The Cranmer Group of Parishes Aslockton, Hawksworth, Orston, Scarrington, Thoroton and Whatton ‘To know Christ better and make him better known’ page 11 Contents Part I page 3 Statement from the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham and the Archdeacon of Nottingham Statement from East Bingham Deanery Part II page 8 The Cranmer Group - our Benefice Part III page 18 What our Parishes say Part IV page 44 Living in our Benefice page 2 The Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham Growing Disciples wider, younger and deeper A statement from the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd Paul Williams and the Archdeacon of Nottingham, the Venerable Sarah Clark The Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham • ‘Younger’ in that we will seek fresh ways incorporates the City of Nottingham, the to harness the boldness and creativity of whole County of Nottinghamshire and five children, students and young people across parishes in South Yorkshire. The population the diocese, not least in Nottingham which is 1.15 million – 51% live in the greater is the 4th youngest city outside London. Nottingham conurbation, 31% in ex-mining • ‘Deeper’ as we grow in knowing Christ, so areas and 18% in rural. There are 305 that as his disciples we can be an increasing churches (252 parishes), served by 142 blessing to the people among whom we stipendiary clergy and licensed lay workers. live and serve in the workplace, family and In 2016 a refreshed diocesan vision has been community. embraced across the diocese, recognising The Bishop’s Senior Staff, Bishop’s Council the imperative for ‘Growing Disciples: and Diocesan Synod have demonstrated their Wider, Younger, Deeper’. clear commitment to sharing in all aspects • ‘Wider’ in that we will seek to grow of this vision and strategy. In autumn 2016 disciples in every part of the diocese, with no more than 1000 PCC members attended 5 retreat from any community: urban centre; vision evenings around the diocese. outer estates; rural villages; or market towns. We have discerned a series of emerging page 3 priorities that will facilitate growing new In this new chapter every parish has an disciples in every parish across the diocese. opportunity to review its role within the diocesan Compelled by the love of Christ by 2023 we mission, so that it can play a significant part in will seek to: the strategic commitment to ‘Growing Disciples wider, younger and deeper.’ The Cranmer • Welcome 7000 new disciples into the Group of Parishes have embraced this vision fellowship of Christ and his church. recognising the opportunities for growth as well as the challenges that their context brings. This • Commission 1000 younger leaders is an excellent opportunity for a strategic and (especially 15-30 year olds) equipped relationally gifted priest. and inspired to serve the purposes of God in the Church and society. Bishop Paul has said: “It is my hope that each • Plant or graft 75 New Worshipping worshipping community will develop a compelling Communities (NWCs) across the diocese picture of its own future in God’s purposes with to increase our reach in telling the story an expectation of growing numerically and in of Jesus to all. the scope of its mission. It is my prayer that the • Grow 25 larger Resource Churches new Vicar of the Cranmer Group of Parishes will with clear commitment to develop have the creative leadership and imagination to leaders, plant New Worshipping develop discipleship, plan for growth and reach Communities, and disciple the young. out to the unchurched of all ages in its locality.” • Serve and pray together as 1 Church contending for the gospel in every community and sphere of public life in our city, county and region. page 4 A statement from East Bingham Deanery East Bingham Deanery is, geographically, Our aim as a Deanery is to collaborate the largest deanery in the Nottingham across benefice boundaries as far as Archdeaconry. It borders on West Bingham possible, to share good practice and support Deanery to the south west; Nottingham one another. To this end we held a Deanery South and Gedling deaneries to the North Alpha course last Autumn hosted by the West; Newark and Southwell Deanery to parish of Bingham which was in interregnum the north and the Diocese of Leicester to at the time. the south and east. It is a combination of market town, large semi-rural and smaller With the exception of Bingham, which is rural villages. We have 34 open churches, a single church parish, all of the benefices a Chapel of Ease, soon to be offered for are either multi-parish or multi-church. We sale, and an 11th century ruined church have a mix of full- and part-time stipendiary conserved by English Heritage some 15 years clergy, and self-supporting part-time House ago. The parishes are grouped together into for Duty incumbents