Profile for the position of Interim Minister

Serving the Parishes of: Coton-in-the-Elms, , Immanuel , Linton, Lullington, Netherseal, ,

Rosliston and Walton-on-Trent

1 In a first for Diocese, two benefices have come together to seek the appointment of a full-time interim minister for a two year term.

The nine parishes long to see growth in their churches, improve their The Vision outreach to young people and improve their pastoral care. They are concerned about the lack of leadership, declining congregations and resources.

These discussions arose out of the practical coincidence of two groups of parishes becoming vacant at the same time, due to the retirement of one incumbent, and an early move of the other incumbent. Over the last few years different configurations of the parishes have been tried between these two benefices. However, there is not a clear shared vision on the shape of the future benefice(s).

There are concerns over mix of rural and urban churches, concerns about the incumbent being over-burdened, suggestions over the possibility of Joint PCCs, but concerns over the implications of that.

There is a desire to create a shared vision for the parishes and to create a shape that is sustainable and missional. Whether that is as one group of parishes, or several. We are therefore looking for someone to work with the PCCs, congregations, Area Dean and diocese to discern God’s future for the parishes, to empower the congregations, to start some of this change, and to produce a clear agreed report on the best way forward.

The parishes look forward to the appointment of an interim minister to provide this leadership and to explore a way forward for effective ministry and mission.

“It will require a great deal of prayer, consultation, conversation, concentration, and compromise to see our best way forward. To this end, we think an Interim Minister would be a good appointment to help us see our way”. 2 2 Purpose of the post

o provide leadership during a time of change and exploration of future T ministry. o enable the parishes to equip themselves more effectively for mission, The role T prepare the way for a future pattern of ministry and determine the kind of ministers required in the long term. Main duties and responsibilities

o work collaboratively with the parishes to identify their mission priorities and to provide T support as these start to be developed. T o provide leadership and pastoral support, particularly for lay leaders and clergy colleagues. o enhance the links with all local schools (which includes the four church schools), and existing work with children and young T people. T o develop a sustainable pattern of worship, in collaboration with colleagues and parishes. T o identify how the future shape of the benefice/benefices can best enable mission and ministry. T o explore how this future shape can be best overseen, including through the creation of joint PCCs. T o identify and start to develop opportunities for making better use of the church buildings for mission. 3 3

Where are we?

4 4 The parishes are mostly rural, although Immanuel Stapenhill is part of the urban area of Burton. The whole area is part of the National Forest, with the villages surrounded by active farmland and National Forest plantations with miles of Where are quiet countryside for walking and cycling, and two Forestry visitor centres with small shops and activities for children. Rosliston Forestry Centre holds a number of log cabins for holiday rental in a beautiful setting. We are very we? close to the National Memorial Arboretum and the Peak District National Park is within an hour by car. Local attractions include Alton Towers, Drayton Manor Park, Barton Marina (just across the ) and Twycross Zoo.

Catton Hall is open to visitors on selected dates throughout the year and hosts a number of national events – including a spectacular November Firework Festival. Stapenhill boasts a wonderful Riverside Garden and Walk with an Arboretum, while the National Trust property of is close by.

There are regular buses to Burton-on-Trent and , with fast connections to Derby. There is also close access to major roads such as the A38, A5, A444, M6 Toll, M42 and M1 and cities such as Birmingham, Stoke on Trent, Nottingham and Leicester and of course the Cathedral Cities of Derby and . There are excellent national rail services from stations at Burton on Trent, Tamworth, Lichfield and Nuneaton, while both and Birmingham Airports are convenient sources of air travel.

There are medical practices at Overseal, Rosliston, Stapenhill, Swadlincote, Barton under Needwood and Measham. There are major hospitals at and Derby, both of which provide Accident and Emergency cover, and smaller hospitals at Tamworth and Lichfield. There are a wide variety of sporting clubs and opportunities both in the parishes and nearby. These include cricket at Lullington and Walton, tennis and rugby in Burton-upon-Trent, and various football clubs including Burton Albion, and Gresley Rovers. There is a rowing club in Stapenhill, sailing at Branston Water Park, and two very

5 5 well equipped leisure centres, one in Burton and one in Swadlincote. There are a number of riding schools in the area, together with cycling and motorcycling clubs while Donnington Park Motor Racing is nearby. There are also cinemas, libraries and theatres in the local area.

