Come follow Christ

Curacy in the Diocese in the footsteps of St Chad of Lichfield

Title post in the parish Suburban | of , open evangelical Five congregations in three centres in (Trinity Churches) one parish Welcome to Lichfield Diocese

Cradled at the intersection of the Midlands and Moorlands and Welsh Borders. A caring diocese number of higher education centres the North, and the interface between can be found in Stoke, Keele, Stafford, and Wales, the is the And we embrace the widest spectrum of church Lichfield Diocese is one of the largest in the Shrewsbury, Telford, Wolverhampton ancient centre of Christianity in what was the traditions – evangelical and catholic, liberal country, covering an area of 1744 square miles and Walsall. Kingdom of Mercia. and conservative, choral and charismatic, as we and serving a population of more than 2 million. journey together – as a colleague recently put Vocation and mission of all We are rightfully grateful for the inheritance it, it is our goal to be a ‘spacious and gracious The diocese consists of three episcopal areas we have from St Chad that leads us to focus diocese’. with three Area Bishops (of Wolverhampton, Our vision for the diocese is that all on Discipleship, Vocation and Evangelism as Stafford and Shrewsbury) ministering alongside people, lay and ordained alike, will we live and serve among the communities of the Diocesan Bishop, each overseeing a different grow ever more deeply into their Staffordshire, northern and the Black geographic area. This indicates the diocese’s vocation as disciples of Christ. We Country. ‘...a spacious and commitment to its different contexts, and to the hope to become a Church where all “Our time as a family in my pastoral care of our clergy. our members are equipped to know they are curacy in rural Shropshire Wherever in the Diocese you may be placed, gracious diocese called by God to worship and to be the eyes, has been one of the best of you will benefit from being part of a wider Homes and schools hands, feet and mouth of Christ in their own our lives. I’ve learned that family, mixing with people serving in a wide contexts. the priestly role is vital in the variety of contexts – from the grittiest inner- It is my determination and that of my episcopal We aim to provide To further these aims, community. I’m particularly city neighbourhoods of Stoke and the Black colleagues that your calling to a title post will be high quality housing and to develop creative enjoying working with Country, to the leafiest rural parishes of a time of encouragement, ongoing formation, for our clergy with a patterns of ministry, we seniors, and enabling the Staffordshire and Shropshire, to the sparsest challenge and (while rarely unbridled) joy. Our continuous programme ask all training parishes giftings of others which upland communities of the Staffordshire colleagues among the diocesan staff keenly of improvements to to offer ‘sixth-day’ resulted in a successful bring their various specialisms both spiritual houses and responsive, opportunities for Messy Church starting in one As we follow Christ in the footsteps of St Chad, we pray and practical to serve our parishes, fresh specialist contractors for curates – which might of the villages. I give thanks that the two million people in our diocese encounter a expressions, schools and chaplaincies. emergencies. be a chaplaincy to God for this special time, attachment (school, and for everyone who’s been Church that is confident in the gospel, knows and loves its hospital, prison or there for me and supported communities, and is excited to find God already at work in As well as the 208 Church hospice), involvement me throughout.” the world. We pray for a church that reflects the richness of England schools in with local gardening and variety of those communities. We pray for a Church that the Diocese, there are ventures, night- Revd Jassica Castillo-Burley +Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave many good schools and shelter involvement partners with others in seeking the common good, working Bishop of Lichfield colleges that will welcome – to mention just a few for justice as a people of hope. clergy’ children, and a possibilities. (Diocesan Vision Statement) 2 3 Everything but the sea

