Welcome to the Benefice of the North-West Villages of Swannington, and The Diocese Welcome

Thank you for your interest in the role of Rector of the Benefice of St George’s Swannington, St Andrew’s Thringstone and St John the Baptist Whitwick. I am delighted that you are exploring the possibility of applying for this role and I want you know that there are many of us here in the Diocese of who are praying for you as you seek to discern God’s calling.

You can read more details of our Diocesan vision and strategy You will need to show us that you are open to learning, at www.leicester.anglican.org, but I want to highlight a committed to working humbly with other colleagues and couple of areas as you begin this exploration. above all, a person of deep faith and trust in God.

Firstly, as a key part of our diocesan strategy for growing If you find yourself both excited and daunted by the prospect the numbers of disciples, the depth of discipleship and of what we are doing in the diocese, then it could be that God growing our capacity to serve our communities, this role is calling you. Please read on, and talk with Archdeacon of will incorporate a local response with a diocesan wide , Venerable Claire Wood. Tel: 0116 261 5309 or commitment. As part of this strategy we have discerned email [email protected] God’s calling to establish 300 fresh expressions of church by 2030 (this equates to the number of existing ‘inherited’ I hope that I may have the opportunity of meeting you in the model churches). This is an ambitious calling, and will only be near future, but the meantime be assured of my prayers achieved through prayer, intentional investment of time and resources and a focus on equipping all baptised Christians Yours in Christ, to be sent out in mission. You will need to show us that you share this vision and commitment, and want to be part of a movement of people in mission.

Secondly, as we move forward in this endeavour, we don’t know how God will raise up the Pioneers and other ministers needed for the fresh expressions of church. We don’t know The Rt Revd Martyn Snow Bishop of Leicester how God will grow the culture of generous giving within the diocese to make this work sustainable for the long term. We don’t know exactly how we will train, equip and resource people for this new work. There is much that we don’t know and hence much that we will need to learn.

2 Who we are Health Provision Other Amenities/organisations

St George’s Swannington, St Andrew’s Thringstone and St There are two surgeries in the same health centre with a Scouting John the Baptist Whitwick is a Benefice of three parishes and pharmacy next door in Whitwick and other surgeries in the Tennis, bowls, croquet, table tennis forms part of the North-West Leicestershire Deanery. area which serve the three villages. Community Whitwick British Legion Hospital has outpatient clinics and provides respite and Swannington Community Centre We are part of the Diocese of Leicester and within the in-patient care. There are larger hospitals within the county Swannington and Thringstone Women’s Institutes Archdeaconry of Loughborough. and the neighbouring counties to the North and West and Whitwick Historical Society Loughborough has an urgent care centre. There are two Thringstone Chapel Gym residential care homes in Whitwick and two in Thringstone. Whitwick Weaving Mills Where we are Thringstone Chapel Gym There is plenty of choice for dental and optical services within The three villages are located within the National Forest North-West Leicestershire. including part of the ancient , an area of outstanding natural beauty. Although we are in a semi-rural location, we are well-served by road and rail links to all parts Shopping etc. of the country; close to Junction 23 of the M1 and Junction 13 of the A42/M42 to Birmingham. East Airport Whitwick and Thringstone have small supermarkets, post is within 20 minutes by car and a Skylink bus service is also offices, convenience stores and other small retail businesses available. Our nearest Railway stations are Loughborough, and food outlets, including a well-know fish and chip shop in Leicester, Tamworth and Parkway. Thringstone. Swannington has an Indian Restaurant but no shops. The whole benefice is within an easy commute of five major super-markets and a number of local , many of Schools and Colleges which serve meals.

Whitwick and Swannington have Church of primary schools and there are four other primary schools in the Social benefice as well as private schools in Loughborough. Our catchment area means that students have a choice of six Each village has its own recreation grounds. Whitwick has different secondary schools within a five-mile radius and a large park and separate leisure centre. Thringstone has there is also a SEN school on the same campus as two of an active social centre and community hub and the Miners’ these. Stephenson College offers courses in further education Centre and football ground. and practical subjects for year 10 and over.

3 Our Vision

Our Vision Realising our Vision

l Whatever activities our communities engage in, we want l There is a lot of new housing in all three villages and we people to think of the church as an integral part. want to reach incoming residents and make them aware l We feel that outreach will be served by the growing of the Christian presence within each community. closeness of the three churches as a benefice. l We aim to develop technology so that sermons and l We will see a more varied age profile as a direct result of services can be made available to those who cannot increased service to the communities. attend Sunday services. l We need to improve communications. l We will continue to value the contribution of every church member. l We want to overcome the limitation of our buildings and make greater use of village amenities. l We hope to increase the number of people with the confidence to help in small ways. l We recognize the need to revisit, not just the places, but also the times when worship is available.

