Sharing Life Serving Community Worshipping

Home , Archdeacon of Buckingham, Aston Sandford, Bishop of Buckingham, Diocese of Oxford, Guy Elsmore

WORSHIPPING GOD

SHARING LIFE

SERVING COMMUNITY Wychert Vale Benefce Foreword from a monthly Messy The Archdeacon of Buckingham Church in Dinton Church.

The Wychert Vale Benefce is ready for a Cuddington’s Mission 1 Foreword new chapter with the arrival of Rev Cassa Action Plan expresses 2 Brief description of Benefce Messervy as their new rector in April a desire for worship relevant to people of 3 Our location and they are seeking a priest to join her and their experienced team to focus on all generations, recognises the need for 4 Our mission Cuddington. spiritual growth, and refects the need to 5 Our strengths St Nicholas Cuddington is a lively, growing develop lay leadership in worship, pastoral 6 What we want to do church set within a small friendly village care, and administration. They are seeking someone who is comfortable 7 Type of person we’re looking for with an active social life, set in beautiful engaging with a multi-generational church 8 The Benefce churches countryside, and with easy access to London and Oxford. It often has seventy and can deepen their spirituality, but they 9 The current team worshippers on a Sunday including 20 to are especially keen to have someone who 11 Benefce churches - church 30 children. These numbers have held up can develop and mentor lay leadership. 13 Benefce churches - community well during lockdown, especially when They hope you will enable members of the community to reach out in pastoral care, 14 2 Church Close worship has transferred to the churchyard. The church runs many events such as lead all age worship, and that you will 15 Financial summary of our churches an annual Easter Pantomime aimed at mentor those who might be interested in 16 Statistics children, a January celebration lunch for being a PCC secretary, or churchwarden. 17 The Diocese and Deanery Information older people, and a Harvest Hog Roast attracting nearly 200 people of all ages. I commend this profle to you and I would Cuddington is part of a wider benefce welcome conversations about the role with that formed in 2006 and has historic links interested candidates. with neighbouring Haddenham. It shares 1 a church school with Dinton. Families Guy Elsmore, in Cuddington work with families from Archdeacon of Buckingham Dinton, Stone, and Aston Sandford to run www.wychertvale.org Brief description of Benefce

Wychert Vale Benefce is comprised of a network of 6 churches serving a group of vibrant and growing Buckinghamshire villages between Thame and Aylesbury. Our leadership is team-based with lay and ordained people working together.

Wychert Vale was formed by joining Haddenham Benefce with the parish of Stone and Dinton with Hartwell on 1st March 2016. We held a service to celebrate our new benefce on Palm Sunday evening 20 March 2016 where we signed a formal Covenant agreement. All congregations have been enjoying doing more together and continue to see great potential for growth as a larger benefce.

With signifcant housing developments across the benefce, we are looking for a new Locally Supported Priest to help us identify opportunities for growth, individually and collectively. 2 Our location

OXFORD, BIRMINGHAM AYLESBURY BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

Stone church

Cuddington church Dinton church

A418

ARRIVA BUS 280 & X8 OXFORD / AYLESBURY VIA HADDENHAM

HADDENHAM & THAME PARKWAY Haddenham CHILTERN MAINLINE church Aston Sandford church

Kingsey church M40,OXFORD A4129 A418 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE THAME

OXFORDSHIRE A4010

LONDON

3 1Km

www.wychertvale.org Our mission

When the new benefce was formed, we identifed three common Covenant Purposes: WORSHIPPING GOD SHARING LIFE SERVING COMMUNITY

Our Covenant Principles for working together: Childrens’ fancy dress competition at Cuddington fete To share resources of all kinds.

To get to know one another and to work with, listen to, support and value one another.

To determine to play our part gracefully in the improvement and strengthening of communications of all kinds throughout the new benefce.

To commit ourselves to ongoing prayer.