There are a variety of village shops, with shopping centres in Stapenhill, Burton and Swadlincote, whilst Derby offers an enormous range of shopping and leisure opportunities.

6 6 The Church The Building St Mary, The church was built in 1846 and has a slender steeple on a tower with one bell. The spiral staircase to the clock, which Coton-in-the-Elms provides the village with accurate (sometimes!) hourly time signals, also serves as shelter for some 100+ butterflies over the winter period.The church was renovated in 2000 with the aid of National Lottery funding and now has a large light and airy Nave, which is carpeted (the old pews being removed), a raised Chancel behind a carved wooden choir screen and curtain which is closed during secular events, with choir stalls and a small pipe organ. The church now has a small kitchen and has toilet facilities and Gas fired central heating. There is a weight bearing balcony above the Kitchen which, with suitable stairway access installed, could be used for additional seating.The total capacity of the Nave is approximately 120 with a further 40 possible on the balcony, if access can be provided.The church has various stained glass windows with a large plain glass window behind the sanctuary giving attenders a visual impact not present in most churches. The older part of the churchyard was cleared of Memorial stones (with family permissions) some time ago and these have been re-sited to the south of the church land. This work has given us a very large, and well maintained, grassed area to the South and East of the church building. Burials continue to the East side of this cleared area. Cremation plots are at the far East side and around the church building. A memorial to Russell Aston RMP, a local man killed in action in Iraq, is erected to the South of the West door.The far East side of the Churchyard adjoins the Community Centre land but at present has no pedestrian access

Finance The Common Fund is paid to a level that funding allows

Services We are renowned for being a very friendly church. Services are ‘middle of the road’, no bells, no incense, with both BCP and Common Worship services being held and ‘Iona’ based services. Currently we hold

7 7 Communion Services on the First (CW, 6 pm) and Fourth Sunday (Iona, 11:15 am) and we have a lively Family Service, with refreshments, on the Second (at 11:15 am) and an Evensong (BCP, 6 pm) on the Third and a ‘Songs of Praise’ (6 pm) on any Fifth Sundays. Attendance varies with regularly 5 or 6 people and 10-20 for some Family services. The annual Carol Service, and School Services will have 100+.We hold baptisms either as part of the main services or separately and we also have a number of Weddings each year, the area surrounding the church being good for photography.Being close to the National Memorial Arboretum groups of Bikers meet up annually at St. Mary’s so that they can complete their ‘Ride to the Wall’, and on the Saturday before Remembrance Day a large group of Bikers gather in church for a short ‘Service of Remembrance.’

The community St. Mary’s also takes part in the annual ‘Ride and Stride’ event where sponsored bicycle riders and walkers travel from church to church in the area so coming many miles. venuesThe church has regular flower arrangers and cleaning is also carried out by volunteers.The PCC consists of some 8 members and we have an electoral roll of 9.

Mission Opportunities Apart from Services, the church is used weekly by a local ‘Rainbows’ group and a monthly Whist Drive is held. There are monthly ‘Coffee Mornings’ and concerts, evening events, etc. to raise funds for the church, and the annual Village Fete is held in the Church Grounds. Other funding comes from support from the community and from the ‘Coton Chance’ lottery whose proceeds go specifically into a fabric fund.We also produce the three monthly ‘Newsletter’ distributed to everyone in the parish, which details news of what is happening in the village both at the church and other

The Parish The village of Coton in the Elms is mentioned in the Domesday Book and has a current population of about 950 of the full age range in mixed housing.It is situated in the Western part of the National Forest and is at the furthest point from the sea in the UK being 66 miles from the nearest coast (Ordnance Survey data). It is consequently ideally situated to travel to any part of the country. Coton in the Elms has several farms, a small industrial unit and various home based businesses and ‘bed and breakfast’s’. The village has a small village store selling everything required for everyday living, local produce and newspapers, 8 8 The Church The Building St John the Baptist St John the Baptist is a Norman Church founded in 1200 It has a South facing aisle then as well, which seems to have been removed in about 1500. The Church is a Grade ll listed building, as are several memorials Croxall cum Oakley within the Church Yard (recorded on the British Listed Buildings under , ). The Church`s full capacity now is approx 120-150. The Church is regularly cleaned and the surrounding Churchyard is well kept.

