WHITFIELD PARISH PROFILE

WE ARE ExcITED by THE PIcTuRE GOD HAS GIvEn uS OF A SPAcE SHuTTLE AFTER THE bOOSTER ROckETS ARE jETTISOnED. ARE yOu THE PERSOn TO DIREcT uS, AS THE mAIn EnGInE, TO TAkE THE PARISH InTO THE ORbIT GOD HAS cHOSEn?

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This parish profile is a window into a community of believers that ranges from conservative to charismatic evangelical. We have come a long way in the last 30 years and we do not see standing still as an option.

We are eagerly expecting that this appointment will signal a new growth cycle in the spiritual maturity of, and numbers in, our church.

Over the years our leaders have guided us in steady but continual growth. With God’s blessings we are now the third largest parish in Derby Diocese with an Electoral Roll membership of 281. Currently we have an Associate Minister and a Curate who are both stipendiary staff, complemented by 3 Lay Readers. The Curacy is almost completed.

We are currently involved in a collaborative process across the congregations, the clergy and the PCC to help discern the role we are to play as a church within the Church of England, and as a church in our community. We have a burning ambition to be transformed into what God wants us to be and to do the things he has prepared for us to do.

As you read on, we hope you will discern whether God has given you a vision to lead our Parish into the next stage of our journey.

cOnTEnTSWHITFIELD PARISH SEEkS A nEW IncumbEnT

OuR STORy IS nOT cOmPLETE; WE FEEL THAT In, A REAL SEnSE, IT IS juST bEGInnInG!

TO bE ADDED OncE EvERyTHInG ELSE HAS bEEn APPROvED

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OuR nExT IncumbEnT

WE ARE SEEkInG A nEW LEADER WHO HAS THE PASSIOn, vISIOn AnD SkILLS TO buILD On THE SOLID FOunDATIOn THAT HAS bEEn LAID by OuR PREvIOuS mInISTERS.

OuR IDEAL LEADER WOuLD bE ...

We would like to receive applications from candidates who feel personally drawn by God to this parish and who have many of the key qualities and kingdom values about which we have prayed.

No single human being will have all these attributes, but our expectation is that God will call to this incumbency a person who values these and would work to establish them in the leadership team.

A teacher who believes the bible is God’s true and living word and endeavours to live this out daily

A gifted and passionate communicator of the Gospel

A confident and experienced guide to help us follow jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit

A pastorally sensitive communicator and listener

A motivator of all-member ministryA trailblazer who will encourage us all to grow as disciples

A person with the energy and drive to bring to reality their own vision from God for this parish

A person with enthusiasm and vision for creative mission

A team building leader who is able to manage and enthuse volunteers

A natural builder of relationships with all kinds of people

“buT SEEk FIRST HIS kInGDOm AnD HIS RIGHTEOuSnESS, AnD ALL THESE THInGS WILL bE GIvEn TO yOu AS WELL.” mATTHEW 6 v.33

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A church community that desires to be transformed by God’s word and spirit

1A church community that actively seeks to grow in faith and discipleship2

A church community that is mobilised to serve under God’s leading in our locality

3 A church community with a wider vision for mission 4

Our parish values are set out on the final page of this profile. These values underpin our aim to be:WHITFIELD: OuR PARISH nOW

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OuR GOAL IS TO bE A cHuRcH WITHOuT WALLS AnD A cOmmunITy FOR THE cOmmunITy

We want to be known as a loving church with a vision for Christ-likeness. We aim to practise the presence of God and desire that all will have a profound personal experience of him and want to submit their lives to him.

As with the development of our buildings, we aim to provide flexibility for growth. Members and newcomers alike now have the choice of different worship styles but the same values and mission in our congregations, and God seems to be working to maximise the opportunity for individuals to meet him in their own way. We realise it is only by God’s grace and with his power we can love, support and transform the people here.

Sunday morning joint services are held several times a year when all the congregations are invited to worship together at one of the churches.

At least one Communion service is held within the parish most Sundays and we are delighted to welcome Baptism parties to our All-Age services on the 4th Sunday. A growing team of appropriately gifted and competent members shares responsibility for various aspects of the services.

Prayer ministry is offered at every service.The 11am Sunday congregation at St James’ is a place to meet

God in worship, prayer and ministry, be encouraged in his word and grow as a Christian community.

Our regular attendance is about 160 people of all ages and backgrounds. We run a thriving ministry for children and young people, including Crèche, Kingdom Kids for 4-11s, BiG (Believers in God) and Bigger for 11-14s. Our gatherings are informal and contemporary.

