Casual Verger Application Pack [Type here] www.chch www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral Christ Church Cathedral Christ Church (Aedes Christi or simply ‘the House’) is a Royal Foundation dating from 1546. Yet it traces its history back not only to Wolsey’s Cardinal College in the early sixteenth century but to the Augustinian Priory that preceded it, and indeed to the eighth-century figure of St Frideswide, whose restored shrine has become once again a place of pilgrimage in the Latin Chapel today. Cathedral, College, and School together make up a complex and unique institution committed to education, learning and religion, under the Dean, the Very Revd Professor Martyn Percy. The Visitor is Her Majesty the Queen. Christ Church’s Statutes delegate management of the Cathedral and the Cathedral School to the Dean and Canons, known as Chapter. The Dean, the Sub Dean, four professorial Canons, the Diocesan Canon Precentor and the Archdeacon of Oxford constitute the Cathedral Chapter. Most also sit on the Governing Body (along with the Official Students of Christ Church and College officers). Four of their number also actively serve on the Board of Governors of Christ Church Cathedral School (along with the Headmaster, Richard Murray, and other Governors). Under the leadership of the Sub Dean and the Cathedral Registrar, the Cathedral employs full-time vergers, musicians and administration staff, the; as well as gratefully enjoying a significant offering of volunteer ministry. The College has over 600 undergraduate and graduate students from all walks of life, both from the UK and overseas, along with a thriving academic faculty and an extensive staff. The Cathedral School, founded by Henry VIII to provide boy Choristers and a Schoolmaster, is located in 3 Brewer Street, opposite Christ Church. It not only continues to educate the boys of the Cathedral Choir but, through its nursery, pre-prep and prep departments, offers wider provision for over 150 boys from age 3 to 13. Christ Church is also one of the major Oxford tourist attractions, with around 450,000 visitors a year drawn not only by its architecture, history, and international academic reputation but also its connections to Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter. Chapter operates based upon an understanding of the Cathedral as serving four primary roles: as Mother Church of the Diocese; as a focus of civic celebration; as College Chapel; and as a focus of congregational worship and mission. 2 of 13 Job Description Job Title: Casual Verger Responsible to: Dean’s Verger Works Closely with: The Clergy, the Volunteer & Visitor Officer Liaises with: Volunteers, the Music Department Purpose and Overview: The Vergers, working collaboratively together in the Operations team, play a vital part in ensuring the highest standards of delivery to the Cathedral as a house of worship, learning, the arts, and hospitality. There has been a worshipping community on this site for over a thousand years and today, the Cathedral is a unique institution as both the mother church of the Diocese of Oxford, and college chapel as set up by Cardinal Wolsey in the 16th Century. The Cathedral is also a global landmark destination in its own right for half a million visitors per year from all over the world in addition to hosting an increasing number of other events. The Cathedral site is a venue for worship, services, concerts, exhibitions, talks, dinners, recordings, performances, charity fundraisers, conferences, lectures and many other activities. The Operations Department is central to the smooth working life of this busy Cathedral. Under strategic direction from the Operations Manager and leadership from the Deans Verger, this role is to assist with the Cathedral’s key operational outputs: - Preparation and running of all events/services - Welcome - Duty management - Health & Safety - Liaison - Logistics. The Cathedral is open every day through the year from early morning to late evening and Operational presence is maintained at all times. The Operations team are available to work flexibly throughout any given week throughout the year. Covering Sundays, Bank Holidays, Festival days (e.g. Diocesan Services, Christmas and Easter) as duty Verger on rotation, our Casual Verger will assist the team in delivering the Cathedral’s regular and important occasions. 3 of 13 The expanding range of events at the Cathedral require the operations team to provide: flexibility, complete reliability, excellent communication, collaborative ‘hands on’ working, and a ‘can do’ attitude. Stamina, energy, the willingness to work flexibly, an ability sometimes to work unsupervised and collaboratively, the ability to upskill, show initiative and be a self- starter are essential qualities for anyone working in the Operations Department at Christ Church. Key relationships: The Casual Verger provides relief to the full-time members of the Operations department for whom the Operations Manager has overall responsibility. All Vergers report directly to the Dean’s Verger and have key relationships with the volunteers, clergy, musicians, and communications teams. The Operations Team supports the ministry of the Cathedral through delivering the operational objectives. This role offers the opportunity to work with and influence multiple internal and external stakeholders in a unique setting. Key responsibilities: Preparation and Running of all services The post-holder will: 1. Be on duty, under the direction of the Dean’s Verger, and in accordance with the operations rota. 2. In rotation, participate in and run all standard services unsupervised and assist at special services. 