Vicar for the Churches and Communities of Old , Llanelian and in the Aled Mission Area

Application Pack June 2021

A Profile of the

In the Diocese of St Asaph or the Teulu Asaph, we’re:

• Growing and encouraging the whole people of God • Enlivening and enriching worship • Engaging the world

We’re a family of more than 7,000 regular worshippers, with 80 full time clergy, over 500 lay leaders, 216 churches and 50 church schools. We trace our history to the days of our namesake, St Asaph and his mentor, St Kentigern who it’s believed built a monastery in St Asaph in AD 560. Many of the churches across the Diocese were founded by the earliest saints in who witnessed to Christian faith in Wales and have flourished through centuries of war, upheaval, reformation and reorganisation.

Today, the Diocese of St Asaph carries forward that same Mission to share God’s love to all in 21th Century north east and mid Wales. We’re honoured to be a Christian presence in every , to walk with people on the journey of life and to offer prayers to mark together the milestones of life.

Unlocking our Potential is the focus of our response to share God’s love with people across north east and mid Wales. Unlocking our Potential is about bringing change, while remaining faithful to the life-giving message of Jesus. It’s about challenging, inspiring and equipping the whole people of God to grow in their faith.

Geographically, the Diocese follows the English/Welsh border in the east, whilst the western edge is delineated by the Valley. The northern boundary runs along the coast as far as , but only takes in part of that town. The southern boundary runs from the lower end of Llyn Tegid (Lake Bala) across to Dolfor, just south of Newtown in Powys. Ecclesiastically it is bordered by the dioceses of Chester, Lichfield and Hereford on the northern and eastern sides. To the south we border Swansea and Brecon diocese and to the west, Bangor.

Large parts of the diocese are rural, but there are important and continually developing industrial and commercial areas around Deeside and Wrexham and significant developments along the two main arterial roads (A55 and A483). The coastal strip is home to traditional holiday resorts and tourism is an important industry in many parts of the diocese.

St Asaph offers:

• A welcome to all • Life enhancing opportunities for all • A commitment to nurture God’s gifts to everyone • A Christian education through our 50 Church Schools • A celebration and conservation of our very special places • A commitment to walk alongside those in need • A prayerful heart at the centre of every community

Application pack: , Llanelian and Betws yn Rhos in the Aled Mission Area 2

Last updated: February 2020

Application pack: Old Colwyn, Llanelian and Betws yn Rhos in the Aled Mission Area 3

The Mission Area

Aled Mission Area, within which the Vicar of these three churches will work is large, comprising major seaside towns and rural villages in the hinterland. Our objective is expressed as: To learn to know each other and the needs of our communities better so that we can join together more effectively to proclaim the love of God though worship and outreach We were formed as a Mission Area in December 2017 as one of the largest in the Diocese, and one of the first to have a Lay Chair, Clive Myers. We had some ups and downs to start with, but for the last year we have really started to work more effectively as a Mission Area and some exciting seeds are being sown. A change of culture is proving challenging and we need someone who relishes the new opportunities for change. We would like to take some risks, and the Mission Area Conference is comfortable with trying new things and learning both from what works well and what is less successful. We would like an enthusiastic team player who can help us use our gifts together for best effect. Following the establishment of Mission Areas, we are now reviewing the effectiveness of their work and plans for the future across the diocese. The Archdeacon, Diocesan Secretary and the Churches Inspector are visiting each Mission Area and working with local teams to look at how we use our buildings and resources. Our Mission Area has been one of the first to have a Review and the recommendations from the Review and a detailed breakdown of the facts and figures of our Mission Area are attached for information, together with the Plan we have agreed in response to the Review. We are also one of the first Mission Areas to have a Lay Leader and, as it is a large Mission Area, there is a good-sized clergy team. It currently comprises three full time clerics (in addition to this post) and two part time, an OLM and also two SSM curates in training. We are also very fortunate in that the Diocese funds a full time Youth Chaplain for us. One of the unforeseen - and extremely positive - consequences of lockdown is that the clergy, lay readers and Mission Area Wardens have met weekly as a Shared Ministry Team (SMT) on Zoom to share experiences of lockdown, discuss the services in each church and across the Mission Area and support each other in managing in these strange times. This has strengthened the SMT and increased its collaborative working – something that we will want to continue.

