The Diocese of Carlisle Growing Disciples

Welcome to our three Churches – situated between Morecambe Bay and the Lake District National Park, six miles south of Kendal - and thank you for your interest in being part of our new adventure with God, as we come together for the first time as a United Benefice of three churches.

St John’s Levens St Peter’s Heversham St Thomas’ Milnthorpe

Profile for the future United Benefice of St John the Evangelist Levens, St Peter’s Heversham and St Thomas’ Milnthorpe

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CONTENTS

PAGE

Who we are 3

Our vision for the future 3

What we are looking for in our new priest 4

What can we offer you? 4

The Vicarage 4-5

Ministry team 5

Neighbouring clergy 5

Church organisations 6

Other aspects of our work 6

Issues to face 6

Policies 6

The Parishes

St John’s Levens 7-8

St Peter’s Heversham 9-10

St Thomas’ Milnthorpe 11-12

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View from Heversham Head over the Kent Estuary

Who we are St Peter’s and St Thomas’ have been a united benefice, but with separate PCCs, since 1992. St John's - having shared 5th Sunday services and special worship occasions with St Peter's and St Thomas' for 10 years - is now joining them formally to create a united benefice within the Kent Estuary Mission Community, which also includes Arnside, Storth and Beetham. All are located within the Deanery of Kendal. During the interregnum our joint ministry teams have worked hard to support worship in all three church communities.

Heversham (pop. 700), Milnthorpe (pop. 2,000) and Levens (pop. 1,000) are within four miles of each other - Levens being the furthest north and Milnthorpe the furthest south. We already produce a joint ‘Parish News’ and we share events and social activities, as well as collaborating on our two successful ‘Open the Book’ programmes. Together with our Catholic and Methodist partners around the Kent Estuary we have commissioned a youth worker for young people of secondary school age. Such shared activities and values have forged strong personal friendships between our congregations .

The average age of our congregations is skewed towards the over 50s because of the large number of people who choose to retire to this beautiful area, so there is an increasing need for pastoral support as people become vulnerable in older age. There are three residential care homes within the benefice, where communion is taken regularly. All three of our parishes are part of the Kendal Deanery team that assists with the communion service at Westmorland General Hospital, and each has its own pastoral visiting team.

However, there are also many young families in our communities and the two primary schools in Milnthorpe (Community) and Levens (VC) have buoyant numbers and are very successful. There is also a large secondary school in Milnthorpe which has some boarding houses in Heversham. We are well served with a number of other good local schools.

Our vision for the future Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we want: • to be open to God and to his mission through inspiring worship, informed prayer, scriptural teaching, spiritual renewal and faithful discipleship • to grow in spiritual maturity as individuals and as churches within the Kent Estuary Mission Community • to identify and develop the gifts God has given us and to use them to his glory • to grow in number • to improve our buildings to serve our communities better

3 In our new Priest in Charge we are looking for someone who… • is able to develop the unity that already exists, as we work towards becoming a united benefice within the Mission Community • has good listening and communication skills • is willing to develop the work already being done, and who has experience of leading people through a period of change • will be a visible presence in our communities, skilful in reaching out to others, friendly and approachable • will teach and work collaboratively, acknowledging the skills and gifts of others and empowering them to go out in local and world-wide mission and service • sees creation care as an essential part of discipleship

What can we offer you? • A warm welcome! • A committed group of kind people, generous with their time and care • A supportive ministry team of retired clergy and authorised lay leaders who are used to both participating in and taking the lead in worship, learning and practical contexts, including study and prayer groups • Good relationships with local schools and plenty of interesting work with children and young people • A wide range of social and fundraising events in collaboration with the local communities • Three well maintained churches and churchyards • A good 4-bedroom vicarage in an area that has a wonderfully rich musical tradition, a number of vibrant theatres and cinemas, award winning art galleries, fascinating museums, excellent restaurants and atmospheric bars and cafes - and within an hour, access to larger centres to the north and south via the A6, M6 and West Coast Main Line railway. We are only 2hours 40 minutes by train from London!