Staffordshire prides itself on being ‘the Creative Road and rail links can provide it. And then there’s many museums County’: Shropshire is the birthplace of the including Walsall’s New Art Gallery and the RAF Industrial Revolution and the Black Country is museum at Cosford; not to mention excellent renowned for its industry and all have significant sporting options for both watching and opportunities for spouses who wish to develop participating – from premiership football to the careers in any sphere. Tamworth Snowdome. Along with Wedgwood, theatres and cinemas, restaurants and superb Wulfrun Centre in Wolverhampton is one tea shops just begging to be discovered… of many shopping destinations in the region © Roger Kidd -/ geograph.org. Dovedale (location of one of the Diocese’s two residential retreat uk/p/1171894/ CC BY 2.0 For those days off when you need space away centres) / Shaun Dunmall (wikipedia) / CC BY-SA 2.0 4.0 from the parish, the area has everything you Leisure and pleasure David Rayner (Wikipedia) / Stoke-on-Trent could wish for – except the sea: wild landscapes, Bottle Kiln / CC BY-SA 2.0BY-SA 4.0 cultured museums and stately homes. Sports of Lichfield Diocese has everything but the sea. many kinds (including Premiership football) and For walkers and climbers, there’s an extensive at least two theme parks network of canals, Cannock Chase, The Roaches, and the Shropshire—Welsh borders (for example). If you’re into more organised fun, For those with family and friends in other parts Alton Towers and Drayton Manor Theme Park of the country, the Diocese has great transport Wightwick Manor nr Wolverhampton / Tony Hisgett (Wikipedia) / CC Shrewsbury Flax Mill – the prototype skyscraper / Tk420 (Wikipedia) / CC BY-SA 4.0 BY-SA 4.0 links: the M6/M6Toll bisects the centre of the Diocese north-south, and the M5 originates at Apedale Valley Light Railway near Stoke with the adjacent country park and Heritage Centre is one of many transport and leisure museums in our southern tip. Heading west, the A5/M54 the Diocese / Simon Jones Alton Towers near Uttoxeter / Jeremy Opening of the Lighthouse Project at give easy access to north and mid Wales, while Thompson/Flickr / CC BY 2.0 Kingsland CE Academy, Bucknall the A50, A5 and M6Toll give swift access to the If shopping is your thing, there is a range of M1, M42 and A38 for the East Midlands and the options, from the chic boutiques at Barton south-east. Marina, and Shrewsbury to large malls in or near the urban centres. We’re fortunate in being the Rail links are also good with all major home of many fine ales and beers brewed in towns having direct services to London and Burton on Trent (the museum is well worth a Birmingham and four major airports surround visit), and Staffordshire oatcakes are a unique our borders – Birmingham, East Midlands, local delicacy to be discovered. Manchester and Liverpool.