Application pack: Old Colwyn, Llanelian and Betws yn Rhos in the Aled Mission Area 4

In terms of lay ministry, we also have a good number of readers and worship leaders. We had a commissioning service for 33 worship leaders last year. The Mission Area Executive meets each month and one of the current priorities is addressing the recommendations of the Review. We have now developed our plan and it is included with the Application Pack. Since we developed the Plan each church committee has been asked to look at the parts that concern them and assess how they are going to progress them. We have already been used each year to setting priorities and we have had some good events and sharing of resources. Some of the things we were starting to do as a Mission Area have not continued because of the Coronavirus outbreak, but some activities like the Mission Area Prayer Group which can be done by Zoom have carried on. There is an appetite for change. Several of the churches run “Messy Church” and this is supported by the Youth Chaplain. They work together to share ideas and think how to go forward. Bags with things to do and craft resources have been sent to parents while Messy Church groups have been unable to meet. We are trying to move out of our individual congregations more and share social opportunities and worship together. We had planned to have pulpit swaps before lockdown. Some communities have no Welsh services, and this has been an area we are exploring to do more together for those who want to worship in Welsh. Our Buildings Committee is reviewing all our churches and other buildings and looking at how we could best use them for our mission and outreach. The future We are exploring working with the Church Army in Pensarn where there is an ideal dual-purpose church serving one of our poorest areas, where we realise that there is a huge potential for outreach. We will look to the suggestions in the Review Recommendations as we work together in our area.

Clergy in the Mission Area

• Parishes of and St George (3 churches) Revd Kate Johnson • Parishes of Betws yn Rhos, Old Colwyn and Llanelian (3 churches) Vacant • Parishes of , and (3 churches) Revd Gwenda Cooper • Parishes of and Bryn-y-Maen (3 churches) Revd Christine Owen • Parishes of and (2 churches) Revd Janice Brown • Parish of Llandrillo yn Rhôs (3 churches)

Application pack: Old Colwyn, Llanelian and Betws yn Rhos in the Aled Mission Area 5

Revd Phillip Barratt OLM Revd Carol Thomas

The churches

This is a very beautiful area in which to live and work. We have good transport links with the North West of England and London. There are a variety of schools from which to choose and an excellent quality of life.

Below is information about the different communities for which you will have responsibility.

Betws yn Rhos

They say the best things come in small packages. Our Church family at St Michael’s, Betws-yn-Rhos like to think that pretty much sums us up perfectly. We may not have the largest congregation in the Aled Mission Area, but we constantly work to leave a mark. It is hardly surprising then that we were the very first to re-open after the 2020 Covid lockdown. Our community Two hundred years ago, before the growth of coastal communities our church was one of the most important in north Wales. During the English Civil War our vicar led a band of volunteers to the siege of Beaumaris Castle. Unfortunately, he was killed there, but rest assured we don’t expect that level of commitment these days! Modern day Betws-yn-Rhos is easily described: A couple of hundred homes, a school, shop and petrol station, a Church and two Chapels. You will commonly hear both Welsh and English spoken here often in the same conversation. But what marks the place out is the sense of community. The small Primary School is Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled. Church members play an active part in its governance. The vicar is welcomed into school for services and the school uses the Church for events. As a congregation we are proud of this strong connection.

Application pack: Old Colwyn, Llanelian and Betws yn Rhos in the Aled Mission Area 6

