In West Berkshire BASILDON, ALDWORTH & ASHAMPSTEAD BENEFICE THE OUR THREE PARISH BENEFICE PROFILE We are looking for a new Vicar to come and develop further God’s work and ministry here. We offer an opportunity which we hope will excite you. 15 minutes from Reading and within easy reach of Oxford and London, the position comes with house and garden within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The position offers an opportunity across a range of congregations. Each of the three churches and congregations contributes differently. All are bound together in striving to grow in faith, in fellowship, in Christ and within our community. You will have the help of supportive congregations, six enthusiastic churchwardens, PCCs in each parish and a strong Ministry Team. All parishes in the Benefice are financially sound and our parish share has always been paid in full and on time. We look forward to meeting you. 1 THE RT REV’D OLIVIA GRAHAM, BISHOP OF READING ARCHDEACONRY INTRODUCTION The Basildon Benefice is a really attractive balance of every aspect of rural parish ministry. Two beautiful historic Churches and a modern Church with exceptional facilities. Village living and ministry within easy reach of Reading. Three separate parishes who understand each other and want to work more closely together without losing their own identity and life. A committed ministry team looking for new ideas and clear collaborative leadership. A range of worship styles and theological understandings which are not partisan or entrenched. Good links with the community and the Church School which could be even stronger and even more transformative. If you’re attracted by the idea of village ministry in a confident Archdeaconry and a Diocese which is engaging compassionately, contemplatively and courageously with God’s call to be the Church for the good of God’s world then read on. There is much that is already good and effective in the Benefice and there is the promise of so much more to come. Rev’d Richard Lamey, Acting Assistant Archdeacon of Berkshire. 2 CONTENTS THE BENEFICE In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 1 Page: 4 YOUR MINISTRY TEAM Both Clergy and Lay 2 Page: 5 THRIVING C.E. PRIMARY SCHOOL A Close Relationship 3 Page: 7 OUR MISSION & Services 4 Page: 9 YOUR MISSION & Vicarage 5 Page: 12 OUR THREE CHURCHES & Attendance Figures 6 Page: 14 OUR ACCOUNTS & Financial Position 7 Page: 21 THE DIOCESE OF OXFORD Working alongside the Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Olivia Graham 8 Page: 24 3 THE BENEFICE IN AN AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY, 60 MINUTES FROM LONDON & 30 MINUTES FROM OXFORD Our United Benefice includes the parishes of Most people who live in the area depend on car Basildon, with Ashampstead and Aldworth. transport. Major trunk roads: A34, M4 and M40 The Benefice, covered by a large area of are all within a few miles with Oxford 25 miles north, Reading 8 miles east and Newbury 11 miles downland farming and woodland, includes south west. areas of Special Scientific Interest as well as The Benefice is networked in with full fibre being in an Area of Outstanding Natural broadband. The villages have their own Beauty. websites and magazines, ‘The Country The whole triangular area is bounded by the Neighbour’ and ‘The Leaflet’. River Thames with the town of Goring to the The Benefice website is: north east, and the town of Pangbourne, with www.churchat.squarespace.com Basildon Park to the east. Yattendon and its large estate are to the south and west, while the north west boundary is formed by the rural Berkshire Downs and the ancient and popular Ridgeway Path. Basildon and Lower Basildon are linked to Pangbourne, Goring and Streatley with a reasonable bus service. Pangbourne, (seven minutes from the Vicarage) and Goring & Streatley have frequent train services to London and Oxford; they have also local shops. 4 YOUR MINISTRY TEAM REV. KATY WESTON, CURATE I was ordained as a deacon at Christ Church Cathedral in June 2019 – one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I was called to Ministry after a career in business at director level, and latterly, as an independent consultant and coach specialising in leadership and change management. I believe God is calling me to bring the grace and love of Christ into the lives of everyone here in the Benefice of Basildon and to give them a real sense of wonder and sheer joy in being one with Jesus. I am passionate about music (performing and listening), gardening, real tennis, reading and travelling, but most particularly I value the mutual love and support of my husband, David. JONATHAN SANDBACH LICENSED LAY MINISTER I lead services and preach in all three churches in the Benefice across all traditions of worship, from BCP to Breakfast Church (Service of the Word). I also co-lead a home group and frequently take collective worship at the local primary school. I was licensed as a Lay Reader in 1986, and have served in both the Rochester and Oxford Dioceses, as well as a Tokyo Baptist Church when I was working in Japan. I work part-time as a business economist, with my own consulting company and am married to Rosemary with two grown-up daughters. My passions are off-road cycling and mountain walking. 