4 Who we are looking for Role description What we can offer l A team builder; a leader and overseer of an effective l To provide ideas to extend the prayer life of the benefice l A generosity of hospitality and welcome teaching ministry l To be a visible and approachable presence in the l On-going prayer support l A person with ideas to further the prayer life of the community l Three readers and a PTO benefice l To promote the effective use of technology in all three l Funding in place for a part-time youth leader (18 hours l Someone to help us share Jesus’s story and motivate us to churches a week) employed by Heartland Youth for Christ with share our lives l There is an expectation that you will become a foundation existing opportunities in local schools. Volunteers also go l Someone to grow a localised preachers’ group governor at both C of E schools into the local high school and hold lunch-time clubs there. l A supporter with a non-judgmental attitude Most of the students there are from our catchment area. There are financial contributions to this from the churches. l Someone who will engage with the community and encourage us to do the same l A part-time paid benefice administrator l l A discerner of gifts A common mission within the benefice over the last three years l Someone who has experience of or wants to work with our schools l A shared comprehensive series of service booklets for all types of service l Competent in I.T. 5 l Unity in working together in challenging situations l Holding a driving licence l Insight into our own communities l Acceptance and a warm welcome in all of our primary schools Open the Book

St John the Baptist and St Andrews have a joint team of ten people who visit the five primary schools in Swannington, Whitwick, Thringstone and to take Open the Book assemblies every other week. The children love to take part in the dramas and the responses and the staff often reinforce the message that we bring them. On more than one occasion team members have heard children pointing us out to their parents in the shops or streets and saying, “Look Mum, there’s Jesus!”

This gives us the opportunity to speak to the (sometimes Jesus is THE TRUTH and whilst we have the opportunity Open astonished) parents too. There are around 900 children in the the Book allows us to share this with our lovely, welcoming five schools and we are privileged to be able to take the good Primary Schools, children and staff (Trevor Watson). news of Jesus to them all. To reach children who do not have the opportunity to know I asked team members for a comment on what Open the about the love and trust of Jesus (Maureen Simm). I value Book means to them and received the following comments:- being able to communicate aspects of the Christian faith in accessible and fun ways to children (Terri Skinner). It is good The reward of being accepted by children between the ages (and fun!) to be able to present stories of the Bible in a lively of 5-9 is so rewarding and their reciprocation is timeless. A way to schoolchildren and some school staff, to help them privilege to serve (Jim Blakemore). The best way to tell God’s see the difference God can make to their lives. It is a potential story with fun and play!!! The best way to hear God’s story step in helping them put their trust in Jesus as their Saviour Hough Mill Swannington of his love for us all, to learn his values and follow Jesus’s (Brian Skinner). example (Pam Wraithmell). I value the opportunity of taking Open the Book into our local schools as children who would have no other contact with the bible can learn and hopefully Other Schools’ work enjoy our small effort to teach them that Jesus is here to Whitwick school invites us to lunch before we lead a prayer love them all (Pat Prosser). I like being on the Open the Book session with any children who want to come along. This team as it is good to know the children in schools are learning can be emotional at times but it gives us insight into the about the Bible. I like to see them enjoy dressing up and problems the children face in their daily lives. Sometimes taking part (Shirley Gordon). their prayers are amazing and there never seems to be enough time before the bell goes for afternoon school.

6 “Whatever” Youth Group activity at Benefi ce Social Event at Thringstone Miners’ Centre St John the Baptist Whitwick

Good Friday at St John the Baptist Whitwick

Goliath Whitwick from the tower of Open the Book prop St John the Baptist

7 Our Worship and Services

Our worship follows a central Anglican tradition, with openness to other forms of worship. We are committed to the involvement of lay people in our regular worship and to making our worship as accessible as possible to everyone. We have recently reviewed the pattern of worship and prayer in line with our shared vision. Our current offering is

Music provision Organ, piano or keyboard

9.00am 10.30am 4.00pm 6.00pm Notes

Evenings once a term: All-age worship Whitwick Nov-Mar: Evening Praise with Apr-Oct: Evening Praise with 1st Sunday Special Service at Whitwick Open Church Thringstone informal HC at Whitwick informal HC at Whitwick eg Songs of Praise, etc

Nov-Mar: Christian Conversation Apr-Oct: Christian Conversation Holy Communion Holy Communion at Whitwick alternating every 2 at Whitwick alternating every 2 Christian Conversation: 2nd Sunday at Thringstone (CW) at Whitwick months with Evening Worship/ months with Evening Worship/ Informal chat/prayer/praise Celtic/Taize etc Celtic/Taize etc

Morning Joint Benefice HC Service 3rd Sunday at Swannington

Holy Communion Holy Communion at Whitwick 4th Sunday at Thringstone (BCP) with prayer ministry

10.30am Benefice Holy Communion Service rotating at the three churches 6.00pm Churches – Together Service across the 3 villages Holy Communion Service 5th Sunday Parish Festival Services and Shared Benefice Services throughout the year These include Advent, Christmas, Mothering Sunday, Easter, Harvest, Remembrance Sunday and all souls Thursdays at St Andrew’s Thringstone: 10.00am-11.45am Open Church Wednesdays at St John the Baptist Whitwick 9am Benefice Morning Prayer; 10.30am-12.30pm Church open to visitors.