The Vicarage The Vicarage is situated in Levens. Built in 1964, it has four bedrooms, a bathroom and a shower room upstairs, with a lounge, a dining room, a study, a kitchen, a utility room, a store room and a toilet/cloakroom downstairs. The kitchen and utility room have recently been refitted. There is a single garage linked by a door to the store room and utility room and there is ample off-road parking. The gardens to the rear are fairly flat and easy to maintain; they contain fruit trees, a vegetable patch, flower beds, a covered terrace and a large lawned area. There is gas-fired central heating throughout and a wood burning stove in the lounge. The whole house is double glazed.

The front elevation with garage and parking Rear elevation with square bay to lounge

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Rear elevation with covered terrace and door from Lawned back garden with fruit trees dining room

Floorplan of the vicarage

Approximate gross floor area: 2303 Sq. Feet / 213.49 Sq. Metres The ground floor room labelled ‘Sitting Room’ has been successfully used as a study by previous incumbents.

Ministry team Our combined ministry team consists of: 5 retired clergy, 6 readers and 1 LLM (working with children, young families and young people). There is much mutual support being offered during the interregnum.

Neighbouring clergy – including ecumenical links Through our Christians Together groups we have really good relationships with our Methodist and Catholic friends. In Milnthorpe, there are the Catholic Church of Christ the King, a Methodist community - whose church building closed a couple of years ago and Trinity evangelical church plant, which meets in the local secondary school. In Levens there is also a Methodist Church. There are currently two Christians Together Groups within our three parishes. (Please see the Mission Community report for further information) 5 Church organisations • Joint Mothers’ Union at St Thomas’ which members of all three churches attend • Weekly Sunday school activities are offered in Levens and Milnthorpe • Monthly Messy Together in Levens - open to all • A church sponsored Youth Community Action Team in Levens - open to all • Weekly Knit and Knatter in Levens - open to all • Monthly Men’s Breakfast in Milnthorpe - open to all • Fortnightly “Tea, Crafts and Games” in Heversham - open to all

Other aspects of work Between us we offer a wide range of social / fundraising events that also reach out into the local community… Open air services / Open Gardens / Art Exhibition / Recycling and waste reduction events / Disaster appeals / Concerts / Harvest Supper / Epiphany Party / Passover Supper / Easter Lamb Supper / Readings and Carols / Summer Garden Party / Craft club.

Issues to face We need… • to be enabled and encouraged to grow our congregations. • to respond to the rising age profile of the Sunday congregations, whilst also encouraging other, Fresh Expressions-style worship opportunities to appeal more to young families and young people. • to manage the growing demands on the pastoral teams, with fewer people able to do the work because of the rising age profile. • to make our buildings as flexible and versatile as they can be in order to serve our communities better.

Policies • Baptism – in all three parishes baptism is open to those with a link to the parish, and preparation is given. The Mothers’ Union 1-5 scheme is used. • Confirmation – Youth Emmaus has been used in preparation for confirmation in all three parishes. • Marriage – in all three parishes marriage preparation is offered. Remarriage of, or a blessing after the secular remarriage of divorcees, has been at the discretion of the priests-in-charge. • Resolutions A / B / C - all three parishes are fully in agreement with women in roles in all aspects of church life, both in lay ministry and in ordained ministry at all levels. • Safeguarding - we all work within the guidelines of the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy.

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6 The Parish Church of St John the Evangelist – Levens (Eco Church Gold Award January 2017 / Toilet Twinned Village Award April 2018) For more information please go to: www.levens.org.uk > community > Christians Together in Levens > St John’s

We are a lively worshipping community at the heart of a vibrant village and we are a strong fellowship. We have very close links with our church primary school and are privileged to have many other opportunities for outreach. Our church members are a talented bunch, who use their skills generously in service to both church and community.

The Church Opened in 1828, St John's is Grade II listed. The building is open 24/7 and is widely used for prayer and quiet reflection by locals and visitors alike. We are part of the Churches’ Trust for Cumbria church tourist trail. There is a mix of pews and chairs, and there is ramp access via the west door. We have no church hall, but have access to variously sized premises within the village. We have recently had a new roof and fitted a new gas fired central heating system.

