Cherwell Valley Benefice

CHERWELL VALLEY

BENEFICE PROFILE

FOREWORD

Welcome to the Profile for the Cherwell Valley Benefice. Thank you for your interest in this post. We hope you will find plenty within these pages to help you discern whether to explore further the possibility of ministry here. The benefice has worked hard in the last few years to formulate a vision of their mission and life together. They are keen to build on that process and to move forward both in growing as disciples and growing as churches in their communities. There is a genuine desire here to be innovative and outward- looking, and while change doesn’t come easily, these parishes are keen to embrace new opportunities to engage with their communities. This chimes very much with the emerging Diocesan Vision of becoming a more Christ-like Church and finding fresh ways to reach out with the Gospel and the love of God. The new incumbent of this benefice will find a ‘mixed economy’ of rural villages and a growing town and will need to be experienced in working in both contexts simultaneously, embracing the diversity in these parishes and finding ways to build relationships that enable an openness to what God is doing here. This is an exciting time to come and be part of a new chapter in this benefice’s mission and ministry in Christ’s name. Do be in touch if you would like a conversation or further information. On behalf of the Bishop of Dorchester, the Patrons (New College Oxford, Corpus Christi College Oxford, and the Oxford Diocesan Board of Patronage) and myself, thank you for taking the time to read this profile and every blessing as you seek to discern where God is calling you to in the next stage of your ministry.

Judy French Archdeacon of Dorchester

Contents

Item Page

Index 3 The Diocese of Oxford 4 The Deanery of Bicester and Islip 5 Overview 6 Mission and Ministry 8 Ordinand in Training 9 Vicar (House for Duty) 9 Finance 10 Safeguarding 10 GDPR 10 Small groups 11 Why would you want to come and live here? 14 The Rectory 15 Person Specification 16 The Parishes 17 Schools 29 Appendices 31

The Diocese of Oxford The Diocese of Oxford is the Church of England in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

 Together, we are the Church, called and sent by God as disciples of Jesus Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit. We are a living, growing network of more than a thousand congregations, chaplaincies and schools.

 Together, we are called to be more Christ-like: to be the Church of the Beatitudes: contemplative, compassionate and courageous for the sake of God’s world.

 Together, we work with God and with others for the common good in every place in one of the great crossroads of the world.

 Together, we are called to proclaim the Christian faith afresh in this generation with joy and hope and love.

 Together, we are called to dream dreams and see visions of what could be, and see those visions come to birth. [Taken from flourishing in Ministry booklet.}

The common vison focal areas currently are:

 Making a bigger difference in the world and serving the poor

 Planting new churches and new congregations

 Serving every school

 Putting discipleship at the heart of our common life

 Sharing faith and growing the church

 Children and young people

The Deanery of Bicester and Islip

Thank you for considering this ministry opportunity in the Deanery of Bicester & Islip. It is a Deanery of contrasts comprising a large area of rural Oxfordshire, the fast-expanding and innovative town of Bicester, a number of villages equipped with schools and shops, and many smaller less well-equipped communities. As in every place it is the people that make this area come alive: a mixture of locals who value their deep roots and newcomers who have arrived for work, or value the good transport links, or want to retire in pleasant surroundings close to the city of Oxford. Community spirit is alive and well in our Deanery. There is a surprising amount going on even in the smallest villages and our churches are rising to the opportunities that surround us. The Deanery is made up of five sizeable benefices: Bicester, Akeman, Cherwell Valley, Ray Valley and Shelswell. The five Rectors play a leading role in the life of the Deanery and offer one another prayerful and practical support in addition to the fellowship provided by the wider Chapter. Our Chapter programme includes prayer breakfasts, walks, quiet mornings and bible study. We are looking forward to welcoming a colleague who can help shape the future of the churches and communities of the Cherwell Valley benefice and who will enjoy the sense of team spirit we have developed across the Deanery. Our Deanery Plan and Synod agenda are based around some shared values:

• staying close to Jesus and walking in ministry at his pace • letting go of what we want to make space for what God wants • looking for and celebrating signs of resurrection amidst difficulties • responding to the call to build and rebuild communities of faith We hope you will consider joining us. Please be in touch if there is anything you would like to discuss.

