The Joint Benefice of St. Mary's & St. Thomas'

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Contents Page

➢ Cover ………………………………………………………………………… 1 ➢ Aspiration ………………………………………………………… 2 ➢ Introduction ………………………………………………………………. 4 ➢ Vision …………………………………………………………………………. 4 ➢ Location ……………………………………………………………………… 4 ➢ Datchet and Colnbrook Towns ………………………………….. 5 ➢ Our Strengths and Vulnerabilities ……………………………… 5 ➢ Mission Action Plans ………………………………………………. 7 ➢ Our New Vicar …………………………………………………………… 8 ➢ Ministry Support ……………………………………………………….. 9 ➢ Mission and Outreach – Youth …………………………………. 10 ➢ Mission and Outreach – Community ……………………….. 13 ➢ Prayer and Worship ………………………………………………….. 14 ➢ St Mary’s Services ……………………………………………………… 15 ➢ St Thomas’ Services………………………………………………...... 16 ➢ Lay Leadership …………………………………………………………… 17 ➢ Stewardship ……………………………………………………………….. 18 ➢ Person Specification ………………………………………………. 20 ➢ Vicarage …………………………………………………………………….. 21 ➢ Contact Details ………………………………………………………….. 22 ➢ Buildings ……………………………………………………………………. 23 ➢ Barker Bridge House Trust ………………………………………… 24 ➢ Church Community Centre ………………………………………. 24 ➢ Communities and Schools ………………………………………… 25 ➢ Appendix 1 Diocesan Information …………………………….. 27 ➢ Appendix 2 Burnham and Deanery ……………… 28 ➢ Appendix 3 Accounts ………………………………………………… 30

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Introduction

Thank you for looking at our joint Parish Profile. We hope this Parish Profile will help you decide whether God is calling you to help serve in our Parishes. Although in the past we have functioned as two separate parishes; since the vacancy we have been able to work more closely together and are looking forward to developing this. We have two locations but one supportive Church community which is looking for a welcoming Vicar to fuse the traditional with the contemporary. We are excited about the future and potential of our spiritual family here at St Mary’s and St Thomas and look forward with open hearts, to welcoming our new leader.

Our Vision To work collaboratively with a 21st century thinker and doer, who can help us continue to grow and develop the Christian message in our parishes in innovative and imaginative ways.

“I have a dream” - Martin Luther King “Let the little children to come unto me” - Matthew 19:14 “Be strong and courageous” - Joshua 1:9 “Fear not for I am with you” -. Isaiah 41:10 “For with God nothing shall be impossible” - Luke 1:37 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” - Philippians 4:13 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” - Hebrews 13:8 “Love your neighbour as yourself” - Mark 11:31

We put our hearts and souls into our Churches and into this Parish Profile. Will you join with us?

Location

Datchet and Colnbrook are two large villages situated between the M4 and the

River Thames. Datchet has a population of around 5000 and Colnbrook about 6500. The Parishes were united as a Benefice in 2006 and although geographically separated, only touching at the roundabout by junction 5 on the M4, they are continuing to explore their shared vision, ministry and mission. The distance from one end of Datchet to the other end of Colnbrook is approximately five miles.

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Datchet is a pretty village on the banks of the Thames. St Mary’s Church is in the heart of the village overlooking the traditional village green with a war memorial and surrounded by a number of listed buildings. Our Church is an active part of a thriving village community, with our hugely popular annual pantomime and volunteer-run coffee shop “The Bridge”. Datchet is located some three miles from Windsor & Slough, and The village and St Mary’s steeple seven miles from . There are excellent rail connections into London from both Datchet and Slough. St. Mary’s Church has 130 people on the electoral role, with perhaps 120 people who could be considered ‘regulars’. Our young people proudly take an active role in our services and enjoy coming to Church. Also noteworthy is the number of skilled individuals who give their time and talents to the Church in many different ways.

Colnbrook St Thomas’ sits centrally to the village in a quiet, leafy location and a wonderful tranquil quiet garden with Glebe land fields, all maintained by volunteers. While the vicar lives in the vicarage in Datchet, we are fortunate to have the Area Dean, the Reverend Rod Cosh, living in Colnbrook.

Colnbrook has a ‘village feel’. Although due to the proposed and now with the Government approval of the third runway at Heathrow Airport, the makeup of the village may alter further. There are now more buy to let properties and changes in the population. We are aware of the massive investment and infrastructure that will come into our area and the challenges and opportunities that will require innovative and imaginative responses. We have made good links with the Polish St Thomas’ Church community and have begun ministry among them. The parish backs onto Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport and is therefore home to a number of industrial businesses.

