Parish Profile St Margaret’s Downham (St John’s ) St Peter’s St Mary’s

Contents

A message from Bishop Stephen 4 The Benefice 6 The pattern of worship 7 Communications 7 Our Vision 7 About the parishes 8 Downham and Ramsden Heath 8 South Hanningfield 8 Ramsden Bellhouse 8 About the churches, their people and worship 9 St Margaret’s Downham 9 St Peter’s South Hanningfield 11 St Mary’s Ramsden Bellhouse 12 A message from the Area Dean 13 What is the Compass Churches Group? 13 A message from Bishop Stephen

In the Diocese we believe that God is calling his church to be a transforming presence. Our vision is that the church - that is the people of God here in and East - should be a transforming presence in every one of our parishes. These are our priorities: • To inhabit the world distinctively. • To evangelise effectively. • To hold ourselves accountable to one another and to God for the stewardship of the gospel. • To re imagine the way we minister so that each ordained minister and each individual Christian discovers their part in God’s ministry and so that each church flourishes. To this end we are looking for priests who are excited by this vision of becoming a church which is itself transformed, and which is becoming a more visible and effective presence in the huge diversity of communities that make up this most exciting and energetic part of . There are many challenges ahead of us. • We are a diocese generously subsidised by the national church. We need to become financially self-sufficient. • Leadership often seems distant. We are creating patterns of leadership that are closer to the parishes. And we are looking to develop missionary leadership at all levels of church life. Nearly half our clergy will retire in the next ten years. We need to find out how to minister with fewer stipendiary clergy and with a re-imagining of how stipendiary ministry works. We need to re-organise the way parishes relate to each other in what we are calling Mission and Ministry Units. • Some of our congregations still think ministry is what Vicars do. We have a vision of ministry where the whole people of God are involved in the whole of God’s ministry. We are also experimenting with new forms of authorised lay ministry. • Church must be a safe place. All those in ministry will be expected to undergo training that will equip them to respond well in situations associated with safeguarding. • Levels of church going are below the national average. We need to get evangelism on to the agenda and into the lifeblood of every church. We encourage and train churches to put on weekends of mission and outreach. One of our aspirations is that every benefice should have a trained lay evangelism enabler. • We are developing missionary discipleship, so that every church in the diocese is a place where Christians are formed in order to be sent out in witness and service. Despite planning for a future with fewer stipendiary clergy, we remain as committed as ever to the local church. And what is the local church, but that community of men and women gathered around Christ, and living and sharing the gospel in the networks and neighbourhoods of their lives? But we need priests to lead and to serve. We know we need to change. We can only be a transforming presence when we have allowed God to transform us. Therefore at the heart of all 4 we do is a longing for intimacy with God and a renewed life of prayer. First and foremost a priest is a minister of the word and sacrament. All ministry flows from this. But a priest shares the ministry of the bishop, therefore presbyteral ministry will increasingly be a ministry of oversight, guiding, nurturing and directing the mission of God’s church in the communities we serve. It is an exciting time to be part of God’s missionary movement for the world, and the Diocese of Chelmsford is an exciting place to serve. We have a clear vision and we are looking to appoint clergy who will share this with us. In every parish we long to see each person and each community grow in faithfulness and ministry so that together we may serve in the world and Christ may be made known. +Stephen

5 The Benefice

The Benefice includes the four villages of Downham, Ramsden Heath, Ramsden Bellhouse and South Hannngfield, all situated between Chelmsford and . It is a predominantly rural area. There are limited bus services from each village to Chelmsford and Wickford both of which have fast services to London Liverpool Street station. Most people living locally rely on cars for transport. The new Rector will be responsible for three churches - St Margaret’s Downham, St Mary’s Ramsden Bellhouse and St Peter’s South Hanningfield. In addition Downham is responsible for a worship space in Ramsden Heath Village Hall, although there have been no regular services conducted there since 2010. The Benefice is in the Chelmsford South Deanery and is part of the Compass Churches Mission and Ministry Unit (MMU) covering twelve parishes.