Area Dean: The Rev’d Gareth Miller (01869 350224) [email protected]

Lay Chair: Mike Dockrey (01869 345178) [email protected]

Overview

Location The villages of the Cherwell Valley Benefice lie to the north-west of Bicester, flanked to the west by the River Cherwell and the Oxford Canal, and to the east by the M40 – Ardley being the nearest village to Junction 10. The landscape is essentially rural, with an open farmed rather than wooded aspect, crossed by bridle paths and footpaths.

The rural villages have Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas, whilst the former RAF Upper Heyford site (now known as Heyford Park) contains Listed Buildings and Scheduled Monuments. Each village has a range of community facilities and activities. Heyford Park is a rapidly evolving urban-style development.

Banbury, Bicester and Oxford are easily accessible by road - London and Birmingham by both road and rail (stations in Lower Heyford, Banbury and two in Bicester). Local bus services can be variable in each village, leading to a high dependency on private vehicles by all age groups.

The Benefice and Parishes Cherwell Valley Benefice was formed in 2005 by joining the Benefice of Ardley-with-Fewcott, Fritwell & Souldern with the Benefice of Somerton, Upper and Lower Heyford & Caulcott. (Rousham passed resolutions ABC at this time and became an independent Benefice with suspended living.) The combined Benefice now comprises seven churches, including one on Heyford Park, a former RAF and USAF base which became a Conventional District of the Parish of Upper Heyford in 2009. While the six rural Parishes are similar in size (variously 300-700 in population) and have a mixed social distribution, Heyford Park is very different, being a large-scale housing development at the centre of the Benefice, with approval for about 3,000 homes. This major housing development is broadening the landscape of ministry within the Benefice. Indeed, Ministry in the Cherwell Valley Benefice is opening up in some interesting directions. There is a good deal of mainstream parish work to be done. People still look to our churches for baptisms, weddings and funerals. We try to be as generous and accommodating as possible. Home visits are appreciated, and the clergy are welcome to join in all kinds of community activities. The Primary School in Fritwell provides a valuable link to families throughout the Benefice. There is a good spread of Sunday services in every parish, encompassing a wide variety of styles. Our communities respond well to special church services and social events, and festival services are well supported. If you can appreciate and work with village life, doors for the gospel will open. In addition to this there is the opportunity to shape the growth of the church in Heyford Park. The small congregation meeting there on a Sunday already makes a valuable contribution to the life of the wider community, but there is much more to explore in terms of outreach. The provision of a new community centre/church building in the coming years should help raise the profile of the church. The ministry at Heyford Park is assisted by our ordinand, David Taylor, who gives the equivalent of three days a week in addition to his studies through Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. The new Team Rector will be David’s official supervisor throughout his training (which we hope will lead on to a curacy here). Ministry over seven communities sounds stretching, and at times it is. But through good administrative support and collaborative planning a great deal of ministry gets done, more than might be expected in such a rural setting.

Enabling others in their ministry is crucial to sustaining and expanding the work of the churches. Can you lead us on the next part of the journey?

The Ministry Team: Team Rector: Vacant Vicar (House for Duty): The Rev’d Geoff Price Ordinand in Training; David Taylor Benefice Administrator: Ms Barbara McGarry (part-time) Benefice Treasurer: Mike Dockrey

Mission and Ministry in the Cherwell Valley Benefice In 2016 the Benefice adopted a vision document which has shaped our aspirations and way of working. It is based around a shared understanding of what the church is for, what values we hold as a benefice, and our calling to be ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Confident: Growing as disciples of Christ, speaking and living out the Christian life, and leaving a living legacy. Compassionate: In serving the community that God has placed us in, demonstrating His love to those in need. Creative: In reaching out with fresh vision to those who would come to join us in the local church. Committed: To the work and worship of the church. The desire to grow as disciples of Christ has resulted in two groups (Ardley and Heyford Park) which have followed the Church of England’s Pilgrim material, the provision of Daily Bread bible reading notes, a bespoke pattern of daily prayer ‘Stepping Stones’ for the benefice, ‘Time Out’ small groups, and the exploration of a ‘Rule of Life’. Our desire to be creative in our outreach is seen in groups such as Faith in Art, Messy Church and school engagement in Fritwell, Sunday Club in Somerton, Family Church in Souldern, a wide variety of festival and celebration services, and mid-week children’s groups at Heyford Park. Our desire to be compassionate is shown in social activities such as the ‘Pop-Up’ Café in Lower Heyford, or ‘Connections’ coffee and chat at Heyford

