BENEFICE OF BARNOLDSWICK WITH BRACEWELL

Our rural benefice

We are situated on the Lancashire / Yorkshire border, approximately seven miles from Skipton - Gateway to the Dales - and seven miles from the town of Clitheroe in the picturesque Ribble Valley. Barnoldswick (known by the locals as Barlick) is a fascinating place to live and visit and is listed in The Doomsday Book. It is not just a product of the industrial revolution, but as its name implies it was born from medieval history that has left behind 27 Grade 1 and 2 listed buildings. The stone-built streets surround a traditional town centre with a restful square at the heart of the community. Barnoldswick is where Bronte country meets the Yorkshire Dales, Pendle Hill and the Forest of Bowland. Pennine cycle and bridleway routes pass through Barnoldswick and the highest summit stretch of the Leeds and Liverpool canal weaves through the town. It has wonderful walking countryside with the high moorland of Weets Hill boasting one of Britain’s best views of lowland landscapes. Distinctly different, Barnoldswick’s bustling shops provide a wealth of individual services for the local people and visitors. Many of the shops are run by local families with a high proportion of independent traders. Full of friendly folk, Barnoldswick is perfect for a restful or eventful visit or place to live. The population is approximately 11,000. The town square holds many social events such as: St. George’s Day Celebration, Bands on the Square, Barnoldswick Beach during the school holidays, united services for Easter and Christmas (including the ‘Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Parade’). There is a small market two days per week. Major employers are: • Silentnight • Rolls Royce • Hope Technology • Carlson Filtration Adjacent to the technology college is a swimming pool and sports centre. Other facilities include the Rainhall Centre which houses an NHS clinic, a chiropodist, osteopath, a medical call centre and other small businesses as well as a hall used for pilates, yoga, art classes, a free cinema and other public functions. There are four primary schools one of which is the recently built Church School, a comprehensive / technology college and two nurseries.

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The town also has one care home, one nursing home and five supported/sheltered housing developments and St. Andrew’s House for special needs care. http://barlickbracewellparishes.org.uk/Barlick http://www.visitbarnoldswick.co.uk/

About our Churches… Holy Trinity, Barnoldswick Background Holy Trinity is an impressive church built on a hill in the middle of town where the spire can be seen for miles and is a beacon for walkers and hikers from the surrounding hills. Its prominent position proclaims that God is indeed present in this community. The church was born from a thriving cotton weaving town and to ease the older churches of St Mary Le Ghyll and St Michael’s, Bracewell. It was also built to replace a church around the corner, St. James’, which was originally built as a school in 1838 and became a church in 1842, but due to a deteriorating structure it was demolished. It is situated in the centre of Barnoldswick and is easily accessible from all the town’s car parks and bus routes.

Architecture Holy Trinity Church was built and consecrated in 1960 by Dr Donald Coggan, Bishop of Bradford. Originally there was a tower but as there were continuing problems this was replaced by a small spire. The interior of the church has some interesting features. There are mosaics around the font and in front of the altar. Above the altar is an imposing red cross.

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Behind the altar is a screen behind which is St. James’ Chapel, used for quiet prayer and smaller said communion services. There is an organ used by our three organists. We have a sound amplification and induction loop system. In addition and at a much later date a church hall was built in the interior at the rear of the church. It consists of a first floor with three rooms, one of which is used for Sunday School, one used as a quiet room and one for a clergy office. From the largest of the three rooms, a bay window looks over the main body of the church. At the rear of the main body of the church and through glass sliding doors is our meeting / coffee / social area. Here we hold coffee mornings, P.C.C. meetings etc. There is a kitchen and toilet facilities. At the west side of the church is the old choir vestry and office, both offering great potential for development. We believe we are a progressive congregation continually looking for ways to grow God’s church here in Barnoldswick. It is important to us to be warm and welcoming to all.

Services

Attendance figures Pattern of services (per service)

2016 2017 Wednesday 9.00am Morning Prayer 4 2

Thursday 10.00am Holy Communion 15 15

Thursday 3.30pm Trinity TeaTime 22 20

Sunday 10.00am Holy Communion 32 32

4th Sunday 3.00pm Café Church 20 16

Sunday School meets once per month and joins the congregation during communion.

After each service the congregation enjoys fellowship over a cup of coffee in the meeting area at the back of church.

** United services rotate between all three churches on a fifth Sunday.

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St. Mary-le-Ghyll Background

St. Mary-le-Ghyll is a Grade 1 listed building, set in a beautiful rural location at the end of a long country lane. Ghyll Church, as it is known locally, was built in 1157 and completed in 1160 by a band of monks sent from Kirkstall Abbey. The monks first arrived in 1147 with instructions to build a church, but they fell out with the existing vicar and congregation, which resulted in them demolishing the old church on Monkroyd hill and heading back to Kirkstall. This didn't go down too well so back they had to come and finally built the church, 1½ miles from the centre of town!

