Parish Brochure The United Parish of Kirkby Fleetham with Langton on Swale and Scruton The United Parish of Ainderby Steeple with Yafforth and Kirby Wiske with Maunby www.lowerswalechurches.org.uk An Invitation Our Mission Statement Prayer We, the people of this united Benefice in Dear Lord, the young Diocese of Leeds, extend a warm welcome to whoever is called by God to serve As we seek to grow and nurture our Christian faith among us. We would welcome you into our through your teachings, give us strength to work as community in the Vale of Mowbray, a united Benefice and serve our rural communities set between the Yorkshire Dales and in your name. the North York Moors near the county town of Northallerton. Using the resources we have, help us to reach out to young and old in a way that shows our Would you be willing to join us, sharing support to them and enable continued growth and inspiring our future plans for developing and awareness of our faith. the Christian ministry and mission? Our mission, Lord, is to channel your love and compassion in a way that enriches the lives of others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. A solitary poppy grows amongst the crops in the many fields around our Benefice 1 LOCALITY OUR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY The united Benefice of the Lower Swale The County town of Northallerton lies Currently we are organized into two There are two Church of England is situated in the beautiful countryside about 3 miles from Ainderby Steeple. United Parishes; the United Parish of (Voluntary Controlled) primary schools, in the north of the Vale of York in rural It has a wide range of shops including Ainderby Steeple with Yafforth and one at Ainderby Steeple and the other at North Yorkshire. Barkers Department store, Lewis & Kirby Wiske with Maunby and the Kirkby Fleetham. Some of our church Cooper Delicatessen and other high United Parish of Kirkby Fleetham with members are govenors at these schools People living in the Lower Swale area street favourites such as Fat Face, Langton on Swale and Scruton. There and the Priest has always been welcomed. are well positioned for accessing Waterstones, Crew Clothing as well as are eight churches in all. The churches The school does use the church for key larger towns and cities in the region, Costa, Caffè Nero and many other coffee are generally in the heart of the villages services. Each week the Rector and and beyond, both by road and public shops. Tesco, Sainsbury’s and ASDA except St. Mary’s, Kirkby Fleetham and House-for-Duty priest lead worship in transport. Northallerton railway station all have stores in the town and there St. Wilfrid’s, Langton on Swale which the church schools at Ainderby Steeple is on the main line with services to is also an M & S Food Hall. Who can are both at some distance from their and Kirkby Fleetham respectively. This London (King’s Cross) and Edinburgh resist a ‘Fat Rascal’ at the internationally respective villages. is welcomed and affirmed by both and also York, Leeds, Durham, renowned Betty’s Tea Room or a visit to schools and seen by the Benefice as an Manchester and Newcastle upon Tyne. the Joe Cornish Photo and Art Gallery? Our Benefice comprises several small important feature of church-school co- villages and hamlets near the River Swale operation and nurture of young people There is a good network of arterial The Forum hosts concerts, regular which are largely rural in character, in the Christian faith. roads. The A1(M) is within three miles shows and is also a cinema showing the but are also commuter villages, as of the Rectory and within easy reach of latest films. agriculture, though still important, no The Dales School is a Local Authority the A19. The A66 trans-pennine route longer employs many people and most maintained school for young people to Cumbria and the Lake District is at The area has a number of good secondary work in Northallerton, Bedale, Thirsk from age 2-19 with special educational Scotch Corner, some ten miles away schools around Northallerton, Ripon or Teesside. needs and disabilities at Morton on travelling north on the A1(M). and Richmond. Our continuing aim is for our churches Swale. Our Lay Reader, Paul, is the to work even more closely together, Chair of Govenors at this school. By road, the distance to York is 35 miles sharing ideas and good practice for south (45 minutes), Darlington 16 miles the benefit of the whole Benefice. We There is also a Family Resource Centre north (30 minutes) and Teesside 40 are in the early stages of establishing a in Morton on Swale, run by the Local miles (about an hour). The outstanding combined UPCC meeting. Authority which offers respite care natural beauty of Wensleydale, part of to families with