Park, both of which are aimed at welcoming all within our communities, as well as giving an emphasis on pastoral care. Commitment to church is growing through the involvement of more people in the running of services and activities and the empowerment of PCCs. Whilst there are currently no authorised lay ministers in the benefice, church wardens and PCC members have a key role in lay led worship. Each parish has risen, or is rising, to the challenge of looking beyond Sundays to find new opportunities to engage with their community. Our 2018 Lent Course on Celtic spirituality opened up a fresh desire to serve God in the everyday things of life. There is a growing appetite to live out our discipleship in the opportunities God has already given us in our family life, community, places of work, schools, and social groups. Our ordinand in training, David Taylor is working with a small group on an emerging ‘Rule of Life’ which we hope will add further direction and shared commitment to our calling as ambassadors of Christ. It is hoped that our next Team Rector will be a good supervisor for David, and build on the vision and spiritual foundations already in place.

Mixed-mode ordinand David, our mixed-mode ordinand, is part way through a 3 year placement in the Benefice. Due to be ordained in June 2020, his week is split 50:50 between theological studies and practical ministry. David’s primary role within the Benefice is to support and develop the life and ministry of Heyford Park Chapel. In practice, this has involved leading worship and preaching regularly at Sunday services, as well as leading a weekly Benefice-wide Bible study. Over the next couple of years, he will be looking to raise the outward presence of the Chapel, identifying ways to engage with the local community and improving the church’s external communications, both practically and through social media.

Vicar (House for Duty): The Rev’d Geoff Price I have held the position of Vicar (House for Duty) in the Cherwell Valley Benefice since September 2014. My last post was as vicar of St. Mary's Bedfont, in West London. Prior to this I have held various parish posts in the U.K. 9

Before ordination we as a family were in Rwanda. There I served as an Agricultural Missionary for four years and for one year in my youth I was a VSO in Zambia. I see my role in the benefice as supporting the Rector and working as a team with the Administrator, and our Ordinand in Training. This team work extends very well into the good relationships we all have with the Church Wardens of the parishes. This Benefice has a great deal to offer in Christian ministry due to the variety of country parishes and the expanding work at Heyford Park. There is a strong sense of unity and purpose within the benefice. This makes the Cherwell Valley a worthwhile mission and pastoral challenge for our next Rector, building on the knowledge that we are here to know Christ personally and to make Him known to others.

Finance (The Nuts and Bolts) Our Financial structure is based upon Christian Giving and Mutual Support thereby providing a simple, transparent, achievable way of managing our costs as a Benefice. Each Parish contributes a monthly sum to cover Parish Share and Team Expenses (Benefice running costs), which are then paid centrally by our Benefice Treasurer. In 2018 the totals were Share £61,196 Team Expenses £14,604. Each Parish tries to achieve a payment of £10,600 and if possible pays a higher contribution to assist those who have a shortfall. Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals are booked centrally with the Benefice office and PCC Fees received are used to support payment of Share.

Safeguarding We have a Safeguarding Officer for the Benefice. All members of the ministry team and those who have responsibility for children or vulnerable adults are Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) cleared. Church officers eg Churchwardens, and PCC members are aware of the significance of safeguarding and the availability of training. We are currently seeking to encourage wider training across all PCCs in order to promote good practice and the ethos of a safer church.

GDPR All our parishes have adopted an agreed Benefice-wide GDPR policy.

Small Groups

faith in

Faith in Art evolved following a local art exhibition held in 2011 at Souldern Church as part of a Benefice mission week. It is a group of like-minded people of varying experience and media preferences who enjoy expressing their faith through art and creativity.

The group meets once a week and projects have included creative support for Christian charities, seasonal Christian festivals and exhibitions and experimenting and sharing different media and ideas. Equally important is the shared Christian fellowship.

Messy Church

Messy Church began as a lay led initiative in October 2014, initially in Fritwell Wesleyan Chapel, and moved to St Olave’s Church in the spring, after a toilet and servery had been installed. The aim is to offer a monthly child-friendly time (4-5.30pm on a Sunday), with Bible-related activities, crafts, learning and puzzles around a theme.