4 5 Trinity Churches, Meole Brace

Trinity Churches are a thriving community of market towns. The town centre is packed with shopping centre in Radbrook. The parish is We are keen to take time at this pivotal moment Christians in Meole Brace, and timber-framed black and white buildings, steep also home to two excellent secondary schools, to prayerfully consider what life looks like in the the wider Shrewsbury area. Together we are narrow streets and alleyways. As well as its two really great primary schools (including one future. We are slowly re-introducing different growing faith, proclaiming hope, and living the famous annual flower show, and summer season Church of England), residential homes, and the services, being mindful of the ways in which love of Jesus. festival, the town has a wide range of good mighty Shrewsbury Town Football Club. people’s habits have changed and discipleship shops, excellent schools, a new theatre, cinemas, deepened during this time. For example, Shrewsbury is a fantastic place to live, and restaurants and cafes, a new University, and a Trinity Churches is made up of five different Sunday pre-school families have really appreciated may well be one of Britain’s best kept secrets! vibrant night life. congregations in three different worship centres, worshipping together on the ‘Early Birds’ zoom With a population of around 100,000, it is set each with a particular ‘flavour’ We also have a at 8.30am on a Sunday morning and are keen amidst glorious countryside near to the Welsh Shropshire is perfect for walkers, history lovers mid-week congregation and a good number of to keep talking about how we might develop Borders and is one of England’s finest medieval or foodies, to name but a few things the county the church consider themselves part of a small and grow this intergenerational ministry. But is famous for! The Shropshire hills, Welsh group. In 2020 our Electoral Roll was 377 adults. although we aren’t rushing back to doing things coast and Snowdonia are easily accessible for ‘exactly the same as before’, here’s a flavour of day trips. Birmingham and Chester (1 hour), what it was like before the Pandemic… Manchester and Liverpool (1.5 hours) and Services in the church(es) London and the Lakes (3 hours) are all closer to Holy Trinity Meole Brace Shrewsbury than many people think. Obviously, life has looked a little different over the last year or so! We are blessed with fabulous 9.00am A morning service of Holy Communion PA and AV equipment and so have been able with a more traditional feel. (Common Worship The Parish of Meole Brace to livestream services (using facebook live) from weekly, robed) c60 adults. Worship led by organ (Trinity Churches) the building when conditions have allowed for and music group. Outdoor Easter morning at Holy Trinity this to take place. Like everyone else, we’ve (top); AV team streaming from inside (middle) and; band and congregation The Parish of Meole Brace is on the south west become zoom ninjas and have learnt a lot about 10.45am A more contemporary and informal inside in normal times (below) of Shrewsbury and has a population of around video editing! As well as our Sunday service, Phil service, with groups for 0s-18’s+. c120 adults 9,000 in five distinct areas of housing: Meole has led a daily ‘Six O’Clock live’ prayer gathering and c45+ children and young people, led by a Village, Meole Estate, Radbrook Green, a new since the week before lockdown started, and worship group. We are working back towards housing development known as Sweet Lake, and regularly has 20-30 households joining. Along our ‘pre-pandemic’ full programme for children the hamlet of . with other churches in the Deanery, we’ve and youth three times a month, plus monthly produced a weekly ‘Pyjama Church’ which has all-age service or similar. The Parish is mainly residential, although there genuinely reached people of all ages and stages is also a small amount of light industry and a of faith. It’s been really good to work together 6.30pm An informal evening service, with large retail park in Meole Brace, and smaller with other churches on this. communion once a month. Services have a

6 7 ‘worship, word and ministry’ format. c30-35 providing ministry support to our neighbouring of God’s incredible hospitality. The Trinity adults, some of whom may have worshipped parish, Holy Trinity, Belle Vue, which hosts a Centre also hosts the amazing Windfall Project, elsewhere in the morning, either in the parish or flourishing Pre-School (rated outstanding by run by one of our church members, which at another church. Ofsted). HTBV meets at 10.30 on a Sunday morning makes delicious jams and chutneys while and is a fairly small congregation of prayerful offering work based training to adults with Christ the King Radbrook Green people who love Jesus and desire to see more of learning disabilities. the Spirit at work in their lives and community. 10.30am A morning service in Radbrook which Labels don’t always mean much in church The notable stained glass in Holy Trinity (above) contrasts with the modern meets in Radbrook Community Centre. The life, but we’d describe ourselves as ‘Open buildings of the other congregations: service has a contemporary and informal feel. Evangelical’. We have links with New Wine and About 30 adults with worship led by music group. Soul Survivor, as well as with Church Army and Christ the King congregation meeting outside the Radbrook Green community the Alpha/HTB Leadership groupings, though centre (right) and; The Church in the Meet Place, for many others in the parish they are equally at home in many other networks and outworkings The Meet Place, a shop unit at the heart Meole Estate of the estate - in the background here Buildings / community of church life. We’ve often used the phrase while the congregation worships on the 11.00am A monthly service which is held in “God’s amazing family” which reminds us that green meeting outside. ‘The Meet Place’ on the Meole Estate, as part There has been a church in Meole Brace for well we all get to belong, whatever labels we might of the regular programme over a thousand years, and the current Holy want to use for ourselves. of discipleship events Trinity Church is at least the third building on for people on the local The Congregations in numbers: the site. However we strive to be a parish not housing estate. Some just with a long history but also with an exciting 2020 2019 attend other services future. Recent years have seen the growing at Holy Trinity. The Electoral Roll 377 381 impact of Christ the King and of Café Connect congregation is made up ASA 263 adults in Radbrook Green, fresh expressions of church of about 15 people, mostly 40 youth and on the Meole Estate, and the amazing gift that senior citizens. Most of the children the Trinity Centre continues to be to church and work of the Church in the Church at home ~230 community. In non pandemic times, we would Meet Place is midweek and weekly attendance regularly see 1,000 people a week flood through in small groups. Marriages 6 19 the doors of the Trinity Centre for everything Funerals 41 35 from Bulgarian lessons to ballet classes, giving We currently have a role in us an amazing opportunity to offer something Baptisms 6 30

