A Brochure for the Parish of Bardsey with East Keswick Two Beautiful Churches Two Yorkshire Villages Where we seek to: Love God, the world and one another. Live in the world as it is, but, drawn by a vision of something better, we want to help individuals and communities flourish. Learn when we get things wrong, by listening and growing together. 1 Part 1: Brochure Summary Thank you for taking an interest in our Parish. We hope you will enjoy reading this Brochure; please do contact us if you would like any further information or take a look at our website. We are a small, friendly and welcoming Parish, covering the villages of Bardsey and East Keswick together with parts of adjacent villages. The Parish is in a semi-rural location situated eight miles from Leeds to the South and four miles from Wetherby to the North. There is also close access to the A1 (M) to take you further to town and countryside. The Yorkshire Dales, Harrogate and York are all within easy reach. Our two churches are The Parish Church of All Hallows, Bardsey, and Saint Mary Magdalene, East Keswick, a Chapel of Ease. The Parish Church Hall (Callister Hall) in Bardsey incorporates a Parish Office. In recent years we have strengthened our outreach and involvement with the local community and have started to develop and explore different ways of being Church to those in our Parish, especially young families. We believe that there are exciting opportunities for a vicar with the vision to help us build on our achievements so far, encourage the development of lay leaders and support our planned developments, so that, together we can allow the imaginative ministry of our Parish to grow. Contact details: The Parish Office, Callister Hall, Woodacre Lane, Bardsey, Leeds LS17 9DG 01937 574273 [email protected] www.bardseypcc.org.uk Loving. Living. Learning. 2 Part 2: Who are we looking for? We would love to welcome: A Minister with visionary leadership skills, able to inspire our congregations, help us grow in faith and encourage new people into our Church life, especially younger families, whilst still having regard for the older members of our congregations A Minster who is a sociable communicator, approachable and who will be happy to mix in with all aspects of life and village activities in both villages, including our school in Bardsey and our Methodist friends in East Keswick. A Minister willing to encourage lay ministry and development and with the ability to delegate. We currently have no assistant clergy or lay readers and the enabling of laity in the planning and leading of worship and Church is a priority. A Minister who is willing to work alongside our imaginative and enthusiastic team to help us to build on and develop our mission to the local community, including our work with children and families, as we embrace change and continue to introduce new ideas and forms of worship A Minister who is a prayerful, spiritual person, whose faith is lived out in their actions and ministry. A Minister able to support the current planned projects to develop an outdoor space for the Church and community in the lower churchyard and planned building maintenance including roofing and heating systems. And finally (but not least) a Minister who is sensitive but not afraid to tackle difficult situations and see them through, if necessary with a sense of humour! Can we welcome you? Part 3: Our Parish – what do we have to offer? We are a semi-rural Parish, with opportunities for mission and ministry to a rural village community, which incorporates families who have lived here for generations together with a growing number of young families and commuters working in Leeds and beyond. We are welcoming and friendly and increasingly learning to be receptive to change. We want to welcome our new priest into our Church family and support them as much as they support us; we believe that our priest taking a regular day off, holidays and study/quiet time is vital to their successful ministry. Loving. Living. Learning. 3 Beautiful church buildings open daily to all-comers, and regularly visited by locals and visitors, who enjoy the peaceful, prayerful space at the centre of the community. All-Hallows is one of the best surviving Anglo-Saxon buildings in West Yorkshire situated in the very centre of Bardsey and is surrounded by a very large churchyard which we are presently developing to hopefully become an amenity for the village, an area of environmental beauty and place of rest and peace for our visitors. St Mary Magdalene is an intimate Victorian Chapel which also has a beautiful but smaller churchyard An area, which enjoys excellent road links to the cities of Leeds and York and easy access to the Yorkshire Dales. The Leeds Diocesan office is easily accessible – just one bus journey takes you almost to the front door of Church House. A part time salaried Parish Administrator who takes responsibility for much of the parish administration and who is also regularly called on by the wider community to deal with any issue, church-related or not. A small but well used church hall booked regularly for church and village activities and with well equipped parish office complete with a meeting room for up to 10 A vicarage, directly opposite All Hallows, which is a beautiful 5 bedroom detached house in good order, with reception rooms, study, garage and well-maintained gardens. A variety of amenities serving the villages and good primary and secondary schools in the area. A doctors’ surgery in the neighbouring village of Collingham and wide range of shops and supermarkets in Wetherby. Part 4 - Bardsey and East Keswick Villages The villages of Bardsey and East Keswick are eight miles from Leeds and four miles from Wetherby, a lovely market town. Bardsey currently has approximately 1034 homes, East Keswick about 450 homes and there is a combined population of 3628. Both are recorded in the Domesday Book; the remains of a 12th century motte and bailey castle survive to the north of the church at Castle Hill and Bardsey claims the country’s oldest pub. The majority of the present houses are owner occupied and although many of the residents have lived in the village for a long time, there is a growing number of newcomers and commuters. There are many footpaths and bridleways to enjoy and an array of village societies and sports on offer. There is a strong community spirit, which is exemplified in the strong support given to regular village events held at the church, school and village halls. There has been a school in Bardsey since 1726. In 1951 it moved from the church hall to newly built premises and as a primary and junior school it now serves the whole Parish. Although not a church school, links with the school are strong; the vicar takes regular assemblies and there are services and educational visits to All Hallows and links to our family church sessions. Loving. Living. Learning. 4 Part 5: Our Churches THE PARISH CHURCH OF ALL HALLOWS, BARDSEY All Hallows Church, Bardsey is Grade 1 listed, and seen as one of the best surviving Anglo-Saxon buildings in West Yorkshire. The core of the present church was built around 850 – 900 AD. The period between 1100 and 1400 saw the adding, and the later widening, of a north and south aisle and the moving of a Norman doorway to its present position at the west end of the south aisle. The following centuries saw further additions including a north and a south chapel, which now serve as vestries. The most recent addition to All Hallows is the impressive Bardsey Millennium Tapestry, created by many people from the village. The PCC has recently approved the replacement of the roof of All Hallows and heating upgrade, with the major part of the funding arranged. There is an internal toilet and a children’s play area at the back of church and a small but much used kitchen facility. An active group maintains the Church and provides flowers. A current project involves developing the lower churchyard into an accessible and peaceful outdoor setting as a resource for community and church alike, with exciting opportunities for outdoor worship and events. Our children have recently made bird feeders to hang there. THE CHURCH OF SAINT MARY MAGDALENE, EAST KESWICK The church site was given by the third Earl Harewood and opened for worship in 1857. Saint Mary Magdalene was originally designated a Chapel of Ease to the mother church at Harewood. In 1978 East Keswick became part of the Parish of Bardsey. The church contains Thompson (Mouseman) furniture and the hidden mice enchant visitors. Recent work has upgraded the vestry and repairs to the bells and tower are in hand, with funding met by investments funds. The church is in good order and well maintained by dedicated members of the congregation. To the rear of the Church there is a terrace and church yard. Both churches are in good repair, with any projects having agreed finance from reserves. They are open daily and are used regularly by visitors and locals for quiet reflection and prayer. Loving. Living. Learning. 5 Part 6: Our Church Hall Our church hall built in 1726 and also known as the Callister Hall, was originally the village school but became our church hall when a new school was built. It is used every weekday morning to host our popular village playgroup and at other times by church and village groups alike.