The Archbishop’s Mission Fund Report 2015

The Archbishop’s Mission Fund (the Fund) exists to fund new ideas and initiatives for mission in parishes and deaneries.

During 2015 16 grants (set out below) were approved supporting some of the excellent and imaginative ways of spreading the Gospel which are being undertaken across the Diocese.

Churches in the deanery of Northern Ryedale came together to organise “Pentecost Fire” a one-off event that was conceived as an introduction to “church” for families. This event also allowed families from very small rural congregations to be part of something much larger than they would normally experience.

In Sherburn, a village where there was no pre-school provision, a grant from the Archbishop’s Mission Fund has helped to purchase equipment for the new Sherburn Play School which offers early years’ education and play with Christian values at its core.

A grant to Westway Open Arms allowed them to run a “Try Praying” initiative which was aligned to the national project of the same name and led into a 10 week Alpha course.

Continuing the trend seen in recent years, a low number of qualifying applications meant that not all available funding was allocated in 2015. There is £30,000 available for allocation in 2016. Applications are encouraged and can be made by completing the application form which is available on the diocese’s website at http://dioceseofyork.org.uk/supporting-parishes/money-and- giving/funding-from-the-diocese/ and sending it to your Suffragan Bishop. Applications from York Deanery should be sent directly to the Archbishop.

Grant applications are considered electronically (if they are urgent) or at a meeting of a small advisory group with representation from each archdeaconry. Once the advisers have made a recommendation, the final decision on each grant remains with the Archbishop.

Applicants are encouraged to ensure align their project to the five marks of growing which underpin Generous Churches Making and Nurturing Disciples:

 Christ-likeness  Influence  Partnership  Commitment  Numbers

Catherine Evans, Secretary to the Fund

GRANT APPLICANT PURPOSE £ Middleton PCC Alpha Course in Partnership with Pickering 150 Methodist District

Northern Ryedale Pentecost Fire - Deanery Event 1,000

St Thomas w St Maurice, York Lay Outreach – 1 year mission project 2,000 Christ Church Eston and St George Big Ted Club 1,550 Normanby, Benefices of Alne and Brafferton "The Bus Stop" Rural Youth and 2,000 Community Outreach Bus St Mark's, West Hill, Bessingby Family Days Out 750 Benefice of Monk Fryston and Children and Young Peoples' Outreach and 2,000 South Milford Discipleship Christ Church Bridlington Christ Church for Families, Autism Support 792 Group St Peter Norton Pop Up Community Café 250 Westway Try Praying 600 Sherburn Play School Sherburn Play School Start Up 1,000 Yorkshire Churches Rural Business Yorkshire Auction Mart Chaplaincy 2,500 Support Kingswood BMO Kingswood BMO Start Up 1,000 Longhill BMO St Margaret's Welcome Centre Longhill 1,475 York Deanery Welcome Pack 1,200 Christ Church Bridlington Doorstep Drop In Project 936 TOTAL GRANTS PAID 19,203

Closed Churches Group Report 2015

2015 was marked by slow progress for the Closed Churches Working Group as it continued to work at finding alternative uses for those church buildings no longer required for public worship. The disposal of former church buildings requires a large amount of work behind the scenes and dealing with technical issues and secular bodies. However, the Group never forgets that these buildings were formerly much loved places of worship and by their very nature still represent that past in many people’s eyes. For this reason the Group endeavours to find the most appropriate uses possible for these buildings and to minimise the pain caused by prolonged delays in settling their future.

We work closely with the Church Commissioners in this work and are grateful to them for their support and advice, and particularly their willingness to attend so many of our meetings and to join meetings in the parishes.

Once again my thanks are also due to the staff of the pastoral team at the Diocesan Office and to the Registrar and Diocesan solicitors for their invaluable help and advice.

Finally I must record our thanks to Mr David Haddon-Reece, who retired in 2015 as Honorary Furnishings Officer. David worked long and hard over a number of years in overseeing the contents of the Diocesan Furnishings Store and in preparing inventories and assisting parishes whose churches were closing. We wish him a long and happy retirement and send him our heartfelt thanks.

+Paul Whitby March 2016

The following items were discussed during the year:

THE ARCHDEACONRY OF CLEVELAND

North Thornaby, St Luke

A licence for early access was granted to the Vine Church in advance of a transfer of the freehold. A negative representation was received by the Church Commissioners during the consultation for the scheme to transfer the building to the Vine. This went to the Church Commissioners’ Committee who decided that the scheme should go ahead. The legal process of the transfer was ongoing through the latter part of the year.

Site of former church of St Thomas, Middlesbrough

Two initial interests were received for the land, however neither was taken forward.

THE ARCHDEACONRY OF THE EAST RIDING

Barmby Marsh, St Helen

The Group considered the possibility of demolition for this long running case. Negotiations also continued with the Friends of Friendless Churches. The Church Commissioners are currently pursuing access issues.

Foxholes, St Mary

Pre-planning work took place prior to an application for Listed Building Consent for conversion to residential use. A Planning Application was submitted and full planning permission was granted.

Hull, St Matthew

Several expressions of interest were received in the building. Most proved not to be viable, however one remains a possibility and will be investigated further.

Withernsea, St Nicholas

Long running discussions with a local charitable body ended when the charity was unable to continue with it’s plans for the building. Other interested parties are being pursued.

THE ARCHDEACONRY OF YORK

Barlow Chapel

Planning permission was granted to the purchaser and following the legal work the building was sold on 1st July 2015.

Kilnwick Percy, St Helen

The woodwork was removed from the building and sent for restoration. The Buddhist Centre applied for planning permission for change of use and this was granted. The window coverings were put in place and the legal work for the transfer was started.

Knapton, St Edmund

Discussions continued with the tenants of this leased closed church concerning repair work and the holding of occasional services in the building.

York, St Margaret, Walmgate

A grant was made to the tenants (National Centre for Early Music) to assist with increased insurance costs.

York, St Saviour

The Group was informed that the office staff continued to liaise with the City of York Council to make the necessary repairs to the churchyard wall.

York St Sampson

The Group was informed of an approach for the installation of Broadband equipment in the closed Church of St Sampson’s. The office staff were also asked to advise on the installation of a new disabled access to the building.

Possible Future Closures

The Group was informed of six cases in which early consideration was being given to possible closure.