In 2014 restoration was taken place on our Windows and surrounding stonework. 2017 we have had a new stainless steel roof and repairs to South Wall.

The building stands in a field belonging to Croxall Hall, the present owners of which are very helpful with outside maintenance and security of the surrounding lands.

Finance Our finances are managed by our Treasurer Mr Peter Lowe, who has managed to raise Grants together with our own investments to complete these works.

Services Our services are every third Sunday each month which are well attended.

The community We are a small close community, the Church being our way of staying in touch with each other to Worship. The total for our Electoral Roll is 15 with a Parish of 28

9 9 Mission Opportunities

The Parish Croxall-cum-Oakley is a hamlet comprising approx. 8 houses and there are 6 families who worship in St. John the Baptist, three families from Croxall- cum-Oakley, two coming from other villages, and one family coming from Catton, which is in the Parish of St. John the Baptist, Croxall. Our PCC is drawn from these families.

10 10 The Church The Building Immanuel, The foundation stone for Immanuel Church was laid in December 1963 and the church is built on land generously donated by a farmer Stapenhill to accommodate the spiritual needs of the area and provide community facilities for its use. Originally the daughter church of St Peter’s, Stapenhill, it became a Parish in its own right in 1996. The Vicarage was added later, and is now rented out by the Diocese. Although in Derby Diocese, Immanuel Church is actually in Staffordshire. The church section of the main area seats around forty people and has a slightly raised platform area housing the communion table. However, there are full height wooden screens which can be opened into the hall, potentially accommodating nearly 200 people. A programme of redecoration has significantly improved all the facilities including new seating, blinds and curtains. There is a sound system which includes a hearing loop. The church side also includes a vestry and a separate office. The community side of the building includes the large hall, a well-equipped kitchen, a small side room and a comfy lounge area where we have refreshments after the services. This room also tends to be used by the church for PCC meetings, coffee mornings etc. Hirers of the building have use of all these rooms in the community side in their letting. The Quinquennial was in April 2014, and the PCC have undertaken much of the work, including re-pointing and decoration. A significant repair to the end wall is required, along with the replacement of double glazed units around the building and investigative work on external uPvc cladding. There are also a number of smaller jobs both internally and externally, and we have a very willing and able volunteer who is working his way through, along with other church members according to skills and ability. Maintenance of a building that is used daily by the community is constant and essential, along with the on-going cleaning and running costs.

Finance The PCC have paid the Common Fund in full for the last five years; in 2016 the Common Fund was £10,172. The PCC takes financial management very seriously and has been saving towards the inevitable building repair work for many years. This is achieved through regular giving, hall letting fees and fund raising. We also support various charities both home and abroad.