Adult helpers lead the various activities, with parents seemingly enjoying the activities as much as their children! All gather at the front of Church for a song, Bible story and prayer based on the theme. The children eat a traditional tea, while the adults enjoy a cup of tea. For the most recent Shrove Tuesday theme all enjoyed pancakes, savoury and sweet! Numbers of children attending are completely unpredictable, from 17 to 2! There is a wonderful team of helpers, who plan and share the fun.

The Forum Initially envisaged as a meeting where men could gather for an evening with a guest speaker, The Forum proved so popular it is now open to everyone. It has been running for three years. Overseen by The Rev’d Geoff Price and with the help of a small team The Forum meets every two months at the comfortable venue of The Reading Room in Upper Heyford. Light refreshments are served on each occasion. Guest speakers talk for about forty-five minutes to an hour, after which questions are invited and discussion follows. The evenings have drawn people from right across the Benefice. The largest gathering was for an evening on The Bronte Sisters when over fifty people attended, however on average there are around twenty-five. Subjects have been very diverse, and have included 12

Churchill’s Holy War, A Lee Abbey Experience, and The First Brexit ie The Reformation. The vision of these evenings is not only one of friendship and mutual interest but an outreach from the church into our communities.

Time Out Since 2015, Hope Price has been holding a monthly group in the Vicarage at Fritwell, inviting women who are newer or younger Christians. There is fellowship around a Bible theme, to help put faith into practice in our daily lives. The ladies chose the name themselves, as they value this opportunity for “time out” from their busy homes. Sometimes Hope shares some of the fresh teaching she has been hearing at one of the conferences or fellowships she has recently attended. Time Out takes place once a month - on a Wednesday evening, and again the following morning, in order to be accessible to as many as possible. All find it a refreshing experience.

The Pilgrim Groups There are two Pilgrim groups within the Benefice. Heyford Park Chapel is the location for a weekly evening meeting of a discussion group. Another group meets in Ardley during the afternoon twice a month, and focusses more on bible study and prayer.

Why would you want to come and live here?

 A warm welcome.  Supportive churchwardens, group leader and PCCs.  Benefice administrative support facilitates greater freedom for ministry.  Parishes willing to be outward-looking and innovative.  An attractive place in which to live and work.  Beautiful landscape – a patchwork of villages, water meadows and fields with a number of listed churches.  Easy access to shops and cultural opportunities of Oxford, Bicester Village and Banbury as well as Blenheim Palace.  Some villages have shops, including a butcher/general store/part-time Post Office, with cafe in Fritwell.  More pubs than shops!  Thriving Farmers’ Market in Deddington, with local milk and veg box schemes.  Local healthcare facilities, with Oxford University Hospitals in Oxford and Banbury.  Village primary school in Fritwell and Heyford Park Free School (4-19). Fritwell is the only village with a primary school, children from the Benefice can also attend C of E primary schools in Kirtington, Steeple Aston or Tackley. There is a choice of secondary schools in nearby Bicester, Banbury, Brackley and Woodstock.  A range of village activities such as Scouts, football, toddler groups, exercise and fitness classes, gardening clubs, reading and poetry groups.

The Rectory

The Rectory is located on the periphery of Heyford Park. Built approximately five years ago, it is a five-bedroom home with an open plan kitchen and family area featuring integrated appliances and French doors, an adjacent utility room, sitting room with bay window, dining room, and study. On the first floor, master bedroom with en suite facilities and built-in wardrobes, a further en suite bedroom, and separate family bathroom. A paved area gives access to a small enclosed rear garden. Garage with ample parking and turning area.

Person Specification

We consider that leadership skills are very important. We need a leader of our clergy and laity, with vision and the ability to challenge our churches. We are looking for someone who will lead in a loving way, listening and learning, to further strengthen our Benefice. We are seeking a Team Rector who has excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to relate to people of all ages and will lead the Benefice, whilst recognising the individuality of each parish. We are looking for the following qualities and experience.