Architecture The original building was lower than the

present one and had a thatched roof, which was replaced with a stone slated high pitched roof in the 13th or 14th century and the south aisle was added at the same time. The chancel is probably original and the tower was added in 1524. The font is 14th century and before the Reformation was kept locked to prevent the theft of holy water. The three- tier Jacobean pulpit and oak box pews were installed in 1620 which the church has retained.

On the support of the credence shelf the carving of three daggers, which is the coat of arms of Kirkstall Abbey, can be seen. The bells were cast and hung in 1723. For its age Ghyll is in good condition, although there are some ongoing repairs in progress, some pointing and plastering work, guttering and the tower roof. These are related to the last quinquennial report in 2015. A sound amplification and induction loop system has been installed.

Services

Attendance figures Pattern of services (per service)

2016 2017 1st Sunday 11.30am Holy Communion 21 21 2nd Sunday 10.30am Morning Prayer, led by 21 21 Lay Worship leaders 3rd Sunday 11.30am Holy Communion 21 21 4th Sunday 11.30am Morning Prayer 21 21 Coffee is served after the service in the Coach House on the 2nd Sunday of the month.

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Ghyll church, originally the parish church, is part of Barnoldswick Parish. We have a small, faithful congregation of mixed ages and there is a strong team spirit with everyone pulling together to share jobs. There is a particularly strong association between the people of Barnoldswick and Ghyll Church through weddings, funerals and baptisms. The church has great social and religious significance and attracts visitors from far and wide.

Church bells In 2007 an appeal was set up to refurbish the three original bells and to add another three, this was done to celebrate the church’s 850th anniversary and completed in 2009. We have a very enthusiastic team of bell ringers (many of whom are regular church-goers) who would like to augment a ring of eight bells, so continue to fundraise to complete the project, they also do much work to improve the bell tower and pay for materials required. The bells ring out every Sunday calling us to worship and also ring for weddings and funerals, when requested. The bells can be heard around the town each Tuesday evening during bell-ringing practice and whenever guest bell-ringing teams visit.

Welcoming church At the entrance to the large churchyard there is a building known as The Coach House. A group of the congregation decided it needed upgrading and making into a pleasant place to provide hospitality for the congregation and for weddings, so they set about fund-raising and have recently re-plastered, decorated, fitted a new kitchen and new carpet – doing most of the work themselves.

The expanse of grass in front of Ghyll church lends itself well to community events and is a valued part

of the mission and outreach strategy of the parish. In 2017 we invited families to picnic on the lawn and to bring along their teddy bear. The ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic’ was a great success.

Many events are hosted at Ghyll church across the year including: Taize style prayer services, Songs of Praise and exhibitions. The congregation is keen to expand on these events and welcome new ideas.

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St. Michael’s, Bracewell

Background Bracewell is a small village with a population of around 100, situated two miles from Barnoldswick on the Gisburn Road. Over the centuries, thousands of people have worshipped in the ancient church of St. Michael which dates back to 1153. It is a Grade 1 listed building.

Although most of the congregation lives in Barnoldswick, the church is still the focus of the village. The congregation averages 15 people, but because of the affection a lot of people hold for the church, they are very supportive at fundraising events and are able to finance the running and carry out any necessary maintenance work.

Architecture St. Michael's was once the private chapel of the Tempest family. Records refer to a priest of Bracewell in 1135, and at Fountains Abbey, records refer to a chapel at Bracewell before 1147. The archway in the churchyard was once part of the manor house. This was demolished in 1656 and the archway rebuilt on its present site. The tower is 15th century, with 5-foot thick walls. The exterior door in the tower gives access to the ‘lepers peep’ - a small window above the tower arch - so that parishioners believed to be suffering from leprosy could observe the service. The south doorway within the porch is Norman with sharp-edged mouldings.

The pointed tower arch is 14th century and the tower is now a Remembrance Chapel. The stained glass memorial window was installed in 1967. In the piers of the north aisle are two canopied niches, which in Craven, only appear in Tempest churches. (Broughton, Kirkby Malham and Bracewell).

The round topped chancel arch is Norman, and was stripped of its plaster covering some years ago to reveal scalloped capitals typical of Norman decoration. The font

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is Norman and thought to be the original. The pulpit and altar rails are of the Jacobean period.

The east window in the sanctuary dated 1864 is Victorian painted glass and represents Christ blessing the little children. On the north and south walls of the sanctuary are huge panels containing the Creed, the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments. The pews in the nave are from the workshop of Robert Thompson of Kilburn - "The Mouseman" as is a Hymn Number board.

St. Michael’s is a pretty rural church and is an attraction for occasional offices. Although our numbers are few, we have a lovely feeling of fellowship and support. We are not afraid of change and enjoy a variety of worship styles. A Reader from a neighbouring parish leads a Service of the Word on the first Sunday of each month. Our two church wardens are trained lay leaders and lead worship on the third Sunday of each month.