11 11 Services There is one service on a Sunday at 10am: there is no service pattern although family services are usually the 2nd Sunday in the month. Other services include communion, morning prayer, Songs of Praise and joint services with Walton, Rosliston, Croxall and Coton. Family services are usually at Harvest time, Advent and Christmas, and Easter. Whatever format is used the congregation wish to maintain a strong biblical focus in a service. The pianist usually organises the music for worship; occasionally CDs are used. We occasionally have services taken by members of missionary societies eg the Leprosy Mission. We consider that we are a nurturing church, offering a friendly and warm welcome to all who visit and wherever they are in their spiritual journey. People enjoy having refreshments together after the service, and opportunities to meet socially and share their ideas for the future of the church. The community There are currently 24 people on the electoral roll with services averaging about 20 people a week. We have a dedicated congregation who bring a variety of experience and talents to our church. Everyone is encouraged to be involved in our church and our worship. People feel that they are included wherever possible in the various projects we undertake and their skills utilized. We are a mature congregation ranging in age from 40 to 90+, which does not reflect the demographic of the parish. Mission Opportunities We hold an Autumn Fair annually which is well attended and is supported by the Guiding Association. We also hold occasional Coffee mornings, which raise funds for mission and charity, as well as projects in church. At the Christingle service in 2016 we hosted the Violet Way Academy Choir which resulted in an attendance of nearly 150 people. Although the school is not in our parish, many of the children who attend the Academy live in the parish and Immanuel would like to establish a more permanent presence in the school. Despite several attempts on our part there are currently no links with the junior school in the parish. We have good links with The Community Church who hire the hall for a variety of reasons, including a successful mother and toddler group. The hall is hired by a variety of groups and individuals for birthday parties etc. There is some crossover of members, for example church members who are leaders in Guides etc, members of W.I. We need to explore ways to increase our presence as a church in order to grow as a congregation. The Parish The building sits within the Edge Hill estate; there is a mixture of privately owned and social housing on this estate and in surrounding areas making up the Parish. There is a sheltered housing complex for the elderly, a respite residential complex and a complex for adults with learning difficulties. The Parish has a population of approximately 3,750 people. There is a Junior School close to the church. A significant number of groups hire the church hall and we are blessed with a nonchurch person who is the Booking Clerk for the hall. Some of these groups are run by or attended by church members, including Guiding Leaders and members of the W.I. This enables the church to form good relationships with these groups. There are also the occasional lettings for Polling Days, Parish Council meetings, parties etc. 12 12 The Church The Building The church was built in 1881 to serve the communities of Linton & Castle Gresley. It is Christ Church, constructed of brick and has a bell turret housing one bell. It contains two figurative stained glass windows Linton with plain stained glass above the sanctuary. Much of the floor is carpeted and seating for approximately 250 is provided by pine pews. Extra seating in the form of chairs is available if necessary. The organ has been renovated over a period of time and is now the best in the area. The font is situated near the entrance to the church. There is a clergy vestry and a kitchen used for the preparation of refreshments after services and at other events. There is also a choir vestry. Christ Church has the largest churchyard in the benefice. Much of the area is grassed over and there are many mature trees. It provides a place for quiet contemplation and remembrance for those visiting their loved ones. There is also a specific area for cremated remains which was renovated and improved about two years ago. The churchyard is well maintained. There has been a great deal on maintenance work carried out to the fabric of the building over the last two years as well as upgrading of the electricity supply. The church has gas central heating and there are toilet facilities.

Finance Due to the expenses incurred in maintaining the building to a safe level it has proved impossible to pay our full share of the common fund, though a contribution has been made regularly. This year (2017) we are due for a Quinquennial Inspection which is likely to impact on our ability to contribute this year. One of the reasons we have difficulty in meeting our Common Fund commitment is because the money raised by the weekly collection is not enough to pay the bills and maintain the fabric of the church. Without regular fund raising we could not carry on and the workload for these events falls on the shoulders of a few volunteers.

Services Christ Church has a reputation for its friendliness and the services are traditional and based on Common Worship. Morning Prayer is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month usually conducted by lay clergy. Holy Communion is celebrated on the second, fourth and fifth (where applicable) Sundays. The third Sunday of each month is a Family Service and follows a more informal and child-friendly pattern. This service is currently lead by the 13 13 churchwardens though for major celebrations throughout the year – Mothering Sunday, Easter Day and Harvest Thanksgiving – we do follow a slightly more formal pattern and provision is made to occupy the children for these parts of the services. Music plays a very important role in our church. We have a Junior Choir of primary school children who make a large contribution to Family Services. The Senior Choir has fifteen members and for all the other services in the monthly cycle sing an Introit, an Anthem and hymns during Communion as well as supporting the congregational hymns. The choir perform at special services and concerts throughout the year. For larger events the choir is augmented by invited guests and soloists.

The community As well as the church services, there are regular community based events. There is a weekly coffee morning held at the Brick Room (our Church Hall – situated on Main Street, Linton). There are monthly Friday Fellowship lunches where we regularly cater for forty people and there are monthly Bingo sessions. There are also occasional evening events with a meal followed by entertainment. The church is the venue for our Hand Bell Ringers who practise every Tuesday afternoon. They perform for us at major events. We have a flower rota and a cleaning rota. Apart from Family Services when our congregation increases to 40+ our regular worshippers are, for the most part, quite elderly and numbers are often small. On average , and with a choir of fifteen, our numbers usually reach about twenty three. There are 36 members on the Electoral Roll, but a number of these are non – attenders mostly because of age or infirmity.

