St Andrew’s Community Church Profile September 2018 www. staccd.org.uk Welcome Dear Friend ‘Knowing and Growing in Christ Thank you for taking time to look at St Andrew’s Community Church Serving and sharing Christ ‘ St Andrew’s is a Local Ecumenical Partnership, one worshipping congregation made up of Anglican, Methodist and United Reform members. We are part of a 5 church team of Dronfield and Holmesfield, and an active Churches Together partnership, and are passionate about working together in God’s mission. We have an enthusiastic, growing congregation, healthy finances and a well used practical building which is physically connected to a church school. To match this unique church, we are looking for a gifted, open, evangelical minister who can take us forward, somebody who is a good communicator across all ages with an outward and energetic approach to ministry. Our congregation values good Bible teaching which deepens our understanding of God and challenges us to live out biblical principles in our community. We will all want to make your role here successful and as such we will be enthusiastic to assist. We are a church for all, reaching out to families and young people but also focused on older members of the community. Pastoral skills will be essential and we look forward to helping you become part of our very much loved church family. We are thrilled that you feel your heart is being stirred to consider God’s calling to a new place, maybe to work here with us at St Andrew’s Dronfield. We are not a perfect church and we are not looking for a perfect leader; just a minister who is obedient to God and passionate about sharing the good news with all. We are situated between Chesterfield to the south and Sheffield to the north and just on the edge of the Peak District National Park. We hope in this document you find all you need as you think about applying; if you require further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch . Contact details are provided on the last page. Yours in Christ, St Andrew’s Community Church, Dronfield Woodhouse, Derbyshire. 2 About Us History St Andrew’s Community Church is a well established Local Ecumenical Partnership between the Anglican, Methodist and United Reformed churches. It serves as one church for the Gosforth Valley: a large, well planned private housing development which holds a population of approximately 8,500 people. The Church was initially established in 1971 meeting in people’s homes. A new church building was built in 1973 which is physically connected to St Andrew's Church of England/ Methodist Aided Primary School. Our vision recognises God calls us to be: • One local church on the Gosforth Valley • Know Jesus – To experience the life- changing presence of God in action, prayer, and worship. • Make him known – To equip God’s people to live lives that reach out and serve and bless our community Our– Mission Action Plan; UP – SPIRITUAL GROWTH - Seek ways to develop the prayer life of the church and find opportunities to be equipped by the Holy Spirit IN – OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY -Seek ways to develop our relationship with God and each other by encouraging participation in regular Bible Study groups and through social events OUT – MISSION AND OUTREACH - Develop further our good relationships with St Andrew’s Primary School, coffee morning contacts and Scamp’s parents 3 About Us Our Buildings The church building is a modern building in excellent condition. It was intentionally designed as a multi-purpose building to be shared with the local community. The main room offers a large and flexible space accommodating up to 200 people and can be divided into 2 rooms. There are 2 other smaller rooms, office, kitchens and toilets. The building is used 7 days a week from 8am to 9pm for church and community groups (see below). It is wheelchair and pushchair friendly and has an accessible toilet. Church Groups External Groups • Discovery – Christian afterschool club • St Andrew’s Preschool • Weekly community coffee morning • Children’s drama group • Scamps- Sing, Clap and Movement/ • Community groups e.g. WI and Towns Praise sessions for babies and toddlers Women Guild • Rendezvous, senior citizen’s luncheon • Fitness classes and health groups club • Occasional & Event Bookings • Church social/ fundraising events 4 Our Parish The Dronfield with Holmesfield Team has 5 churches: • St Andrew’s • St. John the Baptist, Dronfield, www.dronfieldparishchurch.org.uk • St.Mary’s Ecumenical Church (Anglican/Methodist),Unstone www.dwhparish.org.uk/St.Mary’s • St. Philip’s Church, Holmesdale, www.stphilipschurch.co.uk • St. Swithin’s, Holmesfield, www.holmesfieldchurch.org.uk Each church has someone that they identify as their lead minster, but the clergy work as