The Scottish Episcopal Church Christ Church Parish Profile Status of Congregation Christ Church is an incumbancy situated within the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway. Permission has been granted to appoint a full-time rector. Contact: Church Offi ce +44 (0) 1555 663065; 1 Cleghorn Road, Lanark, ML11 7QT Church Address: 37 Hope Street, Lanark, ML11 7NE Church Website: www.christchurchlanark.com

Geography and History Christ Church is situated in Lanark, approximately 25 miles south-east of Glasgow in the heart of the picturesque Clyde Valley. Lanark has excellent transport links, with a bus and railway station. Trains to Glasgow are very regular during the day from Lanark, and trains to Edinburgh are available from Junction (10 minutes drive). Lanark, a bustling market town, is one of the oldest Royal Burghs in , granted its Royal Charter in 1140 by David I two centuries after it became home to the fi rst Scottish Parliament (AD 978) The town has strong links with the William Wallace story, as he is reputed to have married Marion Braidfute in Old St Kentigern’s Church. In May 1297, after the English Sheriff killed Marion, Wallace gathered a body of men at Lanark Castle and killed the occupying English Sheriff and many of his men. With this act Wallace sprang into the national conscience and started the First War of Independence. The main highlight of the town’s year is the Lanimer celebration in June. This dates from 1140 with the granting of the Royal Burgh Charter which imposed the duty of checking the burgh boundaries (marches) annually. A Lord Cornet is elected to carry out this duty and he is accompanied by thousands of townspeople and horse riders. In Victorian times Lanimers evolved and since 1893 there has been a Lanimer Queen and court, and many decorated fl oats. For a whole week in June the town is in festive mood with the all the community, including the churches, getting involved. Nearby in the Clyde Valley gorge lies the world heritage village of , the site of a cotton mill built in 1785 by David Dale. New Lanark fi rst rose to fame when Robert Owen was mill manager from 1800 -1825. Owen transformed life in New Lanark with ideas and opportunities which were at least a hundred years ahead of their time. Child labour and corporal punishment were abolished, and villagers were provided with decent homes, schools and evening classes, free health care and affordable food. Restoration of the village and mills has taken place and it is now a thriving tourist attraction as well as a living community. From New Lanark there are attractive walks along the river to the Falls of Clyde and along the Clyde Walkway to Castlebank Park in Lanark and for the energetic, you can walk all the way to Glasgow. Lanark is an excellent centre for walking with the Mouse Valley Walk also very popular with visitors and locals alike.

1 Lanark is a historic market town and still has a thriving auction market which serves our rural population well. Lanark’s hinterland is good farming country mostly given over to dairy, beef and sheep farming.

Our district, while centred on Lanark, covers an area of some 400 square miles. Other large towns in the area - Biggar and - are at the south and north ends of the parish respectively and there are many small villages within the charge boundary. Each town and village has its own history and unique identifying characteristics. Our congregation has worshippers from all over the district as well as from outside its boundary. The 2011 census shows Lanark to have a population of 8,855, Carluke - 13,579 and Biggar - 2,294.

Lanark is an expanding community with great potential for our mission to grow our church.

The town has 4 primary schools: Lanark , New Lanark, Robert Owen Memorial and St Mary’s RC Primary. All four schools feed into Lanark Grammar School which helps break down any barriers of sectarianism.

Lanark’s Memorial Hall, which was built in the early 1920s as a War Memorial to the fallen in WW1, has recently been totally refubished and is now an attractive place for many events and professional theatre performances and concerts. It contains a ‘History Corridor’ which displays much of the town’s heritage and also has a touch screen allowing visitors to trace the town’s history from the Beaker People and the Roman occupation right up to the present day. Lanark also has a small museum which is currently looking for a new home in order to expand. Biggar has already done this and boasts a beautiful new museum which tells the story of the area’s history.

The recently completed Leisure Centre has a beautiful swimming pool, gym and dance studio. No matter what your interest or hobby is you are sure to fi nd a club in town to join. The various clubs and societies range from photography, archaeology, performing arts, swimming, badminton, football, horse riding, Scouts, Guides, Boys Brigade, Air Cadets, foreign language groups, dance of all kinds, music, choral groups, painting, weaving, tapestry making, gardening...... the list is endless. There is also a fl ourishing University of the Third Age society with more than 100 members.