disabled children and the Yorkshire Dales National Park is on This is a relatively prosperous area with young people. the doorstep starting at Bedale (five about 75% of the local properties miles) and up to the head of the Dale owner-occupied and low unemployment at Hawes. rates. While all age groups are well represented, there is a large percentage of retired people. The sun setting over the Benefice near Morton on Swale 3 OUR MINISTRY TEAM OUR WORSHIP OUR TRADITION All of our churches mainly use Common Our worship ranges from traditional to Worship with printed booklets specific to more adventurous encompassing all ages each season of the year. BCP continues to and with an emphasis on fellowship.. be used at Yafforth and Maunby. Individual YOU? orders of service are also printed for special We have the full range of vestments; alb, services. chasuble and stole in all four colours, also copes are available and worn as Rector We provide a variety of Holy Communion, appropriate. Evensong, All-Age Worship and Morning Prayer services across the Benefice, planned We do offer home communion to house- by the Priest and supported by the Ministry bound parishioners. The Sacrament is Team and Churchwardens. We are always reserved at Ainderby Steeple. open to new forms of worship. We use a variety of hymnbooks in our churches. Our main hymn books are: Hymns Old and New, Hymns Ancient and Modern Revised, Hymns Ancient and Modern New Paul Chubb MBE Lay Standard, Mission Praise and Junior Praise. Reader Minister Ainderby Steeple has a robed choir, and Churchwardens there is an ad hoc United Parish Choir who come together for special services for We have an open policy for Baptisms The United Parish of Ainderby Steeple with Yafforth and Kirby Wiske example at the recent annual Confirmation and the Rector or House for Duty with Maunby: Brian Phillips and Christopher Riley service and at the last service of our previous Priest conducts the preparation. Where rector. We have four voluntary organists and possible Baptisms take place within a The United Parish of Kirkby Fleetham with Langton on Swale there is a strong musical tradition throughout service. and Scruton: Derek Garner and John Mainwaring-Taylor the Benefice. Our churches are popular for marriages and all are welcomed. Youth Leaders Shawn Costello, Judith Brown, Anne Cayton, Diane Jennings and Vanessa Green Administration We currently in the process of recruiting a part-time administrator to support the work of the Benefice. 5 OUR WORK WITH CHILDREN AND OUR MISSION STATEMENT YOUNG PEOPLE Our mission is to promote the • Seeking to celebrate the seasons of There have been outstanding elements of teachings of God through the way the Rural Community in which we growth in the attendance of children and we act towards each other across live by making stronger connections young people centered around Ainderby the Benefice and in the way in which between it and the liturgical Steeple to which the children’s workers we seek to engage with our local expression of our worship. give generously of their time and skills. communities, the Deanery and with Parents are encouraged to bring their the wider Church Community. This • Completing a skills audit of our children to Busy Bees (4-7), Groovers and will be achieved by focusing on: church communities through Shakers (7-11) and Trendy Teens (11- 18). which we will seek to improve 40 - 45 children participate in these groups, • Making our Church buildings more communication and the sharing of which forms a platform for Confirmation amenable to our local communities resources across the Benefice. Trendy Teens enjoy Christian fellowship, candidates – 50% of whom still come to for a variety of activities and events. activities, discussion and prayer as well their local church. These groups are run Progress to date against our as games and hosting the Christingle by volunteers in the church during the • Continuing to develop, support Mission Statement: Service. The older two groups enjoy week. and widen our work with young rounders on the village green. Christian children across the Benefice and We have an established Mission Forum leadership is developed in those young The Benefice has an annual Confirmation to seek to provide church activities for the Benefice and we are making Service. In the last four years 47 people who are undertaking their Duke which are accessible to working good progress on re-ordering some candidates from across our Benefice have of Edinbrugh Awards. One young man families coping with the pressures of the churches to make them more been confirmed (mainly young people has recently gained his Gold award and demands of modern day living. amenable and some events have been from our youth group and their parents).