At St Thomas the term ‘church family’ is often used to describe the atmosphere of our small congregation. There are currently thirty people on our electoral roll. We are pleased to be known as a welcoming and inclusive church, but we are not complacent. Small in number, big in heart and hard workers, we are a flexible congregation, ready to embrace change and to continue to serve with whoever God sends.

Our Strengths

❖ Both St Mary’s and St Thomas’ are paying consistently more than our share of ministry costs, thereby supporting ministry in other parishes.

❖ Welcoming, active, committed congregations in both parishes. ❖ Three schools in Datchet, including a secondary C of E school and 2 schools in Colnbrook. ❖ Significant number of mature/experienced Christians who are playing key roles in lay leadership. 5

❖ An open community - people come to us via natural touch points, including the Schools and Scouts. ❖ Good relationships and shared ministry with other local churches in both Colnbrook and Datchet.

❖ Well-maintained, sound historic Church buildings and a modern Church hall: no fundraising needed. ❖ St Thomas’ has a part-time children and family worker.

❖ There is an impressive choir at St Mary’s with a paid choirmaster & organist. ❖ Well established and popular bible study and Lent groups run in both Parishes.

❖ Over the past three years a successful Alpha course has run annually in Datchet at The Bridge Café supporting both villages.

❖ There is a ‘Quiet Garden’ linked to the grounds of St Thomas’.

❖ With a remarkable number of talented singers and actors, of all ages, St Mary’s puts on a successful annual pantomime.

❖ Significant income is generated from the use of St Thomas’ and St Mary’s facilities, particularly the new Church Community Centre in Datchet, which is actively used by the Church and village for classes and functions.

❖ The Barker Bridge House Trust pays for all the running costs of the building of St Mary’s.

❖ Up-to-date accounts and sound financial procedures in both parishes. Our vulnerabilities

❖ Currently stalled numbers within our congregations.

❖ Unsure of our roles within the joint benefice.

❖ Need to increase levels of planned giving at both St Thomas and St Mary’s

St Mary’s Choir Tea and coffee in St Mary’s Church Community Centre

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Mission Action Plans

Our two parishes have a commitment to growth and offer huge potential. We welcome constructive change and have a strong desire to work collaboratively. Both Churches are keen to build their congregations and work hard at collaborative and meaningful action plans.

St. Thomas’ vision is twofold:

❖ to be a place of celebration and worship of God. ❖ to serve the community of Colnbrook.

In the last three years St Thomas’ Church has been developing its Mission Action Plan, the top level of which is shown above. St Thomas’ reviews, updates and notes progress on its mission statement at each PCC meeting. Their thoughts and forward planning are brought together at the annual Away Day at Burnham Abbey.

St Marys agreed a new three year, 3-strand vision in 2016. The overall vision statement is: “Rooted in Christ, reaching out to his world”, and the 3 strands are: ❖ Increasing our faith, going deeper with God. ❖ Creating a vibrant Christian community centred on Jesus. ❖ Making a difference locally and beyond in the power of the Spirit.

At St Mary’s there is a specially constituted Leadership Team, responsible for implementing the initiatives arising from the Mission Action Plan. The banners in St Marys remind the congregation of the MAP. 7

Our New Vicar

We are looking for someone who is: -

❖ Reliable ❖ Resilient ❖ Collaborative ❖ Competent ❖ Cares about people as well as God ❖ Compassionate ❖ Willing to be seen in the community ❖ Able to empathise.

Support we will both offer

❖ The strongest support we can offer, is our friendship, fellowship, time and talents and commitment to maintaining St Thomas and St Mary’s as sanctuary central to village life.

❖ We recognise that a Vicar has a personal life as well as community responsibilities. We shall provide support in all areas of your ministry.

❖ We will encourage you to take your weekly day off and your annual holidays.

❖ We will pay ministry expenses in full and encourage you to take an annual retreat.

St Thomas’ Quiet Garden, an oasis of peace 8

Ministry Support

Our Parishes are supported by:

The Reverend Rod Cosh: our full-time Area Dean who is also licenced to the parish and based at Colnbrook.

Suzanne Johnson: is the Licensed Lay Minister for both Datchet and Colnbrook. Since 2009, Suzanne has been working collaboratively with the Vicar, Retired Priest and the Area Dean, leading worship and conducting funerals. Suzanne has led Said Matins at 8am for a number of years, and leads nurture courses, home and study groups. Pastorally she supports the congregation and wider community as much as possible and has taken services in a local nursing home. Suzanne is now a final year ordinand at Ripon College, Cuddesdon which has meant she has reduced her parish commitments recently. Suzanne will be ordained deacon at Petertide 2019. Both St Mary’s and St Thomas has fully supported and encouraged Suzanne throughout her vocational journey.

