THE WHITE HORSE TEAM MINISTRY

DIOCESE OF SALISBURY

TEAM

RECTORTeam Ministry in West Wiltshire, reaching out to the communities of Westbury, Westbury Leigh, Dilton Marsh and Brokerswood with the good news of Jesus Christ. THE WHITE HORSE TEAM MINISTRY DIOCESE OF SALISBURY

WELCOME

Thank you for your interest in the White Horse Team Ministry. We are praying that as you read this profile, God will be guiding you to discern if this is where He is calling you to serve in the next phase of your ministry.

As a team, we want to look outwards and share God’s love with all: we are one team, two parishes, currently worshipping in several different places, empowered by the one Spirit.

We are firmly convinced God already has someone in mind to guide us. He’s prompted you to read thus far...

Could YOU be the one?

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INTRODUCTION We are a team covering the villages of Brokerswood, Dilton Marsh, Westbury Leigh and the growing town of Westbury. Each Church has its own identity and worship styles and we are looking for someone with vision and experience who can help us grow as a team and worshipping community.

We hope to appoint someone who is pastorally minded, who will use their experience to journey with us; someone who can listen, encourage and support all of us to grow in our faith, following in the steps of Jesus.

We are developing our sense of community and family, and have wonderful people who are committed, recognise the need, and are keen, to continue to develop how we do Church. We need someone who will lead, energise and inspire us to clarify and carry out our vision.

We are welcoming communities and we pray that the person who comes will make a commitment to stay with us. We hope that our next Team Rector will come to love this place as much as we do.

Are you…? l Someone who will relish the opportunity this Ministry brings with the need for Christ’s healing energy and wisdom? l Ready to lead and collaborate with the Ministry Team, the lay leadership and ecumenically across local churches? l Someone who will help the Team develop and implement a plan for how it will respond to the needs of the church and community over the next 5-10 years? l Someone who is pastorally minded, committed to social justice, and prepared to stand up for others? l Someone who is compassionate and relates well with all sorts of people both in the church and the community? l An effective communicator who can bring people together? l An effective networker who will champion the White Horse Team enabling us to join in with community initiatives showing God’s love through support, prayer and action? l Ready to reach the community through outreach and mission?

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As part of the team your role will be to lead and support us l Keeping us centred on Christ through our prayer and worship life. l Guiding our team in their respective ministries and roles; encouraging the skills of the clergy, and the wealth of gifts amongst the laity. l Taking the lead in guiding us from where we are to where God wants us to be. l Have fresh ideas on how we can develop liturgy and worship patterns to meet the needs of the 21st century. l Enabling the church in the life of the community: working with ecumenical and civic partners to ensure the church and its mission is central to the life of the community.

You will need patience, stamina and good humour, we’re looking for a rector who is nurturing and up for a challenge...... we’re not perfect, nor do we expect our minister to be!

As part of a team this role includes: l Providing spiritual and pastoral support for church groups, individuals and the community, including nursing homes and through civic events and initiatives; l Being a visible, accessible presence in church and the community; l Planning, developing and leading all forms of worship; l Enabling the laity to play a full part in the work and worship of the church; l Engaging in both church and community schools; l Working with our ecumenical partners in mission and outreach; l Looking for new and imaginative ways of engaging with people of all ages including through occasional offices; l Ensuring high standards of governance and an open and effective use of our resources; l Recognising and respecting vulnerable groups, ensuring compliance with safeguarding policies and procedures.

