, however we are happy to join the other parishes initiatives.

6(a) Are there any Lay Eucharistic Assistants who take No communion to the sick?

(b) If so, who are they?

7. What work does the church undertake with Not enough young people in parish young people, other than in church based organisations (eg open youth work)?

V. Ecumenical Relations

1(a) State involvement in local Council of Churches: None at present

(b) Is there a formal covenant with any other No other places of worship in our parish denomination?

8 2. What informal ecumenical contacts are there? None

VI. Church Education and Social Provision

1(a) Name of Church School(s) if applicable: None

(b)  Aided?  Controlled?  Foundation?

(d) If aided, does the PCC support the school?

VII. Lay Education and Participation

1. What education and training work takes place in Currently none, we would join other parishes the Church for the following (give approx numbers):

 Children  Young People  Adults 2(a) Give details of house/prayer groups: None

(b) Are the leaders clergy or lay? No

3(a) How do you rate the strength of lay leadership?

9 (b) To what do you credit this strength, or lack of it? Being very sparsely populated parish, we find it difficult to organise and again would join other parishes

VIII. Mission

1. List areas of Church life which you consider in Encourage wider attendance at services and need of development. participation in our wider church events

2. What are the main areas of mission that you Has a flexible approach to Sunday worship think the new priest should prioritise in their and is able to bring people to faith especially ministry? the younger generation, to help people with their personal faith and understanding

3. In summary, what are the top three challenges Bringing all 4 churches to a closer working with which you and the new priest need to partnership. engage? Encouraging more people to faith and being visible in the parishes

Make use of the talents and skills of the congregation.

10 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.

St Bartholomew church, West Scammonden, affectionately known as Dean Head, has been a place of worship since 1615. In 2015 we celebrated our 400 anniversary with a special service conducted by the Archbishop of York: most Revd and Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu. Our church was full to capacity with our regular worshipers and friends of the church, many of whom had travelled far and wide to be with us. After the service the Archbishop blessed our commemorative stone and joined us for afternoon tea, which was served in a large marquee overlooking the stunning valley and Scammonden Dam, over which our church looks.

Being an old church we have very few facilities, however we are looking into installing water so that we can replace our current chemical toilet, and to upgrade the heating system. Work is currently underway to repair the bell housing, also some work on the ceiling above the organ to prevent dust falling into the pipes.

When the reservoir and dam were built in the 1970’s much of this rural parish disappeared under its waters, as did many of the farms and houses. Todays congregation is made up of local farmers, professional people and some of those displaced by the reservoir. Although most of our regular congregation is made up of retired folk our numbers are greatly increased for our special services for Christmas, Easter and Harvest etc, the children being made especially welcome.

WE are well supported in our fund raising events, from harvest suppers to garden parties, which makes us financially stable.

Although we are a lively and forward looking church in our approach to Christianity, we are keen to maintain the tradition of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.

WE like to support local charities where we are able and this year we have chosen to support our local Hospice ad our main charity.

X. The New Priest

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

We are four semi-rural parishes in the beautiful Pennines of West Yorkshire, looking for an enthusiastic, committed and experienced Priest in Charge, who:

Is a person of prayer, who is aware of their own spirituality and has their own prayer life

Has good leadership qualities who can identify and encourage the gifts from within the congregation

Has the passion for bringing people into faith, especially bringing in a new generation of younger people and for helping all with their own personal faith journey

12 Can be a visible presence in the community and our schools, who will have a heart for mission and outreach, and a real understanding of the place of the church in the community

Is a good communicator with all ages with excellent people skills, a sense of humour and an ability to combine informality and spiritual depth

Has a flexible approach to Sunday Worship and who values the occasional offices as a means of mission as well as pastoral care

Can bring experience to help develop and encourage a vision for the four churches to become a united benefice and to work together in mission, ministry and service.

Agreed by the PCC of

......

on ...... 2017

Signed: ......

Print Name: ......

Office Held: ......

This form, duly completed, should be sent to:

The Administrator for the Designated Officer Deborah Thorley Diocese of Leeds, Church House 17-19 York Place, Leeds, LS1 2EX [email protected]

She will circulate copies to the Patron, Bishop and Archdeacon

Please keep copies of this form and ensure that all PCC members have a signed copy.