OTHER MATTERS CONSIDERED BY THE GROUP

The Furnishings Store The Annual Synod report

CLOSED CHURCHES WORKING GROUP MEMBERSHIP

The Right Reverend Paul Ferguson, Bishop of Mr David Haddon-Reece – Furnishings Whitby (Chair) Officer

Mr Phil Thomas – DAC Secretary and Church Canon Peter Warry – Diocesan Secretary Buildings Officer Mrs Linda Gibbon – Representing the Shirley Davies – Assistant Diocesan Secretary Mission and Pastoral Sub Committee The Reverend Canon Richard Rowling Graham Andrews – Diocesan Surveyor & Acting Archdeacon of Cleveland (until 12 Estates Manager March 2015) The Venerable Andy Broom Charlotte Lilley-Cook – Pastoral and Closed Archdeacon of the East Riding Churches Officer

The Venerable Sarah Bullock Archdeacon of York Emma Cosgrif – Church Commissioners (in attendance) The Venerable Sam Rushton Archdeacon of Cleveland

Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches Report 2015

Membership

Members of this important Statutory Committee are appointed by the Archbishop’s Council under terms set out in the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991. The composition of the Committee (the DAC) in 2015 was as follows:

Chairman: The Revd Canon D Hodgson (To December 2015) Vice-chairman: Mrs S Whittaker (Lay Representative, East Riding) Secretary: Mr P Thomas (To December 2015)

Members: The Archdeacon of Cleveland (From May 2015) The Archdeacon of the East Riding The Archdeacon of York Mr R J Carr-Archer (Advising Architect) The Revd S Deas (Clergy Representative, East Riding. From May 2015) Mrs J Harding (Nominated by English Heritage) The Revd Fr V Haynes (Clergy Representative, Cleveland) Mr D Lockett (Advising Architect) Mrs L Mayes (Lay Representative, Cleveland) Dr H Mytum (Lay Representative, York. Archaeology Adviser) Mr P Pace (From December 2015) Mr S Ramsdale (Local Authority representative) The Revd Canon J Weetman (Clergy Representative, York. To December 2015) Mr D Sherriff (Advising Architect) Dr R Wools (Nominated by the statutory Amenity Societies)

Co-opted expert Advisors: Mr J Arthur (Bells and Bell-frames, Clocks) The Revd P Bristow (Liturgical Re-ordering) The Revd Dr G Drewery (Reed Organs/Harmoniums) Mr D Evans (Archaeology) Mr R Glister (Heating) Mr D Haddon-Reece (Electrics and Lighting, Redundant Church Furnishings Officer) Mr T Mitchell (Support Advisor, Electrics and Lighting) Mr J Scott-Whiteley (Organs. From September 2015)

Mr P Wildgust (Stained Glass) The Revd Dr J Zarek (Acoustics and Sound)

In Attendance: Mrs C Mockford (Diocesan Registrar) Mrs C Copp (DAC Administrator. To December 2015)

Vacancies at year end: Two Diocesan Synod Representatives Textiles and Embroidery Advisor Environment and Natural History Advisor

Role and practice

The Committee is established under statute to offer formal advice to the Chancellor of the Diocese on all petitions to make alterations, repairs and additions to church buildings, their contents, ornaments, churchyards and curtilage structures, other than matters specifically excluded from the need for a faculty. Members and Officers also offer free, expert advice to parishes on a wide range of matters to do with churchyards and church buildings, the care, conservation, repair or re-ordering of their contents and the commissioning of new work in all media.

The Committee administers the system of architects approved to carry out Quinquennial Inspections (QIs) within the Diocese, determines their acceptability for the Diocesan List, approves their appointment to specific churches, and reviews annually the fees for Inspections. The fee for 2015 was £640.00 (£768.00 with VAT at 20%), an increase of 5% on the previous year. Five architects applied to join the List in 2014, of whom four were accepted. One Inspecting Architect retired during the year, and another sadly died. 83 churches applied to change their Inspecting Architects, of which 81 were approved. Frequent changes in the membership of PCCs in recent years have made it more difficult to ensure that continuity of care which is as important to the health of historic buildings as it is to people. For some years the diocese was almost up-to-date with QIs, but currently 100 churches have yet to submit reports due in or before 2014 according to the DAC database. A further 64 churches have yet to submit reports due in 2015, however some of the inspections are known to have been carried out although reports have yet to be submitted. This situation must be addressed as a matter of real urgency. On a more positive note, the take-up of grants offered by the diocese to support the cost of carrying out Inspections has risen dramatically this year to 64 – almost three times the number in 2014.

Meetings and faculty applications

The Committee held 9 formal meetings in 2015, and debated 358 applications (331 full petitions for faculty and 27 formal requests for advice), many of which appeared on the agenda more than once. This is 51 more applications than in 2014, which represents a significant increase of 14.25%. Of the full Petitions for Faculty which were determined, almost all were Recommended, with only seven receiving No Objection. Not a single application was refused outright. During the course of the year 13 petitions were withdrawn; nine after being debated and determined, and five by default having passed the two-year time limit on DAC advice. Nine remained on the agenda at the end of the December meeting, five more than the previous year.

Advice and support

All specifications for major or sensitive structural or fabric works were examined by Advising Architects. The DAC received opinions on all relevant petitions from its specialist Advisors. During the year, parishes made 51 formal requests for expert technical advice through the DAC office, and a number of others were still outstanding from the previous year. Our Advisors submitted a total of 43 reports for consideration by the Committee (21 on bells and clocks, 13 on heating, four on lighting and electrics, three on pipe organs and two on American organs). The Bells, Heating and Lighting Advisors commented in detail and liaised with architects on several schemes in progress. Several significant new stained glass windows were created and installed during the year.

In his closely related rôle as Church Buildings Officer, the Secretary made 62 visits to offer on-site advice to parishes, and gave evening or weekend talks about building maintenance and related matters to several parishes and benefice groups. Such has been the pressure of work that our fairly new team of Archdeacons has been able to organise only a single churchwardens’ training day. However, the Secretary and Administrator offered a good deal of advice informally by telephone, e- mail and letter – often an essential first step in the development of cases which eventually come before the Committee as formal applications. Sadly, he was unable to attend the annual national DAC Conference this year, because of a clash with the date when petitions had to be lodged at the Registry, but did participate in a Project Appraisal and Assessment day for trainee architects in Leeds, addressed the Whitby Deanery Synod and a significant IHBC conference in Hull, attended the Northern DAC Conference in Durham and a seminar in Preston on the Faculty Simplification System (which comes into effect on 1st January 2016), and an important Historic England Conference in Leicester on issues concerning church interiors of 19th and 20th centuries. Training and preparation for the forthcoming changes to the faculty jurisdiction system has occupied a great deal of time.