5 ROSEMARY SANDBACH LICENSED LAY MINISTER I am committed to communicating faith to young people and enjoy taking collective worship regularly at Basildon primary school. I was licensed in 2018 and lead services at all three churches, from BCP to Breakfast Church. I am beginning to develop my preaching ministry. I co-lead a home group and would like to be more involved in the pastoral side of the church’s ministry doing more visiting. I sing, play guitar and lead the music group at St Stephen’s. My personal love is contemporary Christian music. As an accountant I have worked in the finance functions of two Christian overseas missionary organisations and for a Christian charity in Reading. MIKE PENNY, ASSOCIATE MINISTER I have written about 15 major theological books and undertaken several speaking tours of the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands, as well as South Africa and the Philippines. I spent nine years in the USA as a pastor of a grace church, returning to Upper Basildon in 1991. In the village I help run the Baby and Toddlers group in the village hall and have been a school governor. I lead services in all three churches and run a Wednesday evening Bible Study. At present I work part-time for the Open Bible Trust editing their magazine Search. I have been chair of Churches Together in Reading for ten years and this year I was elected chair of Churches Together in Berkshire. I have been on the Advisory Committee to Reading University Christian Union for the last nine years, and have been lead chaplain at Reading College for 8 years. Over the years I have been involved in the Inter-School Christian Fellowship, the Association of Christian Teachers and the University and Colleges Christian Fellowship. 6 THRIVING C.E. PRIMARY SCHOOL The Church plays a major role in the flourishing local C.E. primary school encouraging, funding and working with the youngsters of the Benefice. A village primary school with 153 pupils. • Outstanding, SIAMS • Good, Ofsted • Strong team ethos • Talented, committed and passionate staff ” We strive for academic excellence while fostering a nurturing, supportive, Christian culture to ensure every child thrives and achieves their full potential. We are always looking for ways to develop our curriculum and resources to provide the education our children deserve with the skills they will need for life in the 21st century.” Miss Melissa Cliffe HEAD TEACHER As a Church of England Voluntary Controlled “Our mission at Basildon is to prepare children for Primary School we enjoy a close relationship with God’s world. Our values are Excellence, Respect the Parish Church of St Stephen’s. (The Vicar and two and Resilience, based on Philippians 4.13 “I can do members of the Church are Foundation Governors.) all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Members of the Ministry Team are regular visitors “Christian values have swiftly and effectively been to the school taking Collective Worship & members woven throughout the school like a golden thread. of the congregation take part in ‘Meet & Eat’ in The impact of these values is clearly articulated by school to hear children read and share lunch. At the every member of the school community”. end of each term the school has a service in St SIAMS 2018 Stephen’s Church to which a good number of parents and church friends come. The school is assisted financially by St Stephen’s, with specific projects, from a Trust which the PCC administers. In 2019 it provided funding of £10,825 for: • Mud kitchen and astro-turf; • New classroom; • Bursary Fund & Governor Training. • Support to create a ‘Forest School’ is planned for early 2020. 8 OUR MISSION During our vacancy we have sought to discern where God might be calling us at this time. This section reflects what has emerged so far. It leaves room for you, our new incumbent, to join this journey as we refine and mould this vision together and as we continue to consult and engage more widely across our congregations and community. OUR CALLING Empowered by the Holy Spirit, to show to everybody in word and action the relevance, transformation and truth of a living Christian faith. To see people coming to faith, living and growing as disciples in Christ’s love.