Mission Opportunities We have the potential of reaching out into the wider community and building on the work undertaken to encourage younger members who make up the junior choir. However we desperately need input from a member of the clergy to support us in finding ways to increase the number of people who come to church for Sunday Services , to visit the sick and to be an active presence at the local school.

The Parish The Parish of Linton & Castle Gresley was originally dominated by the mining industry. The pits have long since gone and the area is now surrounded by fields and forms part of the National Forest. The population of the parish is 3,500+ but the majority do not attend the parish church. With the excellent connections to the M42 a lot of the population travel to Birmingham and also retain family connections in that area. As well as the Brick Room, mentioned previously, there is also a Village Hall situated just off Main Street in Winchester Drive. There is a Primary School again situated in Main Street. There is also a Post Office. 14 14 The Church The Building All Saints, All Saints is a traditional church and the building dates from the 13th century. It is in good condition and is raising funds to cover major repairs to the spire.

Lullington The church is cleaned weekly by a team of volunteers, who also attend to flower arrangements. The environs of the church and churchyard are maintained and mown by voluntary effort. The church clock which is approx. 300 years old had an electric auto winder fitted in the millennium year. There is a peal of 6 bells in the tower which are rung regularly.

Finance Lullington is a small but financially viable parish which always pays its Common Fund in full, and is now £6,762 which is being paid in regular monthly instalments. We are currently raising funds for the refurbishment of the tower and a quarter of the money required has been raised. We hold a variety of fundraising events during the year which are well supported, most notably the Open Gardens and Classic Car Event. Congregational support is consistent and underpins the running costs of the church

Services The services are held each Sunday at 9.00am, 1st Sunday - Iona Service All other Sundays - Holy Communion, Book of Common Prayer Harvest Thanksgiving, and Remembrance Services are held at 6.30pm and a Candlelight Carol Service at 7.45pm on Christmas Eve. The Book of Common Prayer and the Ancient and Modern (New Standard) Hymnbooks are used at the majority of the services. There is also a strong link with the Roman Catholic Church at Haunton in the Diocese of Lichfield.

15 15 The PCC policy on the remarriage of divorcees is that the marriage should be decided upon its merits, the incumbent to have the final say on the matter, but in each case it is to be brought to the PCC’s notice. The PCC also welcomes people not of the parish to be married at All Saints.

The community Attendance at services averages 12 adults. There are 15 members on the electoral roll 50% of whom are not resident within the village.

Mission Opportunities We are conscious of the fact that we are an aging congregation and are keen to continue the good work of the last vicar in to encourage younger people into the church.

The Parish Lullington is the most southerly village in South , with six farms and a small group of varied private housing. The population totals 120 who ensure that the village is planted with flowers throughout the year. The old school building has been converted for use as a village hall. In addition to being used for church meetings, the hall is used for many events, which brings the church and community together for example - The annual Open Gardens weekend, Harvest Supper and other one-off social occasions. The village has a thriving Cricket Club with a playing area in a beautiful parkland setting. The club is over 100 years old and has 3 teams in operation.

There is one public house which holds various community events. A repair garage in the village also plays an active part in village life, not only for Lullington but also for surrounding villages. There is also a small embroidery factory

16 16 The Church The Building St Matthew, St Matthew’s is a Grade II Listed building which was consecrated on 26th July 1841. The church building is cleaned and maintained on a voluntary basis and church members carry out much of the general Overseal maintenance. Disabled access is via a ramp to the main door and external floodlighting enhances the appearance of the building. There is a tower to the church containing a bell chamber of 8 bells which are rung on a regular basis. Leaks to the roof of the church have been a constant cause for concern over the years. The churchyard is maintained and grass mown regularly by volunteers who meet on Monday mornings.

Alongside the church building is a Community Centre owned by the church and responsible to the ECC (Ecumenical Church Council). It is used on a daily basis by Rainbows / Brownies, Karate, Irish Dancers, Art Group, Tea Dance Group, Line Dancers, Toddler Group (Church run). The centre is also very popular for private hire, e.g. birthday parties.