The Reverend Robert Spicer: Is a retired Self-Supporting Minister with permission to Officiate, currently aged 78. Robert currently takes a number of services, at St Mary’s perhaps once each month - Wednesday Communions, Eton House Residential Home, Sunday 8am BCP Communion, and the occasional 9.30am Main Sunday Communion service. He also takes Home Communions to parishioners and is available for home visiting. Robert also takes occasional services at St Thomas

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Colnbrook Church Wardens: Jenny Gregg Jenny has been Church Warden at St Thomas’ for seven years and has been associated with St Thomas since the 1980’s to present with a break for a few years. She’s had a long connection with the Church, some happy and some sad personal occasions. Jenny says “Our Church is a happy, friendly and kind Church with very loyal people, whom I am very lucky to count among my friends”

David Shields Coming back to the Church after being absent for many years, David has attended St Thomas now for nearly ten years and says he has grown spiritually at this beautiful peaceful Church. He has been Church Warden for four years now. David has also been appointed Lay Chair for our Deanery Synod.

Datchet Church Wardens:

Elaine Eastham Elaine has been attending St Mary’s for around ten years and has been Church Warden for four years. she looks forward to supporting the new vicar. Sandra Robinson Sandra has been attending St Mary’s for the past ten years and has been a Church Warden for the last two. she has British and Australian citizenship: and grew up in Australia and came to live here 20 years ago. Sandra hugely appreciates the warm welcome - her children in particular - have been given at St Mary’s and enjoys being part of an active, welcoming Church.

Parish Administration

Fiona Norton Started working as the Parish Administrator at St. Mary’s Church in March 2007, so has now been the Parish Administrator for eleven years. Fiona works eleven hours a week over two days, i.e. Wednesday and Friday. and occasionally does work for St. Thomas’ in Colnbrook. There is possible scope for this support to be increased across the Benefice.

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Mission and Outreach

Young People

Our work with young people is seen as a major strength and focus for the future by the clergy and laity of both Churches. Datchet has three schools, Churchmead C of E (secondary) school, Datchet C of E Primary School, and Eton End, an independent preparatory school. Colnbrook has two primary schools, Pippins and Colnbrook Church of Primary.

There is a common vision between St Thomas and St Mary’s to strengthen and increase the bonds between Churches, schools and young people:

During the many meetings and discussions during the compilation of this, our joint profile, it became clear that both churches have a distinct common vision, in the words of Martin Luther King we have a dream, to reach out to the hearts and souls of our children within our local schools. They are and must be the future of our churches foundation.

❖ Assemblies in schools in both parishes are regularly taken by the Vicar.

❖ St Thomas’s Family & Children worker, John Collins, visits Colnbrook schools weekly for ‘hanging around ministry’ at lunchtime and also reads to the children in class.

❖ In 2017 several Colnbrook PCC members supported the school in a new initiative: The Prayer Space in Schools. They helped with sessions throughout the school to accompany leaders in classroom prayer station sessions over a week period.

❖ With the support of volunteers from St Mary’s prayer spaces were also successfully set up at both Churchmead and Datchet St Marys.

❖ Colnbrook pupils visit the Quiet Garden for a reflective walk, using a religious and spiritually based worksheet.

❖ Parishioners from both Churches work closely with Datchet and Colnbrook schools as governors, readers and mentors. 11

❖ The three schools in Datchet hold well-attended Christmas and Easter services in St Mary’s Church.

❖ Children from Datchet St Mary’s school are given active roles in special services, such as the nativity play, or the Mother’s Day service.

❖ At St Mary’s work with the young people who come to our Churches is a big priority, as our 8 - 12- year olds are strong in numbers. Currently their involvement in Church is warmly welcomed: several singing in the choir or are responsible for operating the PA system; they have roles in our annual Pantomime, they generally help to lead the monthly Family Services, and in other services they often lead prayers or do readings. There is currently discussion as to how we can provide regular provision for these young people, and a youth Alpha has been suggested.

❖ At St Mary’s Crèche (age 0 – 3 years) and Sunday School (age 3 – 12 years) meet every Sunday except when there is a Family Service. The children meet in the Church Community Centre and return to Church for Communion and Blessing.

❖ St Thomas’ has Fun On a Sunday Morning (FOSM) service on the third Sunday of every month, led by John Collins, our children and family worker and Jenny Gregg, our church warden. A small group meets each month to plan this service and share the tasks.

❖ St Thomas’ has an embryonic Sunday School which meets on the second Sunday of the month and this is also run by John our family worker and our Licenced Lay Minister Suzanne Johnson and other volunteers. Sunday School at St Thomas

❖ Colnbrook - Little Fishes every Friday from 10am to 11:30am. Our toddlers group meets in Church with parents or carers for play, refreshments and friendship, run by John Collins our family and children’s worker and volunteer helpers.