6 The pattern of worship There is currently one service held in each of the three parish churches every Sunday except when there are five Sundays in the month when the congregations of the three churches come together for a joint act of worship. There may be an opportunity to review the pattern of services, but this will be dependent upon the resources available. Communications The Benefice publishes a monthly magazine, The Herald, which is physically distributed to about 400 homes around the Benefice and is also published online. It contains information about what is happening in the three churches as well as contributions from the wider village communities: schools, village halls, horticultural society etc. Downham church has a website which includes a calendar page for all three churches (www.downhamchurchg.org.uk). Both Downham and Ramsden Bellhouse churches have active Facebook pages. St Peter’s has a church/village website (www.southhanningfield.church) Our Vision

To grow our three congregations both numerically and spiritually such that we are able to serve the communities of which we are a part as well as the wider MMU. The Challenge we face We are four villages with three worshipping communities. We are seeking • to engage with our village communities and village life • to build relationships with our two schools, the children and families • to grow our worshipping communities. If you feel God is calling you here we believe you will have some of the following qualities: • a leader in mission • an ability to communicate the good news of Christ • lead, challenge and encourage us to be a transforming presence in the service of God in evangelising effectively to proclaim the good news of Jesus to the wider community. • be comfortable leading traditional forms of worship as well as more informal family worship • have experience of ministering in a village context • the ability to engage with our schools including the taking of assemblies and serving as a school governor • the skills to help us to find ways to strengthen our links with our schools • the ability to enable us to creatively engage with young families • a willingness to engage with those seeking marriage or bringing children for baptism We offer our new priest support in ministry through • the current support of two self-supporting ministers and a lay person exploring a sense of call to lay ministry • lay people who are comfortable in taking an active part in the services, including leading Evening Prayer, reading the lessons and assisting at communion • Regular meetings of those in ministry • Benefice meetings of clergy and wardens from time to time 7 About the parishes

Downham and Ramsden Heath The parish covers an area of 4.8 square miles with a population around 2,500. It is one of the least deprived parishes in England. Downham is largely rural and has no shops. What used to be a pub is now a restaurant. The has a large nature reserve on the banks of with the main entrance and visitor centre situated in the village. Adjacent to St Margaret’s is Downham Hall. It presently seeks a licence to conduct weddings and has facilities for receptions and conferences and has available accommodation. They often host receptions after weddings, baptisms and funerals conducted in the church. There is an excellent relationship between the church and the owners. There is an active village hall and a member of the PCC is on the management committee as church representative. Ramsden Heath has several small shops and two pubs. Members of the ministry team conduct a monthly service in The Belfry, a small care home in the village and regularly visit the Ramsden Heath Pre School. There is an independent church, The Christian Growth Centre, which is used to host many village activities. There is a strong community spirit in the village with many active clubs and societies that are well supported. Downham Church of England Voluntary Primary School is in Ramsden Heath and rated Good/ Outstanding by OFSTED. The school has expressed a strong desire to have a closer relationship with the church. South Hanningfield A rural parish covering an area 2.1 square miles, a large proportion of which forms the Hanningfield Reservoir and the Essex Wildlife Trust’s Nature Reserve, with a population of around 250. There are no shops, but one very popular pub/restaurant, a village hall and some light industrial units mainly associated with agriculture. The village hall is run by an enthusiastic management committee, including a PCC representative, and there is a close relationship to enhance the life of the village. St Peter’s Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is now situated in covering the catchment areas of both South and West Hanningfield. It is rated Good by OFSTED. They look mainly to West Hanningfield church for support, but St Peter’s is keen to develop a closer relationship. Ramsden Bellhouse The parish covers an area of 1.9 square miles with a population of around 1,500. It is a linear development and as the older properties come onto the market they are inevitably demolished and replaced with substantial gated properties, making contact with the newer residents difficult. There is a shop/post office, a pub and a village hall which hosts various local clubs and societies. Three members of the church are currently on the village hall management committee. There is a Baptist church in the village which has a close working relationship with St Mary’s. They share worship from time to time.