Finance St Matthew’s Church Centre The Common Fund contribution is split 50-50 between the Anglican and Methodist denominations, but during the interregnum it was agreed by the church council to change to a 40 – 60 ratio (Anglican/Methodist). Unfortunately the church is unable to meet its full share obligations but has paid a proportion according to its financial constraints.

Services Worship takes place each Sunday morning at 10.30 am, either in the church building or Community Centre in the form of All Age Worship, Holy Communion, Messy Church or Café Church (which is just starting). Special services throughout the year include Christmas Carol and Crib Services, Christingle and Remembrance which are all well supported. Services are taken by Anglican and Methodist ministers, local preachers and St Matthew’s Home Team.

17 17 The community St Matthew’s is an LEP (Local Ecumenical Partnership) within an Anglican and Methodist church. The Anglican Electoral roll comprises of 7; the Methodist members totalling 5; and joint members (those confirmed within the LEP) number 3. The ECC (Ecumenical Church Council) meets once a quarter. St Matthew’s is facing change in that it has fewer worshipping members and an ageing congregation. A number of regular worshippers have moved away from the village, or died. A House group meets weekly for bible study. Members of St. Matthew’s Church visit the residential home in the village at special times of the year to hold services.

Mission Opportunities • To further develop Messy Church • Baptism Follow up • Contact with local primary school • Carol Service, Crib Service, Community Choir (twice per year) • Keep links with the user groups at the community centre. • Reaching out to neighbours in more engaging ways.

The Parish Overseal is an expanding and developing village with many young families moving into the new homes being built.

The community is able to offer something for all age groups from Toddlers to Darby & Joan which is held in the village hall.

There is a gala committee made up of volunteers from the village which organises a parade and gala in July and this proves to be very popular. They also organise a Firework Display in November and Overload Music Festival.

There is a golden opportunity for the church to become more involved in community life and to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to our neighbours.

18 18 The Church The Building St Peter’s is a traditional grade 2* listed church and the St Peter, th building dates from the 13 century. It is in good condition and has recently secured grants and raised funds to renew the water damaged Chancel Floor. A Netherseal choir vestry with a toilet and separate small kitchen were added in the 1960’s. Although there are no cooking facilities, worktops with cupboards, fridge and a microwave were added in 2016 to enhance facilities for light refreshments after services and social occasions such as the Patronal Festival.

All works have been attended to on the quinquennial report and the next is due in 2020. The church is cleaned weekly by a self-employed cleaner. The environs of the church and churchyard are maintained by volunteers and mown regularly by a paid contractor. The church clock, installed in 1861, is wound weekly by volunteers. There is a peal of 8 bells in the tower and a team of ringers hold their practice evenings on alternate Mondays and ring for services approx. once per month, sharing their skills with other churches within the benefice.

Finance St Peter’s has always contributed to the Common Fund in full and in the current year is some £17,000.

Services St Peter’s holds one service each Sunday at 10.15am. The usual pattern of services is as follows:- 1st Sunday - Holy Communion (Traditional BCP Merbecke setting) 2nd Sunday - Family Service (Lay led by home team) 3rd Sunday - Holy Communion (Common Worship or Iona Style) 4th Sunday - Morning Prayer or Morning Praise depending on availability of lay readers each month alternating between BCP and Common Worship) 5th Sunday - Holy Communion or a lay led Morning Praise depending on availability of clergy. A Sunday club also meets in the vestry during the service (except family service) . This is led by volunteers from the congregation and using the Roots material for children and young people.

A rota of members of the congregation read all lessons and gospels, but intercessions are clergy led. The church has a long tradition of choral singing. 19 19

The community Average Sunday attendance is in the region of 30 people of which 6 people are choir members. Sunday club attendance varies with 1 – 5 children ranging in age from 6 – 13 years. There are currently 37 people on the electoral roll.

Mission Opportunities Lay members of the congregation attend school once a term to take assembly, which is followed up during the week with after school activity club based on the theme of the assembly. Up to 40 children and 12 parents attend these activity afternoons which takes a form similar to Messy Church. Approximately once per month social events are held within the church eg Pancake Party, Hot Cross Bun tea party, Patronal Festival events including history talks, concerts and strawberry tea, Harvest Lunch, Quiz nights etc .

