Preston St. Stephen’s Parish Profile Spring 2017 St. Stephen’s Parish Centre, Bird Street, Broadgate, Preston, PR1 8DY VISION 2026 ...................................................................................................................... 4 Where we are ..................................................................................................................... 5 Who we are ........................................................................................................................ 6 Our Buildings ...................................................................................................................... 7 The Parish Centre ........................................................................................................... 7 The Vicarage .................................................................................................................. 8 Finances ............................................................................................................................. 8 Our Schools ....................................................................................................................... 9 Our links into the Community ............................................................................................ 11 Where we are going – Our Vision ..................................................................................... 12 What we offer ................................................................................................................... 13 What we need .................................................................................................................. 14 2 The Bishop of Blackburn The Rt Revd Julian T Henderson Ministry in the Diocese of Blackburn Thank you for your enquiry about a vacant post in the Diocese of Blackburn, the Church of England in Lancashire. We believe God wants His Church to grow, and so are looking for gifted and prayerful clergy with a heart for the Gospel and mission, who have the energy and enthusiasm to implement Vision 2026, Healthy Churches Transforming Communities. You can read more about Vision 2026 overleaf. Almost all of our parishes have Vision Champions who have volunteered to work with their clergy and lay leadership in keeping the Vision on the PCC and congregation’s agenda. The Vision is about a radical change of culture, in which we engage in new ways in making the unchanging Gospel of Jesus known in our communities. The spiritual, physical and emotional health and the ongoing development of our clergy is very important to us. Please be assured of my prayers as you consider whether to make an application. Bishop of Blackburn Living in Lancashire Our call to Mission Lancashire people are known for their warmth As a Diocese we are fully committed to the and friendliness and those who are new to the breadth and diversity of the Anglican tradition. area find it to be an easy place to make Traditionalist, evangelical, catholic, friends. There are excellent transport progressive, Eucharistic, charismatic – we don’t connections and the surrounding countryside care what the label is. As long as you are is spectacularly beautiful. For those with passionate about sharing the Good News of children, the Diocese has over 180 church Jesus Christ and long to make new disciples, schools including 10 secondaries, the vast there is a place for you in the Church of majority rated as Good or Outstanding. England in Lancashire. +Geoff Pearson + Philip North Bishop of Lancaster Bishop of Burnley ancaster Bishop of Bishop’s House, Ribchester Road, Blackburn, BB1 9EF Tel: 01254 248234 Email: [email protected] Burnley VISION 2026 The year 2026 marks the centenary of the formation of the Diocese of Blackburn. In the ten years leading up to our centenary, Vision 2026 is a plan to turn around the long-term trend of gradually declining attendance. Our vision is for the growth of God’s kingdom, not just of his church. Our vision is to develop healthy churches which transform their communities, a vision in which making disciples for Jesus Christ and pursuing social justice sit side by side. Our vision has had a long gestation. When the Vacancy in See occurred in 2012 we began to look at how we were going to move forward as a diocese. On his arrival, Bishop Julian spent his first year visiting every member of the clergy in their homes and visiting all the parishes of the diocese. At the end of that first year, Bishop Julian shared his reflections and the vision began to become clearer. It was shared with the diocesan family in the deaneries and in a number of local events and unanimously adopted by the diocesan synod. The first year was spent in prayer with the Vision 2026 as the focus. 2016 has seen the Vision develop, with parishes nominating Vision Champions who were commissioned in Preston Guild Hall along with Churchwardens in the presence of 1,600 people. As a diocese with our Vision, we are willing to face the cost of change; and in prayer we see the grace and power of God which can alone bring renewal and growth. We are committed to work together (clergy, laity, church schools, diocesan staff and the cathedral) to deliver Vision 2026 by: Making disciples of Jesus Christ • Knowing the Scriptures better through reading, teaching, preaching and study • Praying with greater depth and urgency for the Kingdom of God to come • Giving generously of our time, talents and money to the cause of Christ Being witnesses to Jesus Christ • Sharing the Gospel of salvation with confidence • Holding regular enquirers courses in as many local churches as possible • Showing God’s love in action through projects that meet a local human need • Offering thorough and accessible Baptism preparation and follow-up • Planting or renewing 50 new strategic congregations by 2026 Growing leaders for Jesus Christ • Supporting and equipping the current leadership for today’s context • Enabling missional leadership in every Christian community • Liberating lay leadership for greater participation • Creating the varied patterns of Sunday and weekday worship necessary to welcome all kinds of people, especially the newcomer • Prioritising work among children, young people and schools to raise up a new generation for Christ The Diocesan Vision Prayer: Heavenly Father, we embrace Your call for us to make disciples, to be witnesses and to grow leaders. Give us the eyes to see Your vision, ears to hear the prompting of Your Spirit and courage to follow in the footsteps of your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen 4 Where we are Some facts and figures about our parish • St. Stephen’s is a small inner urban parish on the This information is taken from Parish southern side of the city of Preston adjacent to the Spotlights and Returns of Parish River Ribble in the area called Broadgate. It is split Finance geographically by Fishergate Hill, the main road Population 4650 out of Preston city centre. Age spread • It is the most religiously diverse parish in 0-4 250 Lancashire. St. Stephen’s is the only church 5-15 400 building in the parish. Other faith centres are a Sikh 16-64 3600 65+ 400 gurdwara, 2 Hindu temples, a Buddhist centre and a mosque. Ethnic mix - 30% minority ethnic • There is one school in the parish, St. Stephen’s Other Faith mix C.E. Primary School (controlled), with which the Christian 43% Church has developing relationships. Hindu 12% Muslim 17% • Housing is mostly Victorian/Edwardian terraces but Other 3% also includes newer buildings and some low-rise None 25% flats. It is within easy walking distance of rail and bus services, and close to local parks. Education background of population 20% of population have no • There is a Doctors’ surgery, several food outlets qualifications and some small local shops in the parish but the Employment larger shops of Preston are within a 15-minute walk. Of those who are in work Hours worked • The Empire Services Club with its bowling greens, 49 or more 7% Preston Cricket and Hockey Clubs and BAE Sports 31-48 60% Club are all within the parish which has only one 16-30 19% pub, The New Continental. 15 hours or less 7% 14% of those of working age are in • Some major employers in Preston include the receipt of a key out of work benefit University of 34% of those aged 60+ are in receipt Central of the Guaranteed part of Pension Lancashire, BAE Credit Systems, United Health index score 1.2 Utilities, 10% most deprived nationally Lancashire Overall Deprivation Index score County Council 32.1% 10% most deprived nationally (County Hall lies just outside the Main Issues parish) and Housing conditions Ill-health/disabilities Royal Preston Male life expectancy Hospital. The Elderly Deprivation headquarters of Pensioner Poverty the English Housing mix Football League Owner occupied 900 recently moved Private Rented 850 Social rented 350 into the parish. Broadgate 1 5 Who we are Electoral Roll 99 Age Profile of the Church • We are an Anglican Evangelical Church made up of Age people from all walks of life and from different 0-10 19 backgrounds and cultures. The PCC is open to 11-17 10 applications from men and women. 18-69 62 70+ 21 • Sunday worship and other activities take place in the Parish Centre. • Sung worship is led by our worship groups. • The Church has two Licensed Occasional Preachers and lay members of the Church lead services, read, lead intercessory prayers and pray with people after services. • Junior Church is held during the Sunday morning service for ages 3 to 14