8 About the churches, their people and worship

St Margaret’s Downham The building - It is believed that there has been a place of worship on the site since the 12th century. The current building is grade two listed and dates from around 1470 and we now see a typical Tudor brick tower and there is a peal of 6 bells. The nave was demolished in 1871 and rebuilt using many of the original materials. A fire in 1977 destroyed the roof and interior of the nave. It was rebuilt as a dual-purpose building and gives the flexibility to accommodate different numbers of worshippers and other activities that can be shared with the wider community. The church is in a good state of repair and the churchyard is maintained to a high standard by a team of volunteers and local contractors from the extended community. The churchyard is open for burials. St John’s Ramsden Heath - Licenced in 1901 to serve the rapidly growing population of Ramsden Heath St John’s was a temporary wood and corrugated iron structure that was demolished in 1999. A worship space, dedicated to St John, was then incorporated into the new village hall and regular services were held there until 2010. Sadly, a declining congregation led the then Rector to cancel regular services and it has been unused since 2015. Our new Rector will have to decide what should be done with St John’s. The people and the community - The church has a largely ‘gathered’ congregation from the surrounding areas of Wickford and , Ramsden Heath and and being in a rural location and away from any bus routes the challenge is to attract people to us. The overwhelming view of the congregation is the friendly welcome and tremendous community spirit, not only in the services but in the other events encompassing the wider community. The enthusiasm of ‘Team Downham’ involves members of the church and the wider community and is well known in the area. They use their skills to organise events and special services throughout the year and contribute to the care and maintenance of the church and its grounds: • Easter Sunrise Service • Memorial Service for the departed • Summer Fete & Flower Festival • Christmas Bazaar • Monthly Family Service • Harvest Lunch • School Christmas Carol Service • Christingle Services Worship - The main service is a weekly Sung Eucharist in the moderate catholic tradition using Common Worship. The Blessed Sacrament is reserved, and vestments are usually worn. The congregation has expressed its preference for this more moderate form of worship rather than the more Catholic or Evangelical worship found in some neighbouring churches. Music is an important part of worship and there is a small but enthusiastic choir led by a professionally qualified organist/choir director. The full choir includes people from all three Benefice churches and sings for weddings and other special services at each church. On the first Sunday of each month the Sung Eucharist is replaced by a more informal Family Service with ‘café style’ seating. It is aimed mainly, but not exclusively, at those with young families, who may have little experience of the Christian faith. There is a formal liturgical structure and those who are seeking marriage or baptism are encouraged to come along to this gentle 9 introduction to Christian worship and the good news of Jesus. The challenge we face now is developing ways of growing this group in the Christian faith to which we have introduced them.

Cafe style church for the monthly Family Service

People gather in the churchyard for the Easter morning sunrise service

The church is packed to overflowing at the Christmas Christingle service

10 St Peter’s South Hanningfield The building - The church is grade two* listed. The nave is late 11th century or early 12th century in origin and was extended in the 15th century, when the bell turret was also built. The interior is traditional Victorian and there have been various other restorations and additions over the years. The churchyard is open for burials. The people and the community - Being a small community, the challenge is to serve and support the village in any way it can. The mission is to provide witness to our Lord by organising events within the village that serve both as community gatherings and fund raising for the church: • Quiz Night • Flower Festival & Songs of Praise • Harvest Lunch • Village Christmas Carols • Monthly Family Service Worship - Worship style is traditional Anglican. Services include Holy Communion and Evensong using the Book of Common Prayer, a Holy Communion with hymns using Common Worship and a Family Service using the same liturgy as St Margaret’s Downham. There is discussion about moving to more modern forms of worship. The church has no vestments, but alb and stole or choir dress is worn as appropriate. The blessed sacrament is not reserved. Services, particularly the monthly family service, attract people from beyond the village.