or associates. There is 12 benefices. In 2017 one benefice of six one full-time stipendiary curate in training parishes became a single parish (ie one PCC) coming towards the end of her first year in with six parish churches. July. The largest centres of population are Bingham, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Cotgrave and The deanery is fully supportive of the Keyworth. The surrounding villages and Diocesan Vision of “Growing Disciples: hamlets vary in size of population from less Wider, Younger, Deeper” (WYD). In view than 100 to just under 2000 people. of this, collaboration amongst clergy and page 5 laity across the deanery is greatly valued and encouraged, leading to the sharing of ministry across benefice boundaries more and more. In addition, the deanery values those ecumenical relationships which prosper in some of the larger benefices such as Bingham. In line with the Diocesan Vision we have been looking at places and groups across the deanery where there is potential for new worshipping communities or the refreshing and revitalising of existing ones. The deanery is receptive to new initiatives and is always keen to engage with the laity on its response to the Diocesan Vision. At a recent event organised by the laity a number of fresh ideas were put forward, all of which are being actively considered by the Deanery Leadership Team. We strongly encourage all parishes to make payment (by monthly standing order) of 100% of their Deanery Share, a priority. All parishes have the opportunity to conduct Promise Programs every 5 years with page 6 assistance from the Diocesan team. Oversight of also members of Diocesan Synod. With the the program and regular teaching on giving is an challenges in mind faced by the Church in expectation of all incumbents. meeting the needs of worshippers in rural deaneries, our deanery is well placed in East Bingham Deanery Synod is led by the Area terms of having its voice heard. Dean and Lay Chair, supported by a part-time paid administrator (funded by the Diocese). At The Deanery Chapter meets approximately present we do not have a Deanery Treasurer, but 8 times a year, normally monthly excluding we do have a committed Standing Committee of Easter, July, August and Christmas. We clergy and lay people. The Synod meets 3 times a invite all clergy, including some of our year and you would be expected to attend and to retired colleagues, living in the deanery. We encourage the parish representatives to take an have occasionally held events to include active part. Readers too and given a lunch for our retired clergy and Reader colleagues, as a The Synod administers a fund which can be used thank you for their help; this is funded by for deanery wide training events and specific the Synod fund referred to above. We look training of individuals which would benefit the forward to welcoming you to East Bingham deanery as a whole. The day to day oversight of this Deanery. is within the remit of the Deanery Administrator The Revd Canon Bronwen Gamble, Area Dean under the supervision of the Standing Committee. and Mr Steve Gelsthorpe, Lay Chair (May 2018) The Area Dean is currently Chair of the Diocesan Advisory Committee and our Lay Chair is an elected member of Bishop’s Council. Both are page 7 Welcome We are the Cranmer Group of parishes We embrace the Bishop’s vision of ‘Growing formed in 1967 embracing the villages of Disciples wider, younger, deeper’. Each parish Aslockton, Hawksworth, Orston, Scarrington, has its own character and style of worship Thoroton and Whatton. We are proud of our and we celebrate this diversity and view the connection to Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, variety across the Group as important. Archbishop of Canterbury at the time of Henry VIII. Cranmer was born in Aslockton We are fortunate to have the continuing and worshipped in Whatton church. commitment of a number of retired clergy and lay readers supporting our ministry, and In 2015 we formed a United Benefice Council. are grateful for the support of our patrons This is still in its formative stage and we are the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, building on the firm foundations to become the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln and CPAS. a cohesive team, working in the best interests of each parish. In the following pages we hope that you will learn something about the sort of community We are looking for a new Vicar (0.5 stipend) we are, and some of our hopes and aspirations to come and join us in our mission and for the future. ministry. page 8 What we offer … • semi-rural villages with lots of • welcoming, hospitable, committed community groups and local and caring congregations businesses • strong social aspects to our church • engagement and involvement with services (refreshment and fellowship) two local