Sheffield

Canon Precentor Application Pack

February 2020

Sheffield Cathedral Church Street Sheffield S1 1HA

Thank you for your enquiry about the post of the Precentor of . We hope that you will find this information pack useful, and that you will consider applying for this senior role leading important areas of the Cathedral’s ministry.

The Cathedral has recently reviewed our music and liturgy. We have renewed our ambition to offer compelling and imaginative worship, the very best of its type, with a quality of music, welcome, and engagement which fits our vision as a modern cathedral in a major City and Diocese.

We are looking for someone who has the skills to inspire adults and young people to make this compelling vision a reality under God, who can make a significant contribution to the leadership within the Cathedral team, and who will embrace opportunities for engaging the wider community in our mission through creative partnerships.

We hope that you will consider applying even if you do not think that you are a strong singer—or that you cannot sing at all. We have given this matter considerable thought: team leadership, imagination, and a confident ability to work beyond the structures of the Church are much more important for the Precentor here than singing.

Applications on the form provided should be submitted by noon on 23 March. Shortlisting will take place on 31 March, and interviews will be held in the Cathedral on 22 and 23 April.

If you would like to make an informal visit to Sheffield before applying, or to have an informal conversation with the to discuss the role, please contact Nicola Burgin on [email protected]

We will be praying for you as you consider whether God is calling you to serve here with our whole Cathedral community.

Peace and joy to you,

Peter Keith

The Very Reverend The Reverend Canon Keith Farrow Dean Vice Dean and Canon Missioner

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our and diocese

No one has any doubt that in 2029 the in South Yorkshire will look very different from the way it is now — but equally no one is yet very clear about the shape it will take. Will the whole people of God be mobilised for the whole mission of God? Will attendance figures be in decline or growing? Will there be more stipendiary incumbents or fewer? Will there be more congregations or fewer? How can the Cathedral best relate to the wider Diocese and its diverse parishes, to support and encourage them?’

The includes former steel-making communities (not least in Sheffield and Rotherham) and former coal-mining communities (not least in the villages around Doncaster). But it is also far greener than people imagine, with Peak District communities (west and north of Sheffield) and farming communities (north and east of Doncaster). It boasts some of the finest hospitals in the country and an inspiring Advanced Manufacturing Park, a noble tradition of horse racing (the St Leger) and other centres of sporting excellence. There are prosperous suburbs and sprawling housing estates, areas of multi- cultural vitality and of stark socio-economic deprivation. These are the communities we seek to serve with the Good News of what God has done for the world in the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are looking to appoint a Canon Precentor with a strong sense of vocation, a person of faith and hope and love in God, a person with a sense of adventure, unafraid of failure and reliant on the grace of the Holy Spirit. I assure you of my prayers as you consider whether God is calling you to serve here.

With every blessing,

The Right Reverend Dr Pete Wilcox The

We enclose an introduction to the Diocese in our application pack, and you can read the Diocesan strategy in full at www.sheffield.anglican.org

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our history

The Cathedral building tells the story of Sheffield, from its origins in the early 12th century when William de Lovetot built the first Church on this site, through the town’s development and growth over the centuries, to the vibrant and diverse city it is today. The sanctuary, the most easterly part of the Cathedral, dates to the Norman church that stood here. The chevron stonework of the original church can still be identified on the east wall, although it is thought that the Norman church was destroyed in the 13th century and stone was reused by the stonemasons building the church here in c.1430.

The chancel, tower and spire completed the medieval parish Church in the early 15th century, built in the perpendicular style typical of many English churches. The tower and spire of the church has dominated the Sheffield skyline for six hundred years. The chancel houses the beautifully carved canons’ stalls and the cathedra, the seat of the Bishop—this was designed by Sir Charles Nicholson in the 1930s. The roof of the chancel features gilded angels which date from the medieval church, although their wings were added in the 1960s.