The Community Council and Lanark Community Development Trust are committed to improving the town and making it a more attractive and interesting place for locals and visitors alike. As you will gather from this, Lanark is a bustling, busy little town where the inhabitants show great community spirit. The main employer in Lanark is Border Biscuits which gives a great deal of fi nancial support to various good causes in the town as well as running the town’s website, www.lanark.co.uk

2 Christ Church Buildings Christ Church itself is situated just off the town centre in the appropriately named Hope Street. It was consecrated on Lady Day 1859 and the only major change since then has been the building of the side chapel in 1923 as a war memorial. We think we have the prettiest little church in and we are very proud of the beautiful stained glass windows, carved chancel stalls and paintings. More information about these can be found on our website. (www.christchurchlanark.com)

The church buildings, which consist of the church, church hall and rectory are all in generally good condition. Following the last quinquennial review, substantial work was carried out in the church and in 2014 to repoint the stonework. A new toilet has been installed at the rear of the side chapel in the church.

One of our members has given a great deal of time creating and maintaining the beautiful garden round the church. It is an oasis of beauty and calm in a busy town and much appreciated by all. The rectory is a substantial family home adjacent to the hall, both buildings being diagonally opposite the church. There are two public rooms on the ground floor together with a small office, kitchen, utility room and toilet. There are four large bedrooms and a box room on the first floor together with a family bathroom. There is access from the first floor into a large room which is built over the church hall; this has been used previously as a study/ library/ playroom/ artist’s studio and a lumber room!

A new gas central heating boiler was installed recently and also a new bathroom with free standing shower unit. There are plans afoot to refurbish the kitchen.

The church hall is used for both church functions and by groups within the town. The toilets have been upgraded to include a fully accessible toilet and the electric heating system has also been renovated. The small vestry room is a useful meeting place.

The hall roof has a large number of solar panels which contribute to the reduction of heating bills in both the hall and rectory.

3 About Christ Church Our normal service pattern is sung Holy Communion at 10.30 am each Sunday with a more relaxed ‘Family Service’ on the second Sunday of the month and a mid-day service on Tuesdays. There is also a said Communion at 8.30am one Sunday a month.

Our small Sunday School meets every 2nd Sunday in the church hall. We also regularly have a Celtic Evening Service, often with a group of people playing clarsachs. Our talented organist team of four also organises a ‘Music Sunday Service’ which involves many gifted young musicians in our worship. Services on other Christian Festivals and special occasions are advertised in our magazine, website, facebook page as well as in the local press.

At the Eucharist, the Scottish Liturgy 1982 (modern language rite) is used. NIV bibles are available in every pew. Our worship is liturgical, sacramental and scriptural in nature as is traditional in the Scottish Episcopal Church. We generally use Hymns Old and New but will sometimes try out different hymns as appropriate.

The congregation participates actively in services with readers, intercession leaders and Eucharistic ministry. We have a strong team of four organists who provide all the church music.

At present, services are taken by our two Lay Readers, together with visiting and supportive retired clergy.

We have regular house/ bible study groups and Lent study groups.

A Pastoral Care Team of six is active in regard to home communions and visiting the housebound.

There are well supported rotas for church cleaning, church flowers, sidepersons, gardening, tea/coffee after church in addition to those mentioned under services.

There is a church magazine produced monthly/ bi-monthly and a weekly notice sheet is available for those attending Sunday Services. The magazine can also be accessed via the church website: www.christchurchlanark.com

Congregation There are 120 estimated members of whom 70 are regular communicants and 50 attached. We have between 35 - 45 attending each Sunday.

Of the membership, both communicant and attached, the majority are of retiral age or higher. There are nominally 7 families with school age children attached to the congregation

4 Regular Church Events Tea/coffee are served after morning service. This is well attended and provides the main social forum for the church members. A weekly Tuesday Lunch Club, run by church members, is also held in the hall for both members of the congregation and and others - a visible outreach to the community. As well as providing soup and sandwiches, it has various speakers on a wide range of topics. It has 12 to 15 attending each week with some of them attending the Tuesday mid-day service before going on to the lunch club.

In addition, we have various ad hoc social events such as quizes, harvest lunches, daffodil teas etc which are well received by the congregation.

One of the highlights of our church year is our Midsummer Outdoor Service and Barbecue at Cleghorn Estate. This has become ecumenical and we receive good support from the other churches of Lanark.