Future opportunities • Continue to build links with the school and parents through the after school activity club. • Encourage people wishing to use the church for weddings and baptisms to attend church services and social events. Seek opportunities to utilise the church more frequently for concerts etc.

The Parish Netherseal is an old established village with a fairly stable population of 923 (2011 census). The housing is a mixture of old and new buildings many privately owned, with a small area of social housing. There is a C of E Primary School with 2 church foundation governors, one of which is the incumbent. Secondary school children travel to Newhall, Swadlincote or Burton upon Trent by bus. A pre-school playgroup meets in the village hall. There is a Leonard residential home and 2 care homes for the elderly within the parish.

Outdoor pursuits are provided by a lively Sports Club, which has facilities for football and Bowls and a separate Tennis Club with floodlit all weather courts. Tennis coaching is also provided nearby at Grangewood. Other social activities are the Women’s Institute, Rockwood Club for older members of the community and keep fit activities which meet in the Village Hall and a Neighbourhood Watch scheme which meet in the church vestry.

There is a public house in the village, a modest bus service running between, Burton upon Trent and Ashby via Swadlincote and Measham. A local shop and post office also serves the local community.

Christmas Tree Festival 2015 20 20 The Church The Building St Mary, St. Mary’s church is constructed of sandstone, with a tiled roof. The tower dates from the early 14th century and the main section (nave, chancel and vestry) was rebuilt in 1819, and is a Grade II listed building. The south facing wall and part of the roof were extensively restored in 2008 and more recently the lighting and decorating inside the Rosliston church were renewed. To the front of the church stands a war memorial which was restored in 2010 by the Staffordshire Regiment Veterans Association. The Quinquennial inspection is due in 2015. A lot of recommendations from 2010 have been met. The church itself seems to be in good repair.

Finance All bills and insurance are paid up to date. We have paid a proportion of our Common Fund as funds allow.

Services A Holy Communion Service is held once a month. Baptisms, weddings and funerals take place as the need arises and special services are also held the usual special occasions.

The community The number of people attending special services such as Harvest and Christmas is 25-40 and are of mixed ages. Fewer, more elderly, people attend Holy Communion. There is a good relationship between the church and the school. At Harvest and Christmas the children and parents decorate the church.

21 21 Mission Opportunities Special services which have proved to be popular. • Re-lighting of Baptism Candles for children/adults who have been Baptised. • Mothering Sunday service with posies for everyone. • Crib service on Christmas Eve. • Harvest. • Christmas Carols. • Remembrance Sunday . • Easter Day.

Events that have been well attended at the church • Open Church Weekend, run in conjunction with the local school and village Open Gardens. • Exhibitions of old photographs and memorabilia of the village. • Sitar player in traditional Indian costume.

Community Events • Fundraising stall at the village Summer Fair. • Monthly Coffee Morning at a PCC member’s house.

The Parish Rosliston has a population of 550. There are about 250 houses which are mainly privately owned. Within the village there is a Church of Primary school, a doctors’ surgery, a village hall, a Post Office, a Co-operative store, a Fish bar, public houses, a garden centre, Beehive Woodland Lakes complex, an Agricultural Supply outlet and a Forestry Centre. Rosliston has won the ‘Derbyshire Best Kept Village’ competition and for 20 years has received numerous awards in ‘Village in Bloom’ contests.

22 22 The Church The Building St Laurence, The first Priest in the Parish of St. Laurence, Walton-on- Trent is mentioned in the Domesday Book, thus pre-dating the actual building, and there is a record of the various Walton-on-Trent priests dating back to 1306. The church building commenced in 1100, and has been extended and improved several times since that date. There are some traces of both Saxon and Norman building styles, the tower was added in 1447 with three bells, one original, one added in 1682, the third added in 1866, and finally the clock was installed in 1898. In 2000, under the auspices of the Millennium Project, a hearing loop was installed, the Vestry was updated, plumbing provided, and kitchen and toilet facilities installed making it possible for refreshments to be served after services. The church is well known locally for its extensive wood carvings executed by a previous Rector. It is a Grade II* Listed building and has a lovely Lych-gate (also Grade II in its own right) and is very popular location for weddings.