• A leader who is able to develop our vision for mission and ministry, with the ability to see the process through from start to finish. • Enthusiasm to develop mission through schools and other work with children, young people and families. • Commitment to collaborative ministry, with an ability to work with and develop a diverse ministry and lay team. • The skills to develop our pastoral presence across the Benefice. • Ability to nurture faith and develop discipleship. • The new Team Rector will be skilled and comfortable leading worship in traditional and modern styles. • Empathy with the lifestyle and ministry in rural parishes. • Ability to help us seize the opportunity to develop our ministry at Heyford Park. • The leadership skills to provide spiritual guidance and practical support to the Benefice clergy and administration teams. • Willingness to have an active engagement with the pupils, staff and governors of Fritwell C of E Primary School, with the opportunity to be a Foundation Governor.

The Parishes

Ardley with Fewcott: St. Mary Ardley with Fewcott is one of the largest parishes in the Benefice, but with the smallest Church. However, it is able to offer a warm welcome. The village is situated close to junction 10 of the M40 and has a population of around 750. The original villages of Ardley and Fewcott were farming and quarrying communities. The villages have grown in size and sizeable housing developments have bridged the space between the two villages to form one large village. A combination of economic factors and the small size of the original village means that there are very few traditional villagers and most of the present residents have moved in from local towns. There is a mix of housing types with many families. The nearby towns of Bicester, Banbury & Brackley provide employment opportunities, while some travel further afield to Oxford, Milton Keynes, Birmingham or London. While the village has no shop, it does have two public houses, a modern, well- equipped village hall, a playing field, a well-supported, successful football club and a nature reserve. Schooling is provided by the C of E Primary School in neighbouring Fritwell or Heyford Park Free School which provides for children from ages 5 to 19. There are a number of active clubs and societies in the village including a thriving Mother & Toddler Group, a weekly Community Café, and a Gardening Club which holds an annual produce show combined with a village fete. There are also exercise and dance classes in the village hall. The Church is represented on the village hall committee, and the Rector represents the Church on “The Fewcott Fuel Allotment Charity” which gives grants to students and other people in need residing in the village.

The Church building is located at one end of the village, adjacent to the main road which runs through one side of the village. It is easily accessible, and off- road parking is available. The Church has its own churchyard, and there is also a churchyard associated with the now non-existent Fewcott Church. St. Mary’s dates back to Norman times and has had many additions over the years. There is a small gallery containing a now redundant, small pipe organ. The maternal grandfather of Flora Thompson, author of “Lark Rise to Candleford” used to play the violin in the Choir-Band which sat in this gallery. The Church seats around 80. Sunday services each month include a 1662 Communion, Common Worship Communion, Morning Prayer and a lay-led family service. Morning Prayer is also said every Friday. The Church is kept unlocked during daylight hours in the summer. The preference of the majority of the congregation is towards a low church, evangelical tradition of worship. The Church has been fortunate to have received two legacies which have been used to provide a mains water supply to the Church, toilet facilities, a servery and newly installed heating and lighting systems. Recently the worn-out Victorian pews have been replaced with wooden chairs, which make the Church lighter and brighter. It is hoped this will make the church more attractive and accessible to the wider community.

The before and after – the interior of St. Mary’s looking back from the altar rail (above) and from the rear of the nave looking forward (below).

There are 27 currently on the electoral roll and average Sunday attendance was 11 in 2017, although at Christmas and other special occasions the congregation can exceed 70. An annual Harvest Festival Service takes place followed by a Harvest Lunch served in the Church. Lent lunches are also arranged. The provision of more flexible seating arrangements will assist the organisation of these and similar events in the future. The Churchyard is largely maintained by voluntary labour from within the village and regular working parties are held to ensure the building is kept in good repair. While it is believed the Church has much to offer the village community, looking to the future, the priority now is to find ways to encourage a wider age profile of both worshippers and supporters. However, the Church is anxious not to lose sight of its primary pastoral and spiritual role within the village community.