4 THE WHITE Strengths, Challenges and Opportunities HORSE TEAM Church strengths, and benefice-wide challenges and MINISTRY opportunities identified through consultation include: DIOCESE OF SALISBURY

Holy Trinity – All Saints – Holy Saviour – All Saints – Dilton Marsh Westbury Westbury Leigh Brokerswood • Welcoming happy • First Steps to Worship • Welcoming happy • Monthly evening prayer community and Little Saints community and popular Christmas service • Well embedded in • Open church • Adaptable village life • Lit by candles and in the • Festivals i.e. Patronal, • Few in number but darkest months by oil • Open to change Christmas Tree, Westbury faithful lamps! (civic celebration of the town combining literary • Well supported by The and musical arts) Friends of the Tin Church

Challenges Opportunities l Identifying and working with different l Helping to make the Church in this place views about what the church is for in the relevant to more people current time l Developing mission strategies on the l Supporting those who feel hurt by past increasing number of housing estates changes and events l Growing Café Church and looking at other l Reaching people unfamiliar with our new forms of worship in our churches and church tradition other locations l The local population is growing yet l Supporting existing small study and prayer church attendance is relatively low, groups and develop new ones how can we better reflect the growing l Working collaboratively with both diversity of our neighbourhood ecumenical and civic partners l Refurbishment of the Parish Hall; once l Continuing to build up the ministry team a church school this building is looking and the development of team ministries tired and in need of a makeover, so that it can be better utilised as a church and community resource

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CAFÉ CHURCH Café Church which recently celebrated its third anniversary, takes place at Westbury Junior School on the second Sunday of each month and at the Memorial Hall in Dilton Marsh on the third Sunday of each month. Café Church has proved to be a good way for people to find out more about God, Jesus and the Christian life in a relaxed, supportive environment.

THE BENEFICE The White Horse Team Ministry was formed in 2002, bringing together the neighbouring parishes of Westbury and Dilton Marsh, including Westbury Leigh and Brokerswood; much of the ministry and planning works across the whole benefice and is supported by the part-time Team Administrator based in the Team Office but each parish retains its own Parochial Church Council. Team services gather the main worshipping communities of Westbury, Westbury Leigh and Dilton Marsh together for patronal festivals and other times during the year. The benefice enjoys Fairtrade Status.

Brokerswood

Westbury

Dilton Marsh Westbury Leigh

Old Dilton

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OUR LICENSED MINISTRY TEAM As an experienced priest, you will be the lead within a ministry team currently consisting of a team vicar, a team curate, and four retired clergy holding permission to officiate, and four Licensed Lay Ministers.

Great value will be placed on your capacity to envisage, inspire and carry through change sensitively. It is essential to be an organised and active team player.

We want someone who will value, respect, enable and develop the gift/strengths/talents of clergy colleagues together with lay people in roles of responsibility.

As a ministry team, all members of the clergy team share in the leading of worship, together with lay people and retired clergy.

Once a month we have: l Non-Eucharistic Praise and Worship services l Cafe Church across two worship centres In this area with its large military presence there is also strong tradition of observing Remembrance Sunday.

Team Rector: post vacant

Team Vicar: Revd Caroline Husband “Hi, I’m Caroline, I have been with the White Horse Team ministry since March 2018. As a team vicar my role has been to develop new ministries, to engage with the 20-40’s and to take a full and active role in the life of the churches of the White Horse Team. It has been my privilege to walk alongside those exploring faith, those wanting to see how God is working in their lives and seeking to know how God’s call might be an invitation into something deeper. As we pray and prepare for the team Rector to come and take their place among us, I hope that if it’s you that you will find a home here and that together we can work, pray and develop the ministry team, encompassing all the gifts, talents and wisdom that is abounding in this place”.

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Team Curate: Revd Melanie Otto “Hello, my name is Melanie and I am a final year Curate serving across the team. It’s been a real privilege leading services in all our churches, and occasionally playing guitar with the small music group!

I also work with the outreach team to explore ways of being more visible in our communities, and serve as governor at one of the local schools.