Conclusion

This will be my last report to Synod after 14 years as Secretary to the Committee. Perhaps appropriately, I leave just as the faculty system undergoes major change and as paper-based applications and archives are replaced by electronic ones. I am proud of much that has been achieved: parishes now regard the department as helpful, approachable and knowledgeable; York DAC is widely regarded as one of the most efficient and professional in England; on the whole our church buildings – one of the most vital aspects of our national and international cultural inheritance – are in good heart, although I am convinced that there are now far more marvellous buildings in the diocese than can be sustained by worshipping congregations alone. My greatest disappointment is that resources and investment in the department have consistently lagged far behind the real need in a huge diocese blessed with a larger and more complex burden of beauty than almost any other in the Anglican communion. Increases in the work-load mean that we have perforce been reactive more often than creative, and the lack of resources means that some long-cherished issues remain un-addressed, including the establishment of a collective maintenance programme to ensure regular and affordable professional external maintenance of church buildings, and the provision of support officers advising on fundraising and the development of churches as community resources.

I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Catherine Copp for being an Administrator and colleague of exemplary efficiency, warmth and good humour, and to draw to the attention of Synod the magnificent service rendered to the Diocese by all members and Advisors, who give voluntarily of their talents and time – in some cases up to 30 days a year. I am deeply in their debt, and have been nourished by their support and friendship during my time as Secretary. My final two years of service will be spent as Diocesan Church Buildings Advisor, in which role I will concentrate on training, education and giving more practical, on-site advice and information to parishes than has been possible in the past.

Phil Thomas Church Buildings Officer & Secretary to the York Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches

Ecumenical Officers’ Report 2015

The two Ecumenical Officers continue their work of encouraging cooperation between denominations. They each attend meetings of the Sponsoring Bodies - North East Christian Churches Together and North York Moors Churches Together (Cleveland) and the Ecumenical Network for the Vale of York - as well as reporting to meetings of the Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Sub Committee. They also attend other ecumenical meetings further afield to gain a wider perspective.

Cleveland Archdeaconry

In the course of the year, the Adviser has led discussion of ecumenical matters at a Deanery Synod; advised two Churches Together Groups on constitutional matters; assisted in the planning of a joint Anglican-RC clergy study day; been part of discussions on current and possible Local Ecumenical Partnerships; represented the Diocese/Area at the (triennial) Churches Together in England Forum at Swanwick; represented the Diocese at Darlington Methodist District Synods; been part of North York Moors Churches Together (chaired by the Bishop of Whitby) alongside others; extended his responsibility to Scarborough Deanery (if required); and stayed in touch with regional and national ecumenical officers and wider developments. He has also been known to keep an eye on ecumenical issues at General Synod. A great deal of other local ecumenical activity continues, of course: both in the sphere of cooperation on social action (especially Together Middlesbrough & Cleveland), and in local groups of churches working together on worship and mission.

Paul Hutchinson, Cleveland Archdeaconry Ecumenical Officer

East Riding Archdeaconry There is no Ecumenical Officer appointed for this archdeaconry.

York Archdeaconry My own role involves attending ENVOY meetings and the Archbishop's Council as an ecumenical representative - a great privilege. Also, I host an annual meeting for Anglican Ecumenical Officers in the North and North-Eastern Region. This Autumn ENVOY will host an evening for all ecumenical partnerships in our archdeaconry, which will be addressed by David Cornick, General Secretary of Churches Together in England. We look forward to what will be a memorable event.

Most ecumenical work proceeds locally and quietly, bearing fruit in the daily life of churches. Wherever Christians of different traditions work together willingly, the mission of the Church is strengthened and the Kingdom advanced. The basis of it all is the renewal of discipleship; the closer we grow to Christ the more we come together. We may use different descriptions, but Christlikeness, Commitment, Partnership, Influence and Numbers are all enhanced when we work together. A generous church is generous to its neighbours, sharing the treasures and charisms of its own tradition and being equally ready to receive and learn from others. This is Receptive Ecumenism. The diocese demonstrates its commitment by regular, generous financial support to ecumenical bodies and activities.

The Ecumenical Officers are always happy to be consulted and to meet groups. Please do not hesitate to make use of us!

Andrew Clements, York Archdeaconry Ecumenical Officer Healthcare Chaplaincy Report 2015

Our Spiritual Care & Chaplaincy teams at hospitals and hospices across the diocese are in good heart as we continue to deliver a 7-day service. We derive great strength from our working as ecumenical and multi-faith teams, the professionalism of our colleagues, and the time and expertise given to us by a growing band of chaplaincy volunteers. Updated NHS Chaplaincy Guidelines were published in 2015 reflecting a wider understanding of spiritual and religious care, and recognising the development of chaplaincy in a range of specialities, such as General Practice, Paediatrics and Palliative Care. These guidelines, and our own good practice, enable us to provide spiritual and pastoral support which is relevant and timely to a range of patients and clients, their families and friends, plus staff, irrespective of their faith allegiance, or none. Many of our chaplaincies work closely with Palliative Care teams and we have welcomed the enhanced inclusion of spiritual care in new initiatives in ‘End of Life’ care, both in terms of working as multi-disciplinary teams and through those opportunities given to chaplains to promote and develop the spiritual care competencies of all staff. We strive to develop our professional activities as healthcare chaplains through collaboration and opportunities for theological reflection, and increasingly recognise the value of research to inform and develop our practice, where possible. At a local level, we are continuing to reconfigure our spiritual care and chaplaincy provision for mental health patients in York, following the closure of Bootham Park Hospital and the transfer of the majority of mental health services in York to Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Trust. Hospitals in the Hull & East Yorkshire Trust, York Teaching Hospital Trust, and South Tees Trust were inspected (or reported on) by CQC during 2015 and received creditable reviews for Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy and End of Life Care provision. A number of hospices are continuing to roll out ‘hospice at home’ initiatives and day-care services, such as the new Sunflower Centre at St Leonard’s Hospice in York. We have been grateful to receive visits by the Archbishop of York to a number of hospitals and hospices in the diocese, some as part of his diocesan pilgrimage. We value those opportunities given by some of the Archbishop’s staff to meet and reflect on our ministry, and hope that we may explore further opportunities for theological reflection and supervision. Our thanks go to you for your continuing support and prayers, plus a gentle reminder: please do not forget to see our ministry as helping you care for your communities by letting us know of those who would value our involvement.