❖ In Colnbrook beavers, cubs and scouts meet twice weekly inside the Church and use the Church’s Glebe land for camping and games. For the first time they recently joined the congregation for the ‘Fun on a Sunday Morning’ service after their weekend summer camp, followed by lunch in the Church.

Fete day at Colnbrook Children enjoying a boat ride on the Flags of the Commonwealth – The afternoon of the St Mary’s parish Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations barbeque. at Colnbrook

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Community

❖ St Mary’s and St Thomas’ hosts a range of strongly supported community events – Remembrance Sunday, School Services, St Nicolas’ Faye, Colnbrook Fun Day’s Mothers’ Day Services, a fete with Churchmead, the Vicars’ tea party for local schools and a monthly communion service at Eton House. Both parishes work closely with the local organisations to plan special parish events.

❖ Most recently Colnbrook has celebrated the 800th Anniversary of Magna Carta, The Queens 90th birthday and commemorated the start of WW1. At each of these events there was a well-attended Church service and great community participation. “It is lovely to see the village organisations working together with this Church.”

❖ St Marys holds an annual summer barbeque for the town, held in a garden overlooking the Thames. This is always very well attended, even in the pouring rain!

❖ The Colnbrook Fun Day in 2017 included afternoon tea for the village in the Church grounds.

❖ The Alpha course run at St Mary’s was a most positive experience and a ‘continuing the journey’ course and several home groups provide valuable follow up.

❖ Our communication at both Churches with the local area is good, with a dedicated St Mary’s website, St Thomas’ with a weekly news sheet posted on its ‘A Church Near You’ website and both with Facebook pages, all kept up to date. St Mary’s have a Parish Magazine, ‘The Link’ which is distributed quarterly, free of charge, St Marys, The Bridge Café and The throughout the village. Royal Stag ❖ At Christmas St Thomas’ serves mulled wine and mince pies in the Church after carol singing around the village clock.

❖ ‘The Bridge’ coffee shop in Datchet is staffed by volunteers and hosts film nights as a form of outreach. This area is also available for hire.

❖ ‘The Bridge’ also has a room functioning as an ecumenical community centre, staffed by volunteers: Citizens Advice holds ‘drop-in’ meetings every month.

❖ The Link St Mary’s parish magazine is entirely put together by Church volunteers and is distributed free of charge to all the homes of Datchet.

St Mary’s Pantomime 2016 and 2017 13

Prayer and worship

Prayer

❖ At both St Thomas’ and St Marys prayer ministry, prayer partners and the Week of Accompanied Prayer (WAP) are valuable parts of our Church life.

❖ St Marys offers healing ministry as part of its Sunday service. At the end of all the Psalms at St Thomas ❖ St Thomas’ has an annual Away Day at Burnham Abbey: www.burnhamabbey.org. We join the Nuns for a service of Holy Communion and then spend time on reflection, discussion and planning.

❖ For the last two years St Thomas’ has taken part in the Pentecost Wave of Prayer.

❖ St Thomas’ had prayer stations in Church: some people supported the Area Dean as he sang his way in our Church through the whole of the psalms: some walked part of the way with the Area Dean as he visited every parish in the deanery.

A sunny day for a service at St Thomas

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St Marys Services

Services Time Style Average Attendance 2016/17 Sunday 08:00 Holy Communion 5 Sunday 09:30 Family Communion 56 Sometimes with Baptisms on the 1st Sunday; Family Service without communion on the 3rd Sunday; Sunday 18:30 Choral Evensong 20 Normally on the 3rd Sunday of each month (except August). Wednesday 11:00 Holy Communion Tuesday - Saturday 08:30 Daily Prayer held in the Church 5th Sunday only, Joint 9:30 or Holy Communion service with St Thomas 11am at

Venue alternative dates St Thomas The attendance figures are higher for special services

Weddings - 3 Baptisms - 13 Funerals - 10

St Mary’s Parish five-year average

St Mary’s - There is a flourishing Mother’s Union Group which meets monthly on the third Thursday of each month at 7.45 pm.

St Thomas - Carols in the cold then onto mulled wine and mince pies in the church Service at St. Mary’s 15

Colnbrook Services

Services Time Style Average Attendance 2016/17 Every Friday 08:30 Common Worship Order 7 Said Eucharist One 1st Sunday - Joint service 10:30 at Common Worship with 15 with the United Reform United Communion at St Thomas Church, alternate at our or 11:00 at St and United Reform their Church Thomas 2nd, 4th, 5th Sunday – 11:00 Common Worship order 24 Eucharist one with hymns and music 3rd Sunday - Fun on 09:30 Lay led family fun for 33 Sunday Children and adults, with songs games and prayers 5th Sunday only, Joint 09:30 or Holy Communion service with St Mary's 11am Venue alternative dates Every Friday – Little Fishes 10:00 to Play, refreshments & 6 Toddlers Group 11:00 Friendship The attendance figures are higher for special services

Weddings - 3 Baptisms - 2 Funerals - 5

St Thomas Parish numbers 2017

❖ St Thomas has strong links with the small congregation of the United Reform Church, based on Colnbrook High Street, and on the first Sunday of the month we have a joint service, alternating between the two Churches.

