St. Peter’s Ashburnham Parish Profile January 2021 1. Summary St Peter’s Ashburnham is a very rural parish in the beautiful East Sussex countryside, close to the historic town of Battle. Our village has a strong sense of community and support, which the church contributes to. We are a gathered church with members coming from around the area to enjoy an open evangelical approach to worship and fellowship. We are seeking a Priest in Charge who is a good communicator with strong pastoral skills. We would welcome someone who is willing to become involved with village life and draw people to faith, and who is comfortable leading formal and informal services. We offer a supportive church family and PCC who contribute to all aspects of church life, along with a delightful family house in the village. Our vision is to draw alongside those in our community to share our faith, both through church services and friendship. We aim to become more confident disciples through Bible teaching and the power of the Holy Spirit, as we support and encourage each other. 2. The current situation Within the Benefice there are two Parish churches, St Peter’s Ashburnham and St Michael the Archangel, Penhurst. There is also a small independent Chapel in the centre of Ashburnham village. St Peter’s church building is uniquely situated in the grounds of Ashburnham Place Christian Conference and Prayer Centre. The Benefice is within the Deanery of Bexhill and Battle. During the first lockdown in March 2020 the church was closed for worship and later when possible open at times during the week for private prayer. Since the November lockdown a Sunday service on Zoom has started which has proved popular and will continue during lockdown. There is also a short service printed each week in The Post (a weekly email newsletter) for those people unable to access Zoom. Our monthly prayer hour and house groups continue on Zoom as well. Between these initiatives we are able to provide Christian input to the church family and beyond. Holding the church family together and showing Christ’s love to those inside and Back in church after first lockdown! outside the church, in these difficult times has been a priority. There has been a financial impact with the loss of collections but the church family have been generous and we have been able to maintain our Parish Share and the amount we tithe, and make additional gifts of support during the pandemic. Page 1 of 7 Final 22.1.21 3. The Parish The Benefice of Ashburnham with Penhurst is located in the beautiful countryside of East Sussex. The villages are very rural, with no public transport, yet within a 25 mile radius lie the seaside resorts of Bexhill-on-Sea, Hastings and Eastbourne and the historic towns of Battle, Hailsham and Tunbridge Wells, with London only 90 mins away by train. The electoral register for the villages of Ashburnham and Penhurst is approximately 355. Ashburnham is a scattered village with a vibrant and active community. Many residents are involved with agriculture, and whilst there is a high number of retired villagers, there are also a number of young families. There is a wide range of social backgrounds and income levels. Although there is no village school, with children travelling to a variety of neighbouring village schools, there is a private pre-school nursery, “The Farmyard”. The Village Hall is home to the table tennis club, the local theatrical society, and other well- attended village events. A well-loved country pub, The Ash Tree Inn, plays a key role in the village, hosting a number of community events, including a monthly pub quiz. Both the WI and MI (Men’s Institute) are well supported by villagers of all ages, including members of the local churches. The Sports Pavilion also hosts many activities including a monthly coffee morning, an art group, cricket and stool ball clubs, and the Village Fete and Flower Show. The Parish Council is currently seeking to build a new Village Hall adjacent to the Pavilion designed to accommodate all the clubs and groups as well as to cater for the wider needs of a village community in the 21st century. A significant part of the village remains part of the historic Ashburnham Estate, which provides private rented housing and includes a number of tenanted farms. The Ashburnham Estate is very supportive of church and village life, providing many of the amenities in the village often through its charitable arm, The Ashburnham Thanksgiving Trust (“ATT”). In the middle of the village stands Ashburnham Place with its 220 acres of “Capability” Brown landscaped grounds and lakes. This is now a large interdenominational Prayer and Conference Centre owned by a registered charity, the Ashburnham Christian Trust (“ACT”). The Orangery Tea Room, within Ashburnham Place, attracts many visitors who walk in the grounds and visit the church. In Penhurst there is a small and flourishing Christian Retreat Centre which offers retreats and quiet days, specialising in support to mission partners and those in full-time Christian work both nationally and globally. Page 2 of 7 Final 22.1.21 4. The Church We seek to keep Jesus at the centre, undergirding all that we do with prayer and in the power of the Holy Spirit, recognising the unique nature and needs of the church and parish. Members are friends supporting each other through difficulties, illness and setbacks. We mourn and rejoice together. Over recent years St Peter’s has been a haven for those who are hurting as well as a warm welcoming body of Christ to all who come. The congregation is made up of a wide variety of members, from pre-school children to 80- year-olds with several families and many members in full-time employment. Our information board states “All Welcome” and that is how we genuinely feel. We are fortunate to have within the congregation many capable and gifted people who are committed team players, supporting each other, our church and community. In line with the Diocesan Strategy the church has developed a Vision Statement which is reviewed regularly by the PCC: i. Continue to develop links with those we reach through our existing ministries (Men’s Breakfasts, Play Cafe and Prayer Ministry). ii. Draw alongside those in our local and wider community and participate in events and activities to build relationships. iii. Deepen and strengthen our partnerships with local Christian ministries. iv. Encourage and declare Bible teaching as the inspiration and foundation of our continuing discipleship. v. Explore diverse ways of inclusive and creative worship for all our church family. vi. Equip all our church family to go on being filled with the Holy Spirit deepening our relationship with God, and enabling us to be Good News to those we live and work with. The current season of the pandemic has meant that many plans and intentions have, in various ways, inevitably been tested or suspended. We very much welcome new and creative ways to work together, to address the way forward and bring God’s vision into being. Average attendance in 2019 was around 50 at the weekly 10.30am Sunday service and there are 60 names excluding children, on the church roll for St Peter’s, with about 75% being non-resident and drawn to us from other local communities. Sunday Services Our service pattern is an All Age service on the first Sunday of the month which is usually lay led, shorter and designed to attract families, whilst being accessible for adults of all ages. Holy Communion is celebrated on the second and fourth Sundays, with Morning Praise on Page 3 of 7 Final 22.1.21 the third Sunday.. The musical worship combines traditional hymns and modern worship songs, with church members playing the piano. The organ is used for special services. Services include formal, modern and creative liturgy, and a time of open sharing with each other. All baptised members of other denominations are welcome to receive Communion and children who have not been confirmed may receive Communion, with family permission and after appropriate preparation. A range of lay people lead the services, intercessions and read at Sunday services, and guest preachers are also welcomed. In 2020 there was one wedding, one funeral, and no baptisms. Pastoral and Prayer support There is a prayer team who offer private, confidential prayer ministry after services. There are boxes for confidential prayer request cards inside and outside the church which are very well used (often by visitors to Ashburnham Place), and the team pray for these cards too. There are two thriving house groups at St Peter’s, one based in Crowhurst and one in Battle. We value our house groups and encourage regular membership. A monthly “prayer hour” evening meeting also takes place. Children and young people Numbers in our Sunday School fluctuate as the children grow up! Prior to lockdown the children’s group has remained steady at around 6 with children ranging in age from 4 to 11 years. We offer weekly Sunday School for the 4 – 11 year olds and have run a Sunday Club for teenagers, other than at the All Age service. The Sunday School leaders follow published material from Scripture Union or similar sources, including singing, Bible stories and other activities. Children’s ministry is an area we are anxious to re-establish. Links with other local Christian centres The Ashburnham Christian Trust provides its own informal services for the resident community, but the staff, volunteers (who come from around the world) and guests are always welcome at St Peter’s, attend regularly and are a very supportive part of our church family.