The Revd Martin Doe, Senior Chaplain, York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Mission and Pastoral Committee Report 2015

The Mission and Pastoral Committee, together with its sub committee, continued to engage with the pastoral care arrangements for benefices and parishes in the Diocese as carried out under the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011. In doing so it increased its active focus on Mission requirements, with regular updates on Mission matters within the Archdeaconries and from the Director of Missional Ministry. It also deliberately widened its consideration of areas such as the provision of housing, and the effects which this had on possible reorganisation. The Committee continues to welcome the possibilities of non-traditional arrangements under Bishop’s Mission Orders, and alternative forms of ministry. It is well aware of the challenges facing parishes at this time and the need for innovative thinking and the need to work closely with parishes to find the most appropriate ways forward in individual cases.

A great deal of the Committee’s consideration is based on the hard work and insight provided by the three Archdeaconry sub committees, who are the Committee’s eyes and ears in the parishes. This work is highly valued and enables pastoral care matters to be prayed for and discussed in the midst of the parishes themselves. I am heartily grateful to the sub committee members and their commitment and advice.

I would also like to thank the staff at the Registry and the pastoral team at Diocesan House for their work in meeting the technical and legal obligations of reorganisation and in giving freely of advice and assistance. One other person deserves our thanks to be recorded – Mrs Ros Brewer, our wise and insightful vice chair, whose commitment and advice is very much appreciated.

+Paul Whitby March 2016

Cases considered during the year

BENEFICE/ CASE SUBSTANCE OF REPORT The Archdeaconry of Cleveland North Thornaby/Portrack (Diocese of Durham) Boundary Change St Agnes (Easterside), Middlesbrough Possible Closure for Public Worship Lastingham St Mary Possible changes to the Housing provision for the Benefice

BENEFICE/ CASE SUBSTANCE OF REPORT The Archdeaconry of the East Riding Bridlington Quay Christ Church / Bessingby Plurality and Patronage issues Hunmanby with Muston/ Cayton with Eastfield/ Proposed Deanery reorganisation. Scarborough Deanery Reorganisation Kingswood Bishop’s Mission Order Proposed Bishop’s Mission Order Eastfield Bishop’s Mission Order Proposed Bishop’s Mission Order Bridlington Emmanuel / Skipsea and Barmston with Plurality and Patronage issues Fraisthorpe Routh Patronage Issues Bridlington Emmanuel / Hornsea with Atwick / Proposed Pastoral reorganisation Skipsea and Barmston with Fraisthorpe

BENEFICE/ CASE SUBSTANCE OF REPORT The Archdeaconry of York Rural Ainsty Proposed United Parish Brafferton with Pilmoor, Myton-on-Swale and Consideration of Pastoral Care arrangements Thormanby Scrayingham St Peter and St Paul Possible Closure for Public Worship Rural Ainsty Bishop’s Mission Order

Suspension/Termination of Patron’s Rights of Presentation

During 2015 the Group considered 15 suspensions of patron’s rights of presentation

Ecumenical Matters

Clifton Moor LEP Receptive Ecumenism Anglican – Methodist Conversations at Diocesan and National level 2015 Churches Together in England Forum Anglican – Methodist Conversations

Other Matters Considered

Annual Synod Reports Archdeaconry Overviews General Synod Simplification Report Archdeaconry Sub-Committee Meetings Patronage Trusts Bursea Chapel licenced for Marriages Guidance for Parishes considering closure Hull, Most Holy and Undivided Trinity Church of Holy Apostles Licence for Divine Services revoked Overview of Mission Matters from the Training Team Property Disposals

MISSON AND PASTORAL SUB COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

EX OFFICIO & NOMINATED The Bishop of Whitby (Chair) The Archdeacon of York The Reverend Canon Richard Rowling Acting Archdeacon of Cleveland (until 12 March 2015) The Archdeacon of Cleveland The Archdeacon of the East Riding

ARCHBISHOP’S COUNCIL NOMINEES The Revd Canon Richard Rowling Canon Stella Vernon Mrs Ros Brewer (Vice Chair) Revd Andrew Ison (from June 2015)

CO-OPTED MEMBERS

Mr David Haddon-Reece

ELECTED

CLERGY LAITY The Archdeaconry of Cleveland The Revd Rachel Harrison Mrs Linda J Gibbon

The Archdeaconry of East Riding The Revd Michael Proctor Miss Hilda Cowling

The Archdeaconry of York The Revd Canon John Weetman Mr Keith Steven

IN ATTENDANCE The Diocesan Secretary Peter Warry The Assistant Diocesan Secretary Shirley Davies The Diocesan Surveyor and Estates Manager Graham Andrews Director of Missional Ministry The Revd Dr Gavin Wakefield Secretariat Charlotte Lilley-Cook The Diocesan Registrar Caroline Mockford Ecumenical Advisor The Revd Paul Hutchinson (The Archdeaconry of Cleveland) Ecumenical Advisor Vacancy (The Archdeaconry of East Riding) Ecumenical Advisor The Revd Andrew Clements (The Archdeaconry of York)

MEMBERSHIP OF ARCHDEACONRY SUB COMMITTEES

These committees will always include the relevant Rural Dean, Lay Chair and at least one Deanery representative.

The Archdeaconry of Cleveland The Revd John Ford Mrs Linda Gibbon Mr David Haddon-Reece The Revd Canon Richard Rowling The Revd Canon David Hodgson The Revd Rachel Harrison The Revd Paul Hutchinson

The Archdeaconry of East Riding The Revd Liz Marshman The Revd Brian Lees Canon Stella Vernon Mrs Ros Brewer Mr Charles Walker Mrs Elizabeth Lauritzen The Revd Michael Proctor Miss Hilda Cowling The Revd Andrew Ison ( From June 2015)

The Archdeaconry of York Mr Keith Steven Mrs Anne Hall The Revd Andrew Clements Mr Ken Townley The Revd Canon John Weetman

North Yorkshire Police (NYP) Chaplaincy Report 2015

Whatever we think of chaplaincy, there are of course various theological models we can draw on to understand what or who the chaplain is. The chaplain can be seen as a missionary in the world of ordinary work, as a pastor in a world of pain and hurt; as fulfilling an incarnational or sacramental role; as being prophetic and making challenges in a hostile world. Yes, chaplains are deployed in the real world – and what a role they have!

Within policing, as well as in many employment settings, ‘agile working’ is a developing component. Like many decisions in ordinary life, (including the Church,) new things are brought in because of other pressures – finance, human resources, time, etc. However agile working displays itself within North Yorkshire Police (NYP), there will be a challenge for our Voluntary Chaplains (VCs).

Most VCs talk of the changes in the last few years whereby alterations in the shift pattern can seemingly render smaller police stations like the ‘Marie Celeste’. Fewer staff and the same workload for NYP personnel mean greater busyness of staff; relationships now have to be made in a more pressurized environment. VCs are constantly having to overcome a culture within staff unable to, or refusing to realize need for or to request help.