Relations with the two Chapels are good and joint services are held with them once or twice a year. Our Church The present St Michael’s was built in the 1830s. It remains the most prominent building in the village. The Church’s unusual twin spire is often photographed by visitors and is represented in the badge of our school. The building is in reasonably good condition, thanks partly to the support that we get from community funding. Inside most of the original pews remain although some have been removed to create space for children attending regular Express Church. The grounds are well maintained, with much of the work done by non-churchgoing volunteers and some burials still take place. At present we meet each Sunday for a service at 0930h alternating between Clergy- led Eucharist and Morning Prayer taken by a lay reader. Throughout the year we have additional services, some mid-week. Christmas carol and crib services are especially popular attracting large numbers of villagers who are not regular congregants. Covid restrictions this year have made worship difficult. St Michael’s was the first in the area to reopen with our early services attracting attendees from other churches, and one of the village chapels. The village War Memorial is in our grounds and the Church hosts a community remembrance service each year. Finances We are not wealthy, as we do not receive substantial legacies, nor do we have a large bank balance. Because of this we have to pay our way. Our goal each year is to raise as much money as we spend. We mostly achieve this with great community support at our fund-raising events. 4 members of the congregation have registered with the Gift Direct scheme. The Future We feel that children are our future and building on our already strong links with the village school we decided several years ago to lay emphasis on our work with children. Within the village regular meetings of Express Church have attracted growing numbers of 2-7-year olds and their parents. These continued “virtually” through lockdown with packages sent to parents. The Express Church August walk was over-subscribed, with many more wanting to attend than the twenty who were allowed. Outside the village members of our congregation lead Messy Church sessions for 7-11-year olds attended by children from Betws as well as neighbouring villages. For the past year this work has benefitted from the involvement of the Mission Area Youth Leader. We have also organised and run a village fun and sports day which was hugely enjoyed by local families. The challenge is for our new priest to bring leadership and relevance in mission to other people in the community.

Application pack: Old Colwyn, Llanelian and Betws yn Rhos in the Aled Mission Area 7

Llanelian

Our community

We know about the importance of churches from the time they were built until the 19th Century. They have always been the centres of their communities, filled with art and story until Henry VIII decided that they were to become places of Protestant worship. Wall paintings were covered over, icons removed, and the church walls were not nearly as colourful to look at. There have been many other changes over the centuries There were no pews inside churches until the 19th century, and up until then markets were held regularly inside. There are descriptions of meat hanging up for sale along with bridles and saddles in the porch of churches in North Wales. Football was played outside in the graveyards; beer drunk regularly inside and out.

In the 19th Century, Llanelian Church, like all the others, was filled with oak pews. The pub next door, the White Lion, was no longer part of the life of the church, as it had been for so long, with mugs of beer passed into the graveyard through the window especially put in for that purpose. There were no more markets or football and weddings, baptisms and funerals were no longer accompanied by food and drink inside the church.

Services were held at least twice every Sunday, but the church was locked and quiet apart from those times, church meetings and Sunday School. Faithful church people kept the church clean and polished; vases were filled with flowers every week, church vestments were sewn by local women who dusted and swept and polished the brass plates and the pews were full every Sunday with the families of people who lived locally, many of whom were farmers, and most of whom were Welsh speaking.

In a ‘normal’ January now we honour our saint, St Elian, on his Feast Day, with an evening of music and song, in February a Valentine’s Day Coffee Morning. On Ash Wednesday at the beginning of Lent we have Soup and Prayer, and at Easter the church is decorated with flowers and artwork for an Easter service. In May we have a Village Spring Fair, centred inside the Church, while an Art Competition fills the church with artwork from the local Church School. There are musical evenings Application pack: Old Colwyn, Llanelian and Betws yn Rhos in the Aled Mission Area 8

throughout the year; we’ve had a Pet Service; there are outings to Manchester in time for Christmas, and to Tatton Park Flower show in July. We have a Harvest Festival, Remembrance Day Services, and of course Christmas celebrations.

Our church

One of the many things we are most proud of and most committed to is the continuation of worship in our language, the language of Wales. We have been lucky in that all our past Rectors have done their best to provide us, the faithful, with Welsh services at least twice a month. We value this service very highly, and in return support our church in every way possible, keeping careful records of our history and day to day life in the church, keeping ourselves on a sound financial footing, ensuring that the church is kept clean and warm, and decorated with flowers all year round. And making sure our churchyard is kept tidy and cared-for, regularly mowed and cleaned, hedges, walls and trees trimmed; a sign to all who come to visit that we recognise the importance of the churchyard to family members of the departed.

The life of the church in Llanelian has continued to be supported and protected by the faithful; and this is what we are still doing, despite setbacks and difficulties, not least those caused by the events of this year. Everything we do and have done for many years is designed to encourage local people to feel that this is their church – not somewhere for a small club of people to meet every Sunday morning for an hour, but a place for everyone to use as they feel they would like to; to spend a quiet moment of reflection, to buy a book or a craft item, to just look round, to get married in, to baptise a baby, to have a ceremony in which to commemorate or to bury a loved one.