8 Swannington Thringstone Whitwick

Occasional Offices

Baptisms 0 6 7

Weddings/Blessings 0 0 3

Funerals 4 11 13

9 Life at St John the Baptist Church, Whitwick

The members of St John the Baptist Church Whitwick are an extended family of inter-connected groups uniting into one faithful community. We gather throughout the week to share teaching, fellowship and prayer as an integral part of every activity. A typical week involves:-

Mondays – bell-ringing practice; hand-bell ringing practice Each August we join with the wider community for Woodstock in Whitwick – an event organised by the local Monthly Tuesday – Mothers’ Union and PCC meetings “Woodstock” group which invites us to be a church presence. Just before Christmas Whitwick’s Christmas Carols is a joint- Wednesdays – morning prayer and open church. The second venture between the church and parish council. This event Wednesday each month is open Café Church at Thringstone always packs the church. Methodist Hall. We have speakers, quizzes, lunch outings, coach trips and a yearly skittles’ match with Living Stones Other special services include the Patronal Festival in June, Mission Partnership church, St David’s, Broomleys. the Remembrance Sunday afternoon service and a packed Christingle service on Christmas Eve which raises funds for Thursday Evenings – volunteer youth workers meet in Rainbows’ Hospice. Whitwick school also holds its Harvest Thringstone with a group of eighteen 11 – 15 year olds and Festival service in church. numbers are increasing. Funding is in place for a paid youth worker within the Living Stones Mission Partnership in House groups meet weekly in members’ homes during St John the Baptist Church, Whitwick conjunction with Heartland Youth for Christ. afternoons and evenings. Many of us attend the yearly Lent courses which are organised through house groups and or Fridays – church cleaning and flowers arranged for Sunday. Churches Together.

Saturday Mornings – we have an hour of corporate prayer. Individual Parish Details Towards the end of the Spring Term, year 3 children from Men’s (and occasionally family) breakfasts happen monthly at six primary schools, attend “Experience Easter” in church, local pubs. Village/Town population: Whitwick 8,612 (2011 census) looking in depth at the events of Easter and how this impacts Electoral Roll: 61 their lives today. Churches together services are held on fifth Sundays and PCC Comprised of 10 persons representatives from local churches also meet. Meets 12 times per year On Good Friday morning we meet with the other churches at Churchwardens: Carole Baker, Elva Allard Mount St Bernard’s Abbey and a pilgrimage walk takes place Sunday Services include monthly joint-benefice services and back into the village, calling at all the village churches and on a fifth Sunday evening, local churches together. finishing at Thringstone for refreshments.

10 The first Sunday in Advent is a toy service when members donate presents which are sent to a local charity for distribution.

Some of our members take monthly Sunday afternoon services at a local residential home and in the summer we can be seen playing games on Whitwick park with anyone who wants to join in.

St John the Baptist and St Andrews members make up the Open the Book team which visits five primary schools throughout the school year. (See separate report) There are also monthly after-school clubs and lunchtime prayer meetings.

The benefice shares a paid administrator for nine hours a week.

We aim to serve each other, our families and community and above all, God, as we take His message and His blessings to those who do not yet know Him.

11 Life at St George’s Church, Swannington

St George’s Church was built in 1825 on a site allegedly chosen by the poet, William Wordsworth, who was a guest of Sir George Beaumont at Hall. It is a grade B listed building.