Generally, agile working for NYP staff means staff will become less ‘accessible’/present to VCs as staff follow variable working patterns from home; hot desk, etc. Staff will become more ‘remote’, possibly resulting in less time for ‘real’ relationships with VCs. Less contact with the local police station VC may leave staff feeling less support is on hand.

For the VC, agile working within NYP will mean that person-centred chaplaincy is probably going to be more difficult to effectively deliver on a face-to-face basis. There will be the need for effective ‘sign-posting’ by line managers to VCs of ‘vulnerable’ staff ?

Despite the growing challenges with police chaplaincy there is a job satisfaction felt by all VCs who diligently go about their role with NYP, whilst still having major responsibilities in their home and work life. Let me finish with comments from one of the VCs:

“There is much support to provide for a range of reasons between operational and personal. Contact is not always easy, and changes are frequent. Good feedback from those in contact though with an advantage of going to retirement functions, cricket matches, and contact through NARPO that allows contact with retired officers. Support too, as this Sunday, for those who have lost loved ones in the line of duty.”

We have a dedicated group of VCs who do a splendid job and are much appreciated by NYP.

Simon Rudkin – Vicar of Thorntons and Otteringtons Parish & NYP Coordinating Chaplain

York Diocesan Board of Finance – Property Sub-Committee Report 2015

Chairman’s Report

The principal function of the Property Committee is to oversee the work of the Diocesan Property Team who:  Maintain the estate of 286 houses used in ministry or let out to tenants pending such use  Watch over 3,486 acres of glebe land  Act on behalf of the Board of Finance as Custodian Trustee of property belonging to parochial and ecclesiastical trusts

In 2015, the diocese spent £1,511k on property maintenance of which £812k (related to planned maintenance (wind and watertight work etc) and planned improvements (new kitchens and bathrooms). £446k was spent reactively on repairs across the portfolio. The balance (£252k) was spent on the cyclical maintenance programmes (External painting, boiler servicing).

2015 saw the completion of the project at Barlby to accommodate the Bishop of Selby and his office. A major refurbishment has also been taking place at the parsonage house at Lastingham which has involved the sub division of the property to make the residence more manageable and to create a new glebe facility to be used to offer hospitality to pilgrims visiting the church. Long term aspirations to replace Hullen House, the home of the Bishop of Hull, have been moved forward.

The committee takes a long term view of its housing stock and properties are rented out, either during vacancies or until the future needs for ministry becomes clear. Rental income from the housing and glebe land estates generated £645k during 2015 making a valuable contribution to the diocesan economy. 42 houses have been rented out at various times in the past year.

Houses at Crathorne and Barton le Street have been disposed of in 2015. A new property has been purchased on the Kingswood estate north of Hull to provide a home for the Pioneer Minister and base from which to operate the BMO.

Our glebe property, approximately 3375 acres of agricultural land, is managed on behalf of the Diocese by Smiths Gore and by Dee Atkinson & Harrison. The portfolio continues to show capital growth. Income from Glebe property supports the Stipends Fund and, as such is playing an important part in the ongoing detailed review of our agricultural holdings and the diocesan investment strategy. Sales of ‘mature’ glebe land during the year generated £130k which has been reinvested to help provide a more balanced investment portfolio and improved investment income.

In our role as Custodian Trustees, we seek to ensure that parishes have met all the necessary requirements including the obtaining of valuations before they buy or sell property and that they have taken their agent’s advice on the best price achievable.

This year has been a particular challenge for our officers as Brian Longbone has not yet been replaced whilst thought is given to the best long term mix of skills required. I would particularly like to put on record the committee’s thanks to Graham Andrews, our Diocesan Surveyor and Estates Manager, for leading our property team during this busy period; the committee would also like to thank Lisa Whitley who has carried on the administrative burden of the property team with the willing support of Bevil Edwards and Peter Aldridge, all in addition to their normal workloads. During this time technical support has been provided by external consultant surveyors at Lawrence Hannah (Michael Holford and Chris Smith) and Mr Russell Pickering. It is to the credit of all the team members that they have met their collective challenges throughout the year with their usual good spirit and resourcefulness.

Robert Wivell, Chairman to December 2015

2016 marks the end of a Triennium and therefore a change in the committee membership. I have been honoured to be nominated by the Archbishop to his Council/DBF and as the new chair of the property sub-committee which I have previously served as a property advisor.

I would like, on behalf of the committee members and the officers, both past and present, to record our thanks to Robert Wivell as he steps down as chair and member of council. Robert first joined the Property Trust and Investment Committee in September 2002, becoming its chair in 2005. With the amalgamation of the PTIC and Parsonages Committee into the current Property Sub Committee of the Board in 2009 Robert became its first chair.

Throughout that time Robert has exercised his chairmanship with a quiet authority but he was always generous in the time given to hear the collective thoughts of the officers and committee members before steering the committee towards decisions. His knowledge and understanding, particularly of the glebe portfolio (a key investment asset of the diocese), has meant that he has been well placed to speak with authority on property matters in the other committees of which he was a member and his wisdom in these areas was widely respected at Council.

The new triennium also means that other members will be stepping down and I would like to record the committee’s thanks to Canon Richard Rowling, the Revds Nic Bird, Adam Reed and Graham Thornally, and Messrs Ian Henley, Frank Tuffee and George Wells for the generosity of their time attending our quarterly meetings at diocesan house and working parties across the diocese.

Ben Hudson, Chairman 2016

Rural Affairs Report 2015

Rural Vision and Strategy As Ambassador for Rural Life and Faith I have worked closely with a small ecumenical Rural Mission Task and Finish Group, facilitated by Canon Jill Hopkinson, the Church of England’s National Rural Officer, to develop a vision and strategy for rural mission and ministry in this Diocese as part of the diocesan vision for Generous Churches: making and nurturing disciples (GCMND). The rural strategy proposals await integration into the overall Diocesan Strategy which is now being developed.

Yorkshire Churches Rural Business Support (YCRBS) I am a trustee of YCRBS, an ecumenical charitable company established to support farming and rural businesses across the county. As trustees we want to provide chaplains within regional auction marts. Five clerics are willing to offer this ministry and we are now in correspondence with the Malton, Selby, Thirsk and York Mart authorities. The chaplaincy will work in very close association with the farming charities.

Germinate Leadership Course To enhance the rural growth aspiration of GCMND we sent a second cohort of three rural incumbents on the 18 month long Germinate Leadership Course based at the Arthur Rank Centre in Warwickshire.