The church was granted cathedral status in 1914, and we are proud that we still retain our parish, and remain the Parish Church of Sheffield. When we became a cathedral, plans were drawn up to extend the building. In the 1930s the building was extended to the North with the addition of the Crypt Chapel of All , the Chapel of the Holy Spirit and St George’s Chapel (this would have been the Sanctuary of a much larger and re-orientated Nave). This extension also included the addition of the processional corridor and Chapter House. The plans would have seen the extension of the Cathedral out across the Cathedral Square to where the tram stop is now located, however the outbreak of the Second World War halted the plans and they were never resumed. The curious result is that the interior of the Cathedral is, like the Tardis, much larger than it looks from outside, and there are many quirky chapels for visitors to explore.

Over the last 15 years there has been further redevelopment to make this ancient building suited for its modern-day purposes. In 2007, the Community Resources Centre (CRC) was opened. The facilities include a suite of meeting rooms, our coffee shop, and a social care centre for the Cathedral Archer Project (see below). This was the first phase of larger plans to re-structure the Cathedral which were completed in 2013. The Gateway Project included the building of a new entrance, the renewal of the Cathedral heating and lighting systems, new flooring and redecoration, and replacing the pews with movable benches. Our new light and flexible interior offers us many new opportunities

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the cathedral today

Sheffield Cathedral is before all else the mother Church of the Diocese of Sheffield. The Diocese has a population of 1.4 million, covering most of South Yorkshire and parts of the East Riding of Yorkshire, but centred around the commercial and industrial districts of Sheffield, Rotherham,, Barnsley and Doncaster. The Cathedral sits at the southern-most point of the Diocese and despite the geographic distance, the Cathedral remains connected to parishes across the Diocese.

The Cathedral Chapter and congregations understand that our vocation is to be “a place for all people,” echoing the words of Christ (Matthew 21.13, Mark 11.17). We emphasize inclusion and hospitality in all that we do. So, for example, the Cathedral has for many years hosted a large social care project founded by members of the congregation, the Cathedral Archer Project.

We are also called, in the words of Jeremiah, “to work for the prosperity of the city where I have sent you” (29.7). Therefore, we emphasize that the particular vocation of an urban cathedral is to look outwards, to engage new people in our worship and life. This has led to our particular emphasis on public engagement in the new Precentor’s role.

We receive over 250,000 visitors per year. Around 10% of our visitors come to share in our daily worship, with an average Sunday morning eucharist attendance of 165, and weekday evensong attendance of 32. The Cathedral’s worship reflects the richness of , its sacramental ministry and choral tradition. Around 20% of those who visit come to use our coffee shop and gift shop. The remaining visitors come to experience the heritage of our ancient building, to enjoy the stillness of this sacred space, or to participate in the many activities on offer.

The Cathedral is open every day, and in recent years our approach to visitors has been transformed. There are always welcomers and guides on duty to greet visitors and support them as they journey through the Cathedral. Visits are enhanced by regularly changing exhibitions. Our successful shop has a wide range of gifts on sale, and many local products. Our coffee shop has regularly won awards for being the most welcoming coffee shop in the City, and for providing the best coffee.

We have a weekly programme of activities, from heritage talks and specialist tours to recitals, concerts and exhibitions. We work closely with Sheffield City Council and Sheffield’s two universities to engage with local festivals such as the Festival of the Mind and Off the Shelf. Recently, we have had a Sheffield University philosopher in residence.

The Cathedral Nave is regularly hired for banquets, receptions and other events. Chapter has fully embraced the need to generate income from new sources to ensure that the work of the Cathedral is to be sustainable in the longer term. We are fortunate that a large local trust offers regular support to the Cathedral with a particular focus on our music.

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the cathedral archer project

The CAP helps homeless people achieve a better life by supporting them to: • Develop their independence • Improve their ability to tackle setbacks • Improve their ability to identify and change negative behaviour • Improve their wellbeing

In the project, we get to know people because we want them to realise that they can trust us to help them. When people trust us they are more willing to take part in activities and seek individual support to address their issues. Typically issues will include: • Lack of accommodation • Broken family relationships • History of offending • Poor mental and physical health • Substance misuse

You can find out more about the project at www.archerproject.org.uk

safeguarding

We have worked hard for many years to make the Cathedral a safe place for everybody, and we believe that we have the systems in place to ensure that we respond to any concerns in a timely and thorough manner. Our record keeping is up to date, and we have a regular programme of training for , staff, and volunteers. Our safeguarding is supported by the half-time Cathedral Safeguarding Officer, and very close working with the Diocesan safeguarding team.

