MALDON ST MARY's with MUNDON Parish Profile
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MALDON ST MARY’S WITH MUNDON Parish Profile Order of contents page Welcome 3 Summary of the Church 4 The kind of priest we would like 4 Strengths, Challenges and Opportunities 4 Diocese, Deanery and wider area 5 The Town of Maldon and St. Mary’s Parish 6 Church Buildings 8 Life at St Mary’s 9 Music in the Parish 12 Financial situation 13 The Rectory 14 2 THE PARISH OF MALDON ST MARY with MUNDON Celebrating the inclusive love of God for all people WELCOME This is our Mission Statement: “St Mary’s stands in the catholic tradition of the Church of England. Here we try to practise the generous Gospel of Jesus Christ. Together we are exploring a way of living which is inspired by joyful worship and takes seriously the interior life. We embrace the challenges of peace-making both globally and locally. Welcome to this inclusive community of health and healing.” We are looking for a priest who can help us move forward in our Mission – are you that person? St Mary’s was the first parish for our previous rector. At the age of 29, he took over a struggling congregation due to the prolonged illness and subsequent death of his predecessor who had been in post for 27 years. In the first four years of his tenure, our young priest became a well known, well liked and hugely popular figure throughout the town. He worked hard for St Mary’s and with the congregation, restoring areas – such as tower bell ringing, children’s ministry and pastoral work - which had fallen by the wayside. He also appointed a Director of Music who has built up a first class choir. Much of that which the rector achieved is still in place today. For three years of his first four, our parish share was paid in full. However, a crisis in the order of governance resulted in lengthy periods of him being away from the church through illness over the following four years. This had a knock on effect on the congregation which began to dwindle thus affecting morale and our financial situation. We, as a congregation have had high and low points over the last eight years and now need a person to uplift us spiritually and pastorally. If you think you might be that person, please read on. The task on offer is not only to be Priest in Charge of St Mary’s and put us back on a firm strong footing, but also to work with others towards the possible formation of a team ministry in Maldon. The post is for three years and is being termed by the Diocese as a Turnaround Minister and Acting Parish Priest of St. Mary’s. 3 SUMMARY OF THE CHURCH St Mary’s Church is now and has been throughout its history a beacon for the town’s community and visitors. Known as the Fishermen’s Church its tower guides many sailors and their craft into the Hythe. The door is always open from early morning to dusk and the visitors’ book bears witness to those who find peace and solace in the spiritual beauty of St Mary’s historic and welcoming space. The Parish Mass held each Sunday morning is well attended by members of the Church family and visitors, and through worship, the sacrament and music helps the people learn about the gospel and develop their knowledge and trust in Jesus. The church also benefits from an attached church hall, called the Octagon, which is well used for meetings, events and community use. It blends in well with the 11th century church (see photo on front page of profile). THE KIND OF PRIEST WE WOULD LIKE We are looking for a priest who will help us engage with the priorities we have identified. We would like Someone who will maintain the inclusive Catholic tradition of this church. A thoughtful preacher with a good knowledge of theology and liturgy. A good listener with sound pastoral skills. A person willing to engage with the community. A capable administrator and collaborative leader with energy and drive. THE PARISH’S STRENGTHS, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Strengths: High standing in the town with good relations in the community and other churches in the area. Small group of dedicated members, both ordained and lay, who undertake many tasks. Excellent choir and music. Tradition of holding church community meetings to obtain views of the congregation. Good standard of preaching and teaching. 