Remembrance parade, Haddenham 4

www.wychertvale.org Our strengths

Our Church families are known for showing the love of God to all

Welcoming and accommodating different needs

Diversity of worship styles

Quality & variety of leadership

Beautiful & historic church buildings

Encouraging involvement in the community: Parenting courses, Foodbanks, Cafe In The Park, Cafe+, Messy Church, Christmas Tree Festival, Hymns & Pimms

Strong connections with local schools

Messy Church, Dinton. Remembrance: 5 community-made doves and poppies. Celebration: Christmas Tree Festival. Involvement: Thame Foodbank www.wychertvale.org What we want to do

To support people in their faith journeys and lives. and prayer, enjoy free and open discussion and celebrate special occasions. To celebrate a renewed energy in the village communities. Enjoy a wider representation of ages with vibrant youth To have a better understanding of how our buildings, activities and growing numbers of people coming to a real services and social activities can further beneft faith in Jesus. our communities. Provide challenging and thought-provoking teaching Enable our church family to increase and fourish with places relevant to the modern world. of worship where people may come to faith in Christ and where the whole community feels they can come for support

6 l www.wychertvale.org Type of person we’re looking for

Someone who is immersed in Scripture and has a longing to share it.

Someone who will value the individual qualities of our churches and encourage us to embrace our diversity whilst supporting each other to grow in unity.

Someone who will recognise the opportunities in the challenging times ahead and direct our efforts and energies.

Someone who will lead us and walk alongside us.

A strategic leader who will take us forward and support us.

Someone gifted in leading worship relevant to all generations.

www.wychertvale.org The Benefce churches Click on church name for weblink

St Michael & St Mary’s, All Angels, Haddenham Aston Sandford

St Nicholas, St Nicholas, Cuddington Kingsey

St John St Peter & The Baptist, St Paul, Stone Dinton

8 l www.wychertvale.org The current clergy team

Wychert Vale Benefce has been running as a united Ministry Area and all the clergy serve across the benefce, each with particular focusses on different areas of ministry. Our ministers work as a team collaboratively.

Revd Canon Dr Phil Groves Revd Trish Mander Associate Associate Minister SSM Locally Supported Priest (full time) stipendiary

Revd Nigel Featherston Revd Cassa Messervy Revd Jonathan Hawkins SSM Curate Rector Assistant Area Dean SSM

Ven Dr Gordon Kuhrt Retired PTO LLMs: Olive Kuhrt ARCM Adrian Collier David Robinson LVO

www.wychertvale.org Our Churches

This 13thC church, remodelled in traditional, refective style of • To reach out in mission as a St Michael & the 1870s, can accommodate service with coffee in one of the welcoming church All Angels, only about 50 seated people village homes afterwards. We • Searching for more help in although we have up to 100 on also have occasional weddings running the church Aston Christmas Eve. In the monthly or baptisms as well as one or two Communion service, of some funerals a year. The number of • Retain our traditional style Sandford 35 adults and several children, people attending services is fairly of worship 20% will be from Aston Sandford constant with a high average age. • Excellence in Pastoral Care with others attending from • Help develop the Wychert surrounding villages for a quiet, Our key mission aims are: Vale Benefce

We are a church family that be accessible for all: at times downs of daily life through St Nicholas, has been enjoying new growth contemporary and informal at our Sunday services, weekday and associated challenges for others more structured. Our activities and home groups. Cuddington several years. Our congregation tradition is evangelical, although Our key mission aims are:- is a delightful mix of babies, our congregation is drawn from toddlers, school children and a variety of church backgrounds • Providing worship for adults. We do our best to be a and from a wide surrounding everyone church for the whole village and area as well as from the village • Deepening our faith have a service every Sunday itself. Members fnd friendship morning which is designed to and support in the ups and • Developing leaders

Our mission statement: parish supporting each other and toilet and kitchen facilities and are St John the ‘To belong, believe and build the wider community including working and praying for this to happen. with Christ as our cornerstone.’ excellent relationships with Stone We take part in many local, Baptist, We are an enthusiastic, united Methodist Church and CofE school. diocesan and world wide events congregation that welcomes We want to enable the church such as Thy Kingdom Come, Stone and supports both regular and to grow and have a service every National Prayer Weekend, occasional worshippers. week providing something for Historic churches Ride and Stride, We believe in our church and everyone. We now need to build a Christian Aid and Poppy week.

www.wychertvale.org Our Churches

Open to all and embracing Our key mission aims are: • Making Life occasions St Mary’s, diverse ways of being ‘Church’ special • Supporting all Ages we are a committed group of Haddenham • Caring for Creation people with a real passion for • Being a strong presence in our community and for being a the community place where everyone can feel • Welcoming Newcomers welcome to seek and explore the Christian faith.