United Reform Church

❖ Each year, St Thomas hold a special service on Easter Saturday, Święconka, the Blessing of the Baskets which is extremely well supported by members of our Polish Community as well as regulars from our congregation.

Blessing of the Baskets Polish Service 16

The kitchen of the Church Community Centre, Datchet The night shelter in the Church Community Centre, Datchet

Lay Leadership Kitchen of the Church Community Centre, Datchet The night shelter at St Marys ❖ Both Churches are committed to the safeguarding care and nurture of everyone within our community. ❖ We have Safeguarding Policies in place and an appointed Safeguarding Officer and expect everyone to have the ability to work towards keeping children and vulnerable adults safe, both within the Church and outside it. ❖ The Leadership Team works to implement the Church’s Mission Action Plan. ❖ Several talented individuals assist us with our fundraising by arranging raffles and events such as musical evenings and fetes. ❖ Individuals responsible for our Church’s ‘mission and social responsibility’ foster links with the missions and charities which the Church supports. ❖ Pastoral care group leaders assist the Vicar with the care of members of the congregation and the wider parish. ❖ The Friends of St Mary’s provides financial and moral support for the work of St Mary’s in the community. ❖ Members of the congregation run a ‘night shelter’ through the winter months for the homeless. ❖ St Marys has a particularly talented flower arranger, who leads a willing team.

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Stewardship

St Thomas’ ❖ St Thomas has paid the Parish Share in full for the past five years (2012 – 2017) ❖ We are beginning to look at the Parish Giving Scheme to address our current low levels of planned giving. ❖ One of our strengths is the amount of time and talents that are given to the Church.

❖ For the last two years, since one of our Church Wardens retired from full time work, the Church has been open for much of the week. The major proportion of our unrestricted income goes toward paying the Parish Share. Voluntary giving on a regular basis via Gift Aid is our main source of income.

St Mary’s

❖ 45 people have now signed up to the new Parish Giving Scheme, with 62 regular givers

❖ St Marys is number two in the list of top six Churches giving via the Parish Giving Scheme, more than some bigger Churches.

❖ St Mary’s Church is paying consistently more than our share of ministry costs, thereby supporting ministry in other parishes. It paid £44,500 in 2017, and £4,627 went to ministry elsewhere.

❖ In 2017 St Mary’s paid £3,500 to seven different charities.

❖ The Steeple Restoration project was completed in early 2017, after a sum of approximately £100,000 was raised. The work was done to a high standard by Cliveden Conservation and the steeple has been made safe for 50 years or more.

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The Church Community Centre – party time! The Church Community Centre with concertina doors folded back

Church Community Centre, Datchet

St Mary’s repaired steeple St Mary’s restored steeple

St Mary’s choir processing through the village

St Thomas’ at the Apple Fair

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Person Specification

Worship ❖ You are comfortable with different types of worship styles and music (traditional and modern) and be keen to explore these where appropriate.

❖ You enjoy the active participation of children and young people in the life of the Church.

❖ You will evidence a deep prayer life and ability to draw on a wide range of spiritual resources.

❖ Able to work with the Eucharistic tradition of both St Mary’s and St Thomas’ and to further develop our services to reach and appeal to the community, by leading thoughtful all age worship. Leadership ❖ You are a confident team leader and team player, eager to work collaboratively across the Parish and beyond. Someone who can grasp the opportunities that God provides.

❖ You can think strategically and are not afraid of change and new initiatives.

❖ You have good communication skills and know how to motivate, facilitate and delegate.

❖ Someone who can develop and lead members of the congregation in lay ministry.

❖ A person who has a sense of humour or has an optimistic can-do attitude (to match our own) Preaching and Teaching ❖ You are an inspirational teacher, with skills in both explanatory and topical preaching, who will help us interpret the Bible and reveal its relevance to our everyday lives and circumstance.

❖ You have vision and energy and passion for reaching people with the good news of Jesus, whoever they are.

❖ You have a deep and mature personal Christian faith with a strong belief in the authority of Scripture.

❖ You are willing and able to encourage us all to grow in faith and spiritual maturity and to cultivate our own individual gifts.

❖ You will have the ability to find out where people are on their faith journey and accompany them. Community ❖ You help us develop our vision to serve our different communities.