8 9 Your Training Incumbent than ‘doing’, and allows for the incredible Context parish is an easy place to get around on foot or opportunity of ministry among young adults, by bicycle. You’ll need to learn to leave enough Revd Fiona Iddon many of whom are very open to talking about We are committed to being a parish church time to chat to people along the way! 18a Meole Walk, Meole Brace, faith. to the areas we serve and a vibrant Christian Shrewsbury SY3 9EU presence across our local communities. Trinity Churches is a really great training However alongside that we recognise the joys The ministry • Trained: St Mellitus College, opportunity for any curate as there is so much of gathering people who live across Shrewsbury, North West going on, and such a wide variety of different and in many of the villages and areas across this Church at home weekly attendance: approx. 230 • Ordained: Lichfield, July 2017 ministry areas in which to gain experience. We part of Shropshire. We have been encouraged • Curacy: St George’s have a long and proven track record of doing to be resourcing and equipping other local Trinity Churches is a parish church. We want to Frankwell, this well. The staff team is strong, and includes churches, and supporting mission and ministry be good news in sharing God’s love with those Shrewsbury people with specialisms in particular areas in this part of Shropshire. who live here. The high number of occasional • Assoc Vicar: since July 2020 of ministry such as youth and children and offices we are asked to conduct reflects the community work. Fi is really looking forward to Within the parish itself, each of the five areas strong place that the Church has within the Fi began her working life as a secondary learning from a new colleague and their prior has its own distinct identity. Radbrook is an community. We consider these to be a vital part school teacher, taking an active role in experience, and working together to make sure established modern estate with a real centre of our ministry and mission. mentoring and training both student that curacy is as fruitful and fulfilling as it can to it (which includes Café Connect and the and newly qualified teachers. Fi sees be. These three years really matter to you as a Community Centre where CTK meets). Meole Introducing our staff team to you is a really helping people recognise and develop curate and to us as a church. Estate is a close knit community of social good way of describing much of our ministry Revd Phil Cansdale has been vicar of Trinity Churches since 2009 but may be their God giving gifting and callings as a housing. Meole Village is a mixture of some and mission: even more proud to be either area dean or key part of the priestly role. Fi and her husband Simon have lived in very old and some much more modern housing. chaplain to Shrewsbury Town Football Club Meole Brace for many years. He is Assistant Nobold is a hamlet right on the edge of the Our Vicar, Phil, oversees Trinity Alongside her work as Associate Vicar within Headteacher at the local secondary school, and parish. The new housing area of Sweet Lake Churches alongside his role as Area the parish, Fi also holds a role as Chaplain they have two children who are pupils there. As has been built in the last few years. We are very Dean of Shrewsbury and other to University Centre Shrewsbury (part of the a family they like being with friends, spending much aware that we don’t yet have a church commitments within the Diocese and University of Chester). Although there is no time outdoors and all enjoy a good book! presence here. national church. Phil is a great leader expectation that a curate at Trinity Churches and encourager of others. would be required to be involved in this This parish a really friendly place. People know ministry, it does provide a great opportunity one another and look out for their neighbours. Valerie is one of our Associate to experience the role of chaplaincy in an Many families have lived here for generations, Ministers and heads up the 9am educational setting. It’s far more about ‘being’ but newcomers are always welcomed. The congregation. Valerie is brilliant at