St Nicholas Kingsey is a church Food and drink is never far November and also runs the St Nicholas, founded on a deep Christian away from this church which village fete in July. Kingsey faith and cake. It is frmly fulfll both spiritual and physical It is a welcoming church full embedded in its community. needs. of kindness and laughter. The congregation is mixed The church hosts Bucks Arts and full of joy belying the Weeks in June, the annual normal image of a prayer book ‘Hymns and Pimms’ celebration church. in May, the bonfre party in

Our C12th church is between The church is full on major Over the last couple of years we St Peter & Dinton village and Upton. The festivals, funerals and concerts. have established Messy Church St Paul, villagers are very proud of their Generally, however, for traditional which meets once a month with Grade 1 listed church and have services it has a small faithful up to 26 children attending Dinton raised vast sums of money over congregation of 10–15 souls for games, worship and a fsh the years to renew bells, put in most of whom have worshipped supper! a jubilee window and to install together for many years. toilets and a kitchen. 11

www.wychertvale.org Our Communities Aston Sandford Aston Sandford is reputed to be the smallest reached via the small road from Haddenham to the village in England, comprising The Manor, its farm A4129. The outlying parish has a further two farms and business units, just ten other houses, the and eight houses and a couple of business units. Church and a letterbox. It sits about a mile from Haddenham, astride a single track, no through road,

Cuddington Cuddington is much more than an attractive village and volunteers run the village hall (with weekly and regular winner of Buckinghamshire’s Best Kept cinema) and playing felds club. Village competition; it is an active and friendly There are strong links between church and school. village community. The 570 residents live in 250 The refurbished and well equipped church building houses gathered round the church. The church is used regularly by the school and other groups. school, shop, pub and hairdressers are all thriving

Stone The Parish of Stone encompasses Bishopstone, and other events and members of the church and Sedrup and Hartwell and whilst the busy A418 runs community go into the school to present Open through the centre of Stone the community is at the the Book. Café in the Park at the village Pavilion, heart of the church and undivided. We support the provides bacon butties and a warm welcome as the Bank Holiday Fete and Remembrance service and church goes out into the community. have a prayer walk around the village, stopping to The local nursing homes are visited regularly and pray for our community and residents. everyone in the parish is welcome to our variety of The school uses the church for Harvest, Carols services and social events. 12

www.wychertvale.org Our Communities Haddenham Haddenham is a large historic village surrounded community spirit with activities and interest groups by farmland but extremely well connected for all ages. We also host one of the largest Beer with a mainline Chiltern railway station for easy Festivals in the country. commuting to London, Birmingham or Oxford and The attractive church building on the green is close proximity to the M40. In the village there are the focus for many whole village events. three primary schools, a medical centre, a dentist, The population is set to grow (with much new several shops, a large garden centre, two pubs and building development) from around 4,500 to 7,000 an Indian restaurant. There is a thriving and vibrant over the next decade.

Kingsey Kingsey is a small village of about 50 houses. spectrum of pure prayer book, common worship There are records of a village here since the and café style all age family services throughout 12th century and of a church on the site of the the month Our largest annual community event present church since 13th century. We cover the is our Village Fete.