The White Horse Area is a wonderful mix of rural and town ministries and we look forward to welcoming our new Rector to join us in this rewarding work”. Retired clergy The Revds. David Hart, Margaret Davies, Russell Chamberlain and Helen Durant-Stevensen play an active part in ministry and several other retired clergy also assist occasionally. Licensed Lay Ministers l Peter & Janet Likeman, are active in outreach, Open the Book, Westbury Churches Together and Crosspoint, as well as conducting services across the Benefice l Ashley Jones LLM, focusses on Café Church, and pub discussion groups l Graham Stevensen is committed to discipleship and outreach to our schools. Graham is also an architect and serves on the Parish Hall committee. Lay Worship Leaders l Susan Bell, leads Café Church and a home study group. l Anne Thompson, leads ‘Stations of the Cross’ through Lent. Lay Pastoral Assistants The team has benefited from growth in numbers of Lay Pastoral Assistants. LPA’s include Susan Bell, Tess Brocksopp, Jenny Denton, Caroline Dunseath, Jean Jane, Liz Lee, Lily Munday, Jacky Prince, Sue Stanley, and Anne Thompson. Clergy and LPA’s currently meet monthly to review visits and provide supervision. LPA’s are involved with visiting, baptism preparation, wedding preparation, nursing home visiting, home communions, Little Saints and First Steps to Worship– our two baby and toddler groups. Team Administrator Lynne Vercoe works two part-days each week and is the first point of call for enquiries regarding services and support.

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Staff Meetings Weekly staff meeting brings the beneficed clergy, team administrator and churchwardens together to share information and plan.

Monthly meetings of clergy and licenced ministers for mutual support, fine-tuning service rotas and forward planning.

Fellowship and exploring faith We have a mixture of faith development activities which allow church members, and those on the fringes of church life, to engage with and live out their faith, and are open to further opportunities

l Regular quiet days are run during the summer months, together with opportunities for retreats. There is a weekly faith-based book club. We have an “Exploring the Bible” group meeting weekly at Crosspoint and a monthly pub discussion group “Pints of View”. During Lent, the team clergy help to lead the running of ecumenical Lent Groups. Pastoral Ministry and Ecumenical Links l The Team Ministry is involved within Westbury Area Churches Together, whose activities include weekly Town Prayers, the Good Friday Walk of Witness, community fun-days, Lent courses and Crosspoint. l Crosspoint is an ecumenical local charity project founded on Christian values, providing a service to support those in our community who have issues relating to well-being, isolation, poverty or distress. It provides significant outreach within the town including food boxes supplied by the Warminster and District Foodbank for people with confirmed needs, and a community fridge. Several congregation members are volunteers with Crosspoint. l It is expected that the new Rector will be involved with Crosspoint and serve on its Board of Directors. http://www.crosspoint-westbury.co.uk/ l Westbury Area Churches Together represents the churches of the Westbury and Dilton Marsh area of Wiltshire. Affiliated to Wiltshire Churches Together, the ministers and representative of the different churches meet regularly to arrange united services and other joint projects. l The clergy team and lay pastoral assistants often in conjunction with Westbury Area Churches Together, take communion to local nursing and retirement homes, and to those who are ill and housebound. l The White Horse Team has two active branches of Mothers’ Union who are committed to supporting UK and Worldwide MU projects. Locally families needing a break have been helped to access a MU holiday and regular support is given to the Women’s Refuge. Members also work with students at the local secondary school enabling them to learn about parenting through the use of Virtual Babies, and help to run the Little Saints Toddler Group.

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Children and young people l The core of our engagement is our work in the three Church of England primary schools within the team area. In addition, we support two community schools and a secondary school within the town. The schools make considerable use of our church buildings for services and educational visits l The Team has a successful “Open the Book” group which support school assemblies l Team clergy regularly provide support with the planning and delivery of collective worship, and input into lessons l First Steps to Worship, a midweek toddler service has been running successfully for 30 years, under the guidance and creative leadership of Sharon Jones. Sessions includes singing and lots of fun! First Steps is held at 9.30am every Wednesday morning in term time. l The Mother’s Union delivers the “Virtual Babies” project to the local secondary school l Several young people act as servers during the main service l We enjoy a close association with Fairfield Farm College, a training centre for young people with learning disabilities Schools Westbury has two primary schools, an infant school, a junior school and a secondary school.

l Westbury Leigh C of E Primary School l Westbury C of E Junior School l Dilton Marsh C of E Primary School l Bitham Brook Primary School l Westbury Infants School l Matravers School We also have two day nurseries and seven pre-schools.

