Pool Mission Area
Pioneer Priest Application Pack February 2016
A Profile of the Diocese of St Asaph
The Diocese of St Asaph is a diverse and hopeful community of faith. With roots in the Celtic church and a wealth of character and tradition, we seek to continue to uncover our shared vocation as God’s people in the Church in Wales in the north east of the Province. We are a Diocese in good heart and seek to persist in responding joyfully to God’s challenge.
The Diocese follows the English/Welsh border in the east, whilst the western edge is delineated by the Conwy Valley. The northern boundary runs along the North Wales coast as far as Llandudno, but only takes in part of that town. The southern boundary runs from the lower end of Llyn Tegid (Lake Bala) across to Dolfor, just south of Newtown in Powys. Ecclesiastically it is bordered by the Dioceses of Chester, Lichfield and Hereford on the northern and eastern sides. To the the south we border Swansea and Brecon Diocese and to the west, west, Bangor.
The The Diocese is predominantly rural, with many parishes having populations of less than 1000. However, there are important and continually developing industrial and commercial areas around Deeside (one of the largest industrial parks in Europe) and Wrexham and significant smaller developments along the two main arterial roads (A55 (A55 A55 and A483).
The The coastal strip is home to traditional holiday resorts and
tourism is an important industry in many parts of the Diocese. The largest employers are the local authorities through education and the health services with two large general district hospitals at Bodelwyddan and Wrexham. Wrexham hosts a refugee and asylum seekers support centre (supported by the Diocese), while migrant worker groups in the region (largely white EU) are involved in both industry and agriculture. A significant number of care workers come from the far-east. Together with many of the rural areas in the UK, the agriculture sector within the Diocese has endured many shocks and changes, including the foot and mouth crisis, the changing structures of agricultural support from the EU, increasing fuel costs and the unfolding impact of global warming. Welshpool and St Asaph have two of the largest livestock markets in Europe.
The Diocese has 51 Church Schools, nearly a third of the total Church in Wales schools, and these are spread across 6 local authorities. St Joseph’s Anglican and Catholic High School in Wrexham is the only shared faith school in Wales and all our schools are an important way of providing mission and ministry to the young people of Wales.
The Church in Wales Review
The Bishops commissioned a team of advisers in 2011 to conduct a root-and-branch review of the Church in Wales. The three members of the team were:
Lord Richard Harries, the former Bishop of Oxford, who chaired the group; Professor Charles Handy, former professor at the London Business School; Professor Patricia Peattie, former Chair of the Episcopal Church in Scotland’s Standing Committee. Your say
The Review Group travelled to every Diocese in Wales and met more than 1,000 people in public meetings to find out what changes they wanted to see. They also invited people to write to them with ideas for shaping the Church of the future.
At the open meetings people were asked what aspect of both their Diocese and the Church they felt most positive about and what changes they would like to see to make its ministry more effective. They were also asked how they would address challenges such as the predicted fall in clergy numbers and financial resources.
Findings
The Review was published in summer 2012 with 50 recommendations. At its heart was transformed ministry. To help arrange the recommendations in a way that is manageable and understandable for the Church, an Implementation Group has focused initially on what it sees as the core vision of the Report and the recommendations that are designed primarily to achieve that vision:
The formation of Ministry or Mission Areas across the Church in Wales. The provision of ministry via Ministry Teams, incorporating lay and ordained ministers working to a collaborative model An integrated programme of training for ministry for laity and ordained minsters intended to develop leadership skills and collaborative working practices.
“The Review Team found the Church in Wales to be very warm and welcoming and there are many good things happening. But in order to serve the people of Wales effectively, particularly its young people, we believe some radical re-thinking is necessary.”
Lord Harries Chair of the Review Group
“This is our review as a Church – we asked for it and we contributed to it. The report is our framework, not our blueprint. Its vision is transformed ministry and that is what we need to focus on. It’s an exciting time for us and one which offers great opportunities for the Church to thrive.”
Helen Biggin, Chair of the 2020 Vision Implementation Group
You can read the Church in Wales Review in its entirety online at www.churchinwales.org.uk/review
Engaging with 2020 Vision
Why do things need to change? 2020 Vision’s proposals are pretty radical so this is the first question anyone will ask when they hear about this new initiative for our churches.
