A Brochure for the Parish of
Bardsey with East Keswick
Two
Beautiful
Churches
Two
Yorkshire
Villages
Where we seek to:
Love God, the world and one another.
Live in the world as it is, but, drawn by a vision of something better, we want to help individuals and communities flourish.
Learn when we get things wrong, by listening and growing together. 1
Part 1: Brochure Summary
Thank you for taking an interest in our Parish. We hope you will enjoy reading this Brochure; please do contact us if you would like any further information or take a look at our website.
We are a small, friendly and welcoming Parish, covering the villages of Bardsey and East Keswick together with parts of adjacent villages. The Parish is in a semi-rural location situated eight miles from Leeds to the South and four miles from Wetherby to the North. There is also close access to the A1 (M) to take you further to town and countryside. The Yorkshire Dales, Harrogate and York are all within easy reach.
Our two churches are The Parish Church of All Hallows, Bardsey, and Saint Mary Magdalene, East Keswick, a Chapel of Ease. The Parish Church Hall (Callister Hall) in Bardsey incorporates a Parish Office.
In recent years we have strengthened our outreach and involvement with the local community and have started to develop and explore different ways of being Church to those in our Parish, especially young families.
We believe that there are exciting opportunities for a vicar with the vision to help us build on our achievements so far, encourage the development of lay leaders and support our planned developments, so that, together we can allow the imaginative ministry of our Parish to grow.
Contact details:
The Parish Office, Callister Hall, Woodacre Lane, Bardsey, Leeds LS17 9DG
01937 574273
www.bardseypcc.org.uk
Loving. Living. Learning.
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Part 2: Who are we looking for?
We would love to welcome:
A Minister with visionary leadership skills, able to inspire our congregations, help us grow in faith and encourage new people into our Church life, especially younger families, whilst still having regard for the older members of our congregations
A Minster who is a sociable communicator, approachable and who will be happy to mix in with all aspects of life and village activities in both villages, including our school in Bardsey and our Methodist friends in East Keswick.
A Minister willing to encourage lay ministry and development and with the ability to delegate. We currently have no assistant clergy or lay readers and the enabling of laity in the planning and leading of worship and Church is a priority.
A Minister who is willing to work alongside our imaginative and enthusiastic team to help us to build on and develop our mission to the local community, including our work with children and families, as we embrace change and continue to introduce new ideas and forms of worship
A Minister who is a prayerful, spiritual person, whose faith is lived out in their actions and ministry.
A Minister able to support the current planned projects to develop an outdoor space for the Church and community in the lower churchyard and planned building maintenance including roofing and heating systems.
And finally (but not least) a Minister who is sensitive but not afraid to tackle difficult situations and see them through, if necessary with a sense of humour!
Can we welcome you?
Part 3: Our Parish – what do we have to offer?
We are a semi-rural Parish, with opportunities for mission and ministry to a rural village community, which incorporates families who have lived here for generations together with a growing number of young families and commuters working in Leeds and beyond.
We are welcoming and friendly and increasingly learning to be receptive to change. We want to welcome our new priest into our Church family and support them as much as they support us; we believe that our priest taking a regular day off, holidays and study/quiet time is vital to their successful ministry.
Loving. Living. Learning.
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Beautiful church buildings open daily to all-comers, and regularly visited by locals and visitors, who enjoy the peaceful, prayerful space at the centre of the community.
All-Hallows is one of the best surviving Anglo-Saxon buildings in West Yorkshire situated in the very centre of Bardsey and is surrounded by a very large churchyard which we are presently developing to hopefully become an amenity for the village, an area of environmental beauty and place of rest and peace for our visitors. St Mary Magdalene is an intimate Victorian Chapel which also has a beautiful but smaller churchyard
An area, which enjoys excellent road links to the cities of Leeds and York and easy access to the Yorkshire Dales. The Leeds Diocesan office is easily accessible – just one bus journey takes you almost to the front door of Church House.