Bracewell boasts a village hall, which was originally the school and is now owned by the church. It is run by the Village Hall Committee. The Ladies’ Fellowship Group, which is non-denominational, meets there once a month.

Services

Attendance figures Pattern of services (per service)

2016 2017 1st Sunday 10.30am Morning Prayer, led by 8 8 Reader Maurice Hatton 2nd Sunday 11.30am Holy Communion 15 15

3rd Sunday 10.30am Morning Prayer, led by 8 8 Lay Worship Leaders 4th Sunday 11.30am Holy Communion 15 15

Coffee is served after the service on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.

During 2017, we welcomed a coach tour of American tourists, all of whom were descendants of Peter Wordell (and had links to the Tempest family) and were tracing their Tempest heritage.

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Across the benefice

Other groups and activities are:

Monday A singing group meet for practice of hymns old and new. 1st Monday Ladies’ Fellowship, held at Bracewell Village Hall. Tuesday Healing Prayer Group - first Tuesday of the month. Mothers’ Union – second Tuesday of the month. Bell-ringing at Ghyll. Thursday Trinity TeaTime for children of primary school age is held on the 2nd Thursday of the month. 5th Sundays United services of all three churches – rotated between the churches. Seasonal Acting/singing group – pop-up Nativity, etc. Confirmation We have confirmation groups for both adults and children starting in February.

Mothers’ Union Our branch is part of the Ripon Episcopal Area and all are welcome. Meetings take place at Holy Trinity Church on the second Tuesday of the month. May and June are the months for a fund-raising Coffee Morning and a special service with other branch members in our area. We have an interesting programme of speakers booked in for 2018 and have 20 members at present. Each year we take part in a ‘Wave of Prayer’ which unites all branches in the world. Prayer is a very important part of Mothers’ Union.

We raise funds through our coffee morning, the selling of Christmas cards and gifts and a special collection on Mothering Sunday. We are supported by our church congregations in this. Each year we enjoy a summer outing and a Christmas lunch.

Loving Lord, we thank you for your love so freely given to us all. We pray for families around the world. Bless the Mothers’ Union as we seek to share your love through the encouragement, strengthening and support of marriage and family life. Empowered by your spirit, may we be united in prayer and worship, and in love and service reach out as your hands across the world. In Jesus name. Amen

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We are very pleased to have good links with all schools in the town and welcome visits from them throughout the year. • Barnoldswick C.E. Primary • Gisburn Road Community Primary • Coates Lane Primary • Salterforth Primary • West Craven High ‘Barlick’ Schools

Barnoldswick C.E. Primary School We are particularly proud of our links and special relationship with the Church School and a member of the clergy regularly leads Collective Worship (assembly) and goes into class on an ad hoc basis. The children are regular visitors at Holy Trinity church and come to church for Easter, Harvest and Christmas services as well as for specific teaching. The school choir sing at the Carol Service at Ghyll church each year. Members of the congregation are invited to attend Collective Worship at school once each term and communications between the two exist via school’s weekly newsletter (on the church noticeboard) and via social media. The expectation is that the Incumbent of the benefice takes on the role of School Governor.

Here’s what some of the children are looking for in their new vicar…

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Our churchmanship… Our three churches bring with them a good mix of worship styles:

St. Mary-le-Ghyll, Barnoldwick…the traditional setting lends itself to Common Worship in traditional language. The three-tier pulpit continues to be used as the central point for all services. The church is often used for special services such as Taize prayer, Songs of Praise, etc.

Holy Trinity, Barnoldswick…has a warm and friendly air of hospitality. Common Worship is used at Sunday morning services, however, the congregation are open to try different styles of worship and there is a relaxed, informal ambience. Trinity TeaTime and Café Church bring in children and younger members and the versatile building offers great flexibility.

St. Michael’s, Bracewell…being a smaller building, it has an intimate ambience. The people here have a flexible approach to their worship and they are creative and imaginative. Each month sees three very different styles of worship, two of which are lay-led.

Cassock Alb/seasonal vestments are worn at all churches but not for every style of worship.

Our challenges… • Nurturing the green shoots of growth into a vibrant church community that is inclusive, welcoming and a place of spirituality and peace that draws people to worship here. • To look beyond the confines of our church building and reach out into our community. • To explore ideas to encourage young families to worship here. • To nurture and develop disciples. • To develop lay leadership, including worship leaders. • Working with our vicar to support the mission and ministry of the church.

We believe we are good at… • Hospitality and welcoming all visitors. • Introducing new services. • Bell ringing. • Ecumenical links with other churches in the town, known locally as ‘Hope Barlick’. • Maintaining links with the Church School. • Making our churches look bright and cheerful through flower arranging, painting and various art works. • Open to new ideas and models of ministry, with support and encouragement.