3. Assist colleagues where required. Ensure the smooth, consistent and accurate running of services, and ‘put away/hand over’ afterwards. 4. Under the direction of the Dean’s Verger, assist with actioning briefing, minutes, and rubric notes for the smooth running of services. 5. When on duty, assist with wardrobe management ensuring that correct robes and linens are prepared for clergy including seasonal changes. 6. Report stock levels to the Dean’s Verger. 7. Set up and operate sound equipment as required for services and events. 4 of 13 8. Brief service volunteers when leading services with any updates or special information such as seat reservations. 9. Ensure donation monies are recorded/stored according to the cash handling procedures. 10. Provide stewarding for congregations in the absence of appropriate volunteers. 11. Secure and maintain silverware after use. 12. Participate in the ceremonial aspects of services, carrying the Verge in procession. 13. Maintain and replenish all candle stands during the day. 14. OPTIONAL: After suitable training, undertake livestreaming of Cathedral services and events. Welcome: The post-holder will: 1. Be a visible presence on the Cathedral floor when on duty, delivering outstanding warm welcome and ‘customer service’ to all worshippers and visitors equally, remembering that, according to the Cathedral tradition, everyone who enters the Cathedral is to be treated as Christ regardless of race, sexuality, gender identity, social status, age, ability, or faith and feels that they are welcome here. 2. Demonstrate, diplomacy, tact and calm at all times whilst ensuring that decorum is maintained within the Cathedral. 3. Be clean, well groomed, and smartly presented in the provided operations uniform wearing the cassock and gown during all services. 4. Brief all visiting clergy and choirs and, with direction from the Liturgy Assistant, meet, greet and brief all visiting choirs when on duty ensuring strong welcome. 5. Have a concern for the safeguarding, welfare, and working arrangements of colleagues, volunteers, worshippers and others in accordance with established Cathedral policies. 6. Escalate visitor issues to senior personnel for resolution if complaints are raised. Duty Management: The post-holder will: 1. Work shifts dynamically/flexibly across the week according to the rota and duty manage the Cathedral venues including, Priory Rooms, and Chapter House supervising the building, personnel and security for all activity whilst on duty acting as House Manager during events. 5 of 13 2. Under the direction of the Dean’s Verger and Operations Manager, on rotation, be responsible for the correct opening and closing of the Cathedral daily as a responsible Cathedral key/fob-holder. 3. Carry out a full sweep of the Cathedral at the start of each shift. Immediately action/escalate any areas of concern. 4. Report maintenance issues to the Operations Manager. 5. Under direction of the Deans Verger and Operations Manager, action weekly and daily diary matters. 6. Ensure items of lost property are stored and logged correctly according to the lost property policy. H&S: The post-holder will: 1. Be familiar with and a champion of the Cathedral Health & Safety and safeguarding policies, ensuring that conditions of work and areas accessible to all are kept in compliance for visitors to the Cathedral (community, visitors and children) in line with Chapter policies and as witness of the Gospel message. 2. Work with the Operations Manager to ensure that the Cathedral is kept in a safe order, that appropriate action is taken to mitigate against accidents, ensuring that hazards are reported to the Operations Manager. 3. When on duty, be the ‘fire marshal’ responsible for leading the safe evacuation of the Cathedral, Chapter House and Priory Rooms according to the evacuation action plan; and the primary first aider. Training will be provided. 4. Lead, manage and respond correctly to all incidents. 5. Be responsible for ensuring that H&S issues are dealt with immediately. If the successful applicant does not already have First Aid or Health and Safety qualifications, they will be required to undertake this training within the first six months. The successful applicant will also be required to participate in Church of England safeguarding training at both ‘Basic Awareness’ and ‘Foundation’ levels online within the first ten working days. 6 of 13 Liaison The post-holder will: 1. Liaise with the volunteer and visitor staff to ensure daily activities and welcome are carried out and that the Cathedral is ready to receive visitors.