We constantly review the way we welcome and integrate newcomers who join us most weeks. The music team faithfully lead us every week and our award-winning youth band (Billion) share leadership, particularly during evening and youth services.

The growing congregation of around 95 weekly average at St Luke’s, is welcoming and friendly, including people of all ages with a good number of families.

Everyone is encouraged to be involved in a lively start to most services, before the children go into their own groups. Whilst slightly more traditional than those at St James’, the services are bright, inclusive, and often interactive. We place a high value on preaching the gospel.

The various music teams play a variety of instruments, including the organ which is played from time to time.

A cHuRcH cOmmunITy THAT DESIRES TO bE TRAnSFORmED by GOD’S WORD AnD SPIRIT

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“I LOvE my cHuRcH AnD WILL DO WHATEvER I cAn TO HELP. I’m PROuD TO bE PART OF SucH A cARInG cOmmunITy”

A member of the Wednesday congregation

OTHER SERvIcES

On Wednesday mornings a Book of Common Prayer Communion service is attended by 30-40 people. This loving and caring service is mainly retired people, together with a minority of younger folk, who love to support and encourage one another and who are very open to the word of God and the work of the Spirit. Individual prayer within the corporate setting is a key feature of the service. Lunches and outings are a regular opportunity for both fellowship and outreach by members of this lively group.

At 6.30pm on Sunday evenings we have Parish services at St James’ church and on the fourth Sunday at St Luke’s church. The St Luke’s evening congregation is usually a quiet, reflective Communion. St James’ has Deeper, teaching events aimed at particular aspects of the Christian life. Occasional Café Services, in a relaxed setting, are held on Sunday evenings.

In addition we have two Fresh Expression groups: a weekly 9-10.30am Sunday Contact congregation with an average of 12 attending in the Vineyard (our church hall) and a monthly Messy Church congregation on Wednesday afternoons at St Luke’s where as many as 27 primary school children attend and bring their carers with them.

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A cHuRcH cOmmunITy THAT AcTIvELy SEEkS TO GROW In FAITH AnD DIScIPLESHIP

We periodically run training courses to help people develop their skills and expertise, as well as their faith. We actively encourage leadership training for all areas of ministry from recognised organisations outside the parish such as Outlook (‘seniors’ ministry), Acorn (Christian Listening), HTB (Marriage Ministry, School of Theology) and New Wine (Prayer Ministry, Healing Ministry and Kingdom Training).

To enable the congregations to experience a wider vision of the Christian family, many take advantage of a variety of Christian conferences. About 45 adults and children go to the New Wine summer conference while others attend Spring Harvest and Keswick Convention. Younger members enjoy the CYFA camps and Soul Survivor.

Our 17 LIFE (Learning, Intercession, Fellowship and Evangelism) groups are the heartbeat of personal development in Whitfield Parish, where members are encouraged to meet weekly, usually in someone’s home.

Our recent congregational survey showed that half of those who responded are in a LIFE Group and most of these attend weekly. As well as supporting each other, LIFE group members are encouraged to look outwards, making wider friendships and building links with the local community in order to share the

good news about Jesus. LIFE groups are a safe place to share our joys and sorrows and members are committed to praying for each other.

Most LIFE groups have members of more than one congregation, which encourages parish unity.

Groups generally follow a programme of studies based on the Sunday morning sermons, but are very flexible, depending on circumstances within each group. Leaders meet regularly to develop their skills and to plug into God’s vision for the groups. This is a forum where leaders can bring feedback from their groups: frank discussion is encouraged.

We desire LIFE groups to be places where people can identify and use their gifts in order to grow into increasingly authentic and radical disciples.

Marriage Preparation Courses are offered to all couples getting married. To ensure continuity of support for marriages, we have successfully run The Marriage Course for those who have been married for more than two years.

Over 40 couples in the church have benefited from this, as well as many from other churches.

FOR ADuLTS

“THAnk yOu SO mucH FOR ALL yOuR PRAyER SuPPORT; IT HAS mADE ALL THE DIFFEREncE TO uS AS A FAmILy”

A couple whose daughter was diagnosed with cancer whilst at university

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There is a thriving youth ministry in Whitfield Parish. Since our third successive full time youth worker moved on, a growing and dedicated team of volunteers, guided by the Curate, has spent the last two years consolidating discipleship groups for young people. These include Sunday morning groups

at both churches, Accelerate on Monday nights for 11-14s and Fusion on Sunday nights for 14+. We also run youth cells for 14+; we currently have four and are planning to start a fifth shortly. We hold youth leaders’ breakfasts

for support and encouragement. Volunteers regularly attend conferences and training events. Our older teenagers are actively exploring new means of outreach to young people who don’t attend our congregations.