Bishops’ Rural Training Seminar In May 2015 I attended a residential sponsored by the Farming Community Network (FCN) and the Prince’s Countryside Fund on the challenges and opportunities of rural life today.

Hydraulic Fracking I convened a small group with Revd Dr Malcolm Brown of the Church of England’s Mission and Public Affairs Division (MAP), to reflect on the issues raised by hydraulic fracking in this region and to explore how MAP could help parishes to engage with the issues raised in an informed and reflective manner. As a result of these discussions and in the light of their wider implications MAP are working on ways of resourcing the Church in this field and will be providing them in due course.

Visits I have given presentations on rural mission and ministry to colleagues from the Deaneries of Whitby, Beverley and North and South Holderness. I have also attended a FCN meeting in Snaith to meet local farmers.

Thanks In conclusion may I express my thanks to Revd Canon Richard Rowling, latterly the Archbishop’s Adviser in Rural Affairs who is now a prison chaplain in the Diocese of Newcastle. Richard’s commitment to rural mission and ministry together with his in depth knowledge of the challenges of rural life and faith have enriched the Diocese and left me indebted to him for the induction and support he gave as I took up this role.

+John Selby Safeguarding Report 2015

As you may already be aware the Church of England has been embracing a culture of safeguarding “changes” for several years, and in 2015 we have in York Diocese, needed to respond to a number of new challenges.

The Goddard enquiry, asked us in 2015, to start to look back at our Church/parish history and therefore Diocesan history from the 1970s onwards. Do we still have or hold any records? Or do we only have memories ? The message regards to Safeguarding is that we must consider our story, and ask; “how did we used to keep people in our churches safe”, “who had this responsibility”, and “when, and how effectively did we respond when there was an issue”. New growth in our churches means keeping everyone safe.

When we also add to this review of our past, the new “ language of safeguarding” , along with our emerging understanding of “safeguarding vulnerable adults”, we begin to see that we have a new dynamic to explore.

In April 2015, York Diocese did not have a part time safeguarding advisor in post due to illness. This meant a reactive, rather than proactive response to safeguarding matters, as raised by the churches.

However the progress in safeguarding response in late 2015 has seen the following changes;

October saw the emergence of the Strategic Safeguarding and Operational Groups (working with partners both internal and external to the Diocese) which identified the following priorities for the Diocese;

1. How to deal effectively with the legacy of the past (noting Goddard and our past cases reviews). 2. How we reflect the national framework (from the Church of England National Safeguarding team) at a local level to ensure a consistency of response. 3. How to develop and implement effective ways of working with stakeholders and survivors. 4. How to ensure that safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone within the Diocese.

November saw the appointment of Dave Finan, the full time Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor.

Our other priorities in Safeguarding moving into 2016 are;

a) New modular safeguarding training for everyone in a position of trust within our churches. b) An audit of Safeguarding by the Social Care Institute for Excellence team in June 2016. c) Ensuring access to consistency and advice for all churches/parishes. d) Preparing our story for Goddard and the lessons learned from our past.

Direction of travel is; “forward together to make sure all our churches are safe places with safe people in positions of trust”.

Dave Finan Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser Social Responsibility Report 2015

As usual I'm struggling to remember defining moments in 2015 now we are nearly half way through 16. The church commissioners special funded 'mission apprentices' programme came to an end mid- year. I’ve written about this before; five local people, come to faith through five expressions of the body of Christ in Hull, working p/t for two years in their own organisation accompanying others on 'faith journeys'. In some respects they were experts rather than apprentices. Everybody involved came together with two national evaluators at the end of the year, hosted by Bishop Alison, to answer their questions about the scheme. We are waiting for the final report although we had an ongoing local evaluation and that is available; please ask [email protected] .

Watching the realisation dawn on the two evaluators, only one with much of a faith connection, thinking that their job was to gather numbers and some stories to illustrate them maybe about 'developing church growth in deprived areas'…, beginning to realise that the massive distances that people would be required to travel between little or no conception of the possibility of God, and very often severe damage in their lives, to becoming a bum on a seat in a church is further than here to the moon and just as impossible for nearly everyone. So, as I promised in the initial submission, not big numbers, but some incredible stories of growth in the apprentices, challenge to the organisations and some churches, and yes, some moving stories of people coming to faith, or experiencing the effect of their prayers, of God being actually present. It was humbling, moving, inspiring as Synod has I think heard directly for itself when two of the apprentices visited twice.

I suppose this might be looked back on as another initiative that lead nowhere. I'm afraid there is a sense in which that is true; the organisations have their backs against the wall - one nearly failed during the two years, another has closed since - and so could not fund the posts, though three of the apprentices are still with their organisations; one as a very active volunteer. Brighter shinier things have come along. But the apprentices remain a resource to the body of Christ in hull, the organisations re-focussed on some explicit mission as well as the appropriate practical work they do. And I'm hopeful that our Hull experience will shine through or chime with that of other programmes (there were 28 around England) so that the wider church learns a thing or two about what can work in Hull and place like it, how and why.

Andrew Dorton, Social Responsibility Officer, Hull/East Riding

Spiritual Direction Diocesan Report 2015

Spiritual Direction is a ministry deeply embedded within the Christian tradition, one of the many ways in which we share in the ministry of Jesus Christ within the life of his body, the Church. SPIritual DIRection offers the opportunity to develop the skills to accompany people on their faith journey. 20 people completed the last course and have gone on to develop their ministry in different ways. Some are using their gifts to listen and encourage others in their community and church, other as formal spiritual directors. All with a renewed confidence to walk along side others in the journey of Faith.

SPIDIR is a two year ecumenical course which challenges you to explore your own relationship with God in order that you can be a ‘life servant’ to others.

The new SPIDIR Course began in February with 26 enthusiastic people from across the Diocese and beyond. We are an ecumenical group from diverse backgrounds but with the one desire to deepen our Faith and Spiritual Life.

SPIDIR Resource Days The SPIDIR Resource days continue to offer support and teaching to those in the ministry of spiritual direction, during the past year we have shared excellent days at Wydale Hall with the Rev Canon Peter Moger and Rev Dr Keith Albans and give thanks for the sharing of their time and insight of ‘In Tune with Heaven’ Music and Spirituality and Spirituality and the 3rs Age. I am pleased to say in June, Bishop Alison is sharing with us ‘Growing in Prayer. In October the Rev Angela Bailey is leading a day on the Northern Saints and Celtic Roots

Spiritual Directors Supervision Group Spiritual Directors have the opportunity to meet as a group with Andrew De Smet for a time of supervision; these meetings are every three months at Wydale Hall.