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THE DEANERY AND BEYOND We are one of seven Benefices/Team Ministries, encompassing twenty-one parishes, which together form The Heytesbury Deanery As the new incumbent to the Team, you will belong to a friendly and supportive Chapter of fellow clergy. Regular meetings of this Chapter are frequently interspersed with fellowship meals comprising of breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea. The clergy of the deanery value this regular coming- together for theological discussion, exchanges of practical ideas and mutual encouragement. It is also hoped that the new Rector of the White Horse Team would also play their part in being an active member of this Chapter. Salisbury with its Cathedral, Sarum College and the Royal School of Music is easily accessible by car or train from Westbury. There are ample opportunities to join in Diocesan activities, theological courses and training initiatives. Sarum College offers many options for further personal study. Renewing Hope - Pray, Serve, Grow Since his arrival as Bishop of Salisbury in 2011, Bishop Nicholas has engaged the Diocese in a prayerful process of exploration and discernment. Through conversations between the Bishop, his senior staff, and through Deanery Visits he invited the Diocese to explore how God wants it to move forward. This led to the formation of the Diocesan vision – Renewing Hope: Pray, Serve, Grow. Outreach and social responsibility l We help to run community fun days in partnership with Westbury Area Churches Together l We have run family activity sessions to celebrate church festivals l A variety of suppers, quizzes, coffee mornings, social and fundraising activities are run by church members l Active branches of Mothers’ Union exist in both parishes and support family and parenting projects locally, in the diocese and beyond l Members of the congregations are active as governors at schools and in a variety of local charitable and volunteer groups l The Christian Way is an ecumenically produced magazine serving Westbury. Clergy contribute on a rota basis a lead article/letter. Clergy also contribute to a Christian Viewpoint column in the local White Horse newspaper. Dilton Marsh has its own magazine serving the village. l We have recently introduced a quarterly team newsletter

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Our Finances Both PCCs have paid the Share in full. Westbury Parish for the past two years has funded a relatively modest operating deficit from its reserves. (See:http://apps.charitycommission. gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/DocumentList.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber= 1134367&SubsidiaryNumber=0&DocType=AccountList for the most recent accounts for Westbury Parish). In response to this, Westbury has initiated an active Stewardship programme which has raised the concerns of the PCC to members of the church. We also have an active fund- raising group. Clergy expenses are fully met.

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APPENDICES A: Our Buildings, Assets & History Westbury All Saints, Westbury, built in the second half of the 14th century, is a fine Grade I listed building. It stands in an enclosed churchyard surrounded by cottages. The nave roof was recently re-leaded and a much-appreciated toilet was installed in 2005. The tower contains the third heaviest peal of eight bells in the world. They are rung regularly by a resident band of enthusiasts and are popular with visiting ringers. The electoral roll numbers 111 (includes Westbury Leigh/ Holy Saviour) and the average Sunday attendance at regular services is 40. Each Sunday there is an 8am service of Holy Communion. The main morning service, at 9.30am is followed by a period of fellowship with light refreshments served at the west end of the church. The fourth Sunday service is non-Eucharistic and seeks to include Baptisms. Evening worship has been shared with the Methodists for many years. It takes place in the Methodist church during the winter months as it is easier to heat. Members of the congregation play an active part in all the services. There is additionally a small though committed silent prayer group that meets on Sunday evenings.

Facilities for children include:

l A children’s corner for the very young and their families. Holy Communion is celebrated every Wednesday at 10.30am and the laying on of hands and anointing for healing is offered monthly at this service.

There is a robed choir affiliated to the RSCM, a small music group, and a team of altar servers, vestments are worn.

The somewhat ‘tired’ Parish Hall houses the Team Office, as well as providing hall space which is well used for an independently run pre-school, and by uniformed organisations, church groups including Little Saints mother and toddler group and private hirers. There is a Hall Management Committee that reports to the PCC. A complete refurbishment and upgrading of facilities is required.