Dinton Dinton Civil Parish encompasses the villages of towards the older demographic. The many Dinton with the hamlet of Westlington, Ford and activities in the parish include regular pub and Upton with, on the other side of the busy A418, village hall quizzes, yoga, aikido, a very popular the hamlet of Gibraltar. These are medieval cricket club, a Good Neighbour scheme, The settlements each with their own personality. Ford Residents’ Association and a playgroup. The population of about 800 people leans 13

www.wychertvale.org 2 Church Close

The property is a good sized four bedroom building set in the heart of Cuddington at the end of a small close and backing onto the St Nicholas churchyard. It has been with Post Offce, the infant part of well maintained with a modern the Cuddington and Dinton Church kitchen and has the beneft of a of England School as well as a CUDDINGTON garage as well as parking for several village hall with kitchen and cinema 2 Church cars on the drive. There is a good facilities and is surrounded by Close sized study and separate reception open countryside with many walks and dining rooms.The village itself available. has a public house, general store

Haddenham 4 km

www.wychertvale.org We have a very good record in paying Parish Share to Diocese, but this takes a high proportion of our income. The benefce has supported curate housing for seven years (late 2012-Oct 2019) 2018 last full year cost: £3,221. Our income from regular giving is supported by money raised at social events except Cuddington who use income Financial summary of our churches from social events to support third party charities such as Christian Aid and Tearfund as part of their 10% giving. Income and Expenditure split by type Major projects and restoration have been funded from donations, legacies, fundraising and grants.

Stone, Dinton with Aston Sandford Cuddington Haddenham Kingsey Hartwell 8% 2% 3% 3% 3% 9% 1% 7% 6% 23% 11% 11% 30% 33% 21% 16% 39% 30% 17% 59% 5% 20%

INCOME 1% 6% 11% 7% 24% 33% 3% 10% 16% 32%

4% 2% 9% 10% 6% 4% 4% 3% 4% 6% 13% 35% 23% 42% 41% 4% 6% 6% 22% 62% 59% 4% 8% 64% 7% 4%

EXPENDITURE 6% 5% 8% 5% 5% 18% 1%

eneral und Income and losin eseres Income Expenditure losin eseres ston andord £ 17,500 £ 13,581 £ 41,550 uddinton £ 43,478 £ 42,960 £ 27,451 15 inton tone it artell £ 45,673 £ 40,694 £ 104,689 addenam £ 193,711 £ 184,204 £ 130,207 insey £ 10,009 £ 8,055 £ 28,307 www.wychertvale.org Statistics

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www.wychertvale.org Diocese and Deanery information

The Diocese of Oxford • setting the discipleship of all at the heart of our common life The Diocese of Oxford serves the mission of the Church in • celebrating and blessing the city of Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. The Diocese comprises • engaging in new ways with young people, families and children more than 600 parishes, with over 800 churches, serving a diverse These priorities are being supported centrally by resources, training, population of more than 2 million people located in all types of settings. conferences, workshops, and much more. The diocese is inviting Due to the size and complexity of the Diocese, we have three Area benefces and their priests to share a vision rather than demanding a Bishops who exercise considerable strategic and pastoral oversight for response. It wants all its clergy to fourish in ministry and to deepen their their Areas. The Bishop of Buckingham is the Rt Rev’d Alan Wilson who enjoyment of God. has been the Area Bishop since 2003. The Archdeacon of Buckingham is It is hoped that all clergy appointed into the Archdeaconry of Ven Guy Elsmore who has been in post since 2016. Buckingham will want to commit to the Diocesan vision and to Since the appointment in 2017 of the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft as encouraging their benefces to share in becoming a more Christ-like Bishop of Oxford, a new common vision has emerged for the Diocese of church for the sake of God’s world. Oxford. The vision is based on the qualities described in The Beatitudes and addresses what kind of church we are called to be: Aylesbury Deanery a more Christ-like Church for the sake of God’s world: The Aylesbury Deanery comprises 38 churches across the Aylesbury contemplative, compassionate, courageous. Vale with a wonderfully rich and diverse range of traditions, heritage Together we have identifed seven themes for our common life. These and history, with every possible style of worship, in a broad range of are not a description of everything the Church does, but they do buildings and meeting places – from homes, schools and community represent the areas God is currently calling us to: centres, to 13th Century Norman architecture – refecting the variety of • making a bigger difference in the world life found in the Aylesbury Vale itself. • sharing our faith and growing the local church Aylesbury and many of its surrounding villages are growing at an • growing new congregations enormous rate. In 2016 Aylesbury was named as one of the top 5 UK • serving every school in our communities property hotspots. This presents wonderful opportunities for working 17 together to engage in God’s mission to Aylesbury Vale!