Fritwell: St. Olave Fritwell is a thriving rural community, with a population of about 700. It maintains many of the traditional village aspects with much of the village designated a conservation area. Any recent small housing developments have been sympathetic to the environment. Facilities include a C of E primary school, village hall, and popular butchers/café/post office. There are several village organisations and interest groups, such as the Forget-Me-Not Club and the Scouts. The Grade 11 listed church enjoys a peaceful setting within the village itself. It is immediately surrounded by the closed churchyard and wider green areas. A civil cemetery is adjacent to the lych gate. St Olave’s is one of the few churches in this country which are dedicated to St Olaf and is the furthest inland. It has many interesting architectural features, with parts of the building dating from the mid-12th century. It can seat over 150 people and is open daily. St Olave’s offers a range of services designed to meet the diverse needs of its congregation. The once-monthly traditional 1662 HC at 8.30am is regularly well attended, averaging a congregation of 15-20. Equally, the traditional Evensong is loyally supported. However, there is on-going concern over the level of attendance at lay-led Morning Prayer and Family Communion services. Numbers at either can be significantly increased on the occasion of any baptism. The church remains popular for both weddings and baptisms. Major festivals such as Christmas and Easter attract a wider congregation. After- service refreshments are made available whenever appropriate. There is a mutually supportive relationship with the village Church of England Primary School, with regular services and activities taking place in the church. With the recent installation of kitchen, servery, and toilet facilities, the church is now able to host activities such as musical concerts, fundraising and social events. The Church plays an active role within the village community, including offering both practical and moral support to members of our local Wesleyan Reform Chapel.

Whilst we value our core congregation and support, we are very aware of the need to extend our ministry to attract new worshippers to our church and see this as a major priority.

Lower Heyford & Caulcott: St. Mary

The Pop-up Café on Thursday mornings is well attended and welcomes all.

Lower Heyford & Caulcott is the southernmost Parish in the Benefice and St Mary’s serves a population of c500. It is attractively positioned alongside the river and canal and Heyford Station provides local connections to mainline services via Banbury and Oxford. The community is also served by the Bell Inn and Horse & Groom pubs, the shop and café at Heyford Wharf, a Sports & Social Club and other organisations. Sunday services currently follow a regular cycle of 1662 Communion, lay-led Family Worship, Common Worship Family Communion and Morning Prayer. There is a strong core congregation, who aim to offer a warm and family- friendly welcome. Festival services are generally very well-attended. A Village Survey showed that our church is highly valued, both as a beautiful historic building and as an important focus of village life. The recent addition of a kitchenette and WC, combined with the replacement of some rear pews with more flexible seating has allowed us to gather for fellowship and refreshments after services as well as increasing capacity to around 170 at well attended weddings and funerals. As well as providing space for parish groups to meet, in the absence of a village hall, the reordering has allowed the growth of a successful weekly Pop-up Cafe, as well as facilitating regular fundraising concerts and events which bring many new faces into the church for the first time. One consequence of this development was moving the font to the front of the church, making Sunday baptisms much more welcoming and inclusive. Next improvements on the drawing board are to the electrics and lighting. All of this, together with steadily increasing Parish Share and the stripping of lead from the north aisle roof, has sharpened our focus on fundraising to ensure St Mary's remains financially sustainable.

Somerton: St. James

Somerton is a small village with an exceptionally strong community in a spectacular setting in the Cherwell Valley. The ancient, Grade 1 listed church of St James is open daily to visitors and is the centre for the village’s spiritual life and a focus for social activities. Sunday services vary week-to-week and include 9:30am Family Worship, 11:00am Matins, and 6:00pm Evensong. A lay-led Sunday Club service is run on the remaining Sunday of every month. Attendance is growing, with the children’s work particularly popular in a village blessed with many young families. Matins and Evensong are both well attended by a committed band, and festivals often fill the church.

Our magnificent building has benefited from a generous bequest and significant grants. These have been used for major maintenance and to provide a WC and servery. The current PCC is strong, giving effective and active support to both church and village life. Ongoing challenges include fundraising to cover our current costs and filling the building with life.

Souldern: The Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Souldern is a picturesque village on the northern edge of the benefice with the twelfth century parish church situated in a peaceful setting which attracts many visitors and walkers and is the perfect venue for times of quiet reflection and pilgrimage. Of traditional origins, which are by no means lost, the church offers a variety of services including Book of Common Prayer, Common Worship frequent concerts, exhibitions and other outreach events such as a monthly community market, Time to Talk coffee mornings, cheese and wine evenings and Harvest suppers We are currently in the initial stages of a re-ordering programme to provide water, toilet facilities, kitchenette and a new heating system which will help facilitate the growing children’s work and special events including weddings, concerts and exhibitions.

