www.achurchnearyou.com/kirkleatham-st-hilda www.achurchnearyou.com/kirkleatham-st-cuthbert www.facebook.com/kirkleathamparish There are exciting opportunities in this parish. Are you ready for a challenge? We are part of the Diocese of York, led by the Archbishop, the Most Revd. and Rt. Hon. Dr. John Sentamu. The Diocese is the Church of England from the Humber to the Tees and from the general area of the A1 and East Coast main railway line to the North Sea. In the Diocese there are about 450 parishes and 600 church buildings. Our diocesan vision is to be Generous Churches Making and Nurturing Disciples and our mission is to see Growth in Christlikeness, commitment, partnership, influence and numbers. You can read more about it at www.dioceseofyork.org.uk — click the tab marked Generous Churches. Kirkleatham is a community and a parish with great strengths and also considerable opportunities. We look forward to addressing our opportunities and challenges together with our new priest. A message from the Archdeacon of Cleveland: As a recent arrival in the Archdeaconry, I wanted to take this opportunity to commend this parish and the wider Tees Valley area to you as you think about this post. Redcar and Middlesbrough have suffered some cruel blows in recent months and if all you knew about this area of the country was what you had seen on the news, then you might have a somewhat skewed view. What I have found since arriving in Cleveland is a warmth and resilience amongst the people of Teesside that I have not previously encountered and a part of the country which is almost heart-breakingly beautiful, from the majesty of the North York Moors to the windswept coast of the North Sea with its wide beaches and soaring cliffs. I have worked closely with the people of Kirkleatham parish and can commend them to you unreservedly – they will make you welcome and work with you to reach the people of the parish with new energy. Do contact the Bishop of Whitby or me if you would like more information on this exciting opportunity to build God’s church in this place. With every blessing, Sam Rushton About Kirkleatham The Parish is situated on the South West border of Redcar, a seaside town on the edge of the North York moors in the Archdeaconry of Cleveland and the Deanery of Guisborough. The Parish was originally focussed on the village of Kirkleatham; a village steeped in history with the Grade1 listed Church of St. Cuthbert built in 1763 (though there has been a church on the site since the 9th century) the 17th century almshouses and chapel and a museum housed in the 18th century Free School for Boys. The area between the old Kirkleatham village and the coast was developed in the mid 20th century and the population rapidly increased to its present level of around 13,000. The need for a Church in the midst of this residential area was recognised and the foundation stone for the Church of St. Hilda was laid in 1969. This area is currently the scene of much redevelopment, with our church and parish hall very much at the centre, and with great potential for mission. However, St Hilda’s church building has suffered from inherent design problems, and rebuilding is the only option. The project is underway, and we hope our new priest will be excited to join us in bringing the project to fruition. The incoming priest is not expected to manage the project, as we already have a professional Client Project Manager and an established project management structure. The two churches are both Parish Churches, working together with a single P.C.C. The Opportunities and Challenges we see There continue to be major re-developments in the area around St. Hilda's Church, including three new housing developments, residential and care homes and a Primary Care Hospital. The Church is very much in the centre of this activity with all that it has to offer by way of mission and outreach. However, the age profile of the congregations has changed significantly with a decrease in the number of those of working age; the majority of the lay workers are retired. So there is a challenge for outreach to the younger people and families that the new housing brings. Whilst there are signs of significant economic activity and new ventures, many people who live in the parish feel the effects of deprivation. Foodbanks are now well established in Redcar and a distribution centre has operated from the Parish Hall for some time. We have combined this with a café which offers light meals for anyone who cares to 'drop in'. This gives the opportunity for the community to see the Church in action and for the parishioners to demonstrate 'love for their neighbour'. Five years ago we introduced a 'Christmas Tree Festival' to our seasonal activities. Church groups, local schools, businesses and organisations were invited to decorate a tree either in the traditional manner or with a theme to advertise themselves. The Festival had a grand opening with music and refreshments. This has grown in size in subsequent years, bringing people into the Church – as exhibitors or viewers – who do not normally visit. Last year brought the 250th anniversary of the building of the present St. Cuthbert's Church. This gave a unique opportunity to demonstrate the Christian witness over the centuries as there has been a church on the site since at least the ninth century. We see the following areas for further growth and development: Engaging with the growing community - encouragement and trying to meet needs. Development of family and youth work - including Baptism preparation. Developing a culture of prayer and study. Rebuilding of the Church of St. Hilda and the Parish Hall. Re-ordering of St. Cuthbert's Church to improve its use for public occasions, particularly baptisms. Conclusion of the restoration of the Mausoleum attached to St. Cuthbert's. (The Mausoleum attracts many visitors to the Church) Increasing the joint activity of the two congregations whilst preserving the two distinct styles of worship. Priest and People working together Our parish offers a unique opportunity to be a part of our project to build a new church centre on the site of St Hilda's to meet the needs of our congregations and a growing community. We are looking for an incumbent who will guide us and inspire both our congregations in the outreach opportunities which the extensive redevelopment around St Hilda's offers. The parish has the strength of two very distinct churches and worship styles, and we hope our new incumbent will embrace and further develop the opportunities that provides. We see our priest as a figurehead in the community, able to make new links – a team player who will be supported by committed lay leadership. The qualities and attributes we would look for in a priest are: An infectious desire to share the love of Jesus Able to realise the potential of rebuilding St. Hilda's A confident, outgoing and experienced leader with a sense of humour A strong spiritual guide. An interest in pastoral care and a desire to get to know church members. An awareness of the challenges of ministry in an area of high levels of unemployment. Recognition of the talents of others and the ability to encourage people to use them. Valuing the potential of the different styles of worship in our two churches. The People of Kirkleatham The population of the parish is 13000 and increasing with the new housing developments in the urban area. The parish also includes a business park to the west, and the villages of Kirkleatham and Yearby. Kirkleatham ranks 11914th out of 12,775 parishes on the overall deprivation scale nationally (where 1 is the least deprived parish). There is a broad spread of occupations in the parish. The most significant employers are in Retail and Wholesale, Health and Social Work, Financial Business Services and Manufacturing. Transport Public transport in the area is very good. Buses serve the area around St Hilda’s very well, including a direct service to James Cook Hospital. There is also an hourly service past St Cuthbert’s. Redcar railway station is just outside the parish and there are links via Middlesbrough to the main east coast line at Darlington and Northallerton. Working Together With Other Denominations Our parish has a good relationship with the nearby Newcomen Methodist church, worshipping together at Patronal Festivals and Covenant Services, and liaising over outreach, especially in the new housing developments. There is an active 'Churches Together' in the town with representatives – clergy and lay – from each of the Churches. Joint Services are held during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and on Bible Sunday. Joint study groups are arranged during Lent. For several years a town-wide practical activity has been undertaken. The Redcar and East Cleveland Food Bank is the latest activity of the Redcar Churches with a centre open at a different venue each weekday. The Roman Catholic church is a strong presence in the area and relationships with the Church of England are strong. The Diocese of Middlesbrough is reorganising its parish structure in the Redcar area and is planning its own building project. Other places of worship in the parish are the New Life Assembly of God, and Gospel Hall Brethren. People from our parish taking part in an archdeaconry gathering at Whitby Parish Organisation and Activities The electoral roll numbers 138, of whom 49 live outside the parish.