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PROFILE for the BENEFICE of Eye with Braiseworth Occold and Bedingfield

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PROFILE for the BENEFICE of Eye with Braiseworth Occold and Bedingfield PROFILE FOR THE BENEFICE OF Eye with Braiseworth Occold and Bedingfield Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich The Benefice of Eye with Braiseworth Occold and Bedingfield Patrons: The Society for the Maintenance of the Faith Lt. Cdr. Gordon Marshall The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich (jointly) The Benefice of Eye with Braiseworth, Occold and Bedingfield is looking forward to St Peter & St Paul, Eye welcoming a Vicar to serve within the Hartismere Deanery Group Ministry in this rural corner of North Suffolk. We operate with three Parochial Church Councils, with some items of Benefice business co-ordinated St Michael & All Angels, Occold by a Benefice Council. St Mary the Virgin, Bedingfield www.eyeparishchurch.org What we are looking for in our new Vicar We hope for a person of deep spirituality who is an experienced and gifted Parish Priest, to replace our previous incumbent who left after nine years of valued ministry. Someone of vision who is approachable and adaptable, willing to lead with understanding and compassion; who will build on existing strengths and explore new aspects of worship to meet the needs of the modern rural community we serve. Key strengths we are looking The Benefice… for are… I The Benefice pays the Vicar’s working expenses I an ability inspire all ages through thoughtful in full and biblical preaching I There is a Benefice Council which considers the I a desire to work collaboratively levels of contribution to the Vicar’s expenses of office, oversees the benefice accounts and acts as I a practical enthusiasm for pastoral care a liaison I good communication skills I The Parish Share is paid in full throughout I patience and understanding, with a good sense of the Benefice humour I good administrative skills I the ability and flexibility to work with parishes with differing styles of worship Priests (Ordination of Women) I an appreciation of the rich musical tradition in Measure 1993 the Benefice Note should be taken that Eye PCC has passed I the enthusiasm to care for the ancient buildings Resolutions A and B under the Priests we worship in (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993. All I an ability to further work with families PCC members were present when the vote and engage with the wider community was taken. Resolution A was retained from a previous vote, the vote on this occasion was 8 What the Benefice can offer in favour and 8 against (1 abstention). the new Vicar… Resolution B was passed by 12 votes to 5. It was decided not to vote on Resolution C. I loving, prayerful support and encouragement I warm friendship and the opportunity for social It is clear that there is a division of opinion, interaction and sensitivity will be required of the new Vicar. I a variety of skills to assist in the day to day work of the Parish/Benefice It is important to note that no votes have been I local knowledge taken either at Bedingfield or Occold, and that I well-maintained churches the ministry of a woman is acceptable. I a comfortable, historic Vicarage However, under the terms of the Priests I full payment of expenses (Ordination of Women) Measure 1993 Resolutions A and B are in place for the I administrative support through the Benefice appointment of the next priest of this Secretary Benefice. I three parishes which enjoy working and worshipping together Facts and figures Regular Sunday Services Service St Peter & St Paul St Michael & All Angels St Mary the Virgin time Eye Occold Bedingfield 8.00 am Eucharist Common Worship Traditional Language Average attendance: 10 9.30 am Morning Prayer Holy Communion 1st Sunday 1st & 3rd Sundays Eucharist Average attendance: 12 2nd & 4th Sundays Average attendance: 12 10.30 am Sung Eucharist Common Worship Modern Language Average attendance: 60 11.00 am Holy Communion 2nd Sunday Morning Prayer 4th & 5th Sundays Average attendance: 12 6.30 pm Evensong & Benediction Evensong Quarterly 3rd Sunday Taizé Worship Average attendance: 6 Quarterly Weekday Services St Peter & St Paul Day and time Eye Tues. 9.30 am Eucharist Weds. 8.00 am Eucharist Thurs. 