The church is open throughout the summer and thanks to the wonderful pub next door, the White Lion, there is a key held there which means the church can be opened for anyone at any time during the winter months.

We have a wonderful organist every Sunday for our regular service at 9.30 am, and a congregation of faithful supporters; all of us thankful that the church and the graveyard, where many of our families are buried, is able to continue to offer the continuity and the sanctuary of a thousand-year-old building, ‘our’ church.

Finances

We’ve raised money to repair the church bell; the walls, the roof, the wall surrounding the church; to keep the graveyard in good repair. Events mean we pay our way, but we also use events to raise money for the community eg for MacMillan Nurses. 3 members of the congregation have registered with the Gift Direct Scheme.

Application pack: Old Colwyn, Llanelian and Betws yn Rhos in the Aled Mission Area 9

The future

Of special importance is our relationship with our Church School, Ysgol y Plas, and we are building a close and mutually supportive relationship with the school. We visit to help out, join the Governors, do what we can to raise money for them and hold Christingle and Harvest Services in church especially for the pupils and teachers. They are our future, and we are lucky to have them.

Our priority is to encourage everyone to be welcomed to this ancient building with open arms, as we feel we are at the heart of the community.

Old Colwyn

Our community

Set on the beautiful North Wales coastline the village of Old Colwyn was first recorded in a government survey as "Coloyne” in 1334. In 1685, the village was known as "Colwun" and had a population of twenty. During the nineteenth century the village was increasingly referred to as “Old Colwyn” to distinguish it from the Victorian town of Colwyn Bay to the west.

With a population of around 8,000 in the last census, Old Colwyn has the benefit of a small retail area in the centre of the village; two small supermarkets and a local convenience store, butcher’s shop, hair and beauty salons, takeaways, as well as a range of other shops. The village is well served by the A55 which provides links to Anglesey and the ferry port of Holyhead to the west and Chester to the east, while the North Wales Coast mainline rail includes services direct to Euston and Cardiff, as well as more local provision. The Victorian resort of Llandudno is a short drive away and to the south the magnificence of is on our doorstep.

Colwyn Bay has a wide sweeping sandy beach, and a promenade which runs from Old Colwyn all the way to Rhos on Sea, and is part of the North wales cycle track; a boon during the recent lockdown. Architecturally Old Colwyn is a mixture of housing; late Victorian houses, some terraced and many converted into flats, interwar detached and semi-detached suburban houses, modern architect designed developments and social housing. This mixture of housing reflects the diversity of the community.

Application pack: Old Colwyn, Llanelian and Betws yn Rhos in the Aled Mission Area 10

The Church of St John the Baptist was built in 1903, with the intention of serving the English-speaking community as the sister church to the original parish church, St Catherine’s, which has now been closed and is in the process of being sold. The church building is a traditional, imposing late Victorian edifice which is structurally in fairly good condition, although there are some maintenance issues, and while the challenges of 2020 have not been easy, the parish is financially in reasonable shape.

Reflecting the general national trends the congregation of St John’s has dwindled in numbers over the last few years and the congregation are in the main retired, certainly not in the first flush of youth, but generally supportive even through the vicissitudes of Covid 19. Before the virus struck there were regular social activities, fundraising efforts including a Summer Fair and coffee mornings, all supported by willing volunteers. In 2019 a lunch for the congregation was organised and proved successful, attracting past and present members, and it was hoped that this would go on to be an annual affair. Monthly social activities, in the form of the Parish Wheel, offered entertaining evenings as well as trips to interesting places. St John’s church was also developing a significant presence as part of the newly established Old Colwyn Christmas Fayre and we held Bible exhibitions for local schools, members of the congregation doing all they could to bring Bible characters to life for the children who attended.

Our church

Covid 19 has sadly stopped many of these activities but the pandemic has meant that many of our congregation have developed new skills; Zoom services have proved to be popular and have attracted new worshippers.

Church attendance does not reflect the size of the community of Old Colwyn, but when special services such as school concerts, Christmas services and musical events are held the Church can be packed.