A part time salaried Parish Administrator who takes responsibility for much of the parish administration and who is also regularly called on by the wider community to deal with any issue, church-related or not.
A small but well used church hall booked regularly for church and village activities and with well equipped parish office complete with a meeting room for up to 10
A vicarage, directly opposite All Hallows, which is a beautiful 5 bedroom detached house in good order, with reception rooms, study, garage and well-maintained gardens.
A variety of amenities serving the villages and good primary and secondary schools in the area. A doctors’ surgery in the neighbouring village of Collingham and wide range of shops and supermarkets in Wetherby.
Part 4 - Bardsey and East Keswick Villages
The villages of Bardsey and East Keswick are eight miles from Leeds and four miles from Wetherby, a lovely market town. Bardsey currently has approximately 1034 homes, East Keswick about 450 homes and there is a combined population of 3628.
Both are recorded in the Domesday Book; the remains of a 12th century motte and bailey castle survive to the north of the church at Castle Hill and Bardsey claims the country’s oldest pub.
The majority of the present houses are owner occupied and although many of the residents have lived in the village for a long time, there is a growing number of newcomers and commuters.
There are many footpaths and bridleways to enjoy and an array of village societies and sports on offer. There is a strong community spirit, which is exemplified in the strong support given to regular village events held at the church, school and village halls.
There has been a school in Bardsey since 1726. In 1951 it moved from the church hall to newly built premises and as a primary and junior school it now serves the whole Parish. Although not a church school, links with the school are strong; the vicar takes regular assemblies and there are services and educational visits to All Hallows and links to our family church sessions.
Loving. Living. Learning.
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Part 5: Our Churches
THE PARISH CHURCH OF ALL HALLOWS, BARDSEY
All Hallows Church, Bardsey is Grade 1 listed, and seen as one of the best surviving Anglo-Saxon buildings in West Yorkshire. The core of the present church was built around 850 – 900 AD. The period between 1100 and 1400 saw the adding, and the later widening, of a north and south aisle and the moving of a Norman doorway to its present position at the west end of the south aisle. The following centuries saw further additions including a north and a south chapel, which now serve as vestries.
The most recent addition to All Hallows is the impressive Bardsey Millennium Tapestry, created by many people from the village.
The PCC has recently approved the replacement of the roof of All Hallows and heating upgrade, with the major part of the funding arranged. There is an internal toilet and a children’s play area at the back of church and a small but much used kitchen facility. An active group maintains the Church and provides flowers.
A current project involves developing the lower churchyard into an accessible and peaceful outdoor setting as a resource for community and church alike, with exciting opportunities for outdoor worship and events. Our children have recently made bird feeders to hang there.
THE CHURCH OF SAINT MARY MAGDALENE, EAST KESWICK
The church site was given by the third Earl Harewood and opened for worship in 1857. Saint Mary Magdalene was originally designated a Chapel of Ease to the mother church at Harewood. In 1978 East Keswick became part of the Parish of Bardsey.
The church contains Thompson (Mouseman) furniture and the hidden mice enchant visitors. Recent work has upgraded the vestry and repairs to the bells and tower are in hand, with funding met by investments funds. The church is in good order and well maintained by dedicated members of the congregation. To the rear of the Church there is a terrace and church yard.
Both churches are in good repair, with any projects having agreed finance from reserves. They are open daily and are used regularly by visitors and locals for quiet reflection and prayer.
Loving. Living. Learning.
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Part 6: Our Church Hall
Our church hall built in 1726 and also known as the Callister Hall, was originally the village school but became our church hall when a new school was built. It is used every weekday morning to host our popular village playgroup and at other times by church and village groups alike. It is also a popular venue for private events and gives the parish a welcome income. A redevelopment, undertaken in 2008, provided an improved kitchen, disabled toilet facilities and a new extension, which became the community room and parish office.