❖ You help us to engage with people of all ages and backgrounds.

❖ You continue to engage actively with local schools.

❖ You work collaboratively with other churches and local associated groups (youth, scouting, education, spiritual)

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Vicarage – Parish Office and study

The Vicarage is a detached house, built approximately 30 years ago, and located in a quiet residential area to the rear of St Mary’s church in Datchet. It has a large ground floor study and a separate parish office, with a cloak room in the lobby. On the ground floor is an entrance lobby leading to a large family room and kitchen, a separate dining room and a utility room. Upstairs are the four bedrooms and two bathrooms. There is a large garden to the rear, space for up to seven cars in the front, and a garage. The vicarage is set back off London Road, with access via a single-track lane currently shared with two other properties. The parish office is separate from the main living area with its own entrance.

Vicarage from Large study Living room the rear

Kitchen

The Vicarage from the front The back garden

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Churches – contact details

St Mary’s Datchet Name of Parish: St Mary’s Church, Datchet Diocese: Oxford Deanery: Burnham & Slough Address: The Green, Datchet, , SL3 9JW Website: www.achurchnearyou.com/church/416/ Email: [email protected] Parish Office: (01753) 580467 ‘Our vision is to be rooted In Christ’ s

o Church Wardens w Elaine Eastham - 07960 859697 e c email: [email protected] a Sandra Robinson - 07765 043669 n Email: [email protected] r e a St Thomasc Colnbrook Name of Parish:h St Thomas’ Church, Colnbrook o Diocese: uOxford Deanery: Burnhamt & Slough Address: Vicaragei Way, Colnbrook, Berkshire SL3 n 0JY t Website: www.achurchnearyou.com/colnbrooko -st- thomas H Email: [email protected] com s ‘We are here to provide a place of worship and w celebration before god and to serve Christ in o the Community’ r l Church Wardens d ’ Jenny Gregg – 01753 792846 email: [email protected]

David Shields – 01753 681079 Mobile: 0751 388 3412 email: [email protected]

Children & Family Worker: John Collins: 0757 253 6475 Email:[email protected]

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Buildings

St. Thomas' Church is a well-maintained grade 2 listed building Designed by Benjamin Ferrey in the Early English Style and built between 1849 1852.

The latest Quinquennial inspection states that: -

“The Church and Churchyard is well maintained and is generally in a good condition” Gardening at St Thomas

“The majority of the defects listed in the last Quinquennial Inspection Report have been attended to and this is a testament to the dedication of the Church’s supporters”

Second World War memorial – within St Thomas

First World War memorial – within St Thomas

St Thomas’ Memorial Chapel consists of an Altar and Chapel area on the North side of the Church.

There is a large Church yard, which is now closed to burials but available for interment of ashes. For the last two years, since our Church Warden retired from full time work, the Church has been open for most of the week.

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Datchet Churchyard

St Mary’s Church, originally part of St Alban’s Abbey, originates from the thirteenth century. The Church fell into disrepair and was demolished and entirely rebuilt by the Victorians between about 1856 and 1864. Barker Bridge House Trust – Barker Bridge House Trust

Income is generated from the lease of the Royal Stag Public House, situated adjacent to the church, and a small sum from farm land rent. The trustees reimburse the PCC of St Mary’s for any expenditure incurred in respect of keeping the The Royal Stag Public House Church, including the Church Community Centre, in a good state of repair and condition. The income of the Trust was £37,200 (2016 - £22,400). The Church Branch Trustees made grants totalling £15,484 to the PCC for repair and maintenance to the Parish Church.

Church Community Centre, Datchet St Mary’s Church Community Centre, CCC for short, was built in 2014 after a huge fundraising drive. It is much appreciated by the congregation and is used every Sunday by the choir, Sunday School and the crèche, and for coffee and tea after the service. The CCC has a soundproof folding partition which can be used to divide the room allowing for two events to be held at the same time. It is also used by groups in the community, who make donations to the Church funds. The CCC has a kitchen, toilets (one disabled) and baby changing facilities.

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Village Communities

MP Adam Afriyie at the Magna Carta Day Colnbrook Gathering to process to St Thomas’ Church

Datchet proudly boasts its own village running, sailing, football, cricket & golf clubs, a Women’s Institute, a branch of the Royal British Legion, the Rotary Club of Windsor St George and an amateur theatre group. In addition, there is a library, village hall, Church Community Centre, green gym, recreational grounds and tennis courts all within walking distance. For young people there are Cubs, Scouts, Brownies and Sea Cadets.

Datchet has a predominately white ethnic makeup, with the next largest group being Asian or Asian British, making up 13% of the population. Social rented housing accounts for 15% of all households. Datchet also has a small travellers community, they are mainly settled in local authority housing or on the permanent traveller site. They use St Mary's for weddings, baptisms and especially funerals.