Current Pattern of Worship 1st, 3rdand 4th Sundays: 10 a.m. Parish Communion (Common Worship) 2nd Sunday: 10 a.m. All Age Worship with music group (ecumenical) 5th Sunday: 10.30 a.m. United Benefice Service (rotating venue) Tuesday-Thursday: 8.15am Morning prayer (ecumenical) 2nd Wednesday: 6.30pm Prayers for Healing 4th Sunday: 4pm Messy Together (ecumenical) Seasonal services: Advent, Christmas, Holy Week, on a farm, All Souls, Remembrance (ecumenical)

Work with our school (ecumenical where possible) We do ‘Open the Book’ and Collective Worship every week. We have delivered all the Diocese of Gloucester ‘Experience’ events and are on a second 6-year cycle. The Chair of Governors and two foundation governors are PCC nominees. We help with Toddler Taster events, clubs and school fundraising events. The school comes to church for end of term services, at Harvest and Remembrance and for curriculum-based activities.

Prayer Groups / Bible Study (all ecumenical) The ‘Monday Group’ meets at 10.15am September-July in the Methodist Church. There are home study groups in Advent and Lent and occasional other courses ( LICC Fruitfulness /Youth Alpha/Shape )

Local and global community links (much ecumenical) Levens Brownies; regular practical support for local organisations (Manna House, Springfield, King’s Food Bank, Boxes of Hope) / many village clubs and organisations / personal links with two medical missionaries in Nepal / Christian Aid / Toilet Twinning / Fairtrade / A Rocha / Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital (Knit and Knatter)

Revenue Account Finances 2017 (Full accounts are available in the Annual Report) Income: £48,905 Expenditure: £50,407 Balance: -£1,502

7 Statistics 2017 Electoral Roll 87 Weddings 2 Funerals in church 6 Easter Attendance 92 / Communicants 62 Christmas attendance 254 / Communicants 50 Average attendance at Sunday Eucharist 42 Average attendance AAW 73 Average attendance at Messy Together 25

Photo Gallery: A Snapshot of Life at St John’s

Aquaboxes for a Annual village recycling event Experience Pentecost Open the Book in school natural disaster for school and community Daniel’s lions

Brownie Parade Service Youth Community Action Team Christmas picture by our families

Fairtrade cookery and fun day Free Exchange coffee morning Messy Together story time

Thin Spaces prayer station Multigenerational Advent craft ‘Knit and Knatter’ blankets etc.

8 The Parish Church of St Peter – Heversham

The Church We have a lovely historic church building - approximately C12, though there has been a church on the site since C8. This is both a pleasure and a responsibility. The church is open every day and welcomes passing walkers and cyclists. There are opportunities to join the Churches Visitor and Tourism Association (CVTA) and to expand use of the church in the community. A more detailed history of the church can be found on our website: www.stpetersheversham.org

Current Pattern of Worship 1st Sunday: 9.30 a.m. Common Worship Parish Communion 2nd Sunday: 8 a.m. BCP Communion. 9.30 a.m. Common Worship with contemporary music 6.30 p.m. Prayer and Praise (informal worship) 3rd Sunday: 9.30 a.m. Common Worship Parish Communion 4th Sunday: 8 a.m. BCP Communion. 9.30 a.m. Fourth Sunday Worship with contemporary music 5th Sunday: 8 a.m. BCP Communion. 10.30 a.m. United Benefice Service Prayer ministry available after all services. Coffee served after main Sunday service House groups meet weekly Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday (Ecumenical) and Saturday: Prayer Meetings

Links with Dallam School The international boarders at Dallam School live in Heversham. We have good relationships with the staff and welcome students to church, and to an annual bonfire and social event. We are grateful for their contribution to graveyard maintenance as part of their community service. We also host their annual Carol Concert and Prize Giving. The ‘Old School’ in the church grounds is a marvellous resource. It has recently been refurbished and we are using it as part of our outreach to the community.

Mission Part of our church vision statement includes the support of mission locally and worldwide. As a church, tithing is very important to us. Our WoW (Window on the World) group makes recommendations to the PCC about which organisations we should support, and meets every month to pray for two of them. One of the organisations is chosen each year for us to support as our Lent project. We also include a tithe, in excess of our parish share, to support the Diocese.