The other main highlight of our church year is our Christingle Service which we hold on the Sunday before Christmas. Many ‘daft’ members of the congregation take part and lend their support to the great team who devise each year’s story for the children. In recent years it has involved animals, elves, trolls and of course, Santa, searching for the true meaning of Christmas. Again, this is an ecumenical service with good support from the other churches. We also hold a Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.

5 Wider The church has active representation in diocesan and provincial matters. Locally, the congregation has representation on the Christian Aid committee and has a chaplaincy appointment to one of the local schools.

Congregational members are also involved in a wide range of community interests: Oxfam, New Beginnings, Choral Union, Community Development Trust, Music in Lanark, WRI etc.

The church hall is regularly used by community groups such as WRI, Gardening Club, Yoga Class, Badminton Club and Dance groups.

There has been a supportive ‘fraternal’ of local clergy. Other churches in Lanark have also seen major changes in personnel with the Parish Church of St Nicholas currently in a vacancy. However, The priest of St Mary’s RC Church and the ministers of Greyfriars Church and the EU Congregational Church are actively participating with Christ Church in ecumenical services and producing joint programmes for Holy Week, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and Christmas services. There have also been exchanges of pulpits.

We participate in the World Day of Prayer, the Town Remembrance Day service and the Lanimer ‘Kirkin’ of the Cornets. Members also participate in an ecumenical rota of services in local residential homes.

Finance Parish income is derived from three main areas:

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 5 year average

Congregational Giving £24,858 £25,751 £28,274 £27,908 £29,871 £27,332

Gift Aid £ 6,669 £ 6,253 £ 7,132 £ 7,993 £ 8,545 £ 7,318

Investment Income £ 8,756 £ 10,686 £ 12,305 £ 12,274 £ 12,837 £ 11,370

Capital & Reserves £296,349 £250,883 £255,806 £292,099 £338,450 £266,707

The congregation is regularly requsted to review giving with formal Stewardship Campaigns being run every few years

External Givings The church supports appeals and Christian charities through its 4th Sunday Collection whereby a collection is taken each month towards an agreed appeal or charity. Sums collected are paid out quarterly and recent donations have been made to the Bishop’s Lent Appeal, Children in Distress, and New Beginnings. Other special collections are taken on an ad hoc basis. We also collect household items on a weekly basis which are then given to the New Beginnings Charity which helps people across Lanarkshire with the transition from being homeless to moving into their own home.

6 Vestry

The Vestry meets every 4 to 6 weeks on Tuesday evenings. We held an extraordinary congregational meeting to approve the new church constitution, followed by the AGM on 30 August 2015.

Current members of the Vestry are:

Secretary Mrs Anne Glen Treasurer Mr Robert Burgon Lay Representative Mrs Rachel Hill Rector’s Warden Dr Jamie Hill People’s Warden Mrs Sylvia Russell

Other Vestry members Mr Peter Clark Mr Richard Evans Mr Peter Glancy Miss Gemma Patrick

Our two Lay Readers are Robert Burgon and Richard Evans Our Pastoral Care Co-ordinator is Sheila Cardwell Our Adult and Child Protection Offi cer is Mrs Connie Johnstone

Mission & Diocesan Growth Strategy The congregation has entered into the Diocesan Growth Strategy wholeheartedly and has formed sub groups to look at various aspects of our church. One group has been responsible for improving our notice boards, another has produced church welcome cards and cards to be distributed to local hotels; a church handbook has been produced and a church welcoming committee formed; the church website has been updated and a facebook page created.

We continue to seek ways to expand our congregation as part of our mission and vision towards the future and see the possible expansion of housing and the population in Lanark and Carluke as providing much potential for growth.

We are a strong, united congregation which welcomes newcomers and visitors to our church family.

The congregation aims to be a church body capable of continuing a ministry in the Anglican tradition within the rural area of . It wishes to contribute fully to the life of the Diocese, and to foster strong links with the broad Christian community in the town and surrounding area.

7 The Rector We Want

We are looking for a Full Time Rector who will complement, nurture and develop our ministry: someone who enjoys meeting people; has the ability and concern to support and be visible in the community. The Rector shall live in the house provided at 1 Cleghorn Road. We wish the Rector to be the face of our church, and integrate with our non-churchgoing neighbours and to represent our faith.