Curry & Quiz Night fundraiser—held in the The launch of ‘Family Church’ in 2016 village hall

The church has a ring of 6 bells which were refurbished for the millennium and are in full working order. While we don’t currently have a team of ringers in the village we do borrow ringers from throughout the benefice come to ring at weddings and other special occasions. The village choir sing once a month at the 11 o’clock communion service and at other festivals and celebrations both at Souldern and throughout the benefice. The Christmas Carol service and mid-year concerts are a highlight of the village calendar.

Upper Heyford: St. Mary

The Parish of Upper Heyford comprises two neighbouring communities: Upper Heyford village and Heyford Park. Each of these sub-communities within the Parish has a dedicated place of worship: St Mary’s in the village and The Chapel in Heyford Park. There are currently 22 individuals on the electoral Outside St Mary’s roll across the two churches. St Mary’s is the main parish church and sits at the bottom of the village. A regular service pattern attracts small but loyal congregations from the village’s 350 families. Services at Christmas, Easter and Harvest are typically well attended, and the church provides an attractive and tranquil setting for baptisms, weddings and funerals. Remembrance Sunday is also important in the life of St Mary’s given its links with the former RAF and USAF site that is now home to Heyford Park; many visitors come each year to pay their respects to the 42 casualties of war who are buried in Upper Heyford’s cemetery. A recent focus on fundraising has lifted the church’s profile within both the village and the Benefice, and has also Inside St Mary’s enabled the church council to finance a much-needed central heating system. With plans to install kitchen and toilet facilities at the base of the bell tower in the next 18-24 months, it is hoped that St Mary’s will once again be perceived as a warm and inviting location for community events throughout the year.

The church community at Heyford Park Chapel is the newest in the Benefice. It was founded in 2003 to serve those living in the military housing on the former airbase. Currently meeting in what was the Air Force chapel, the church is due to be replanted into a shared community/church space as part of the new development within the next 5 years. Rest and renewal day with Marilyn Baker Ministries at Heyford Park is a major part of Heyford Park Chapel Cherwell District Council’s plan to meet its housing requirements up to 2031. The development group is aiming to create a ‘quintessential village’ with modern housing, improved space for Oxfordshire’s growing industrial sector, and sufficient community facilities to serve the surrounding villages. Plans for a total of 3,000 homes have been approved for the site, in addition to new social infrastructure and a heritage trail that will allow residents and visitors to explore the site’s Cold War past. ‘A sustainable community… where residents can live, work and play’ is the ultimate end goal. Services at Heyford Park Chapel are informal and contemporary. The weekly Sunday morning service brings 10-12 adults and 2-3 children; a small but committed congregation. Gently charismatic, this service focuses on the teaching of Scripture and on prayer. Holy Communion is celebrated once a month. A monthly lay-led evening service typically brings 12-15 adults. Here, the sermon is replaced with a time of open

Heyford Park Chapel 'in the round' discussion on a passage or theme from Scripture. At present, CDs are used for all times of sung worship at The Chapel. Though the Sunday congregations are small, several of The Chapel’s mid-week groups are very well attended. With three church-led groups for children and youth, a community-led parent and toddler group, Bible studies and craft groups, over 100 people can come through the doors each week. As one of the

largest indoor spaces on site, the building is also hired frequently for private functions. Today, Heyford Park Chapel finds itself right in the middle of an 800-home development with another 2,000 due to be built by 2031. This will bring the population of Heyford Park to around 9,000 people. The opportunities for mission in Heyford Park are considerable, and the congregations are keen to see this rapidly-growing community transformed by the good news of Christ. Opportunities exist at Heyford Park to create a partnership with the community centre to bring life-giving events and activities to the site and to develop stronger links with Heyford Park Free School. There is a small number of dedicated lay volunteers who work tirelessly in an attempt to meet the challenges of building a sense of community across a socially and physically diverse site.