Colnbrook is a village in the unitary authority of Slough, Berkshire. It has formed part of the Colnbrook with parish since 1995, previously having been part of parish in . Colnbrook forms part of the Windsor constituency, and thus its local Member of Parliament is Adam Afriyie (Conservative).

Coaching inns were the village's main industry. Colnbrook's High Street was on the main London to Bath road and the turn off point for Windsor and was used as a resting point for travellers.

Cox’s Orange Pippin Colnbrook is also the place where Mr Richard Cox, first grafted the Cox's Orange Pippin, a cross between the Ribston Pippin and the Blenheim Orange. It is perhaps our most famous English Apple.

Poyle is a Hamlet of Colnbrook, it is mainly large industrial estate primarily serving the Heathrow market and offering high employment opportunities. However, its small housing area is still considered an area of mission.

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Where applicable images produced from the Ordnance Survey service. Images reproduced with kind permission of the Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

Colnbrook C of E Primary School Christian Values Aspiration, Resilience, Respect, Responsibility, Community, Compassion

Colnbrook Church of England School is a one form entry Primary and Nursery School serving the local community, current assemblies are taken by the Vicar or our Family & children worker, John Collins. The Church also hosts school services termly. John visits weekly for ‘hanging around ministry’ at lunchtime and also listens to children read. Several members of the PCC supported the school in a new initiative ‘Prayer Spaces in Schools’ to accompany leaders in Classroom prayer station sessions within the School over a week period. A member of our congregation is a school governor. During the year each class visits the Quiet Garden for a reflective walk, using a religious and spiritually based worksheet.

Pippins Primary School Pippins is a mixed foundation Primary School, with an age range of 3 -11 and an intake of 210. John Collins visits weekly for ‘hanging around ministry’ at lunchtime and also listens to children read. Pippins School also comes to the Church for special services several times per year and classes visit the The cross and hands at the centre of Quiet Garden for Nature studies and reflection time. St Thomas’ Quiet Garden

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Datchet Schools

Datchet St Mary’s School was founded by a past incumbent in the early Victorian period. Since then there has been a history of strong if sometimes eccentric links with the school, currently there is a very thriving relationship between school – pupils and staff, and Church – congregation and PCC. There is an active and innovative Governing Body.

Datchet St Mary’s School

Churchmead is a mixed 11-18 Church of England School welcoming students of all faiths. It a comparatively small Church of England secondary school (approximately 420), where students are valued as individuals. Representatives from different churches in Datchet, including St Marys, are on the governing body.

Appendix 1 - Diocesan Information The serves the mission of the Church in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. The Diocese comprises more than 600 parishes, with over 800 churches, serving a diverse population of more than 2 million people located in all types of settings. Due to the size and complexity of the Diocese, we have three Area Bishops who exercise considerable strategic & pastoral oversight for their Archdeaconries. The Bishop of Buckingham is the Right Rev’d Alan Wilson who has been the Area Bishop since 2003. With the appointment of the new Bishop of Oxford, the Right Revd Dr Steven Croft, a new common vision is emerging for the Diocese of Oxford … The vision addresses what kind of church we are called to be – A Christ-like Church. What are the marks of a Christ-like Church? To be the Church of the Beatitudes: • Contemplative • Compassionate • Courageous

It also asks what we are therefore called to do together. This is currently a work in progress, but is likely to cover the following strategic priorities:

• To make a bigger difference in the world and serve the poor. • To share our faith with adults, children and young people and grow the church in every place; rural, urban and suburban. • To plant new churches and congregations everywhere we can. • To serve every school in our community. • To put the discipleship of all at the heart of our common life and set God’s people free. • To celebrate and bless our largest, fastest growing city Milton Keynes. 27

These priorities will be supported centrally by resources, training, conferences, workshops, and much more. The diocese is inviting benefices and their priests to share a vision rather than demanding a response. It wants all its priests to flourish in ministry and to deepen their enjoyment of God. Alongside the emerging diocesan vision, the priorities and principles for the Buckingham Archdeaconry are set out in our Buckingham Mission Action Plan (see http://www.oxford.anglican.org/wp- content/uploads/2013/01/Bucks-Archdeaconry-Plan-0515.pdf) It is expected that all clergy appointed into the Archdeaconry of Buckingham will want to commit themselves to the Diocesan vision and Archdeaconry MAP and their strategic directions.

Appendix 2 -Burnham & Slough Deanery

The parish of Colnbrook is located within the Burnham & Slough deanery. Since the implementation of synodical government, the deanery has developed a strong sense of working together. Church tradition across the deanery is diverse and, like other deaneries of a similar size, we are enriched by the variety of worship that takes place daily and weekly within our thirty places of worship. The deanery is a mixture of rural, semi-rural and urban parishes with one formal LEP working together to build up the life of the church locally.