Strengthen Relationships We need someone who will help us strengthen and maintain our good relationships with other churches, local schools, homes for the elderly, the community council and organisations in our parish area.

Engage and Grow Our congregation wishes to grow and thrive. We do not expect our Rector to do everything. There is Lay participation in the services and in pastoral care. Through our Mission Action Planning we have raised the profile of our church and worked to create a welcoming environment. Our congregation has become more engaged with the life of the church and has demonstrated enthusiasm for welcome and outreach. We seek a Rector who will share this energy and enthusiasm, will engage successfully with us spiritually and socially, and will enable the talents and energy of the congregation to flourish and bear fruit, so that we may be true Disciples of Christ. We are working to develop our work with young children. We should like our new Rector to take us forward in this ministry. Aware that there are areas of need in our community, material and spiritual, that we have not reached, we hope our new Rector will help us to extend our mission in this direction.

Teach and Guide We are looking for more opportunities for contemplative worship and understanding of our faith; to encourage our church to grow in spirituality and Biblical knowledge. We seek a person who is willing to teach and improve the understanding of the word of God and to advise and support Bible study and discussion groups.

Care and Concern Our congregation appreciates visits and sympathetic support from their clergy. We should like our Rector to make this a priority.

Our Church Tradition Our congregation has great respect for the traditions of worship and music of the Scottish Episcopal Church. We should like our new Rector to uphold and develop these traditions.

God’s Blessing We seek a Rector who will be inspired to fill our church with the Holy Spirit.

8 We are looking for someone who: • Is committed to upholding the tradition of worship and music of the Scottish Episcopal Church. • Will help us to grow in faith and spirituality. • Will encourage and support the Vestry and congregation, working with them in consensual decision making • Has the ability to listen, motivate and initiate action. • Has a sensitive leadership style with good communication and delegation skills • Has the ability to manage our church • Will lead, support and motivate our congregation to contribute their talents generously for the life of the church. • Will mix easily with the whole community and is committed to extending our mission. • Is committed to pastoral work. • Is able to counsel the elderly and terminally ill. • Preaches stimulating and engaging sermons. • Can be both guide and companion, encouraging and developing the gifts of the congregation in their own ministry • Can be caring and compassionate, as well as having an inclusive and accepting attitude; able to relate to those with doubts as well as those with certainty in their faith • Has the desire to explore music as part of worship • Has an interest in fostering ecumenical links and inter faith dialogue • Has the vision and energy to develop the wider use of all church premises and inspire the congregation to use them as a spiritual resource and community facility • Communicates well, both orally and in writing, and has adequate IT skills. • Has experience of developing youth work and the ability to relate to young people and children. • Has a driving licence and own transport. • Has a sense of humour

What will we do for our new Rector? As congregations we will welcome you and support you through: • Prayer. • Our enthusiasm and contributions. • Our willingness to offer help, hospitality, and friendship. • Encouragement. • Participating with you in all aspects of church family life

Futher details of the terms and conditions of this “Full Time Rector in Charge post” and the application form can be found on the Diocesan website: http://www.scotland.anglican.org/vestry-resources/appointments-and-employment/vacancy-procedures

9 Appendix

Demographic Data from 2011 Census

Poulation of main centres Carluke 13,579 Lanark 8,855 Forth 2,257 Biggar 2,294 Douglas 1,620 1,413

Places of Worship Christian Healing Centre Crossford Greyfriars Parish Church Lanark Kirkton Parish Church Carluke St Andrew’s Church Carluke St Athanasius RC Church Carluke St John’s Church of Scotland Carluke St Mary’s RC Church Lanark Clyde Valley Christian Centre Lanark St Nicholas Church of Scotland Lanark E.U. Church (Congregational) Lanark Biggar Kirk Biggar Carstairs Parish Church Carstairs Carnwath Parish Church Carnwath Forth St Paul’s Parish Church Forth

Hospitals Wishaw General Hospital (12 miles) Wishaw Lockhart Hospital (Community care) Lanark Nursing Homes Hazelhead Nursing Home Carluke Milton Grange Nursing Home Carluke Monteith House Nursing Home Carluke Orchard House Nursing Home Crossford

Residential & Retirement Homes Auchlochan Care Home Beechgrove Care Home Lanark Bield Housing Association Biggar Crosslaw House Care Home Lanark McClymont House Lanark

10