Flower festival 2019 Considered one of the best in Essex Harvest lunch in the church

11 St Mary’s Ramsden Bellhouse The building - The age of the building is uncertain, but it is believed there has been a church on the site for over one thousand years. It is grade two listed. There has been so much restoration and alteration that it is difficult to find much of the original structure. The oldest part is probably the wooden porch dating to the late 14th century. There is a freestanding tower built around 1414 and a peal of 3 bells. The interior is traditional Victorian. The churchyard is open for burials. The people and the community - The congregation is made up largely of people living in the older village properties. The more affluent and younger people tend to live in newer gated properties and have shown little interest in the church or indeed other village activities. This is a considerable challenge. The church organises regular events and fund-raising activities which reach out to the wider community including: • Monthly Family Service • Coffee Mornings • Flower Festival • Concerts Worship - Worship style is traditional Anglican. Services include two Holy Communions and one Evening Prayer, all using Common Worship and a Family Service using the same liturgy as St Margaret’s Downham. There is also an informal prayer meeting on Tuesday mornings which attracts people from all the Benefice churches, and elsewhere. There is a good relationship with the local Baptist Church and they usually share worship with St Mary’s four times a year. The church has no vestments but alb and stole or choir dress is worn as appropriate. The blessed sacrament is not reserved.

The church and village community come together for concerts and the annual strawberry tea

12 A message from the Area Dean

The 20 churches of Chelmsford South Deanery have some joyful aspects which we are pleased to celebrate together. We have formed two MMU’s – the Compass Group of churches and the South West Chelmsford Mission and Ministry Partnership. The Team Ministry is working toward becoming an MMU in some form possibly with another Church from the North Deanery. The South and North Deaneries are working toward combining to be one deanery in the future. The combined clergy chapter meet regularly to worship together, share the news and information and to pray for each other. Chapter meetings are valued as a welcome time of collegiate identity. The parishes of Downham, Ramsden Bellhouse and SouthHanningfield are part of the Compass group of Churches and the new incumbent comes at a time of preparation and change as we work towards 2025 and the reduced stipendiary clergy numbers. Part of the task is to raise up Locally Deployed Ordained and Authorised Lay Ministers to equip and energise the local churches, and part is to foster a willingness for stipendiary clergy to partner across parish boundaries to oversee and enable all churches of the MMU to flourish in their own mission context. eW look for a willingness and desire to be part of this ministry and to welcoming the new Priest of Downham, Ramsden Bellhouse and South Hanningfield among us. Rev Canon Tim Ball

W h a t i s t h e C o m p a s s C h u r c h e s G r o u p ?

The Compass Churches Group aims to work together, inspiring communities to grow in the Christian faith through mission, outreach and presence. 35,650 people live in the boundaries of the Compass Churches and our main goal is to spread the word of Christ to as many of them as possible. Together we can achieve more than we can individually. Our combined resources can be harnessed to attain our goals! The Compass Churches Group was commissioned on 10 February 2018 and is made up of 12 churches. This group now makes up what is called a Mission and Ministry Unit (MMU) of the Diocese of Chelmsford. These have been set up so that as clergy retire and may not be replaced, people can work together to see there are sufficient ordained and licensed people to run our churches successfully. We are all getting to know each other well and can be supportive in times of illness or vacancies. We meet for morning prayer each Thursday, have run a combined Alpha Course, have had a group Songs of Praise and in the coming months we hope to explore more things we may do together for our mutual benefit. Revd Terry Brown Rector of Sandon and Priest in Charge of Co Chair of Compass Churches

(see over for map of the MMU)

13 The Compass Churches Group MMU

• Stock • Danbury • West Hanningfield • Sandon • Downham • East Hanningfield • South Hanningfield • with • Ramsden Bellhouse • •

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