Brownies and Guides groups meet weekly in the Vineyard and regularly parade in church on Sundays.

We operate weekly Kingdom Kids groups on the first 3 Sundays in the month during term time, one in St Luke’s back room and another in the Vineyard during Sunday morning services. This is where children from Reception to Year 6 can come and make friends, have fun and get to know more of God. The

leaders aim to cultivate relationships with Jesus by teaching biblical truths and providing ‘holy space’ for personal encounters with him. Through fun and friendship, this environment encourages, affirms and respects each and every child.

“THIS cHuRcH cHAnGED my LIFE. FOR mE IT’S A SLIcE OF HEAvEn In An HOuR, WHIcH RADIcALISES my LIFE. cHuRcH FOR mE IS THE kEy TO THE cOmmunITy AnD THE HEART OF A REvIvAL!” One of our young people

kInGDOm kIDS HAvE PASSIOn, PRAyER AnD PuRPOSE! OuR PASSIOn IS TO SEE EvERy cHILD cOmmIT THEIR LIFE TO jESuS AnD bE FILLED WITH THE HOLy SPIRIT.

yOunG PEOPLE AnD cHILDREn

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A cHuRcH cOmmunITy THAT IS mObILISED TO SERvE unDER GOD’S LEADInG In OuR LOcALITy

It is our belief that the depth of life inside the church should dramatically affect our life and witness in the neighbourhood and in recent times we have increasingly felt the Holy Spirit moving us to connect more with the community. The majority of initiatives have been driven by lay individuals or groups backed, as necessary, by clergy. These activities aim to be places where people who are not church-goers can come and feel comfortable – and they do!

Karibuni (Swahili for Welcome) provides a meeting point for mums and toddlers to discuss, play and relax in comfortable surroundings on Wednesday mornings in St Luke’s room. Approximately 15 adults and children enjoy fellowship together over drinks and snacks.

See and Know takes place in the Vineyard from 10-11.30am on Thursdays and Fridays. For children aged 0–4 years and their parent/grandparent/carer, it incorporates a fifteen minute song time in small groups, using visual aids to focus the baby or toddler’s attention – something to see, hear, touch, smell or taste – followed by a fun craft activity. Unlike council or privately run toddler groups, as well as having fun, See and Know teaches about the God who made us and loves us. Many attend who are not members of our Sunday morning congregations, but we hope they will move on to church membership.

Schools links are strong with St James’ Primary, St Luke’s Primary and Simmondley Primary Schools, including weekly Schools Prayer Groups and representation on the Boards of

Governors, not only by the Incumbent (ex officio) but also by congregation members.

The Associate Minister takes collective worship at St Luke’s School and the Vicar and Curate have conducted whole school weekly assemblies and lessons at each major festival in St James’ School. Both schools are welcomed into church for special services such as Harvest, Christmas and end of term-time. In addition we have engaged The Bible Encounter Trust to present both the Easter and Christmas Story Trails to all primary schools in Glossopdale in recent years.

In the Spring/Summer term it has been our custom to organise a holiday club either in the Vineyard or in St James’. Although not as well developed as the links with primary schools, we are also actively involved in Glossopdale Community College and have recently been responsible for sessions organised as part of the secondary school’s N-Gage summer holiday activity.

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“FOR WE ARE GOD’S FELLOW-WORkERS; yOu ARE GOD’S FIELD, GOD’S buILDInG.” 1 cORInTHIAnS 3 v.9

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Men’s Ministry is a mixture of events and pastoral support for men, aimed at providing social and sporting activities and support in informal settings. Occasional breakfasts with guest speakers are hosted in the Vineyard and a cricket team has been formed, made up of men from the parish and some friends. Training is organised and matches with local pub and village teams are scheduled during the season.

The Elderly are to be respected and honoured according to the Bible. Twenty years ago a small group of ‘seniors’ gathered for soup and fellowship; nowadays an inter-dependent group of 50 meets in the Vineyard for a bring-and-share lunch on the first Wednesday of the month.

Holiday Clubs, outings and guest speakers have been well received over the years and the inter-denominational link with the older members of Poynton Baptist Church has been another blessing. Members have been encouraged to use and share their God-given gifts and have taken opportunities to introduce new friends to TOGA (Towards Our God Always).