a team. In particular we pray together, collaborate in our wedding, baptism and funeral ministries, and enjoy one another’s company. Our curates are all attached to one of the churches, but we work together in their supervision, and they help and learn by being involved across the team. Currently we have • Team Rector, Peter Bold, giving oversight to St John’s, St Philip’s and St Mary’s. • Team Vicar, William Eardley, at St Swithin’s Team Rector • Stipendiary Curate, Joel Bird, at St Philip’s Peter Bold • Part time self supporting Curates, Dave Walker and Carolyn Baker. (St John the Baptist) We also have 2 retired clergy and 4 active readers. The Team vicar for St Andrew’s will be expected to play a full part in the team, taking some services in the other churches, and possibly giving leadership to another church, as well as St Andrew’s, as the team evolves. 5 Who we are and what we do The Dronfield Woodhouse and Gosforth Valley District Council Where we are wards approximately cover the area around St Andrew’s Church. Census information for the wards shows the Local Amenities and Facilities following: Dronfield Woodhouse is almost entirely residential. Residents 8507 The church has an excellent location right in the heart of the community and % BME 3 in a small shopping complex – church at one end and pub /restaurant at the % white 97 other. There’s a post office, small supermarket, café and bakery as well as a Households 3639 medical centre, dentist, optician and a football complex. living in: detached houses 1987 Education facilities are excellent – there are 3 Primary schools located close semis 1317 to St Andrew’s Church each rated Good. Dronfield Henry Fanshawe flat or apartment 118 Secondary school located in the centre of Dronfield has a large 6th form and owned 3242 (89%) is rated Outstanding by Ofsted. rented 329 90% of households have a car Age – median = 49, under 16s = 16%, 65-84 =22% Sindelfingen Park: close to the Main occupations (rounded) church – large Managers & senior officials 13% open area with Professional occupations 21% play areas to suit Associate professional/technical 14% young and older Admin - 15% children Skilled Trades 10% All service 15% Unemployment <>1% Retired 12% 6 Where we are Dronfield Dronfield is in the North East Derbyshire District of the County of Derbyshire. It has its own Town Council and Mayor and is a thriving, largely residential, community housing some 21,000 people. It is the safest small town to live in in the East Midlands and has the lowest violent crime score for any town of similar size in England and Wales. In March 2017, the town was placed 9th in The Daily Telegraph rankings of the most desirable places to live in England. Mining, iron and steel have left a heritage from 18th/19th centuries and today's main industries are a large food producer (supplying supermarkets) and a foundry. There are a number of smaller employers in manufacturing and service sectors, though most travel out to employment in Sheffield, Chesterfield (both 6 miles distant) and beyond. In the town centre there is a library and a sports centre with swimming pool with plenty of free car parking. Nearby there are Sainsbury’s and Aldi supermarkets, plus a variety of other shops. The town is noted for the number of active societies and community groups. Derbyshire Transport Derbyshire is often described as “the great outdoors in the heart of the country”. The county A frequent bus service, to Sheffield boasts lots of areas of outstanding natural beauty made up of moors and dales, rivers, springs and Chesterfield, stops outside the and caverns. At its heart lies the Peak District National Park, with its boundary located just 3 church miles from Dronfield, known and loved by millions for its breath-taking landscapes. Nestled There is a railway station served by between the dales are Derbyshire’s charming market towns, pretty villages, historic houses, trains between Leeds and famous attractions and traditional events. It’s not all rural idyll; Derbyshire is also a place of Nottingham/ Derby, with occasional thriving commerce and industry. All in all, Derbyshire is a great place to live. services to Manchester, Liverpool and Norwich 7 Churches Together in Dronfield and District The Dronfield with Holmesfield team is also part of Churches Together in Dronfield and District (CTDD), through which we collaborate in an Alpha Course, the Lea Brook Valley environmental project, some joint children’s and youth work, and much more, (see next page). We are told that our level of friendship and collaboration is very unusual and we would expect the Team Vicar to be an active part of the minister’s fellowship and the development of our joint mission. Churches Together in Dronfield And District consists of thirteen churches.