6.45pm Eucharist Fri. 10.30 am Eucharist Sat. 8.00 am Eucharist Average attendance: 2-6 The Benefice of Sung Eucharists at 7.30 pm… The Epiphany, The Presentation, Eye with Braiseworth Corpus Christi, Ss. Peter & Paul, Occold The Assumption, All Souls, All Saints Average attendance: 40 and Bedingfield Service materials St Peter & St Paul St Michael & All Angels St Mary the Virgin Eye Occold Bedingfield Common Worship Common Worship Book of Common Prayer Traditional Language Modern Language Common Worship Common Worship Book of Common Prayer Traditional Language for Modern Language Morning Prayer New Revised New Revised King James Bible Standard Version Standard Version The New English Hymnal Hymns Old and New Hymns Old and New Occasional Offices over the last 12 months St Peter & St Paul St Michael & All Angels St Mary the Virgin Eye Occold Bedingfield Baptisms 11 2 3 Weddings 42 0 Funerals 12 6 1 Good Friday Children’s Passion Play. St Peter & St Paul, Eye Electoral Roll There is one small retirement development, two blocks of The number on the church electoral roll is 120. sheltered housing and one care home. The Community The town is gradually expanding. The population of the town is 2154. Employment Housing The town is centred in an agricultural area which There is a wide range of housing, a central core of offers some employment. The town’s largest medieval buildings in a conservation area employer is a meat packaging plant. There are two surrounded by more modern development. There is industrial estates where some food production takes one large estate of original council homes, some of place along with power generation and other light which are now owner occupied; there are three industries. In the town there is a good retail base small modern developments, two of which contain with a bank and post office and other services e.g. some social housing. There is a higher percentage of medical centre, dentists, complementary health private housing compared with council housing. centre, schools, electricians, builders and plumbers. Schools St Peter and St Paul Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (www.eyeprimaryschool.co.uk) serves Eye and some surrounding villages. There are around 200 pupils and there is provision for children from age 3 – age 11. The Vicar will be ex-officio Governor of the school and Chairman of the Trustees. He will lead Collective Worship once a week and take School Masses twice a term, linked to Key Stage 1 “Small Services”. Each term there are end of term services in church, and occasional services e.g. Harvest. The Fishy Club – run by the church operates as an after-school club. Eye Primary School Children are prepared for First Communion by the Other Community Institutions Vicar at school. Fire Service, Police, Medical Centre, Hartismere Hartismere School Hospital providing a Birthing Unit and community (www.hartismere.com) care also a Complementary Medicine Centre, is the 11-18 provision for the Benefice and serves a Library, Brownies, Cubs, Scouts and Guides, much wider catchment area; it has an annual Carol Women’s British Legion, Women’s Institute, Town Service in Eye Church. The Sports Centre provides Hall with Town Council, Community Centre with facilities for local sports clubs in the evenings. Community Council, Citizen’s Advice Bureau. Cross Street, Eye Eye Town Hall The Church The Church of St Peter and St Paul is a large medieval building which forms one of the focal points of the town. Its 101 foot tower dominates the surrounding countryside and is renowned for its flint decoration and the interior of the building is impressive. As such it is a tourist attraction, and with the benefit of toilets and kitchen facilities it is used as a venue for concerts. The church is open daily and has a small shop. The churchyard is “closed” and in the care of the Town Council who maintain it, there is free access and the footpaths are open all the time. Church Organisations which supports the regular maintenance of the Choir, Serving Team, Sidespeople, Bellringers, church. Julian Group, Pastoral Care Group, Saturday Club There is involvement with promoting the church as (Youth Group), Angels and Pinnacles, Church a tourist venue through the ‘Angels and Pinnacles’ Shop. scheme. Others licensed to minister in each parish or across the Benefice Areas for development There is currently a Reader and 1 Lay Elder in the Youth work, working with children and families to Parish. There is also an active retired priest. ensure that there is a continuation of attendance at Retired Clergy church through all ages. Fr Daniel Gooderham We have a First Communion Group – children who have classes in school (out of hours) and finally take communion before confirmation. The marriage of divorcees, who have a partner still living, is at the Vicar’s discretion, in accordance with Diocesan policy. Relationships with other Churches/Faiths We have an open relationship with other churches. Preachers from the Gospel Centre and Baptist Church are welcomed to assist in Civic Services. Strengths A regular, committed core congregation, some of whom come from the surrounding area. An Anglo Catholic tradition including a daily Jazz Concert 2013 Eucharist. There is also a Low Mass on Sundays to provide a wider range of practice. A strong musical and choral tradition, with a Director of Music and a full adult choir. There is a well established quarterly Family Mass. Annual civic services including Mayor Welcoming, Remembrance Sunday and Christmas Carol Service attract congregations of 200-300.
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