The simple answer is this: it’s not sustainable for the Church in Wales to continue operating in the way it is at the moment. Congregations are declining, clergy are retiring and the numbers of people training for ordination will not fill the gap. Something needs to change.
We are still using the parish model in the same way we did in 1920 when the Church was disestablished. Without change the Church in Wales will continue to decline as it heads towards its centenary in 2020.
The Church in Wales Review was published in 2012 and made the case for change clear. It talked about the need for change being “urgent” – particularly in the way our churches are set up.
The Review proposes a move away from the parish model of ministry towards a new model of church. Ministry Areas – or Mission Areas as we are calling them in St Asaph – will see churches partnering together with a shared leadership team to make them more sustainable for the future and prepare them for growth. The Review also calls for more training for ministers – ordained and lay – to help make this model of ministry a reality.
So we have to change if we want to see our churches flourish. We have to be willing to do things differently if we want the Church in Wales to have a viable future – particularly with reference to families and the younger generation.
The Review points out that the number of young people engaged with Church life is “miniscule” and adds: “This situation cannot be addressed as the church is organised now.” It’s time to move forward.
Esgobaeth Llanelwy: the Diocese of St Asaph Golwg 2020 Vision
Why? The Bench of Bishops and the Governing Body asked for the Church in Wales Review to find out if our leadership, structures and resources are ready to take God’s mission forward in Wales, as we approach our 100th birthday. 2020 Vision looks at the challenges and recommendations which the Review gave us.
What? 2020 Vision says that “We are stronger together” and suggests we form Mission Areas – partnerships between congregations, clergy and lay ministers – to unlock our potential as the people of God answering His call in today’s Wales.
When? Now. We don’t have to wait for someone else to give us permission to start building relationships and partnerships in worship, witness and mission. God’s call is for now.
Who? Everyone. All the baptised are commissioned as disciples and witnesses of Jesus. 2020 Vision wants to see us renew and invigorate our churches. You can take the initiative, and our vicars, area deans and archdeacons are there to enable you to move forward.
Where? Every church is in a local area of community and mission with other churches. It might be your deanery but some deaneries are too big or no longer reflect the population of our communities so we might look at new boundaries. We are God’s family and we want to partner with each other so we are strengthened to travel together in fellowship.
How? You are the Church, and you will have the ideas. What can you share to help God’s mission where you live and worship? What can you stop doing to help free you up to serve in new ways? How can you partner with brothers and sisters in other churches to tackle things which may seem too great to tackle as a single congregation?
2020 Vision offers us three points of focus for our mission:
Serving community, inspiring people, transforming Church
A Profile of Pool Deanery and the Emerging Mission Area
Pool Deanery, within St Asaph Diocese, forms the gateway to beautiful Mid-Wales with routes from the Midlands and the North of England passing though on their way to the mountains and the coast. The market town of Welshpool, the largest community in the Deanery, is geographically at the centre of the Deanery which stretches south west to 5 miles north of Newtown and north east to 6 miles south of Oswestry. To the West lies the English border, with Shrewsbury 20 miles away.
The 15 churches of the Deanery are currently served by 4 stipendiary clergy, 1 non- stipendiary priest, 4 lay readers and a good number of Worship Leaders and Pastoral Assistants. A post for a House-for-Duty priest is currently vacant. We are fortunate to have a number of retired clergy who actively help out with Sunday worship across the Deanery. The clergy chapter functions well as a team and there is usually plenty of laughter at our monthly meetings which are for prayer & mutual support as well as dealing with business.
The Deanery is currently in a process of transition as it evolves from 5 separate Parish Groups into a single Mission Area. A Mission Area Leadership Team has been established and many of our church members are engaged in a process of action-planning. The Deanery will formally become a Mission Area later this year. The process of change is focused on the mission of the church, actively engaging church members in the ministry to the community and working together to best utilise our individual gifts and talents.