In common with all English , we were recently audited by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). You can read the SCIE audit report on the Cathedral website. There was plenty for us to learn, but it is encouraging that SCIE found areas of good practice which we are sharing with colleagues elsewhere.

Chapter has developed an implementation plan to embed the findings of the audit fully in our work. Every member of Chapter is responsible for safeguarding, but our hope is that the new Precentor will lead on safeguarding for Chapter.

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our strategic direction

The Chapter has recently reaffirmed our strategic direction, and we see these three themes as guides for our development. discipleship We are called to be a centre of worship and mission at the heart of our Diocese, and therefore we will resource our growing congregations through offering worship, prayer, deepening our common discipleship, and offering a comprehensive range of opportunities to learn about our faith. In all this work, we will seek to use to the full the many gifts and skills of members of our congregations to form a community which is confident in looking outward and sharing responsibility as widely as possible. engagement Our distinctive calling in Sheffield is to be “a place for all people” and to “work for the welfare of the city.” Therefore we are committed to the Cathedral Archer Project, to welcoming visitors and helping them become supporters of the Cathedral, to offering a varied programme of events to serve our City and Diocese, to developing our hospitality business so that our mission will be financially secure, and to communicating our work effectively. At the heart of all that we do is our calling to share the Gospel winningly with the whole community. sustainability To serve our community well, and to meet the challenges set by our many stakeholders, we will plan carefully to use our resources effectively, to seek a balance between new developments in our hospitality business and our other work, and to ensure that the contributions of all who work here, paid and unpaid, are valued and used effectively. In accordance with the commitments of the Church of England, we will maintain a particular focus on our environmental sustainability, and ensure that all that we do is in accordance with all regulatory requirements, such as safeguarding and health and safety legislation.

This strategy is already shaping our work. For example, Chapter has committed to a major arts programme which will engage the population of the City and region in a new way. For the next three years we will offer a major event each spring, autumn, and winter.

In collaboration with Luxmuralis, we held our first event in December 2019, The Angels are Coming. Over five evenings, we welcomed 11,500 people into the Cathedral to experience the story of Christmas through light, art, and sound. Preparation is well advanced for our second event in March this year, and we have begun planning for this autumn and winter. This three-year project sits at the heart of our vision for mission whilst also strengthening our capacity to generate income to further develop our ministry.

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our current pattern of worship

sundays BCP Holy Communion is celebrated at the High Altar at 8.00. The Cathedral Eucharist is at 10.30, a sung service sung with a setting in English or Latin is celebrated. All sung Eucharists are led by a priest, , and lay person taking the traditional role of . The congregation value this model, in which lay and ordained people always visibly share together in leading worship.

BCP Evensong is sung at 16.00, except during holidays, when Common Worship Evening Prayer is said with .

Special service booklets containing the whole service including hymns are produced for the 10.30 and 16.00 services each Sunday. These are appreciated by the congregations, and are an important element in helping people feel fully included in our worship. weekdays Morning and evening prayer from Common Worship Daily Prayer are said every day in the Cathedral chancel at 8.45 and 16.30. There is a daily Common Worship Eucharist at 12.30, except on Wednesday when Holy Communion according to the Book of Common Prayer is celebrated at 10.30.

Our weekday pattern has included BCP Choral Evensong on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, in place of said Evening Prayer. Following our music and worship review, we have reduced the number of sung services to allow for the introduction of new repertoire and the recruitment of a large number choristers. We currently sing BCP Evensong on Tuesdays, and Compline on Fridays at 17.30. festivals Major festivals are kept with a sung Common Worship Eucharist with incense at 17.30. During Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, and then in Holy Week we offer the richest experience of worship we can, using the building and to the full. There are several high points in the year which are especially popular with the congregation and the wider community, such as our candlelit carol services, and a Sung Eucharist with orchestra on Easter Day.