The TOGA Team is stepping down at the end of the year and a new season is anticipated in ‘seniors’ ministry, although the Pastoral visiting will continue as previously. Each week a group visits one or other of the local care homes to conduct

appropriately styled worship for the elderly residents and others undertake pastoral visiting, which is designed to maintain contact with older friends who are sick or housebound.

CAP Money course has benefited the community and helped church-goers and non-church goers alike. Those who have attended the 3 free sessions have developed good money management skills and received budgeting tips and advice on how to curtail expenditure.

Christian Aid in Whitfield Parish is not just about the door-to-door collections in May; we also hold fund raising events at other times in the year. Everyone is welcome at the Christian Aid Big Sing events either to perform or just come along and listen, and we have held regular Quiz Aid evenings for the last three years.

Both of these are great opportunities to socialise with friends whilst not forgetting the mission of Christian Aid. In addition to this financial support for the developing world, Whitfield is a certified Fair Trade parish.

Coffee Pot provides a social gathering point for all ages to meet one another and chat over a non-alcoholic drink and delicious homemade cakes provided by a team of volunteer bakers. The men of the parish and their non-churched friends regularly commandeer a table or two to themselves to discuss the important things in life! In school holidays families come along.

St Luke’s back room on Thursday mornings has been bursting at the seams for many years and Coffee Pot has moved across the road to the Adult Education Centre whilst the church refurbishment takes place. This latter move has opened up an excellent opportunity for witness to the students studying there. It has given those students a source of coffee and cakes at break time that was not open to them until the church intervened.

We are being urgently pressed to stay there when the work on the church is completed.

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Waterfall offers food and fellowship to people for whom coping with everyday life is difficult, for one reason or another. It brings them into contact with the love of Jesus through the practical actions of his people. Waterfall operates from 3-5pm on Sundays in the Vineyard and plans are in hand to extend this to a Family Food Club on Saturday afternoons for single parent families or couples with resident children. Members will pay a small subscription each week for 12 weeks and receive a meal and a food hamper that will include fresh fruit and vegetables. There will be play facilities for the children.

The autumn sees us starting a trial of weekly Overcomers Outreach meetings whose primary purpose is to provide a bridge between the traditional secular (12 step) groups, addressing chemical dependence/compulsive behaviour, and the church.

Street Pastors is another area of potential social engagement and local police are keen to support the church if we can mobilise a team to join them on the streets. Will volunteers catch the vision?

Adult Community Social Evenings have been successfully organised for the first time this year. These give the opportunity

to invite and accompany friends and neighbours on a non-threatening night out in St James’. Approximately 160 guests attended a Hogmanay Ceilidh and about 100 folk enjoyed a Mystery and Suspense supper in early September. These are adult social events for singles and couples and opportunities for the 16+ teenagers in the church to serve as waiters.

The Single and Saved group meets monthly and also provides mutual support, social activities and outreach for single adults.

An increasing number of church members are getting involved with local and Manchester-based charitable organisations such as the Mustard Tree in supporting the marginalised and the vulnerable.

We also erect a marquee in the park for the annual Glossop Carnival weekend in July, which gives us an opportunity to provide musical entertainment, testimony and to be ‘fools for Christ’! On the Sunday morning we hold our parish service at this event.

The 2012 Olympics will, we hope, provide opportunities to involve all ages in themed events to coincide with next year’s games.

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OuR cHALLEnGE IS TO FInD WAyS OF InTEGRATInG THE PEOPLE WE REGuLARLy cOnnEcT WITH THROuGH THESE AcTIvITIES InTO ExISTInG cOnGREGATIOnS OR DEvELOPInG mORE FRESH ExPRESSIOn cOnGREGATIOnS TO DIScIPLE THEm InTO FuLLy DEvOTED FOLLOWERS OF cHRIST.

“PLEASE AccEPT OuR SIncERE THAnkS FOR OPEnInG uP THE EvEnT TO ALL PEOPLE, WHETHER cHuRcH-GOERS OR nOT, AnD nOT RESTRIcTInG IT TO juST yOuR OWn cOnGREGATIOn; IT WAS A vERy EnjOyAbLE nIGHT.”A GuEST AT THE HOGmAnAy cEILIDH

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A cHuRcH cOmmunITy WITH A WIDER vISIOn FOR mISSIOn

We believe that the job of our church is to introduce people to Christ and to help them to become his disciples. It can be accomplished in our homes, in Glossop, in the UK and abroad and it is our reason for giving away one tenth of our non-specific income.