Part 7: Our Vicarage
The vicarage is situated directly opposite All Hallows Church at the centre of Bardsey village. It is an attractive 5 bedroom detached house in good order, with reception rooms, study, garage and well- maintained gardens. Would you like to live here?
Part 8: Our Worship
OUR CURRENT REGULAR SERVICE TIMES ARE:
Sunday: 07.45 & 10.45 - Holy Communion at All Hallows 09.15 - Holy Communion at St Mary Magdalene
A non-Eucharist service is held on the second Sunday of the month at All Hallows and at Saint Mary Magdalene on the fourth Sunday of the month.
Wednesday (first of the month) 11.00 - Holy Communion at Saint Mary Magdalene
Our long established service times were changed at Easter 2016 to those shown above to allow more time for preparation and communication between services. We are due to review these times again but have agreed to postpone this review until the arrival of our new vicar so as to be able to gauge his/her thoughts on this matter.
Some of our services during the vacancy have been lay led and the 7.45 service sometimes held as Morning Prayer. Members of the congregation take intercessions and readings and there is a team who administer the chalice. Servers assist the Celebrant at the 10.45 service. We have no retired priests living locally and no readers but a member of our All Hallows congregation has recently been accepted for ordination training and is currently leading some services. Night prayer during Lent has been lay led.
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There were 147 names on the Electoral Roll for the year ending Easter Day 2016. The collective average Sunday attendance for routine services is currently 70.
We have an organist who is able to play for some services and a sound system and recorded music is used at other times. An adult robed choir sings at All Hallows on alternate Sundays. Microphones are installed in All Hallows.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
Families and Young People: We recognised that our Sunday services were mainly attended by adults so in the past year, and after consultation with the community, we have introduced regular sessions for families and young people.
Run along the lines of Messy Church, these events are lay-led and generally last about two hours, incorporating crafts, friendship, plenty of cake and drinks, a short interactive worship session and lots of glitter! These are planned to coincide with events recognisable to those unused to Church, such as Christmas, Easter, Harvest, and St George’s Day to name just a few. Attendance has grown and currently averages 30-50 people.
Festivals: Attendance at Advent and Christmas and Easter services has risen since our family sessions have been introduced. Our Christingle, Crib and Carol services are especially popular and our Advent festival weekends have seen upwards of 200 young people from local schools and organisations contributing hand-made, themed decorations to the church. The Advent programmes have focused on an accessible retelling of the Christmas story with themes of stars and angels prompting creative displays and participation from many who do not normally attend Church.
Anniversaries: Joint congregations, including our local Methodists friends, gather at alternate churches for worship on fifth Sundays and for Patronal Festivals and Covenant services.
Lent and Easter: During Lent we have held a weekly lay led Night Prayer, attended lecture courses, and visited neighbouring churches. Good Friday sees a full day of reflective worship events shared between our three village churches, incorporating a walk of witness from East Keswick to Bardsey. In past years a Dawn Eucharist has been held; we would like to reinstate this next year.
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Alternative Worship: We would love to develop more alternative forms of worship and have tried Taize and Celtic worship and music and even a Valentine’s Day service. We look forward to further developments in this area. A small enthusiastic group maintain church display areas and prayer stations designed to appeal to all ages.
Part 9: Our Church and Our Community
We are committed to a full connection and involvement in all aspects of village life and to taking the Christian message into the wider community. This is done in several ways:
WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS Occasional offices are a very important part of our parish life, as we minister to those in our community, and sometimes from further afield, many of whom are not regular ‘church goers’. We see our care and support during the preparation for these events and afterwards as a valuable opportunity to share God’s love.
COMMUNITY EVENTS. We open our churches and churchyards for many community events such as the summer fetes, barbecues, concerts and parish meals. These are an important aspect of our community engagement and outreach, making new contacts and new friends.