The Chrism Eucharist, and all ordinations in the Diocese take place in the Cathedral, including ordinations by the and the Bishop of Maidstone. serving the community

Like all cathedrals, we hold many acts of worship for groups in the wider community. Some of these are fixed points in the year, such as the annual service for the Installation of the Master Cutler, a memorial service for South Yorkshire Police, and a commemoration of those who died in HMS Sheffield; others are offered to mark particular community or national observances, such as the 75th anniversary of the National Health Service. Often we have to respond very quickly to requests such as hosting a funeral for a national figure.

A Russian Orthodox community, who do not have a church building, meet monthly in the Cathedral to celebrate the Liturgy.

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a new vision for our worship and music

The Music Department includes the Master of Music, the Assistant Master of Music, an organ scholar, singing teachers, the lay clerks, the choral scholars, and boy and girl choristers. There is currently a part-time music administration officer. There is a team of parent chaperones, and a programme of social activities for choir children.

The Precentor is also supported by a part-time liturgy administration officer, and has oversight of the liturgical work of our three vergers, led by the Dean’s Verger. There are enthusiastic teams of servers, bell ringers, readers and intercessors, and flower arrangers.

Chapter has recently held a comprehensive review of all our worship and music, and we are waiting for the appointment of a Precentor before we settle on a longer-term pattern for our worship.

There are many choices to be made: should we develop a choir of students, which could sing regularly for a Eucharist at lunchtime? Is a flexible and varied pattern of sung services better suited to our needs than daily Evensong? What is the best model for a specifically urban cathedral? Should we be offering regular opportunities for laying on of hands and anointing for healing? Discerning the way forward will require experiment and flexibility to our changing circumstances, but there is strong support from Chapter, our congregations, and musicians for this journey.

Note that Chapter is entirely committed to the long-term provision of music in the cathedral tradition. The Cathedral does not currently have a pipe organ. The previous organ was taken out of use twenty years ago, and was beyond economic repair; we are now using an electronic organ. It is Chapter’s firm intention to build a pipe organ worthy of the building and our liturgy, and we believe that this is fully achievable. The Dean and the Development Manager will lead on fundraising—the Precentor is not expected to raise money for the organ—but of course we hope that our new colleague will want to help where they can, and will have a key role with the Master of Music in planning and commissioning the new instrument.

In the meantime, we make a virtue out of necessity and are experimenting with different musical forces. Major services are regularly accompanied by a professional brass ensemble; local brass bands play regularly; we have hired a chamber organ to support new renaissance and baroque repertoire; we bring in a professional orchestra at Easter. Our musicians want to work with the new Precentor to develop new approaches to using music in worship here.

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Within this search for a new vision, Chapter has discerned three particular priorities to inform the work of the new Canon Precentor: team We want to develop a strong team culture. We have found that that there is a real appetite from many people—such as the parents of children in the choirs, and members of the regular congregation--to work together more closely, and we hope to integrate the liturgy and music teams fully within the whole Cathedral mission. imagination Chapter, our congregations, and staff have come to a common mind that within the current pattern of the daily office, the daily Eucharist and our regular sung services, it is now the right time to become more experimental, to build new communities of faith, and to develop our musical life in new ways. We are asking the new Precentor to look at all that we do with fresh eyes, and bring imagination and creativity to our whole liturgical life.