Parishes of Berriew (3 churches) Ven Dr Peter Pike (also serves as Archdeacon of Montgomery) Revd Esther Yates (non-stipendiary) Parishes of Guilsfield, Buttington and Pool Quay (3 churches) Revd Caroline Rhodes Parishes of Criggion, Llandrinio, Llandysilio and Penrhos, (4 churches) Vacant (House for Duty) Parishes of Montgomery, Forden and Llandyssil (3 churches) Revd Toni Bennett Parishes of Welshpool and Castle Caereinion (2 churches) Revd Steve Willson (Mission Area Leader)
Deanery of Pool Summary and Analysis for year ending 31st December 2014
Membership Data for 2013 and 2014
2013 2014 2015 Communicants Easter 503 581 534 Pentecost 223 328 Christmas 590 591 Trinity III 211 288
Average Attendance - over 18 Sundays 289 290 Weekdays only 26 39 Average Attendance - under 18 47 62 Electoral Roll 541 456
Baptisms 52 43 Confirmations 1 9 Weddings 25 25 Funerals 72 78 Funerals Elsewhere 22 14
Finance Data For 2013 and 2014
2013 2014 2013 2014 INCOME £(000) £(000) EXPENDITURE £(000) £(000) Planned Giving 86 81 Parish Share 174 175 Loose Collections 37 34 Clerics' Expenses 18 14 Donations 27 27 Other Ministry Expenses 4 4 For Mission 2 2 Maintenance of Services 15 13 Tax Refunds 21 19 General Parish Expenses 10 8 Legacy Gifts 22 28 Maintenance of Churches 116 58 Grants 62 15 Maintenance of Property 26 21 Exceptional Property Money Raising 42 47 4 28 Expenditure Fees 28 28 Grants to Parish 1 1 Investments 37 33 Grants Outside Parish 8 10 Other Income Resources 49 47 Capital Payments 22 4 Cost of Money Raising 6 8
TOTAL INCOME 414 360 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 405 344
Trends in 'Membership' Data for years 2013 to 2014
% Average 2014 Change Change Annual 2015 Figures 2013-2014 2013-2014 Change Estimate based on based on 1990-2014 2008-2014 data data Communicants Easter 581 16 78 -18 561 Pentecost 328 47 105 -8 279 Christmas 591 0 1 -17 552 Trinity III 288 36 77 -5 262
Average Attendance - over 18 Sundays 290 0 1 -9 285 Weekdays only 39 50 13 2 31 Average Attendance - under 18 62 32 15 0 -11 Electoral Roll 456 -16 -85 -19 504
Baptisms 0 -17 -9 -4 -13 Confirmations 9 800 8 -1 3 Weddings 25 0 0 -1 24 Funerals 78 8 6 4 72 Funerals Elsewhere 14 -36 -8 1 23
Parish of St Tyssil, Llandyssil
The church and community is in a picturesque valley 3 miles to the west of Montgomery.
The church dedicated to St Tyssil was built between 1863-65, replacing a much older church overlooking the village. Little of this church remains except for the surrounding graveyard.
The present building is in a good state of repair having had a new roof and heating system in 2003 and being well cared for by the church wardens.
The church, the Community Hall (former school) and the bakery are adjacent to each other and provide the nucleus to the village. In addition there is a public house about 100 yard further along the road which faces onto a very small village green.
The Community Hall is the major project undertaken in the village in recent years. The property of the Church in Wales, having been a former church school, it is leased to the Hall Committee with the income coming to St Tyssil’s church. Use of the building has steadily increased over the 5 years since it was opened with activities taking place there including Line Dancing, Wildlife and Garden Club, Ladies Group and a monthly coffee morning.
The Team
The Rector, Revd Toni Bennett, has 2 other parishes and lives in Montgomery. There are three Worship Leaders, two of whom are the Churchwardens. The other is very capable and committed but long working hours (as a ward sister at Shrewsbury hospital) make it difficult for her to be available midweek. The church officers have been very active, efficient and effective in caring for the church building, administration and finances. They continue to carry out this work but with health and family issues the level of commitment is becoming increasingly difficult.
Statistics
The population of the parish is circa 500
Average Sunday attendance 5, highest excluding major festivals 8
Electoral Roll 15
Parish of St Garmon, Castle Caereinion
The village of Castle Caereinion is situated about five miles west of Welshpool. It is a rural community with a population of around 600. For much of the past century the area has suffered from de-population but in more recent years this has stabilised due to new housing development in the village.
The village still has good community facilities – as well as the church there is also a Church in Wales primary school, a shop, a pub and a Community Hall.