Want a Spiritual Director Do you need to find a spiritual director in the Diocese of York? Your parish clergy may have suggestions, or you may like to contact one of the following who hold the list of Directors and can suggest some one:

Cleveland Archdeaconry: The Rev. Andrew De Smet 01439 770760 [email protected]

York Archdeaconry: The Rev Susan Collier 01904 706064 [email protected]

East Riding Archdeaconry The Rev. David Jago 01482 443566 [email protected]

Ros Brewer On behalf of the SPIDIR Support Group

Together Middlesbrough & Cleveland Report 2015

Together Middlesbrough & Cleveland (TM&C) is a Joint Venture between the York Diocese and the Church Urban Fund. It is part of a national ‘Together Network’, which helps create sustainable and more effective solutions to issues of poverty in England. TM&C supports the work of local churches & projects in the communities where people face many challenges. The closure of SSI in Redcar had a significant impact on local employment across communities that are already struggling. The appointment in December 2015 of Terry Doyle as the Development Worker for Redcar & Cleveland was very timely in adding capacity to our work. Terry is a practising Roman Catholic; strengthening the already excellent working relationship TM&C has with the RC Diocese of Middlesbrough.

How does the work of TM&C contribute to the York Diocese vision for Generous Churches Making and Nurturing Disciples?

Christ-likeness & Commitment TM&C supports the mission of churches doing grass roots work in their local communities. It is a privilege to work with lay people and clergy who are passionate about sharing the love of Christ in tangible ways that can transform the lives of local people. There are a great number of people across Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland who are committed to serving their local communities, turning their prayers into action. TM&C offers help with funding, attracting resources, supporting and training staff/volunteers, and linking up with other organisations, all of which can make a substantial difference to the mission of the church.

Partnership and Influence ‘Together’ is at the heart of all we do, encouraging churches to work together and with other organisations. Hope4Summer is a great example of how churches working together have been able to support hundreds of families and children since 2014, offering food & fun in local churches during the summer holidays. This work has been shared elsewhere in the country & is being replicated in other Dioceses. You can watch the film & read the full report here http://www.cuf.org.uk/blog/hope-4-summer-2015

TM&C represents the work of churches in many significant partnerships, e.g. Financial Inclusion Group, Food Action Partnership, Ageing Better Middlesbrough. We are able to give voice to local concerns, influence policy and ensure that churches are actively involved in strategic work across both local authorities. We were instrumental in the development of Tees Valley of Sanctuary (TVoS), a partnership of local organisations offering welcome and hospitality to Refugees and Asylum Seekers. The launch of TVoS hosted at Teesside University in June 2015 was attended by Rt. Revd. Paul Ferguson. The stories of people seeking sanctuary spoke powerfully of the welcome, support & care of local churches and projects.

Numbers We know that churches are reaching out to thousands of local people every week through their social action programmes. Jesus always encountered people at their point of need whether it was sickness, bereavement or hunger. TM&C supports churches to get alongside many people who would not normally enter a church. The love of Christ expressed in acts of simple human kindness is a powerful witness to our faith and is able to draw people closer to faith in God.

Generous Churches It has been encouraging to see churches generously supporting the work in Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland, particularly from neighbouring deaneries. TM&C is growing a network of champions who are able to share about our work across the Diocese, helping people to understand the challenges of life in our poorest parishes and mobilise support in finance, material resources such as food and clothing and volunteers. We are also delighted to have a growing partnership with York Minster, we have enjoyed several trips with people seeking asylum to the Minster, a day out with a warm welcome, food and hospitality has been wonderful.

To find out more about the work of TM&C visit our website http://www.cuf.org.uk/together- middlesbrough-and-cleveland, follow us on Twitter @TogMbroRC and Facebook at Together Middlesbrough & Cleveland

Heather Black, Development Officer

York Diocesan Training Team Report 2015 Encouraging mission and ministry across the Diocese of York

Training Team Report

The membership of the core Training Team has been stable this year, which has allowed us to develop what we do and make good use of individuals’ gifts and expertise. We have benefited from the ministry of many people across the diocese in delivering training: listening tutors, Readers, clergy, archdeacons and bishops have all been involved. We have especially appreciated being able to develop the York School of Ministry with increased support from Jo Jones, Gill Pickford and Wendy Shaw.

During 2015 we have continued to work in support of the diocesan vision for ‘Generous Churches – making and nurturing disciples’, both in our continuing work with lay people, Readers, and clergy, and in newer developments, such as the Signposts material which gives a framework for self- assessment against our five marks of growth and our first diocesan Leading Your Church into Growth conference in 2015.

Highlights during the year include:  Expanding the Recognised Parish Assistants Scheme. Another 4 courses were completed in Deaneries across the diocese with a total of 62 additional RPAs trained.  The York School of Ministry has expanded its work with open access courses, giving a taste of theological study in each of the three hubs in Beverley, Middlesbrough and York. The accredited courses, part of the national Common Awards programme, are developing well in numbers and quality.  Ensured that the offer of Continuing Ministerial Development training is jointly available for lay people, Readers and Clergy, unless there is a good reason otherwise.  Clergy study day in Middlesbrough on The Joy the Gospel (Pope Francis) for Anglican and Roman Catholic clergy together.  Implemented the new national formational criteria for curates, in what is now called Initial Ministerial Education phase 2 (that is, after ordination)  Improving the curate assessment programme and support of those incumbents who train curates.  Continuing to run the York Leadership Programme for approximately 20 clergy  Continued with a Learning Community of support for multi-church benefices, in conjunction with CPAS – the first diocese in the country to do this.  Mission-Shaped Ministry course running in Hull with Methodist colleagues.  Offering support for Deanery plans, where requested; include implications for training  Offering support for PCCs/parishes/benefices to develop vision and strategic planning.  Working with the Regional Training Partnership to offer some specific training opportunities where there is benefit working together in a bigger area e.g. training for Supervision Skills Courses, Area/Rural Deans, Pioneer Ministry, some Curate Training and developing support for clergy through Clergy Accompaniment.