Our mission links abroad are in Uganda, Croatia and Paraguay and until recently, in China and Nepal. The latter two partners were both ‘home grown’ missionaries from our own congregations. We want to be, not only a supporting church, but also a sending church.

Mission support is also given to UK based organisations working abroad, such as Compassion, Open Doors and Tear Fund. Janet Muhindo (Diocese of Kasese, Uganda) is provided with a contribution to her work amongst children there by the monthly TOGA lunch meeting.

There are two monthly events held to support mission in addition to regular prayer meetings. One is a Soup Kitchen held by a church couple in their home to help provide ‘Wheelchairs for the World’ with money for wheelchairs for disabled children in Africa. The other is a Lunch Club that operates in the church hall to provide support for Eden Old Trafford, whilst bringing guests into the Vineyard to enjoy food and fellowship. Originally run by ex-members of our congregation, this Eden project was part of The Message Trust’s evangelism

to inner-city Manchester and its dysfunctional youth culture. More recently it has become part of St Bride’s Church in Old Trafford. Members of our congregation continue to support The Message Trust.

Locally, some of our mission support is directed to the Jericho Café, run by a couple from the parish. The café provides a necessary service in Gamesley, one of the most socially deprived communities in the Glossop area. As well as being a social focus for the council estate, those who run the café give practical, moral and prayer support to the community. This term younger members of St James’ congregation are trialling a new Youth Café in Gamesley for those aged 11+ and church members of all ages have the opportunity to volunteer their time and become ‘missionaries’, modelling Christ-like living in our community.

At Christmas and Harvest-time gifts and financial donations from services, are given to the High Peak Women’s Aid hostel. During a recent stake-holder survey members of our congregation were invited to become ‘befrienders’ to people with learning disabilities living in the St Christopher’s Trust facility next to St James’. This is part of our commitment to evangelism, encouraging the development of relationships with our neighbours in the hope they will be attracted by the effect Christ has on his children and will desire that for themselves.

“THEREFORE GO AnD mAkE DIScIPLES OF ALL nATIOnS, bAPTISInG THEm In THE nAmE OF THE FATHER AnD OF THE SOn AnD OF THE HOLy SPIRIT, AnD TEAcHInG THEm TO ObEy EvERyTHInG I HAvE cOmmAnDED yOu. AnD SuRELy I Am WITH yOu ALWAyS, TO THE vERy EnD OF THE AGE.” mATTHEW 28 v.19-20

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InTRODucInG OuR TOWn

Glossop is a small town with a growing population of over 30,000 (2001 Census), including approximately 9,000 in Whitfield Parish. Situated on the A57 at the foot of the Snake Pass in Derbyshire, Glossop is within 4 miles of the motorway network and 20 miles from Manchester Airport.

There is open countryside within a few minutes’ walk of the Vicarage. There is a half-hourly train service to Manchester and about one third of the population commutes between 10 and 25 miles to work. In socio-economic terms, Glossop is around the bottom of the top quartile i.e. well above average, but not wealthy.

Local shops and small businesses nestle alongside the usual High Street brands such as Next, Boots, Costa and Subway and the town has three supermarkets to choose from.

With a varied selection of restaurants catering for most tastes, public and privately owned leisure centres and gyms, a swimming pool and theatre, not to mention the proximity of the recreational facilities that Manchester has to offer, Glossop has something for everyone.

There are 3,800 households in the parish and around a third are occupied by young and old single people and two thirds by traditional families. Property ranges from council estates to a variety of private housing of all ages and sizes.

Glossop attracts the younger 20-35 age group because of an abundance of well built, affordable, stone terraced houses and good access both to the hills and to nearby conurbations.

Several GP surgeries deliver excellent care, along with a new Primary Care Centre serving all ages of patients in the heart of our community. There are several general and specialist hospitals within a 20 mile radius of Glossop.

There are many play groups and primary schools and two comprehensive secondary schools in the town.

Bus services also operate to nearby private schools in Macclesfield, Stockport and Manchester, as well as to the Blue Coat C. of E. School in Oldham.

Glossop also offers adult education courses and a thriving U3A group.

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InTRODucInG OuR TOWn OuR cHuRcH HISTORy

St James’, a recently modernised and refurbished Victorian structure with pillars and a bell tower, was built on the south side of Glossop in 1845 as the place of worship for Whitfield residents who were mainly employed in the town’s many cotton mills. In 1905 a ‘daughter church’ was constructed to the north of the High Street where the more affluent members of the community resided. St Luke’s is a larger building with pews but no pillars. The nurturing of fellowship between the two churches has been of significant importance in the last 30 years.