10 11 walking alongside those who are elderly. During William is our Operations Manager and is the pandemic she has overseen ‘phone church’, responsible for the smooth running of the and we are beginning to explore how this might parish. As a curate himself (in another parish) be a continuing resource for those in care homes. William knows what you need to know about In pre-covid days, Valerie oversaw our monthly the legal parts of running a church! He does an ‘Trinity Table’ lunch and weekly coffee morning. amazing job of caring for our buildings, which are such an incredible resource for our ministry. Charles is another Associate Minister and in his He is ably assisted in the office by Jenny who day job is an expert in all things water related. oversees finance, and Shannon who is our He loves encouraging people to go deeper Comms Assistant. Shannon helps prepare the IT in prayer, and does so by overseeing smaller for our services each week. prayer groups as well as regular 24/7 prayer initiatives. Charles is really keen to encourage Helen is our Trinity Centre and Events Manager. years and we take this responsibility for faith faith in the workplace, particularly for those She oversees the work of the Trinity Centre and sharing seriously. Helen’s husband, Mike, is our involved in business. Church of England Primary where there are very the hospitality that we offer here as a church. caretaker and he has spent much of the last The churchyard trails have been particularly appeciated through lockdowns (above). natural links between church and school. Our The Trinity Centre is often people’s first ‘step year ‘fogging’! Keith and Amal are our Pioneer Community Toddler groups are always busy (supported through the door’ of any church for many Some of our young people on a weekend away (below) Ministers. They take a lead on our mission on by our Preschool worker, Carol) and feed into Tim is our gardener. Over the last year we’ve the Meole Estate, and oversee groups like ‘Bacon both our monthly Toddler Service and Messy begun using the churchyard more and more as Buddies’ as well as some amazing discipleship Church. Trinity Kids on a Sunday morning is a place for people to encounter Jesus. Although programmes. During the pandemic, they have complemented by mid-week groups for deeper it’s always been a popular community space managed our weekly food delivery service which discipleship. we’ve had different prayer trails available and has fed some 80+ households and provided seen many, many people engage with these. emergency food parcels to those in need. Craig is our Minister for Youth and Young Adults. Most recently he has been pioneering Café Connect on Radbrook Green is managed Owing to the impending retirement of the some detached youth work on the Meole Estate, by Dave Aberley and has it’s own board of current post-holder, Judith, we are in the partnering with Shrewsbury Youth for Christ, directors. This is a really important presence process of appointing a new Minister for alongside discipling the many young people for us as a church in Radbrook Green, and it’s a Children and Families to oversee this important of Trinity Churches. The last few years has place of welcome that’s valued by many people. work. We are an active presence in both seen a steady rise in numbers of young adults primary schools, particularly Meole Brace engaging in all aspects of church life.

12 13 Meole Brace is such a great training opportunity Lent, Growing Leaders. training parish this will be the preferred for a curate, and we are really delighted that • Developing preaching series and curate’s house. If there is no strategic housing you are considering it. Previous curates would teaching programmes. available nearby the diocese is committed to all talk about how positive their time here • Spending a year on Standing and providing appropriate accommodation for has been, and how the breadth and scope of Finance commttees, seeing some of all those entering ministry. We generally do ministry and mission in a thriving parish is an the management and strategic issues not offer rented accommodation except as an incredible foundation for future ministry. The of leading a larger church. emergency short term measure. Our curates opportunity to work alongside and learn from a can be confident that their home will be of a range of hugely gifted leaders is such a gift for consistently high standard. If you wish to know The Trinity Centre is an artful blend of any curate. Housing and Accommodation further details about the house, the DDO will be courtyard, sympathetic architecture and able to provide you with more information. modern facilites, much used for community The sort of role that might develop for a The Diocese of Lichfield either has a curate’s and diocesan events particular curate will obviously be informed by house in the benefice or a ‘strategic’ house for their own giftings and previous experience. We curates in close proximity of the benefice. These would hope that their ‘fresh eyes’ might well Responsibilities of previous curates have are good houses, mainly with three to four identify new mission areas and opportunities included: bedrooms. If there is no curate’s house in the that we have yet to recognise. benefice and where such a strategic property • Leadership of one of the exists within easy reach of the proposed ‘congregational leadership teams’ across the parish. “We’re really grateful for all the support we got from the diocese, starting with the • Overseeing the development of small DDO, who went out of her way to help in finding a good match, and to work out groups as integral to the church’s practical matters. vision. • Line management of the Youth or “My vicar has been very supportive, through planning carefully together and weekly Children’s Minister. supervisions, where we reflect on different areas of ministry. I have been given new • Developing a new FXC on the Meole challenges progressively, all done sensitively and fitted to the stage I was at. Our Estate churches have been so welcoming to the whole family, and very supportive of my • Leading key strategic initiatives, eg ministry, even when this involves less regular ideas, like planting a tree during a LICC Frontline, St Chad’s Rhythms of sermon (only in a pot, I regret to say!).” Grace. • Co-leading training courses, eg Alpha, Revd John Beswick Pallister

