Parish Profile 2017 All Saints, Easington, ©Vicky Rushin-Chape St. Michael’s, Liverton, ©Margy Benson St. Hilda’s, Liverton Mines, ©Margy Benson All Saints, Easington St. Michael’s, Liverton St. Hilda’s, Liverton Mines 1 | P a g e Welcome to the churches of Easington, Liverton and Liverton Mines The Benefice of Easington with Liverton is made up of three churches in two parishes, all with diverse and unique congregations – All Saints in Easington, St. Hilda’s in Liverton Mines, and St. Michael’s in Liverton. We are overseen by the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Whitby. We are part of a rural community located in the North East of England, close to the North Sea coast, on the edge of the North York Moors. We are proud to represent one of the Generous Churches Making and Nurturing Disciples, and are looking for someone to help us embrace and strive towards the Five Marks of Growing: Christ-likeness, Commitment, Partnership, Influence and Numbers We have active and engaged parishioners who work hard to bring those qualities to our communities. Our Benefice needs someone with vitality and enthusiasm for sharing ministry with our villages; someone with passion for bringing people together; someone who can lead and influence people of all ages and someone who can help us grow together; spiritually and in practical ways. Sunrise in the parish, © V.Rushin-Chape There are already excellent established foundations on which to build and grow, and a number of exciting opportunities. You will have the chance to work with some new churchwardens and new PCC members, as well as some very established and experienced parishioners. If you feel that you can help to strengthen God’s presence and make a difference in our Parish, please get in touch. 2 | P a g e Where are we? Liverton Mines and Liverton are within close proximity of each other, on Liverton Road, whilst Easington is situated to the North East of the Benefice on the A174. All three villages are close to the coastline and are within easy reach of Teesside, Whitby and the North York Moors. The area is home to ancient woodlands and heather moors and boasts numerous coastal sites of ecological, geological and historical significance. Boulby Cliff was once the home of the Saxon Princess and continues to be a site of active archaeological investigation and interest. Liverton was logged in the Doomsday Book. The area is popular with walkers and nearby Loftus is a “Walkers are Welcome” town. There are also a large number of local interest groups and our area is closely linked with James Cook and the proud industrial heritage of Teesside. There is some very fascinating history surrounding the church buildings as places of worship. All Saints, Easington All Saints Church is a Grade 2 listed Gothic style building. It is situated at the top of the hill in Easington and according to legend St. Hilda of Whitby and St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne met on a mound where the church now stands. A church has been on this site since Saxon times and contains a well preserved Norman arch. The tower houses a quarter striking clock and an 8 bell Carillion. Much of the loose furniture is by the Mouseman of Kilburn. The church is in good repair both inside and out. The organ has recently been refurbished and we are currently raising funds to refurbish the bells. It is surrounded by a well maintained open churchyard which overlooks the Rectory and village hall. The Church draws a regular congregation of around 30 people. Mouseman carving, © V.Rushin-Chape 3 | P a g e St. Michael’s, Liverton Services have been held at St. Michael’s since the 12th century. The Church was built by Henry FitzConan as a small chapel linked with Easington. Beside the altar, there is an early 14th century grave slab of Henry FitzConan, who died in 1316, who owned the Manor of Liverton. [Source: Petch, J; Cleveland Village Life Through the Ages, page 54] This Grade 2 listed Church was largely rebuilt in the 18th century. A porch was added in 1902/3. The Chancel Arch is Norman and there are five Grade 2 listed gravestones in the churchyard, which surrounds the building. There is a bell tower. Two mediaeval bells are displayed within the Church. St. Michael’s Norman Arch © M Benson St. Hilda’s, Liverton Mines St. Hilda’s Church in Liverton Mines was constructed in the 1930s as a temporary building which included a bell tower. The Church was altered in the 1990s to incorporate double doors and a ramped access, so the building is multipurpose and accessible to all. A small grassed area to three sides is surrounded by a low wall and railings. This work was undertaken in 2013, using grant funding. Inside St. Hilda’s © M Benson 4 | P a g e Our Strengths We are an open-minded, adaptable, welcoming parish with a diverse set of skills and experiences. There are many willing volunteers who actively encourage others to get involved in church based activities. We have well established methods for outreach within the community, including: A superb youth club in Liverton Mines which caters for over 70 young people and has recently received 3 more years’ funding to continue its important, life-changing work A supportive visiting scheme for elderly neighbours An engaging and informative parish magazine with a large subscription (including non-church attendees) Regular social activities held in church and the village halls, including a film club, Brownies and fitness classes Christmas traditions which include village & pub carol singing and concerts in church We have a stunning, inspirational location with easy access to beaches, moorland and open countryside. This includes superb sunrises and sunsets and wonderful opportunities for quiet contemplation. The popular tourist destinations of Staithes and Whitby are just a few miles away but, equally, all the urban facilities needed for modern life are with easy reach in Middlesbrough and, just a little further away, York. Parish Christmas Dinner ©V. Rushin-Chape Parish Harvest Supper ©M. Benson 5 | P a g e Opportunities & Challenges Our communities include pockets of deprivation with intermittent access to transport and diminishing amenities. We need to find firm ways of flourishing in mission and brightening lives in these areas. Each village is served by a local pub to which we already hold some links. We feel there could be opportunities to further develop these relationships. We have a geographical divide between the villages, which acts as a barrier to prevent some from attending church or other Christian focused events. We have offered a lift-share scheme in the past but the aging population who were once regular church-goers have found themselves gradually distanced from the churches because of their restricted mobility. As an example, 87% of the regular congregation at All Saints in Easington is over 50 years old and the youngest regular worshipper is 38. There may be ways to use existing social hubs to help make it easier to access worship with others in future, and to work to encourage Liverton Mines youth group members to attend regular church services. Liverton Mines Youth Club has had a significant impact on the lives of the children, their families and the wider community of Liverton Mines. The youth club is held in the church itself and for many of the children and their families this has Archbishop Sentamu visiting St. Hilda’s ©M. Benson been their first experience of church. Being in St. Hilda’s has aroused the children’s natural curiosity and through their answers to those questions the youth worker and volunteers have been able to introduce the children to Jesus Christ and the Christian way of life. Since the project began local residents and Community Support Officers have noticed a significant reduction in anti-social behaviour. The project has just received 3 more years funding to continue its work – testimony to the life-changing impact it has on local lives. Easington village is divided by a main road (the A174), and a long-standing perception by many that one side of the village is ‘better’ than the other due to a collection of previous social housing. The current congregation can be mapped to be almost exclusive to one side of the village. We need to look at ways of engaging every household in the village and to ensure everyone feels valued and welcomed in any of the parish churches and events. Our churches have great historical background which could afford opportunities for reaching out to others through common interest and community-led projects for conservation and discovery. 6 | P a g e Our Vision We strive and pray for: Strength and inspiration to become a fully inclusive parish, with a downward shift in the average age of our congregations Three communities to spend more time together and have the means of travelling between each church An increase in the visits being undertaken with our elderly neighbours An increase in the circulation of the parish magazine to all homes in the parish, with an opportunity to subscribe electronically with a view to attracting all ages to read and enjoy it An improved coming together over important Christian events such as carol singing A vibrant, enthusiastic, spirit-led parish Church Worship We support the ordination of women priests and would welcome any gender. Services are shared between the churches with a monthly rotation. Services are based on Common Worship with seasonal variations and regularly involve lay members of the churches. The choir at All Saints is robed and clergy normally wear vestments.