We recognize that this will need experimentation – some of which will work, some of which will not – and we seek a colleague with the vision, people skills, and adaptability to lead us through this change. Rather than simply replicating cathedral traditions from elsewhere, good though they are, we are looking to develop a new model of liturgy for a contemporary urban cathedral. community engagement

We see many new opportunities for serving the wider community, and for drawing that community into our worship. Many institutions look to us for support and leadership, not least because of our strong ethic of inclusion, and are asking for us to hold services for them. Our hope is that the new Precentor will be proactive, will welcome our diverse communities here, will learn in depth their needs and hopes, and so through our worship and music help us to share the Gospel winningly with everyone we meet.

ministerial colleagues

Other than the Precentor, there are currently two stipendiary clergy on the cathedral staff, and we benefit from the service of many self-supporting clergy. We have two minor canons who are also Church Army officers, a third , a Church Army officer who is our Honorary Evangelist, and two lay readers. There is a further team of retired clergy who offer us their time and expertise, not least as duty chaplains.

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our governance

The new Precentor will play a full part in the governance of the Cathedral as a member of Chapter.

Chapter is chaired by the Dean and meets monthly. The Chief Operating Officer is in attendance. Chapter is supported by the Cathedral Executive Team comprising the Dean and Residentiary Canons, the Chief Operating Officer and the Master of Music. The CET meet weekly to discuss operational matters and implement Chapter’s strategy.

The Fabric Advisory Committee meets three times a year, and is the cathedral equivalent of the DAC. The FAC reports to the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England, and with several specialist members advises Chapter on all aspects of care for the building. We hope that the new Precentor will serve on the FAC.

The Cathedral Safeguarding Management Group advises Chapter on safeguarding matters, and assists in the implementation of safeguarding policies and training. We hope that the Precentor will serve on this group with the Master of Music, as safeguarding is so fundamental to our work with choristers and servers.

There is a congregational life committee—our equivalent roughly of a PCC—on which the Precentor sits ex officio. We have recently set up a choir parents committee which is making a real contribution to our shared life.

The Cathedral will be participating in the national peer review scheme for cathedrals (which the Dean himself chairs) this coming summer. The new cathedrals measure will introduce some changes into how cathedrals are run, and the Precentor will be able to contribute to the process of developing new statutes and governance structures and routines for Sheffield.

The College of Honorary Canons form part of the cathedral foundation, but it is fair to say that we are looking for ways to engage Honorary Canons more, and to draw them fully into our life and mission. The new statues will, we believe, give us opportunities do to this.

There has been some ill-informed comment about the role of residentiary canon being downgraded in the new legislation. The proposed measure in fact retains the seniority of these posts. Nevertheless, and for the avoidance of all doubt, the Bishop and Dean wish to stress that they both see the Canon Precentor as holding a senior role in the Cathedral and Diocese.

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role description for the canon precentor

responsible to The responsible for leading the provision of Cathedral liturgy with the support of the clergy, the Canon Precentor’s Administration Officer, the Vergers led by the Dean’s Verger, and many other teams in the Cathedral such as the servers and the stewards.

leading the Music department through the Master of Music, with the support of the Assistant Master of Music, the organ scholar, the singing teachers, the lay clerks, the choral scholars, and the choir parents.

being the Chapter and operational lead for safeguarding, with the support of the professional Cathedral Safeguarding Officer, and other colleagues. overview to provide motivational and inspirational leadership of the Cathedral’s liturgy and music teams, ensuring that we offer a quality of liturgy and music commensurate with our role as a Cathedral in a major city.

as a confident team member, to work with colleagues to deepen stakeholders’ experience of the Gospel through the worship and life of the Cathedral, with a particular focus on stakeholders in the wider community

with the Dean and Vice Dean, to support congregational development, pastoral care, and spiritual formation, so that the Cathedral is a vibrant community of worshippers in service to the Bishop, the Diocese, and our City. key responsibilities

participate fully in the governance of the Cathedral, through membership of Chapter and its committees, in particular the Cathedral Safeguarding Management Group.

take responsibility for the provision of all liturgy in the Cathedral, developing an approach to our worship which embodies the dignity, warmth, excellence, diversity, and quality of English cathedral worship.

plan and oversee daily and Sunday services, in consultation with the Dean and other colleagues, and responding to requests for special events or services, whether civic, community, county, episcopal, or diocesan