Finances

We have been fortunate to have been left a generous legacy which enabled us to carry out maintenance work on the Church. However, fundraising has still been important to us and is carried out regularly. Not only does this ensure that our Church remains financially secure, but the congregation view these activities as an important part of their social lives. Through this we also have the opportunity to reach out to the villagers who do not normally come into the Church. But it is important that we should aim to pay our way out of current giving, and growing the church should help us do this. 2 members of the congregation have registered with the Gift Direct Scheme.

Application pack: Old Colwyn, Llanelian and Betws yn Rhos in the Aled Mission Area 11

The future

The Church Committee is currently somewhat depleted, to a certain extent because of the effects of the pandemic, and there are challenges to be overcome, but there is also a sense that, with the right leadership, there is potential for revival and a new sense of mission.

The attendance at St John’s does not reflect the diverse nature of the community which we should serve, and there is an awareness that we must renew our vision for the future of the church; we must balance the needs of the faithful congregation and our love of traditional Anglican worship with a joyful recognition that we need to reach out to the wider community of Old Colwyn and offer a welcome especially to young families.

The church committee had started to work towards renewing our vision. Discussions had touched on the possibility of a fresh approach to Family Services, a Bible study group to deepen our knowledge and understanding, development of our contact with local schools with the support of the Mission Area Youth Team, and the possibility of a radical approach to the internal amenities of the church building itself. All these ideas were amongst those being raised in order to further our mission but, when the current coronavirus pandemic and the consequent restrictions took hold, our focus had of necessity to be re-directed.

There are opportunities for innovation and development available to us, and most of all there is a need for Christ centered leadership to make sure our love of Christ, our fellowship and our worship is open to our friends and neighbours.

Accommodation

The Rectory is located at 1 Rhodfa Sant Elian, Llanelian, Colwyn Bay LL29 8PY. It is an attractive, detached two storey property sitting on a large corner plot within a modern residential development. There is ample off- road parking with an open plan frontage and side and an enclosed rear garden.

Ground Floor Accommodation consists of : Entrance Lobby, Hallway, Cloakroom, Office/Study, Living Room, Kitchen/Dining Room and Utility. Attached single garage.

First Floor Accommodation consists of : Landing, 5 no. (five) bedrooms with master bedroom featuring an en-suite. Large family bathroom.

Application pack: Old Colwyn, Llanelian and Betws yn Rhos in the Aled Mission Area 12

The Person Specification

This role could suit someone with drive and energy who is looking for a first post of responsibility after finishing their curacy and would relish a challenge. With the large team of supportive clergy colleagues, you would not be left on your own to cope if you wanted help.

We need someone who is sympathetic to and culture and it would be excellent if you spoke Welsh. However, you would be given help and encouragement if you were willing to learn enough Welsh to be able to conduct most of the service in Welsh. There are others who can conduct services in Welsh to support you.

What are we looking for?

We need a priest:

• Who will bring leadership to the churches and communities and seek ways to make the Church relevant to those who rarely come into our buildings, and is empathetic enough to work with the different cultures and traditions of our denominations • Who has a flexibility of approach in worship recognising where continuity is needed, but also where fresh ways of worship are vital • Who, with vision and enthusiasm, can help us grow closer to God, • Who, through worship, prayer, Bible study and meaningful fellowship supports us in being hospitable, welcoming and loving in our relationship within our community, • Who is confident that he or she can provide Christ centered leadership and hope to our church life and worship as we emerge after the difficult times of lockdown • Who will communicate effectively and find ways to involve young families and young people in the life and worship of the church and can work closely with schools

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• Who will motivate, empower and support all those involved with leading and participating in services, managing the maintenance of the buildings and representing the church within the Mission Area and Diocese, • Who is able to demonstrate a desire to work and worship joyfully and prayerfully as part of a developing shared ministry team of Clergy • Who is a supportive and collaborative colleague for the Chapter and lay leaders • Who is enthusiastic about working across the Mission Area on joint activity, outreach and mission • Who fully participates within the diocesan church, and able to represent the MA to the diocese, and vice versa.

Aled Mission Area Review Summary of Key Recommendations

Recommendation One: To develop a Mission Action Plan, ready for implementation by April 2021, with SMART objectives. This plan should identify opportunities and locations for growth that need investment of time and resources. Recommendation Two: To enable clergy and lay members to attend Diocesan ‘Leading Your Church into growth’ events.