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Westbury Leigh Holy Saviour, Westbury Leigh is a Grade II listed building constructed in 1876. An exciting and ground-breaking initiative saw the church transformed in 2000 by the joint efforts of the Parish and a newly formed community group. The refurbished nave of the church became a community hall complete with toilets, kitchen, and meeting room. It is now used by a wide range of individual groups and has become an important and very active centre for the community.

The Parish retain the chancel and has use of the building on Sunday mornings and at other pre-arranged times. Sunday worship is at 11.00am with an average attendance of 15. Vestments are worn. Dilton Marsh Holy Trinity, Dilton Marsh, built in a Romanesque style in 1844, is Grade II*. There is a good pipe organ and the striking clock reminds the villagers of the church’s presence as well as the time of day! There is a children’s corner.

Toilet facilities, catering area and a new sound system, complete with radio microphones, and the capability to plug in electronic instruments, together with playing music from CD, MP3 and iPhone/ iPod have been installed in recent years. There is increasing use of the church as a community facility. We have also been experimenting with the use of screen and Powerpoint for church and Cafe Church services.

The main Sunday service is at 10.00am and is attended on average by 35 people. The electoral roll numbers 67. The monthly Café Church, which is held in the village Memorial Hall, is attracting a growing number of people. A service of Holy Communion is celebrated monthly on Wednesdays at 9.15am.

The church community, fortunate in having an able band of do-ers and supporters, is very friendly and outgoing. It holds a monthly tabletop sale including a long-standing Traidcraft stall, a weekly coffee afternoon for mothers collecting children from school, it organises the annual Village Day which takes place in the churchyard and arranges a variety of other social activities. It also has a close association with Fairfield Farm College- a weekly coffee morning in the cafe, an annual carol singing with the students and an annual MU lunch.

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Brokerswood The small hamlet of Brokerswood is approximately 2 miles from Dilton Marsh, and is the location of an award-winning holiday park. All Saints, Brokerswood is a small timber-framed Grade II listed chapel clad with corrugated iron, is commonly known as the “Tin Church”. Evening Prayer is usually held here monthly and Holy Communion celebrated at Christmas and Easter. It has no electricity, so a small but dedicated team provides lighting by candles and in the darkest months oil lamps as well. A battery powered keyboard is used at special services. Attendance ranges from two on a damp Sunday evening to 92 for the Christmas Carol Service. The Friends of the Tin Church run a series of popular social events to raise funds towards its upkeep, and Frome Festival uses it as a concert venue. Old Dilton St Mary’s, Old Dilton was closed for public worship in the 1970’s and is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It is built in the rustic style, with parts of it dating back to the 12th century, is furnished as a Prayer Book church with box pews and a three-tier pulpit. Worship can take place here on four occasions each year. We have celebrated a candlelit Advent Carol Service, in the past.

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B: OUR COMMUNITY CONTEXT Westbury Westbury is situated below the vast chalk escarpment on the edge of Salisbury Plain, with beautiful walks and outstanding views. Longleat, Stourhead, Stonehenge and Avebury all provide excellent days out for the family.

The community area is home to the famous Westbury White Horse, which overlooks the town. Westbury boasts a Georgian market square and some fine Victorian buildings.

Historically Westbury was a small market town with a variety of industries linked to its proximity to Salisbury Plain – wool, cloth, leather goods and Westbury Iron Company – or its location on the junction of two major rail routes. Much of this industry has now ceased and has been replaced by a range of other light industry and distribution services. There is a military presence in Westbury in the form of the Army Officer Selection Board. This means that Remembrance and a valuing of military service is a strong element of local culture. There are several new housing estates, including some still under construction, and an expanded medical centre. There is a thriving leisure centre and a Victorian swimming pool in the centre of Westbury.

The range of shops in Westbury will meet your immediate needs with supermarkets, pharmacies and a small number of independent shops. We are 10 minutes from Trowbridge and Warminster, 25 minutes from Bath and 45 minutes from Salisbury. Each of these towns has a full range of shops, social and cultural activities. We have a regular train service to London (1.5hrs) and Bristol is easily accessible by train and by car.