Our mission statement – Love God, love each other, love the lost – reflects the primacy of doing what Jesus commands.

The appointment of Whitfield’s first evangelical vicar, Alan Buckley, reversed the continuing decline in congregational numbers experienced after World War II. Many changes were introduced and growth commenced, initially with ministry to children whose parents began to stay instead of just dropping them off for Sunday school.

Edward Lobb succeeded Alan and delivered a foundation of Biblical teaching on which to build. Faithfulness to Scripture has seen the congregations continue to grow during Colin Cooper’s incumbency, particularly with the introduction of contemporary music at St James’ and Start, Alpha and Christianity Explored courses across the parish. In the last 5 years Colin’s affiliation to the New Wine Network has developed a more spiritually charismatic dimension in some congregations.

The Parish has been blessed by competent curates, one

of whom, Terry Clark, became the first Associate Minister responsible for St Luke’s. Members of the congregations continue to give generously not only to fund our Associate Minister but, in the recent past, three successive, full time Youth Workers. Our parish supports and encourages those called to leadership in ordained ministry. We have already seen four people take this step.

In the last ten years, major refurbishment of the two church buildings has also been undertaken and financed by church members. St James’ has had a new roof, the pews have been removed and disabled access, under floor heating, a servery and new toilets installed. In total the refurbishment at St James’ cost in the region of £500,000. A further £40,000 was raised to provide a room at the back of St Luke’s to accommodate children’s work and community outreach.

In the interests of increasing the flexibility and providing the means whereby we are able to engage more fully with the community, plans have been completed and work has started to extend the facilities at St Luke’s. In the first instance this will provide disabled access, new toilets and servery, costing £120,000. This will be followed by development of first floor rooms for youth, community and children’s work as finance becomes available.

In 2005 the house for the Associate Minister was built on land acquired beside St Luke’s for that purpose 100 years previously. That was vision!

“FOR THE LORD IS GOOD AnD HIS LOvE EnDuRES FOR EvER; HIS FAITHFuLnESS cOnTInuES THROuGH ALL GEnERATIOnS.” PSALm 100 v.5

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PARISH cOnTAcTS

If what you have read so far inspires you to take a closer look at this vacancy please seek God’s wisdom as to whether he has been preparing you for such a ministry opportunity and then contact anyone listed on this page for more information or to arrange an informal tour of the parish.

The Church office has a direct telephone number (01457 853 330) however should you wish to have an informal chat about the position please contact our Lay Representatives directly via the details below.

The opening hours for the church office are available via the Parish website: www.glossop.org

THIS APPOInTmEnT IS SubjEcT TO An EnHAncED cRb DIScLOSuRE.

LAy REPRESEnTATIvES

cHuRcH WARDEnS

cLERGy

RuRAL DEAn

ARcHDEAcOn OFcHESTERFIELD

mrs Gill Ellisongill@glossop.org

mr Laurie Gilllaurie@glossop.org

mrs Hilary collardhilary@glossop.org

mr Gareth Woodgareth@glossop.org

Revd Dr brian magorrian, Associate ministerbrian@glossop.org

Revd Richard England, curaterichard@glossop.org

The Revd john bainesvicar@newmillschurch.co.uk

The venerable christine Wilsonarchchesterfield@derby.anglican.org

Mrs Gill Ellison28 Heath RoadGlossopSK13 7BA

Tel: 01457 869 578Email: gill@glossop.org

Mr Laurie Gill5 Peveril CourtGlossopSK13 8RP

Tel: 01457 854 562Email: laurie@glossop.org

THE cLOSInG DATE FOR APPLIcATIOnS IS xxx

InTERvIEWS WILL bE HELD On xxx.

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WHITFIELD PARISH buILDInGS

cHuRcH HOuSEThe Associate Minister’s accommodation was built on land owned by Trustees who are selected by St Luke’s congregation. The Incumbent of the Parish is the Chair of Trustees. A maintenance fund is available for the upkeep of Church House.

QuInQuEnnIAL REPORTSBoth churches are generally in fair condition and require minimum work i.e. routine maintenance such as pointing, gutter cleaning and minor fall-pipe repairs.

St James’ organ is in need of substantial repairs which are not considered high priority at present. A quotation has also been obtained to repair the tower clock at St James’ and enquiries are being made to see whether the work might be eligible for any council grants. The organ at St Luke’s has been overhauled and is used several times a month in services.

THE vInEyARDThe parish hall is owned by Trustees to be used primarily for children’s work. The Incumbent of the Parish is the Chair of Trustees. It is heavily used by most of our young people’s groups as well as by the ‘seniors’ and community connection activities, such as Waterfall and Lunch Club.