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The qualities and skills we would like to see in our new vicar… • Someone who will work with the church and PCC to inspire a vision and enable us to develop a mission strategy. • A person of deep personal faith with the enthusiasm to encourage spiritual growth throughout our parishes. • Someone who loves people and has good listening and communication skills. • Leadership qualities with the courage and determination to develop new ideas. • Someone who appreciates the talent and initiative of individuals in our church community and is prepared to encourage and develop these gifts. • Someone who will continue the work with children and families including developing the relationship with our Church School. • A willingness to be an active Christian presence in our community and work with other groups for the sake of the Kingdom. • A desire to guide and steer our fundraising teams. • A sense of humour.

We love to come to church because… …peace of God… very welcoming… prayerful …the church family …the joy…the love… the fellowship… the whole experience…

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Who’s who? To support you in your leadership, we have competent church wardens, committed PCCs and enthusiastic congregations and we are the kind of people who roll up our sleeves and ‘get the job done’!

Curate: Reverend Julie Clarkson Juli e’s curacy began in July 2016. She lives and works full-time in the benefice and is involved in all aspects of parish mission and ministry. She has been developing links with children and families and has helped establish the Café Church and Trinity TeaTime.

Church Wardens Lay Worship Leaders* Holy Trinity Lois Green Bob Cowan Stuart Ballard Freda Pilkington

St Mary-le-Ghyll Ann Sainty Valerie Corbridge George McDowell

St Michael’s Freda Pilkington

Valerie Corbridge

*Lay Leaders are a Ripon initiative to raise up, encourage and equip lay leadership in worship. We are very proud to have raised up three worship leaders in the past 18 months, who will lend their support to the new vicar.

Lent Groups Each year the Lent Groups are led by members of the congregations. These are held across the benefice and are hosted/attended by members of all three churches. In 2018, in addition to the Lent Groups, Lent Lunches will be served weekly and followed by a biblical reflection. The Lent Lunches, although hosted by teams from our benefice, are open to anyone in the community and the reflections are given by Hope Barlick church leaders.

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General information

Church Wardens’ Informal meetings which are much valued and help our meetings three churches to feel involved and part of the bigger benefice.

Organist Team We are blessed with four very talented organists (across the benefice) who work in rotation.

PCC We have two PCCs, one for each parish which presently meet six times a year plus two APCMs. Bracewell meet during the daytime and Barnoldswick meet on an evening.

Stewardship Each parish has a Stewardship Officer and a stewardship campaign is underway for 2018.

Pew Sheets A weekly ‘pew sheet’ is produced by a member of the congregation which has proved to be popular, both as an aid to worship and for follow-up prayer. It’s also an ideal vehicle for promoting church and community events.

Church magazine Our church magazine is distributed widely in the community and is also available online on the church website.

Social media We have a Facebook page which is maintained by a small team of church members. https://www.facebook.com/BarlickBracewellParishes/

Occasional Offices

2017 Baptisms Weddings Funerals

Holy Trinity 5 0 5

St Mary-le-Ghyll 17 5 9

St Michael’s Bracewell 3 0 5

Local Crematorium 14

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Our finances 2017 has been a challenging year with the Parish Share increasing for both parishes by 15%. We are very proud to say that we have achieved Share for the past four years after failing to do so for the previous 12. With an additional 10% increase due in 2018, we want to achieve Share again for the fifth year running. Each of our churches pull together when it comes to fundraising and we enjoy great fellowship as a result. We are developing a fundraising team to help organise the various events across the year. It has been quite a number of years since both parishes have had a stewardship campaign and we are planning to roll one out across the benefice during 2018. This is an exciting time to be part of the worshipping community!

The Vicarage - 131 Gisburn Road, Barnoldswick, BB18 5JU The vicarage is located centrally and is just ten minutes’ walk to Holy Trinity Church and the centre of the town. Recently refurbished, it is a four-bedroomed semi- detached house in good clean decorative order, with good carpets throughout. It has a good size garden to the rear which is easily managed and has been well-tended. It has a single garage and plenty of space at the front and side of the house for extra parking. The house looks very deceptive from the front. It boasts a large kitchen/dining area with a utility room leading to the integral garage. A large lounge has attractive leaded windows with a useful window seating area. The spacious study is ideally located at the front of the house. There is also a downstairs toilet. Upstairs, there are four good sized bedrooms, a family bathroom and a separate shower room.

The photographs do not do the house justice – you need to see it!

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~~~~~~~ If you feel that God is calling you to be our vicar, we can offer you: • three caring and welcoming congregations • prayerful support • an opportunity to nurture the ‘green shoots’ of faith • an enthusiasm and desire to work with you to further God’s Kingdom.

We look forward to meeting you!

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