Finance The next Quinquennial Report is due in 2019 and most of the major items identified in the last report were addressed as finances allowed. We have not paid a full Common Fund for some years although we have paid a proportion each year, according to our means.

Services Walton church could be described as “middle of the road”. There is a weekly service at 9.45am, which is either a Communion Service or Morning Prayer depending upon the availability of a priest during the Interregnum. Previously the pattern of services was slightly different.

There has also been a joint service on the fifth Sunday in the month hosted in rotation by the various parishes. There are the usual special services for Remembrance, Easter, Harvest festival and Christmas.

23 23

The community The Electoral Role comprises some 21 people and the congregation is relatively small, approximately 18 regular worshippers, together with an active robed Choir. All who attend are, however, deeply committed to the church.

The P.C.C. meet regularly and are determined to maintain the current regularity of worship during the period of interregnum.

Mission Opportunities

The Parish Walton is a small village, steeped in history and dating back to the Iron Age. The inhabitants, currently numbering around 900, are a mix of retired people and those working in nearby towns. There are quite a number of families with young children, an outstanding thriving Primary and Nursery school, with links to the church and a nearby comprehensive school with a high academic reputation.

There is a mix of private and social housing, though many of the latter are now privately owned. There is easy access to the A38 trunk road and nearby towns. Village Organisations include a WI, Community Club, and an active Cricket Club. There is one Public House, serving hot food daily, and a Chinese Takeaway. There is also a rural bus service, linking the villages and nearby towns, but which is liable to variation.

There is a very attractive Village Hall, donated by a member of the local minor “aristocracy” to the Men of the Village following their service in World War One. This is available for hire for a variety of functions and is a popular venue for indoors sports, amateur dramatics, family parties and various fund raising activities

24 24 Attendance and Common Fund for 2016

Parish Population uSa Requested Common Amount Paid % paid (2011 census) Fund Coton 830 7 4,933 3,600 73 Croxall 130 9 6,092 3,500 57.5 Linton 4050 25 13,229 2,000 15.1 Lullington 120 12 6 ,762 6,758.40 99.9 Netherseal 1000 28 16,417 16,416 100 Overseal 2530 18 7,329 4,200 57.3 Rosliston 650 9 2,310 0 0 Immanuel 5860 21 10,172 10,172 100 Walton 860 17 10,037 5,037 50.2 Totals 16,030 146 £77 ,281 £51 ,683.4 0 66.9 25 25 The Rectory

The Rectory is situated in Walton on Trent, next door to the Church. It is a large relatively modern detached 4 bedroom family home with good-sized gardens surrounding the property.

26 26 The Diocese of Derby is seeking to respond to the growing challenges that the Church of England is facing in a number of ways. The diocese has adopted a vision of ‘Christ's presence in every community’ and is seeking to achieve Diocese and this by Growing (in spiritual depth, numbers and impact)and Learning (by developing Christian disciples), and by being Outward Facing (serving our communities) and Healthy (with collaborative and Deanery empowering leadership and good governance).

Deaneries are a key part of this vision, becoming key centres of mission and ministry, with 8 newly formed larger deaneries and 8 part-time Area Deans. Mercia Deanery is in the process of being formed from Repton and Melbourne deaneries. This has given me the time to explore new ways of working, including the appointment of a part-time pioneer for Swadlincote BMO/part-time parish minister in Newhall, which was a first for the diocese. As a deanery our four priorities are: Times and opportunities to pray; Elderly people; Sharing ideas between parishes; Working with young people. We are also in the process of enabling Reader training to be delivered within the Deanery.

As Rural Dean of Repton, I was responsible for the reshaping of the parishes to seek to create sustainable benefices. In this part of the deanery this has not been as successful as we had hoped, so we are looking for an experienced colleague to help us discern God’s vision for the area. I look forward to working closely and supportively with whoever is appointed, and we also have the support of the Archdeacon and Bishop, in seeking to reimagine what Christ’s presence in these communities looks like. For an informal chat, do get in touch: [email protected] 01283214583.

Rev Graham Rutter, Area Dean of Mercia. - www.wordpress.merciadeanery.com 27 27