More details of the Training Team and the events we run can be found on the diocesan website: http://dioceseofyork.org.uk/supporting-people/training/

Gavin Wakefield, Director of Training for Missional Ministry 26th April 2016

Vocations to Ordained and Lay Ministry Report 2015

Great news! Jackie Doyle-Brett has been appointed as Incumbent at St Luke’s Burtonstone Lane and part-time developing young vocations alongside my own role. This is an immense encouragement. The Archbishop is responding to the challenge of recruiting younger candidates to ordained ministry. It has been another encouraging year from the point of view of vocations. We now have a team across the diocese that cover initial enquiries about vocations (RPAs, Readers, the Religious life, Church Army etc) so that we can explore ministry as of the whole people of God and point enquirers in the right direction; we have a group of Assistant DDOs looking specifically at those feeling called to ordained ministry; and we have a small group called ‘care for candidates’ who walk alongside those and look after the pastoral needs of enquirers. We have again seen a small but significant number offering themselves for diaconal ministry and as a staff we have been looking at what shape this might take in the future – a debate that is also running nationally. Indeed, York diocese is the subject of a small amount of research in this area carried out by Andrew Orton of Durham University. We have again hosted two very good conferences this year which seem to becoming something of a regional support and has even attracted deacons from other denominations. We are planning future residentials for young adults at the Emmaus Centre and are reflecting on a very exciting day we hosted there for teenagers exploring vocations. In co-operation with the regional training institutions Bishopthorpe Palace hosted another very successful (and over-subscribed) ‘Step Forward’ day conference for young adults. Of the two young adults undertaking a ‘gap year’ pastoral assistants posts, one is now in training and the other has just been recommended for training following his selection panel. We have one candidate now pursing his calling with the brothers at Mirfield. So far in 2016 we have sent 10 candidates (with some still pending) to Bishops Advisory Panels with ages across the board. Currently there are 35 in training (20 men and 15 women) with potentially another 10 entering training in September 2016. With numbers so healthy, we will be an ‘exporting diocese’ again in 2017. It also means we need to identify and nurture more potential training Incumbents. The decline in those coming forward as SSMs seems to be a national trend and may reflect insecurity around pensions and the reduction in those being offered early retirement. Coming over the horizon is a major restructuring of the finance of candidates in training that will have implications for how we invest in the training institutions in the North. In summary, the vocations in the diocese seem to be healthy and encouraging.

The Revd. David Mann

York Minster - The Dean of York’s Report 2015

The consecration of the first woman to the episcopate in the Church of England was a dramatic way to mark the start 2015. The consecration of Libby Lane as Bishop of Stockport on 26 January, followed within two weeks by that of traditionalist Philip North as Bishop of Burley, stretched York Minster’s capability and resourcefulness, but staff and volunteers responded wonderfully.

Becoming outward looking

Work with the York Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration, outreach to schools, refugees and asylum seekers and young people alongside the Choral Outreach project, which has involved more than 5,000 pupils since its inception, continues, and the links between the Minster congregations and churches and communities in Middlesbrough are growing, with regular collections for food and clothing banks

Extending our Reach

Our links with the wider diocese were strengthened by the arrival of Ellie Bangay as curate, who, since her arrival, has developed our work with children (including at the Minster School) and young people. Minster Clergy continued to travel to significant events in the life of the parishes of the Diocese, and between them attended 85 Diocesan meetings and events, often as leaders. The Dean led the retreat for those being priested, and preached at their Ordination. She also led the centenary retreat for the OHP (Whitby) sisters just before the election of their new prioress.

Sharing God’s love

Within the variety of spaces of the Minster our worship also continued, with at least 4 services every day. In November the Archbishop of York gifted the Minster a wonderful Gold High Mass set to mark his 10 years in office. Numbers at worship for festivals are considerable. Nearly 3,000 attended worship at Easter and over 8,000 people on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Evensong congregations are frequently over 200.

A group of 5 children was admitted to communion after preparation for them and their parents led by the Reader Diane Craven. We ran two exploring Christianity courses with young teenagers as well as those in their 20s and 30s and one in his 70s, a Bible study group for young adults, and a fortnightly informal gathering in a local pub which allows discussion of the gospel and issues of the day.

Transforming ourselves and others

The Minster, with more than 200 staff and nearly 500 volunteers, is a complex organisation, and we continue to develop our staff and internal communication. Fiona Long, a volunteer, led on the development of Safeguarding processes and policies.

Responsible stewardship

Canon David Butterfield led an initiative to increase the number of people who give to the Minster. A total of 101 replies were received. There were 46 new givers and 43 who increased their giving resulting in a 19% increase in income from Planned Giving. As Canon David noted, we thank God for this sign of his Spirit inspiring commitment and generosity among us.

We committed to contributing £75,000 as our Freewill Offering to the Board of Finance, increasing this annually and from 2016 paying monthly by standing order. University Chaplaincies of the Diocese of York Report 2015

All the university chaplaincies within the diocese work hard to support students of all faiths and none, and to encourage dialogue and exploration of spiritual matters of all kinds. In most of our universities, chaplains work in conjunction with the Wellbeing or Student Support teams to provide pastoral care for individual students, most of whom probably have no church connection, but who nevertheless find in Chaplaincy the space to be met without judgement in their anxieties and concerns.

Offering crisis support is an important part of the role of chaplains, and sadly this has been especially needed this year: at Teesside, York and York St John, chaplains have been involved in supporting students, staff and families following student deaths. The chaplain at Teesside has responded to this by starting a bereavement support group at the university. Mental health is an increasing problem on many campuses, as is the rise of intolerance and hate speech, so the work of chaplains in speaking up fror the most vulnerable has never been more important. The chaplaincy at YSJ is proactive in promoting the rights of LGBT Christians across the campus, and chaplains at York are involved in a number of university equality forums, including support for disabled people, LGBT staff and students, and black and minority ethnic groups, as well as in promoting dialogue between Christians and other faith communities.

Chaplains organise, resource and support a range of activities, including: discussion groups; student faith societies; creative opportunities for students and staff to explore prayer, spirituality and worship; trips away; vocations groups; and sharing food together. All our chaplaincies are involved in welcoming international students and their families, providing hospitality and activities to help them integrate.

Buildings and the use of space are an issue for many of us. At Hull, access to the chapel has been restricted because of building works, creating problems of visibility for the chaplaincy. At Teesside, there are plans to refurbish a building in a more central location on campus which will become the new chaplaincy building, and will hopefully enable the work of the chaplaincy to develop. The reorganisation of Student Support services at York may offer a similar opportunity further in the future.

All of us have links with local parishes and serve the wider church in various ways (the chaplains of Hull and Teesside have parochial responsibilities as well as their chaplaincy duties, and the chaplain at York is a member of General Synod and represents chaplains nationally on various church bodies), and many of us are involved in university teaching as well as our pastoral roles- not least on York St John’s course in Chaplaincy Studies. Chaplaincy is a multi-faceted and challenging role, but it is one about which we are passionate as we seek to show God’s love to a generation of young people who might not otherwise encounter it.

John Cowan, University of Hull (part-time) Annie Rowley, University of York St John (full-time) Tessa Stephens, University of Teesside (part-time) Rowan Williams, University of York (full-time)