St-Johns-Parish-Profile-June-2020-V2.Pdf
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Welcome from the Vicar of the Benefice Thank you for your interest in the vacancy at St. John’s. As part of this process we invited the whole community to share their views. It was clear that the church is very much at the heart of village life and held in high regard by the residents of Churt and Rushmoor. The role is exciting and challenging. It involves being part of the benefice team and taking day to day responsibility for the parish. The church school enables us to engage with many people and offers opportunities for growth in our work with children and families. This is an area which we want to prioritise. However, this is a village of all ages, and a church which seeks to reach out to everyone, so we seek a leader who has both the desire and the skills to serve the whole community. There is also a need for a person who can sensitively hold together those who value traditional ways of worshipping and those who appreciate a more contemporary approach. Located in beautiful countryside, benefiting from a well maintained building, offering support from clergy and laity, and enjoying a central role in the village, we believe that this is an attractive role for a prayerful leader and we hope you will want to explore it further. Yours in Christ – Revd Richard Bodle Contact details: Reverend Richard Bodle Email: [email protected] Call: 01428 605 305 A letter from the Archdeacon of Surrey Churt is one of Surrey’s delightful villages. It is a very desirable place to live with a strong sense of community. The vacancy in the post of Resident Minister provides an exciting opportunity for an ordained priest to build on strong foundations that have been laid in this Church community. St. John’s Church celebrated 150 years of serving the village in 2018. Whilst giving thanks for the past, it now looks to the future as it seeks to continue its proclamation of God’s love to the whole parish and serve its inhabitants. It has identified clear priorities to grow its youth and children ministry; to reach beyond its borders; and to communicate effectively. The next minister will need to share a passion for these priorities but, above all, will need to love the people of Churt in the name of Jesus Christ. Whoever God calls to this role will be blessed with the love and encouragement of Richard Bodle, the very able and experienced Incumbent of Hindhead and Churt, and a very supportive ministry team. If you do feel prompted to test this call, I would encourage you to be in contact with Richard for an informal conversation. If you’d value a wider perspective of the Diocese, you’d also be very welcome to contact me. I earnestly pray that God will call the right person to lead this able and energetic community in the next phase of its kingdom ministry. The Venerable Paul Davies - Archdeacon of Surrey Our Parish Profile Welcome to our Church St. John’s is a friendly, active church in the village of Churt in south-west Surrey. Our parish also includes the neighbouring community of Rushmoor. St. John’s is part of a joint benefice with St. Alban’s Church in nearby Hindhead. For over 150 years we have been at the heart of our local community. Everybody is welcome and we seek to be a church where everyone can find a spiritual home. Our Community Churt and Rushmoor are vibrant places with a strong sense of community. In Churt we have a school, a Post Office and convenience store along with a small number of specialist shops. We also benefit from a restaurant, a garage, the Crossways pub, the Churt Club, a popular village hall, a well-equipped sports pavilion and a Scout Hut. The businesses in Rushmoor include a large pet supply store, a garage and the Bel and the Dragon pub. We have many well supported groups and societies. These include: amateur dramatics; the horticultural society; a heritage society; Cubs, Scouts and Beavers; a literary society; Bridge Club and a thriving Women’s Institute. Our village fete, pantomime, flower shows, and other local events are always popular and well attended. We have a large sports ground with a pavilion and children’s playground. There are tennis and cricket clubs for all ages, and a very active football club for youngsters. Churt Village Hall is well maintained and in constant use and is one of several meeting places in the village. Activities on offer include: walking in beautiful countryside; cycling; sailing at Frensham Pond; golf at Hindhead and Hankley Common and enjoying all that the neighbouring market towns of Farnham, Haslemere and Guildford have to offer. The Parish Our local area The parish is situated in attractive, protected countryside, near the borders of both West Sussex and Hampshire. It is within the Green Belt and the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The community has a good social mix and a balanced age profile with a growing younger population. The area includes small estates, large country properties and a range of both private and social housing. Overall, the parish is relatively prosperous, although there are also areas of Round and About significant need. The nearest towns of Farnham and Haslemere are A number of people commute to work to nearby both about 6 miles from Churt. Guildford is only 13 towns or to London, but others are based in the miles away. We are 3 miles from the A3 and 13 parish or work from home. miles from the M3. Waterloo can be reached in around 54 minutes from either Farnham or o We are mostly a rural Haslemere stations. It is easy to get to Portsmouth community, with several and the coast, and we are just an hour from Heathrow and Gatwick airports. agricultural employers and some local industry and office employment. o Some families have lived here for many generations, whilst others have moved here recently. o Our parish population is approx. 2000 comprising 780 households. o Around 21% of us are aged 0- 17, and 17% are over 70. Our Church Building Our church building dates from 1838, is situated on the village green, and was consecrated in 1868. It is the only place of Christian worship in the parish and seats about 150 people. The building is well maintained and has a high-quality Audio-Visual system, which includes a projector and screens, as well as a good sound system and digital hymnal. The Church benefits from its own internet access. Following extensive work the organ is in very good condition and the building has often hosted concerts and shows. There is a modern, integral church room with a kitchen and disabled toilet. We aim to keep the building open every day. Next to the church are The Stables which house the parish office and provide an additional meeting space with a kitchen and toilet. The Churchyard remains open and has plenty of space. The Garden of Remembrance offers a beautiful and tranquil environment. A group of volunteers assist a contractor by mowing during the summer and sweeping leaves in the winter. The Vicarage We will provide a large house, located on a quiet road next to the churchyard. Downstairs there are two large reception rooms, a study, a cloakroom, and a generous kitchen. Upstairs there are five good sized bedrooms. The vicarage is double glazed and centrally heated. As well as a garage, there is plenty of room for parking on the driveway. The back garden is extensive and bordered by the Stables, the churchyard, and a neighbour. It has many trees and plants, and two patio areas. The house will be decorated in consultation with the new minister. Our Benefice Our parish is geographically amongst the largest in the Diocese. In 2003 it joined with the next-door parish to form the United Benefice of Churt with Hindhead, under the leadership of the Vicar of St. Alban’s, Hindhead. The post became ‘house for duty’ but this developed into a half stipend post with the title of ‘Resident Minister’. The exact nature of this exciting post is flexible and open to discussion. St. John’s retains a fully functioning PCC with two churchwardens, and controls its own finances. The PCC has several sub-committees including a Standing Committee, Mission Support Group and Buildings Committee. The two churches of St. John’s and St. Alban’s work closely together whenever possible. In addition to the Deanery, the Benefice is also linked with the Haslemere Ministers’ Network which brings together church leaders of all denominations. Our Deanery We are part of the Farnham Deanery which consists of 13 parishes. The Deanery extends from just above Farnham in the north, almost down to Haslemere in the south. The Deanery Synod meets three times a year. The Clergy Chapter gathers each month for lunch, and for occasional quiet days or other events. This can be a good source of encouragement and mutual support. Our Team Many people devote a great deal of time and energy to the Church, reflecting a strong sense of ownership. There is committed involvement for essential roles, including sides-people, readings, prayers, children’s activities, pastoral care, Communion assistants, maintenance of the fabric and grounds, flower arranging and so on. In addition to our active Wardens, we also have a Licensed Lay Minister (Reader), and employ a skilled Parish Administrator. The clergy team consists of Richard Bodle, Vicar since 2008, and the associate minister at St.