The position of the church on the outskirts of the village is Although the church attendance is poor, the well-maintained not ideal. However, four other churches, which were all in graveyard is open and frequently has visitors who come the centre of the village, have now closed altogether. There just to admire the view as well as visiting the graves of are 18 people on the electoral roll. Last year the average loved ones. The church is a good starting point for various attendance was around 7 or 8 people. Consequently it was country walks including one to Hough Mill which has recently decided to hold a Benefice Holy Communion Service there been restored and is run by Swannington Heritage Trust, an on the third Sunday morning of each month with no other organisation well-supported by the locals. regular services taking place. Lots of activities take place in the village which could be a However, the church is used by the two primary schools, great opportunity for outreach for someone with the desire Swannington C of E and Griffydam Primary which is also to bring more people to God. The village hall, which we use within the parish. They visit the church to perform Christmas for benefice social events, seems to be the main place where concerts, leavers’ services and Experience Easter (organised people congregate more often for activities such as WI, judo, by members of the Benefice) Both of these schools have table tennis, art classes, whist drives, the annual strawberry good links with the benefice through Open the Book fair, retired people’s group etc. The institute is also where the St George’s Church, Swannington assemblies and after school clubs. parish council meetings are held. There are two pubs in the village and an Indian restaurant but there are no shops. When benefice events such as the Lights of Love Services are held in St George’s, they have been reasonably well-attended The church is also open for events such as Ride and Stride Individual Parish Details and for the annual Armistice Service. The church is struggling Village/Town population: 1478 financially and the PCC has only three members at present. Electoral Roll: 18 PCC Comprised of 3 Meets 8 times per year Churchwardens: Joyce Smart

12 Life at St. Andrew’s Church, Thringstone

St. Andrew’s is a small, friendly congregation meeting in a well maintained church. Visitors to occasional services frequently comment on how lovely it is.

We have a robed choir assisting at the 9am communion , We assist with a monthly service, usually communion, at and a small music group available. Apart from our regular the other care home, and assist at the Retired People’s Sunday worship we have a slightly larger congregation at Fellowship at the centre. our weekday Open Church. This takes place on a Thursday morning and consists of chat and refreshments, a secular There is a monthly amble of perhaps two miles culminating in sing-song and a short lay- led act of worship and thought. a lunch, supported by church and community members. We have a good relationship with the village primary school, People come and go throughout a couple of hours, and the visiting fortnightly with Open the Book, and welcoming them nature of our villages means it’s a meeting place of people who for their Christingle service. have been friends for decades, but may not attend the same church on a Sunday. We are often joined by staff and residents In recent years we have expanded the opportunity for year 3 of one of the local care homes, and Open Church has proved a pupils to visit Experience Easter, so all three churches stage gateway or return into fellowship for the bereaved. the six stations, and pupils see more of their own church. We try to make sure that familiar faces from the Open the Book Many members of our Sunday congregations, including PCC team always welcome children to such church events. St. Andrew’s Church, Thringstone members and officers, have come to active faith through Open Church. The PCC is a happy and largely upbeat group of parishioners who help each other well. Some years ago an ambitious Cafe Church is a monthly meeting for fellowship and activity, project for a disabled toilet/ baby change area and a small also lay led, on a Wednesday afternoon. For some years kitchen facility was partly paid for by a loan. A lottery to Individual Parish Details we have commemorated Maundy Thursday with a small help repay the loan still continues now the debt is clear, Village/Town population: 6080 (2018) symbolic meal incorporating readings, gathered across the with modest monthly prizes, and now contributes towards Electoral Roll: 50 front of the church. churchyard mowing and other expenses. Members of the PCC Comprised of 10 lottery and recipients of the newsletter are often part of The Good Friday procession finishes on the green at Meets 9 times per year the wider church family who may not attend services but Thringstone with an act of worship and witness, after Churchwardens: Maureen Simm; Stephen Peatfield appreciate their connection with St. Andrew’s. the final church – door reading. Church members are well represented in village organisations, and we lead the Christmas carol singing at the local abbey ruins and the carol procession to our busy community centre.

13 Meet the Team

Terri Skinner Carol Allbrighton Whitwick P.T.O. Barry Allbrighton Whitwick Reader Whitwick Reader Jeannette Bulmer Thringstone Reader

Elva Allard Stephen Peatfi eld Whitwick Churchwarden Carole Baker Thringstone Churchwarden Whitwick Churchwarden Joyce Smart Maureen Simm Swannington Churchwarden Thringstone Churchwarden

14 Where you will live

The Vicarage, 37 North Street, Whitwick is a detached four bedroomed house, erected in 1960. The house is situated approximately 500 metres from the parish church.

The house is constructed with external cavity walls, with facing brick to all elevations. The pitched roof covering is of concrete interlocking tiles with felt covered flat roofs to the bathroom dormer window and front entrance porch canopy. Replacement double-glazed PVCu-framed windows were installed in 2002. To the ground floor the accommodation comprises entrance hall, study, kitchen, dining room, living room, cloakroom & WC. To the first floor are four bedrooms, bathroom & WC. The house has an attached single garage. Two attached ‘fuel stores’ are now used as utility rooms, and a former garden store as a parish office. The last quinquennial at the house was undertaken in 2018.

15 To find out more contact the Archdeacon of Loughborough, Venerable Claire Wood. Tel: 0116 261 5309 or email [email protected]