To enable ‘LYCIG’ locals in each worshipping community by April 2021. Recommendation Three: There is concern with the integrity of the attendance figures. It is recommended that an independent person is asked to review those figures and check their accuracy. Recommendation Four:

Canolfan Dewi Sant Pensarn: • Establishing a Centre of Mission in partnership with the Church Army could be a positive way forward and this should be explored with Captain Neville Willerton. Any Centre of Mission would be served by 2 Church Army Evangelists. Demand for Centres of Mission is currently very high across Wales and this opportunity should therefore be prioritised by the Mission Area. • The area of outreach needs to be defined. While the historic church link is with St Michael’s Church in Abergele, the community of Pensarn now seems to have more in common with , Belgrano, . The Mission Area boundary should therefore be reviewed with the Archdeacon in order to ensure that our

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Mission and Ministry remains outward-focussed as we seek to serve our local communities. • A small group to be set up with the Archdeacon with representatives from Aled MA and Aber-Morfa MA to review mission along this coastal strip. • In the event of a Centre of Mission not being viable, a clear strategic business plan must be developed and adopted for Canolfan Dewi Sant Pensarn (CSD). This building offers a unique opportunity for outreach to some of the most deprived communities in Wales and to share the Gospel message. The building is currently used primarily as a Community Centre and Kingdom work and outreach needs to be increased. • The governance of CSD needs to be agreed and implemented in the light of the decisions above. It has been suggested that a CIO might be the most effective way forward but there are also other options that need to be evaluated. In any event, the majority of the Trustee Body must remain with the Church in Wales.

Recommendation Five: Youth initiatives, Messy Church and Online Worship are both demonstrating a real opportunity for growth. The appointment of a Youth and Children’s Chaplain has added complementary skills to the Shared Ministry Team. These initiatives should be continued and extended wherever possible. The Mission Area urgently needs to consider how it will continue the work of the Youth Chaplain and consider its impact on the balance of the Shared Ministry Team

Recommendation Six: Aled Mission Area is the natural home for a Resource Church planted out from the Hope Street project. The large population and the presence of Coleg Llandrillo make the Mission Area a strong contender for this type of investment. It is also true that many churches are struggling to attract new and younger members and the addition of a Resource Church could help to develop mission and ministry in Aled in a new and different way. A Resource Church would need to find a home in an existing church building and prayerful discussions should start with the Bishop and the Archdeacon to identify which church building would be most appropriate for this purpose. Recommendation Seven: All churches with a regular Sunday attendance below 10 must begin to consider prayerfully their mission and vision for the future and articulate this in a detailed plan. The churches currently in this position are St Michael’s Betws yn Rhos, St Digain’s Llangernyw, Dewi Sant Pensarn and Dewi Sant Colwyn Bay. These plans will be reviewed in 18 months’ time and a decision made about the future at that point. Recommendation Eight: Once current Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, all of the churches in the Mission Area should be open every day if they are not already. All churches should be registered

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on the Explore Churches website and opportunities for increasing the ministry of hospitality and welcome embraced wherever possible. Recommendation Nine: Tourism is a major opportunity for the churches in Aled Mission Area to work together in creative way to develop a fresh ministry to visitors and pilgrims. The Diocesan Property Team are keen to partner with the Aled MA Property Committee to develop a pilot project. Recommendation Ten: The Mission Area Property Committee should prioritise recommendations for the MAC about the future of the following non-church properties by April 2021: • Llangernyw Old School and Old School House • The SPYCE Institute, Colwyn Bay Disposal of these properties could release funding for the many creative schemes across the Mission Area and reduce the demand on volunteer time and finances.

Recommendation Eleven: The many creative and impressive schemes already underway for adapting church buildings should be progressed and encouraged. Support, if required, can be provided by the Diocesan Churches Inspector and the Diocesan Funding Officer. Recommendation Twelve: The Mission Area should develop a co-ordinated plan to move the majority of its regular giving online with support as required from the Diocesan Director of Resources. Encouraging progress has already been made in this respect and this will ensure the sustainability of the churches

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