4 Challenges: Finance – inability to pay the Parish Share in full. Lack of activities for the under 16s. Improvement and possible re-ordering of the interior of the church. Opportunities: Develop children’s ministry. Build up a large pool of volunteers. Committed drive to pay 100% of Parish Share working with the PCC. Move forward the Project Group for refurbishment and re-ordering of the church. Develop the spirituality in parish life, including prayer groups and quiet days. DIOCESE, DEANERY AND WIDER AREA Maldon is in the Diocese of Chelmsford and the Maldon and Dengie Deanery. The Diocese of Chelmsford covers the whole of the County of Essex and five East London boroughs. It is the second largest Diocese in the country and very diverse in character. There is a Diocesan Bishop and three area Bishops, Barking, Bradwell and Colchester. The city of Chelmsford is where the cathedral is located. Maldon falls in the episcopal area of Bradwell. Each year in July the ecumenical Bradwell Pilgrimage takes place to which people from the parishes in the Diocese come to walk from the village of Bradwell-on-Sea to St Peter’s on the Wall. This is where St Cedd landed, bringing the gospel to Essex in the 7th century. The chapel which he built here in 654 is one of the oldest used churches in the country. The Maldon and Dengie Deanery covers an area between the Rivers Blackwater and Crouch and the civil administrative area of Maldon District Council. It takes in the towns of Maldon and Burnham on Crouch, as well as many villages. The most easterly point is Bradwell-on-Sea, the most westerly is Maldon and the villages around the town. The Area Dean, Rev’d. Sandra Manley writes : “In common with most dioceses, the Diocese of Chelmsford is undergoing considerable reorganisation and rationalisation of ministry, both ordained and lay. This arises partly because of the predicted national shortage of clergy in the next decade. Under the Re-imagining Ministry section of the Diocesan ‘Transforming Presence’ strategy, the Deanery of Maldon and Dengie will have two areas, provisionally 5 termed Mission and Ministry Units (MMUs). The Western MMU of the Deanery is expected to have up to four stipendiary priests, based mainly in the Maldon area but with at least one based in the rural parishes. Parishes in this MMU will have a variety of ministry including House-for-Duty, SSM, Readers, and Lay focal ministers, but it is planned that the smaller parishes will have an appropriate level of support from one of the stipendiary priests. These plans continue to be discussed and are of course subject to any future moves of clergy currently in post.” Details of the Parish of St Mary’s with Mundon follow, however it may be useful for those who do not know the area, that Maldon is 40miles east of London. The Olympic Stadium in the London Borough of Newham is in the Diocese, as is Colchester, the first recorded Roman town in England. Colchester is a short distance north of Maldon together with many pretty villages and Constable Country on the Suffolk border. The county is served by two airports, Stansted and Southend, while the Dartford Crossing, only 40 minutes away by car (depending on traffic) gives access to Gatwick, Dover and the south coast of England. THE TOWN OF MALDON AND ST. MARY’S PARISH Maldon, an ancient and historic town lying at the head of the Blackwater Estuary, is a small market town with a great sense of community. St. Mary’s parish covers the southern and eastern part of the town. A backdrop to part of St Mary’s Churchyard is the glorious sight of many Thames Sailing Barges berthed permanently at Hythe Quay and sailing in the area. Across the other side of the churchyard is Promenade Park, often described at Maldon’s Jewel in the Crown. Throughout the year this idyllic setting attracts visitors, both old and young, who are keen to learn of the historic maritime history of the town as well as to visit the many fine examples of buildings depicting the town’s ancient heritage. Promenade Park offers many attractions including a splash park, ornamental lake, sailing boat lake, children’s play area with Viking galleon, along with many small food kiosks. There are football and cricket pitches, tennis courts, an outdoor theatre space, craft fairs, space for fun runs and Bank Holiday markets. There is also a small local museum by the entrance gates. At the end of the promenade a magnificent statue of defeated Byrhtnoth stands looking out to sea where he lost his life in an attempt to stop a Viking invasion in the Battle of Maldon in AD 991. A stained glass window in the south wall of the church commemorates this famous battle. 6 Although there is no longer a railway line, commuters have a park and ride facility at Sandon on the outskirts of Chelmsford for buses to Chelmsford Station for its 35 minute journey to London Liverpool Street, while others choose to drive or bus to nearby Witham or Hatfield Peverel Stations.