There are two toilets and a kitchen in the building and the main room has a capacity of around 100 people. Various other rooms are available. In addition, a small voluntary team provides part-time admin’ services from the parish office in the Vineyard.

THE vIcARAGEThe south-east facing property is situated on a recently built phase of the newly developed middle class estate to the east of Glossop, with stunning views over Derbyshire Level, Shire Hill and the Pennines.

This sizeable detached house offers modern family living with four spacious bedrooms with en-suite to master bedroom and Jack-and-Jill en-suite to bedrooms two and three, in addition to a separate bathroom and downstairs toilet.

There are two large reception rooms on the ground floor plus separate study with fitted desk, cupboards and book shelves.

The Vicarage has an integral garage and off-street parking. It has a large family kitchen and dining area overlooking the secluded rear garden through French windows.

Scotty Brook Crescent is 10 minutes’ walk from Glossop town centre and 15 minutes to St James’ and St Luke’s.

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FInAncE & STEWARDSHIP

mISSIOn TITHEOf the 10% of the unrestricted income given away by the PCC, two thirds is allocated by the Mission Committee annually, and the remaining third is allocated across the 6 PCC meetings, based upon the recommendations of the Finance Committee who receive appeals and requests for grants.

cLERGy ExPEnSESAll clergy expenses are paid in full.

FInAncIAL POSITIOnThe parish budget in 2011 is £160k and, as in all previous years, we expect to break even. Over the past 15 years about £800k has been raised from the congregations to pay for capital projects mentioned earlier. The policy for financing these has always been conservative, with no debt or lottery finance being considered and the money raised from within the church. Our Parish Share, paid to Derby Diocese, is £65k. We have paid this in full every year, as well as financing the Associate Minister.

Prior to each PCC meeting the Finance Committee meets and reviews the budgets so as to be able to give guidance to the PCC. In the current financial climate we expect finances to get tighter. We have unrestricted reserves of around £50k.

PLAnS & cOmmITmEnTSOur only commitment, other than those to the Diocese, is the planned refurbishment at St Luke’s, similar to the work already carried out at St James’. It has recently been agreed to include an upgrade to the heating should sufficient funds remain after the first phase of the building project is complete.

Later phases of St Luke’s redevelopment are not fully funded yet, but no financial commitments have been made, although the faculty is in place.

“…SO THAT ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE EARTH mAy knOW THAT THE LORD IS GOD AnD THAT THERE IS nO OTHER’1 kInGS 8 v.60

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GEnERAL STATISTIcS

The parish welcomes the opportunity for outreach and service that the Occasional Offices provide. After a process of conversation and counselling in each case, requests for marriages from previously married people have been accepted from time to time. Funerals are carried out by the clergy and Reader team

on a rota basis, with a minority of services being taken by one of our Readers. When we receive a baptism request the approach has been that one of the clergy make a couple of visits; a service of Thanksgiving is usually offered as an alternative however there has been a low take-up of this option. We have recently appointed

a Baptism Secretary to facilitate on-going communication and support for families, including invitations to key services and activities throughout the year. Rooted in prayer, the intention is to encourage them to feel they ‘belong’ and for them to eventually ‘believe’ and ‘become’ active members of a Christian fellowship.

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jOIn FROm AnOTHER cHuRcH

0

0 -9

10-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70+

9 18 27 36 45

AGE OF cOnGREGATIOn

0-9 13 6%

10-19 29 12%

20-29 9 4%

30-39 25 11%

40-49 46 20%

50-59 32 14%

60-69 43 18%

70+ 35 15%

0 12 24 36

0-1 yEARS

1-2 yEARS

2-5 yEARS

5-10 yEARS

10-20 yEARS

20+ yEARS

yEARS ATTEnDInG

0-1 yEARS 13 6%

1-2 yEARS 29 12%

2-5 yEARS 9 4%

5-10 yEARS 25 11%

10-20 yEARS 46 20%

20+ yEARS 32 14%

yES 121 52%

nO 106 45%

0 10 20 30

bAPTISmS

cOnFIRmATIOnS

WEDDInGS

FunERALS

bAPTISmS, WEDDInGS & FunERALS

bAPTISmS 15

cOnFIRmATIOnS 10

WEDDInGS 5

FunERALS 30

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GOvERnAncE GLOSSOP DEAnERyThe Parochial Church Council meets bi-monthly and, being Trustees, its members do not delegate responsibility. The PCC Agenda is set by the Clergy/Wardens Team and the Secretary.