14 15 Curacy in Lichfield Diocese IME2 to equip for ministry

Supporting learning and formation Pattern of training At the heart of the programme are residential Curate learning, formation and development The programme focuses on grounded and events which bring together a year-group of is strongly valued and affirmed in Lichfield situated learning and prioritises the Diocese‘s curates. They reflect the diversity of the Church, Diocese. Curates receive ongoing supervision focus on Discipleship, Vocation and Evangelism: while the different ministry contexts reflect and reflection on ministry in the parish, the diversity of the Diocese. This cohort is complemented by our curate-training • In Year 1 establishing you in your new the primary context for the essential learning programme in which you share with your ministerial context and practice, and supporting and formation to develop your ministries, year-group of peers. The aim of the training your preparation for ordination as priest. focusing on ministerial formation, and on the programme is to enable each person to flourish development of relationships which enable in their ministry and inhabit more deeply • In Year 2, deepening your practice and mutual flourishing for all. their vocation as deacons and priests. This understanding of mission and ministry with programme supports learning and formation the theological tools and skills you need to Opportunities for academic awards through a partnership between the Diocese and contextualise this. Care for curates and families The Queen’s Foundation. And it takes place in Alongside the IME2 training you may wish to the context of parish supervision and reflection • In Year 3 helping you prepare for continue studying on an accredited pathway The wellbeing of clergy and their families is very on ministry. life-long ministry and to take up a post of with Common Awards. Curates who already important to us. In addition to the supervisory responsibility to be entered into with skill and have a Diploma award from IME1 may register aspects to curacy, we have a free, confidential The programme provides space and an confidence. for a BA in Theology, Ministry and Mission. counselling service (the Listening Ear scheme) environment beyond the parish context in Others who already have a degree or higher for all clergy, diocesan staff and their families. which curates come together with skilled tutors award or are recognised as potential theological to learn with and from each other’s shared educators have opportunities to further their More info experience, so that they can better integrate studies alongside their curate programme. their practice and reflection, develop their – contact the DDO (details on back cover) or personal qualities, spiritual, ministerial and visit lichfield.anglican.org/curacy professional gifts and skills, and deepen their “We have had amazing support from the diocese over the 6 years through both of our curacies and desire to learn. that’s not always been straightforward- particularly when ‘life’ sometimes gets in the way!

“But the support, through thick and thin has been fantastic, particularly discerning Adam’s call to

The curacy experience is very much a collective one, often gathering at Lichfield pioneering ministry and curacy under ‘pioneer’ supervision.” Diocese’s centrally-located Shallowford House for study, prayer, retreat and de-stressing with peers (pandemic permitting): as such, it’s a much less scary venue during IME2 than as a base for a BAP! Revds Adam & Charlotte Gompertz

16 17 Curacy in Lichfield Diocese For further information

In the first instance, please contact:

The Revd Romita Shrisunder, Bishops’ Director of Ordinands [O] 01543 306220 [M] 07949 033091 [E] [email protected] Find us on: Trinity Churches, Meole Brace, AChurchNearYou: Shrewsbury

achurchnearyou.com/church/4399/ We are a thriving community of Christians in Meole Brace, Website: Radbrook Green and the wider Shrewsbury area. Together we are www.trinitychurches.org growing faith, proclaiming hope and Facebook: living in the love of Jesus.

facebook.com/TrinityChurchesShrewsbury Come and join us!

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