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develop liturgical resources for use in regular Cathedral services and in the planning of special services, ensuring the highest standard of presentation of all orders of service lead the Cathedral’s Music and Liturgy Department with overall responsibility for its budget, including the line-management and annual appraisal of the Master of Music, supporting him/her in their leadership of the Music Department develop and sustain strong relationships with Diocesan colleagues, and with external stakeholders such as the Lord Lieutenant, the High Sheriff, the Master Cutler, the Regional Mayor, and other community leaders and groups who wish to worship in the Cathedral in keeping with the vision, ethos, and values of the Cathedral, lead by example in developing and sustaining a positive culture of openness, helpfulness, and cooperation in all these teams and department take a full part in preaching and teaching within the life of the Cathedral and responding to invitations from parishes. share in the pastoral care of the Cathedral community with other members of the clergy team, taking prime pastoral responsibility for the spiritual and pastoral support of the Cathedral Choir and chorister parents ensure that the Cathedral is accessible to all, provides a safe and welcoming environment, underpinned by the highest standards of safeguarding for adults, young people and children

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person specification for the canon precentor essential be six years in priest’s orders in the Church of England, or in a church in full communion with the Church of England

be committed to daily prayer with a worshipping community, and be nourished by the Cathedral’s choral and sacramental tradition.

be an able preacher, and show a passion for communicating the Gospel

demonstrate the theological understanding and imagination to interpret the Cathedral’s mission through the music and liturgy programme, and to achieve the highest professional standards of music and worship

be musically literate, and well-informed about the role of music in worship

be able to demonstrate a record of strategic leadership and successful delivery of change as a priest in a larger parish with civic responsibilities, or in an earlier career where leadership has been demonstrated with a diverse range of stakeholders, including volunteers

be able to relate well to people of differing church traditions and spiritualities, and to offer worship which will engage them

be a skilled builder of relationships, able to work confidently and sensitively with the civic leaders of this major city where the Cathedral is properly subject to public scrutiny

has personal qualities of openness, resilience, flexibility, organisation, and planning

desirable an ability to sing the priest’s part in services confidently is certainly desirable, but candidates who are not strong singers—or who cannot sing at all—should not be discouraged from applying. Imagination and team leadership are much more important in this role than ability to sing.

safeguarding demonstrate a commitment to work within the Church of England’s Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of the Clergy

show experience of implementing the Church of England’s safeguarding policies

receive a satisfactory enhanced DBS clearance.

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additional information

The appointment is subject to the satisfactory reception of an enhanced DBS clearance. The appointment will be made under common tenure by the Bishop of Sheffield, after consultation with the Dean, and having due regard to the role and person specifications agreed by Chapter. The current stipend for a Canon Residentiary in Sheffield is £28,052. Agreed removal expenses and an ingoing grant will be paid. A mobile telephone is supplied for the use of the Precentor. All working expenses are fully met. It is the expectation of the Bishop that the Cathedral clergy will take an annual retreat, and regular opportunities for professional development. The costs will be met fully by Chapter. Chapter contributes to a health insurance policy for the Dean and Canons.

housing

The house for the Canon Precentor is a substantial semi-detached Victorian house. The house is in an attractive suburb close to the city centre, and near several excellent independent and state schools. On the ground floor there is a drawing room, a dining room, a wc, and a modern fitted kitchen; on the first floor there is a larger bedroom with an en suite shower and wc, a further bedroom and a bathroom with wc; on the second floor, there are two further bedrooms. There is a small private garden in front of the house, and a patio to the rear with a small outhouse. The Cathedral has set aside funds to redecorate the public areas in the house, and to provide some new carpets. We will do this work in consultation with the new Canon. how to apply

Please apply on the application form provided with this pack, or on the Cathedral website, www.sheffieldcathedral.org Note that applications which are not on this application form cannot be considered. Applications should be emailed to [email protected] by noon on 23 March. All applications will be acknowledged on the next working day following receipt. In addition, a signed set of papers should be sent to Nicola Burgin, Sheffield Cathedral, Sheffield, S1 1HA. You should email your papers by noon on 23 March, but it is perfectly acceptable to post your signed papers on the same day. 21 February 2020

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