Finance Total Income: £65,953 Total Expenditure £67,980 (including tithe of £5,815) Total funds at 31 Dec 2017 £114,767. Full accounts are available in the Annual Report

Statistics 2017 • 112 on the Electoral Roll • An average of 46 people per week at our main service (two under 16s) • Attendance at Easter 76 12 under 16yrs • Attendance at Christmas 276 Communicants 62 12 under 16yrs

9 • One infant Baptism No Weddings

• Two Funerals Four Services of Thanksgiving • Approximately seven House Communions each month for the sick and housebound

Photo Gallery: A Snapshot of Life at St Peter’s

The 8 o’clockers Christmas Handbell Ringers

Coffee time – a time to catch up Jesus Tree Dallam School Prize Giving

Spring Teaching Event Mothering Sunday Posies

10 The Parish Church of St. Thomas - Milnthorpe

St. Thomas’ church is located in the centre of Milnthorpe overlooking the village green and Friday market and offers a warm welcome from a friendly congregation. The wider community uses the church for life events and supports the church through its special services, regular social events and occasional gift days. While the church membership is relatively small, it provides a firm foundation on which to build for the future.

Worship and current pattern of services: 1st, 2nd and 4th Sundays in the month we have a Parish Communion at 11am. Every alternate Sunday we have Holy Communion at 8am using the Book of Common Prayer. 3rd Sundays we have an All Age Worship service with baptisms. 5th Sunday United Benefice Service. There is a monthly BCP service at 2pm and a monthly shoppers service at 10 am. Most Sundays there is a flourishing Sunday School held in the Church Centre during the greater part of the normal service. We organise a holiday club during summer holiday or we arrange craft afternoons together with the team from St Peter’s. Primary school children have attended for craft, games and songs based on a Bible theme. We are currently working towards Liverpool Diocese’s ‘Child Friendly Church Award’ which we hope we will have been awarded by the end of 2018.

The church: The church can accommodate about 200 people, and this can be extended to about 250 by incorporating the Church Centre, which was created in 1982 in the west end of the nave. This extra space is often required for the Christmas Carol service, for large funerals and provides opportunities for fellowship with those who are not regular church attenders. In 2015 the church was fully rewired and decorated, and a new central heating system was fitted.

After public consultation, the PCC has instructed the Architect to prepare detailed plans to support faculty and planning applications to improve the community facilities in the Church Centre. The project will provide a new, larger kitchen, wheelchair access to the upper hall, disabled toilets and a parish office. It is hoped the project will be completed in 2019.

The church and the community: The Friday coffee mornings are manned by volunteers, from the church and wider community. Several organisations make regular use of the Centre including the Ballet School, Brownies and Craft Group. The church is also used for annual events e.g. The Horticultural Society Spring and Autumn Shows, Milnthorpe Art Exhibition, Milnthorpe Primary School Christmas Service and Dallam School for its prize giving event.

Statistics 2017: In 2017 we had: • 62 people on the electoral roll (2018) • An average of 42 people at our main service (5 under 16) • 7 infant baptism and 1 thanksgiving for the gift of a child • 12 funerals and 1 burial of ashes • 1 wedding

11 • 4 special services: Christingle (105 including 75 under 16), Carol Service (200 including 15 under 16), Songs of Praise (outside 110), Good Friday (outside, 130), Carols (outside, 75) • 11 Communions and Special Services to Residential Homes.

Finances 2017: Income: £61272. Expenditure: £60274. Total Funds at 31.12.17 £298426 including a legacy of £70000 received in 2017 and allocated to the proposed building project. Further information is available in the annual report. More detailed information about us can be found on our website: www.stthomasmilnthorpe.org.uk

Photo Gallery: A Snapshot of Life at St Thomas’

Children’s Harvest Craft Day Harvest Supper Easter Sunday School

Milnthorpe Art Exhibition Milnthorpe from Dallam Deer Park Deer in the Deer Park

River Bela - Milnthorpe Baptism Easter Garden

Christingle The Crib Easter outdoor service 12