St Garmon’s church is ideally situated in the heart of the village. The actual church building is not very old but the history of the church stretches back 800 years. It is thought that St
Garmon was a local saint of the late 7th century, probably con nected with St Tysilio, whose centre was at Meifod, home of the early Princes of Powis.
The church is erected within the bailey of a castle built in 1156 - the remains of the defensive position still exist in the north west of the church yard. It is first mentioned in a document of 1254 but the current building dates from 1865. The church is in good repair and is financially viable as a result of rental income from our property - a small cottage and two flats in the old school building adjacent to the churchyard. The average Sunday attendance is 11 and the Electoral Roll is 21. Support for the church in the community is underlined by high attendance at major festivals (60-80).
The Church in Wales school has a roll of approx. 40 and the children who attend are mainly from the village itself and neighbouring Cyfronydd. The school has two classes (Foundation Phase & Key Stage 2) and has high expectations of its pupils in academic achievement and behaviour. Our most recent Estyn Inspection report noted excellent pupil behaviour, good standards and good value for money. An active Friends of the School group works hard to raise funds and has a key role in the community; these links were classed as outstanding in the Estyn Inspection. The Rector, who is a School Governor, has an active role within the school, leading Collective Worship & a ‘Messy Church’ after-school club.
The challenge facing the church in Castle Caereinion is to engage younger families in the worshipping life of the church. Links with the school & the community have traditionally been strong but are less well developed amongst the newer members of the community. The recently established ‘Messy Church’ is a first step in this process and has already proved popular with the children. The PCC is keen to further develop the life of the church.
For more information on the village of Castle Caereinion please see: www.castlecaereinion.org.uk
Job Description
Pioneer Ministry: Pool Mission Area Small Churches Project
What Work with two small churches to develop their links with their community & rejuvenate their worshipping life.
Develop a model for rejuvenating similar churches elsewhere in the Mission Area & the wider church.
How Build upon and extend existing community links.
Enable the church to engage with all sections of the community.
Develop new forms of mission, ministry & worship to enable the church to grow.
Work with the church family to ensure the sustainability of these new developments.
Increasingly work with MA colleagues to see how ideas & challenges from elsewhere add to this experience, in order to shape the emerging model of ministry.
Additional information
We want to give the successful candidate the freedom to develop new ideas, without being bogged down in the minutiae of running a parish. In Castle Caereinion the post- holder will have the lead role in the church (e.g. leading worship, pastoral care, etc), with the incumbent only picking up matters unrelated to the new work. In Llandyssil, where little development work has taken place, the incumbent will be more directly involved in the initial stages at leaSt In both parishes the legal and administrative responsibility for the parish will remain with the incumbent.
The accountability for this project and the two churches concerned will be shared between the post-holder, the Mission Area Leader and the incumbents of the 2 churches concerned (one of whom is the MAL).
Depending on how the project develops, we hope there will be an opportunity, in the later stages, to support other churches elsewhere in the Mission Area in working with this model.
The post-holder will need to be open to the possibilities of working ecumenically. Members of other Christian traditions have already been involved in exploring some of the possibilities for mission in one of the churches.
Person Specification
Pioneer Ministry: Pool Mission Area Small Churches Project
1. Training and Qualifications
APPLICANTS FOR THE POST SHOULD BE: Essential Desirable A licensed minister within the Church in Wales or a Church in communion with it
Committed to working collaboratively within the churches and the wider mission area
2. Experience
CANDIDATES EQUIPPED FOR THE ROLE WILL BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE EXPERIENCE IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: Working with church members to develop the life of the church
Leading new forms of worship, as well as existing forms of liturgy
3. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
CANDIDATES WILL BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY POSSESS THE FOLLOWING KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES: Able to work collaboratively (a) within a church, (b) within the community it serves and (c) within a Deanery/Mission Area
Leadership skills, including the ability to motivate, inspire and effectively co-ordinate others
Able to make, nurture and sustain, links with individuals and community organizations whose involvement with the church is limited, and to model this way of working to others
Able to work with children, young people and young families
Enthusiastic and energetic self-starter
Excellent communicator – enabling others to ‘Catch the Vision’
4. Other requirements
Application form completed in full
Clear and concise letter in support of the application addressing the criteria identified in the person specification
This position has a requirement for an Enhanced DBS Disclosure to be undertaken An empathy with Wales and the Welsh culture