The Burnham & Slough deanery recognises the importance of outreach to the wider community and many of our parishes are actively engaged in mission activity that brings them into regular contact with the wider community. For example, we have strong links to the many schools in the area, including a number of Church of England schools, some of which are unique in terms of their student population. We also have strong links with our statutory and community service providers. Being part of a diverse community has given rise to some important inter-faith work, alongside some essential community development initiatives resulting from engagement with the Local Strategic Partnerships in Slough and .

Like all deaneries we respond to the changes that the National Church is facing at this time. Deanery re-organisation has brought us into four groupings of churches - three formal group ministries and one informal group of churches working together in the East of the deanery. Our total ministerial resources serve to lead these groups in their ministry and mission activity. This structure requires flexibility and for people to work much more collaboratively together. Needless to say, anyone new to the deanery would be expected to work within this structure and be part of this way of working.

Recently, we have appointed one incumbent to also be Mission Enabler for the Deanery. Her role is to support and encourage mission across the parishes. Another has been appointed to liaise with the large number of schools both church and state within the Jubilee group.

Below is shown numerically how our current ordained ministerial resources are deployed across the deanery.

Jubilee River Group Ministry Southern Group Ministry 5 Stipendiary Priests 4 Stipendiary Priests (One of these is half-time Deanery Mission Enabler 2 Associate Priests one is half-time school’s liaison for the Jubilee Group) 2 Curates in Training

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Northern Group Ministry Eastern Group of Churches 3 Stipendiary Priests (1 vacancy) 2 Stipendiary Priests 1 Associate Priest SSM 1 House for Duty Priest 1 House for Duty Priest 1 Curate in training

Permission to Officiate There are 10 PTOs currently assisting in the Deanery.

Deanery Post In 2013, the Deanery appointed its first full-time Area Dean.

Note: Our Licensed Lay Ministers (13 in number) work in our parishes/benefices/teams with two licensed to work across the whole of the deanery.

This deanery is an exciting place to exercise ministry and mission. Those who work here tend to stay for a number of years. The area covered by the deanery has a very diverse population. It has places of affluence as well as having wards that are some of the most deprived in the country. Because of this the deanery is one that throws up many challenges. Our local churches rise to these challenges, showing that they can respond to most things that come their way.

Are you being called to serve with the people of God here in this deanery?

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Appendix 3 – Accounts

St Mary’s Accounts

Income Unrestricted Restricted 2017 Total 2017 Total 2016 2017

Planned Giving 44,709 44,709 49,373 Donations 4,508 4,508 3,808 Donations – Link 1,000 Donations – 2,887 2,887 Church 3,792 Community Centre Collections in 4,445 4,445 Cash 3,106 Gift Aid 9,657 9,657 11,470 Friends of St Marys 1,000 Fundraising 4,193 4,193 4,819 Fundraising for 58,274 58,274 Steeple 90,648 Lunch Club 214 214 659 Book Stall 92 92 341 Fees – Weddings 2,849 2,849 etc 1,995 Advertising in 5,450 5,450 The Link 4,660 Refund from 15,484 15,484 15,550 BBHT Parish Share 1,220 Rebate TOTAL 73,553 79,208 152,761 193,445

Expenditure

Costs against 217 217 986 fundraising Governance 1,500 1,500 1,440 Costs Parish Activities 44,550 44,550 58,405 Deanery Share 747 747 597 External Giving 5,500 5,500 6,483

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Christmas 435 435 70 Charity Collections Link Expenses 4,452 4,452 5,067 Upkeep of 872 872 1,074 Services Organists salary 3,715 3,715 3,669 Relief Organist 240 240 80 Organist and 126 606 269 Choir Expenses Organ / piano 60 tuning Vicar’s expenses 930 930 1,293 Administration 1,892 1,892 2,511 Office telephone 695 695 541 Administration 5,788 5,788 5,526 Salary Parish Training 274 274 645 and Mission Youth Support 78 78 77 Insurance 3,439 3,439 4,068 premium – BBHT funded Church 2,164 2,164 1,645 Cleaning – BBHT funded Hall gas – 523 523 612 BBHT funded Electricity – 1,359 1,359 1,245 BBHT funded Water – BBHT 208 208 533 funded Church heating 4,794 4,794 3,582 oil – BBHT funded Churchyard 1,132 1,132 111 upkeep – BBHT funded Church 2,083 2,083 3,714 Maintenance – BBHT funded Steeple Project 51,310 51,310 109,512 TOTAL 83,260 56,242 139,501 213,845

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St Thomas Accounts

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