Cherwell Valley Benefice

Schools

Fritwell Church of England Primary School

“Growing and learning together with God” Our popular, successful and happy school is a Voluntary Controlled Church School serving the whole benefice community, those from all faiths and those with none. We have 133 children on roll, including those in our recently established nursery, who are taught in five classes with mixed year groups. We provide wrap-around care, as well as a wide range of extra-curricular activities. Our Christian ethos and clearly defined Christian values underpin everything that goes on in our school. We have close links with the village church; RE is embedded throughout school life; collective worship takes place daily and children regularly plan and lead worship. Recent Ofsted and SIAMS inspections have assessed us as a “Good” school. For more information see www.fritwellprimaryschool.co.uk We are one of the many schools covered by the Diocese of Oxford and supported by the Oxfordshire Diocesan Board of Education, which encourages “a strong commitment to partnership between parish and school” (a statement fully endorsed by the school governors) and which “works closely with the Board of Mission on initiatives relating to its engagement with children and young people”. Governors are active and ambitious in pursuing their long-term strategy that Fritwell be a highly successful church school in the heart of the community. A close working relationship exists between the school and the benefice, and in particular Fritwell church. The role of the Team Rector as a foundation governor can be negotiated with the Full Governing Body to allow for a more pastoral presence. The school uses Fritwell church regularly for concerts, services and teaching. Advent, Easter and Pentecost workshops in the church have proved popular with the whole school. The three foundation governors take a lead with SIAMS, the Head’s appraisal, the RE syllabus, and the pastoral care of staff and governors. The recently appointed Headteacher is an active member of a local church. Clergy regularly lead whole school worship and participate in social events and special occasions in the school. The input of the church and clergy is welcomed by children, staff and governors in our school which seeks to serve the needs of the whole community in all its variety. The Team Rector is one of three trustees who manage a small trust fund for the benefit of the school. (From the Chair and Foundation Governors)

Cherwell Valley Benefice

Heyford Park Free School

Offering all-through education from 4-19 Heyford Park Free School is proving to be a popular choice. Pre-school and nursery provision are also available. Now in its fifth year the school is developing its role as a hub for the community. The careful adaptation of the stunning RAF Officers’ Mess as the main school building retains a link to the heritage of Heyford Park. Christian ministry is offered to the school by church participation in the school’s pastoral care group, and particularly through Thursday lunchtime groups led by Bicester Methodist Church and Reign Ministries. Advent and Easter workshops held in the Chapel have been well received. There are also opportunities for clergy to lead assemblies. Heyford Park Free School has used Heyford Park Chapel for special events, and it is hoped that a link between the school and St. Mary’s Upper Heyford can be forged through school concerts and Christmas services. For more information see heyfordparkfreeschool.org

Cherwell Valley Benefice

Appendices:

Service Rota

Ardley Fritwell Lower Somerton Souldern Upper Heyford Heyford & Caulcott St. Mary St. Olave St. Mary St. Mary Ann to the St. Mary HPC BVM

Wk 1 8.30am 11am 11am 6pm 11am 9.30am 11am HC 1662 Morning HC 1662 Evensong Matins* HC Morning Prayer* Service Wk 2 9.30 am 8.30 am 11am 9.30 am 11am No service 11am Communion HC HC 1662 Family Sunday Sung Worship* Club* Communion 6pm Open Church Wk 3 9.30am 9.30 am 11am 11am 8.30am No service 11am Morning HC Morning Matins & HC 1662 Morning Prayer Prayer* HC Service

Wk 4 9.30am 6pm 11am 9.30am 10.30 8.30am 11am Morning Evensong Family Family Family HC 1662 All Age Service* Communion Service Church Service* Wk 5 Benefice HC Service

*Lay-led service The Team Rector is ordinarily expected to take three services each Sunday

Cherwell Valley Benefice

Wedding, Baptism and Funeral Statistics

LOWER HEYFORD UPPER HEYFORD ARDLEY FRITWELL SOMERTON SOULDERN & HEYFORD PARK CAULCOTT WEDDINGS 2018 0 1 0 3 1 2 0 2017 5 5 2 1 3 1 0 2016 1 3 1 2 2 1 0

BAPTISMS 2018 5 12 4 2 4 2 1 2017 1 5 5 1 7 1 1 2016 0 3 6 5 4 3 0

FUNERALS 2018 1 6 1 0 2 1 2 2017 2 2 5 1 6 4 0 2016 1 4 2 5 7 5 0