The Finance Committee meets before each PCC Meeting to review finances and provide recommendations to the PCC.

A Standing Committee has recently been established in accordance with the Church Representation Rules and the Charity Commission’s requirement. This only meets when necessary.

Reporting to the PCC, Executive Committees provide an elected forum to discuss the spiritual welfare, the quality of services and the vision of their respective congregations.

Derby Diocese groups churches together into Mission and Ministry Areas (MMA’s). Whitfield Parish, having 2 churches in its Parish, is a single Parish MMA.

The other churches, grouped by MMA, in Glossop Deanery are as follows:

» St George’s New Mills (1 Clergy – currently Rural Dean)

» Hayfield, Buxworth and Chinley (1 Clergy) » Hadfield, Dinting, Charlesworth, Gamesley

and Old Glossop (2 Clergy) » There is a small number of non-stipendiary

ministers in the Deanery

Whitfield Parish has 8 lay members on the Deanery Synod, 2 lay members on Diocesan Synod and one lay member is on General Synod.

OTHER cHuRcHESRoman Catholics, Methodists, Elim Pentecostal and Congregational churches can be found in the town. Glossop Ministers’ Fellowship meets regularly and includes representatives from some of these congregations.

Whitfield Parish is willing to work with any church that shares our values.

“nOW TO HIm WHO IS AbLE TO DO ImmEASuRAbLy mORE THAn ALL WE ASk OR ImAGInE, AccORDInG TO HIS POWER THAT IS AT WORk WITHIn uS,TO HIm bE GLORy In THE cHuRcH AnD In cHRIST jESuS THROuGHOuT ALL GEnERATIOnS, FOR EvER AnD EvER! AmEn.” EPHESIAnS 3 v.20-21

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PARISH vALuES

WE vALuE mEETInG TOGETHER On SunDAyS AS GOD’S SPEcIAL DAy.

Because of this, we want our gatherings to be inspiring, challenging and enjoyable for believers of all ages, and those who are seeking to find out more about God.

WE vALuE THE bIbLE WHIcH TELLS uS ALL WE nEED TO knOW AbOuT HOW TO HAvE A RELATIOnSHIP WITH GOD, WHO mADE uS.

Because of this we want to teach the Bible in an interesting, relevant and practical way to people of all age groups and circumstances.

WE vALuE THE FAcT THE bIbLE ALWAyS POInTS uS TO jESuS cHRIST AS THE REScuER OF HumAnkInD AnD OuR ExAmPLE FOR LIvInG.

Because of this we give special attention to his death on the cross in our place and to his resurrection.

WE vALuE THE WORk OF THE HOLy SPIRIT WHO GIvES POWER TO THE FOLLOWERS OF jESuS, HELPInG THEm TO LIvE In A WAy THAT PLEASES GOD AnD TO SERvE OTHER PEOPLE.

Because of this, we are passionately seeking to learn more about the Holy Spirit and ministering in his power.

WE vALuE jESuS’ InSTRucTIOn TO bELIEvERS TO TELL THE WORLD AbOuT HIm.

Because of this we look for ways of sharing with our community, we support those who have gone to other places, we always have a group available for people who want to know more about the Kingdom of God.

WE vALuE FAcILITIES WHIcH ARE WELcOmInG AnD cOmFORTAbLE FOR ALL.

Because of this we wish to provide a warm welcome to all who visit us and improve our buildings accordingly.

WE vALuE FRIEnDSHIPS WITH OTHER cHuRcHES WHO SHARE THESE vALuES.

Because of this, we look for opportunities to share with believers from other churches.

WE vALuE PRAyER AnD PRAISE AS cEnTRAL TO A bELIEvER’S LIFE AnD THE LIFE OF OuR cHuRcHES.

Because of this, we look for ways to make prayer and praise creative, exciting and accessible to people of all age groups and circumstances.

WE vALuE jESuS’ InSTRucTIOn TO bELIEvERS TO LOvE EAcH OTHER.

Because of this, we look for ways to encourage, build-up and support believers of all ages, especially using small groups as an important part of this.

WE vALuE jESuS’ InSTRucTIOn TO bELIEvERS TO LOvE THOSE WHO ARE nOT yET bELIEvERS.

Because of this, we look for ways to show compassion to the community and make unconditional friendships with people.

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ARE yOu THE PERSOn TO DIREcT uS, AS THE mAIn EnGInE, TO TAkE THE PARISH InTO THE ORbIT GOD HAS cHOSEn?