Westbury is a significant commercial and industrial centre due to the major West Wiltshire Trading Estate and adjacent Northacre Industrial Estate, which help provide employment to a growing population. There are ample opportunities for employment in the local area. Wiltshire has one of the lowest unemployment rates (2%) in the country. However, many people from Westbury work in Bath, Bristol, Salisbury or even Swindon and London.

The population of Westbury has grown significantly since 2001 when we had a population of 15,900. In 2015 the population was 19,140 and is projected to rise to 21,570 by 2026. The breakdown of population is:

0 - 19 years 4,930

25 - 39 years 3,760

40 - 60 years 6,660

65+ 3,790

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Our congregations do not reflect these demographics. We, like many other churches, have a higher number of the over 65’s and a small number of young people. There is more to do to attract younger people as regular worshippers. The social challenges in Westbury are linked to a lack of community cohesion and deprivation. However, that deprivation needs to be considered in the context that Wiltshire is not a deprived county. Deprivation experienced here tends to be in pockets and links together a range of issues from low aspirations, longer term unemployment and related health issues. The lack of community cohesion is partly historic but also stems from the large number of new housing estates built since 2001. Many of the residents do not work or shop in the town and have not felt the need to build a sense of community. There is also a lack of social and community infrastructure which reinforces this lack of cohesion and an ongoing sense of being forgotten by local government. However, there are many local groups and organisations which do contribute to the town’s sense of community spirit and we have several public-spirited individuals in our congregation who are actively trying to make a difference in the town, and this is paying rewards. Westbury Festival in the autumn showcases local and visiting musicians and artists. The White Horse Team is part of the integral social fabric of the town and a sensible voice on many of the committees that are trying to make a difference. We see this leadership role as a space we want to occupy to ensure that the Church is recognised as a community asset, for its ability to convene, build community cohesion and be inclusive to all. Dilton Marsh A few miles from Westbury, the village of Dilton Marsh is a thriving community with good facilities. Predominantly a village which is linear in nature, with a High Street two kilometres long, Dilton Marsh stretches beyond this incorporating a wide range of houses, both old (dating back to pre-1860) and new – of differing sizes and designs. While predominantly privately owned, there is some social and sheltered housing. The population of 1934 (2011 census), includes residents across the whole age range. Many families have grown up in or near the village. There is a busy public house (the Prince of Wales), an active Social Club, a fish & chip shop, a cattery, a garage, a hairdressing salon and a beauty salon along with a substantial number of smaller businesses providing a range of services. There are several places of worship, a Memorial Hall which celebrates its’ centenary in 2021, a War Memorial with an annual Remembrance Service and a playing field and woods owned by the Parish Council. Fairfield Farm College is a day and residential college offering education and training for young people aged 18 plus. On this site there is a shop, Post Office and café which is a well- used community resource. Dilton Marsh Church of England Primary School and Pre-School was built in 1988 behind the former church school, which is now converted to houses. Community groups include the Garden Club, Women’s Institute, History Society and Little Marshians parent and toddler group. A range of activities take place at the Memorial Hall including pilates, yoga and Zumba classes, band rehearsals, Dilton Marsh Rainbows, table tennis and short mat bowls.

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C: HOME LIFE

The Rectory, which is conveniently close to All Saints’ Church, stands in approximately half an acre of pleasant garden and was built in 1980.

Accommodation comprises entrance hall, study, inner hall leading to large lounge, dining room, kitchen, utility room and cloakroom with stairs leading to 4 good sized bedrooms, bathroom and a toilet at first floor level. The rectory is situated in a quiet location and has solar panels installed.

There is an extensive drive, with parking space for several cars, leading to a double garage.

D: INTERVIEWS Interviews will be held on 15th and 16th of October 2019

Applicants are advised to keep these days available until appraised of the result of the shortlisting.

The appointment is subject to a satisfactory DBS disclosure.

Normal travelling expenses will be reimbursed.

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