OUR WELCOME PACKS Welcome packs containing information about our churches, our village organisations and local amenities, together with an invitation to come and join us, are available to all new village residents.
OUR NEWSLETTER The Church and Village Newsletter is published by the PCC, 11 times a year, and a free copy is distributed by church members and village helpers to every home in the parish. As well as mission message and church news it also contains local advertisements and social and council news. It is a vital communication aid linking our communities
OUR WEBSITE It website gives information about All Hallows and Saint Mary Magdalene together with our services and events – our ‘hits’ numbers show it to be a regularly accessed resource. Intercessions, a Vicar’s monthly message and sermons have been included in the past. Unfortunately these items have had to be suspended recently due to time pressures but hopefully will be reintroduced very soon.
CHURCHES TOGETHER We are committed partners in ‘Churches Together’ with local Methodists and Catholics. Regular meetings, joint services and events are held with good food and fellowship to follow. We carry a cross together on Good Friday as a witness to our faith.
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CHARITIES We actively support a number of charities, including St Georges Crypt, Martin House Hospice, North Leeds Food Bank, Christian Aid and The Children’s Society.
Part 10: The Management of our Parish
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
The Parochial Church Council maintains an overview of our mission and worship and all other aspects of church management. It meets six times a year with extra meetings as necessary. The Parish is a registered charity No.1134014 and all members of the P.C.C. are trustees of the charity.
Between the PCC meetings there are a four sub committees which work on behalf of the PCC and report to the PCC. They are a Standing Committee, a Finance Committee and a separate Fabric Committee for both churches. There is a designated Safeguarding Officer and policies are in place for the safeguarding of young people and vulnerable adults.
A salaried administrator, who works every weekday afternoon in the parish office, carries out the day-to-day management of the parish and is the first line of contact for all enquires. The administrator takes care of all aspects of parish management including the design and printing of pew sheets, purchasing and supply, invoicing and payments, all arrangements for marriages, baptisms, funerals and website updating. She also has considerable experience in dealing with faculty applications together all the other myriad and unusual problems that arise within a parish.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Our parish finances are overseen by the PCC Treasurer assisted by two Giving Officers, the Parish Administrator and the Finance committee.
Our general expenditure is well under control and we make full use of the services of Parish Buying and claim Gift Aid wherever possible. Capital expenditure is met from our reserves and supported by local fundraising.
In common with all parishes we would like to improve our income from planned and other giving sources. We have held stewardship campaigns in the past and plan to do so again.
A copy of our most recent accounts is attached or can be obtained from our Parish Office.
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Part 11: Our Future
The last three years have seen an increase in mission to families and the community, more lay participation in worship, a continuation of excellent management and maintenance by dedicated volunteers and an increased openness to change.
We believe this is an important time of change for us, as we develop our buildings and outreach and explore different ways of reaching out to our community.
We would love to welcome a priest who is prepared to support us in these aims, work with our existing team and support further development of lay leadership.
For our future we plan to:
Continue and build on the progress we have made over the last three years in the development of lay leadership.
Continue and build on the development of our work with young children and their parents and extend this work to older children and teenagers.
Look to provide support for adult enquirers and develop appropriate courses to grow in discipleship
Continue to develop an attitude of openness to change, diversity and different ways of ‘doing church’ whilst also providing for those who still look for a traditional form of Eucharistic worship.
Continue to see the churches not just as a building for the few but as a resource for the whole community – to encourage through our doors those who do not ‘come to church’.
Develop more interaction between our two churches and East Keswick Methodist church.
Continue to maintain our buildings as safe and secure places for future generations.
Develop our skills of fund raising, stewardship and project leadership.
And finally and always to:
Love God, the world and one another.
Live in the world as it is, but, drawn by a vision of something better, seek to help individuals and communities flourish.
Learn when we get things wrong, by listening and growing together.
Thank you for reading our Parish Brochure. Our doors are open – may we welcome you?
Loving. Living. Learning.