ST HELEN'S CHURCH

ATHERSLEYBARNSLEY

DIOCESE OF LEEDS

PARISH BROCHURE2017

The ParishThe Parish of St Helen's is situated close to the northern boundary of Barnsley and sits astride the main A61. It is 2.5miles from Barnsley Town Centre and approx.8 miles from Wakefield Cathedral.The Parish consists of three large post war housing estates: Athersley, New Lodge and Smithies. 44% of households live in social rented accommodation, the rest being privately owned or private rented houses.

10,250 people live in the parish, 63% are of working age, 14.8% are of pensionable age. Almost 98% of the population is white.

There are many social problems and around 30% of the population have health problems. There are 3 Primary schools in the parish, all have some links with the church and have held Christmas, Easter and Harvest events in the church. Holy Trinity School is in the Parish and is quite unique being the only purpose built 3-16years Catholic and Church of England school in the country. Our Parish Priest has always supported the Worship at the school and one of our church members is Chair of Governors. We have good links with the 2 Working Men's clubs in the Parish and have held our fairs at New Lodge WMC and they have held charity concerts for church funds as has Haddon Road WMC. There are a number of local shops including take-a-ways a Post Office and florist within a few minutes walk of the church, and a large medical centre accommodating 2 GP practices, several clinics and a pharmacy. There is a Day Care centre at the side of the church and a residential home in the Athersley North Estate where there is also a Community shop and a Family Centre and the Gateway Church runs a food bank and there is a Community Centre on the New Lodge Estate.

The Church At present we are a United Benefice with St John the Evangelist, Carlton. We are a member of the Parishes of the Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda and part of the Mission Parishes of Christ the King. We

have good links with the other Parishes in the area and each year participate in Lent services and have several joint services.

The church and church hall are in reasonable repair, recently having new doors and new windows to the Romero Centre (see below) and new guttering to both buildings. The hall floor was renovated in October this year. We employ a cleaner for a few hours each week for the hall and Remero Centre and the church cleaning is done by members of the congregation. The grounds are at present maintained by a local community group.The organ was made by Forster & Andrews in 1888 and is in excellent condition: the British Institute of Organ Studies has registered it as a Grade 2 Historical Organ. Our organist has been with us for a number of years.

We have a magnificent Reredos behind the high altar. It was brought to Athersley about 12/15 years ago from a church which was closing in

St Helen's Day Celebration

Sunderland - it was originally in a church in Newcastle. (but we have

no other information)

Financial Position

The parish has always ended the financial year in the black and has paid the Share in full. We have a planned giving scheme (standing orders and weekly envelopes) with 35 participants, of which 25 covenant their giving.

ServicesAt present we belong to the Parishes of The Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda and part of the Mission Parishes of Christ the King. We have a long tradition of Anglo- Catholicism and all services are based on the Roman Rite. Services are held daily - main services being Wednesday (12-15 attend) and Sunday there are services at 8am and 10.30am. We have a large number of Baptisms which are usually held on request either during or following Sunday Mass. The PCC meets regularly and consists of 2 churchwardens and a churchwarden emeritus and a small group of committed members of the congregation, who are looking forward to working with a new parish priest. There are 8 Eucharistic ministers and 6 lay ministers, who take

St HelenThe FontStatue of Our Lady

Sick Communion each week plus laity involved in the services as sidespeople, readers and intercessors. There are strong links with surrounding parishes in the Barnsley Deanery, especially Monk Bretton, Cudworth and Grimethorpe, Hemsworth, St Peter’s Barnsley and Royston. The church has a long tradition of a Pilgrimage to Walsingham each year. Congregation We are a very friendly and welcoming group of people, the average congregation at the Parish Mass on Sunday is 25-30. Approximately 25% live outside the parish. Approximately 70% of the congregation are middle aged or pensioners and at present there are 34 names on the electoral roll. There are 2 church Wardens, 1 Warden Emeritus and a number of Eucharistic Ministers, who also take out Sick Communions and several sidespeople and readers.

There is a small but active Sunday school.

We have 3 Altar servers.

Denominations in ParishSt Helen's is the only Anglican Church in the Parish. There is one Roman Catholic Church, a Methodist Chapel, a Wesleyan Chapel and an Evangelical (New Life) Church. There is however currently very little communication with them.

Wider Community

The church provides a focal point for various community activities. We have very active church sponsored Rainbows, Brownies and Guides and Senior Section. A line dancing group, Karate for able bodied and non able bodied and the hall is used for local groups and agencies to hold meetings and for birthday, baptism parties etc.

The Romero Project was founded in October 2004. The baptistery in the Church became a kitchen; a building project took place at the rear of the Church to form a place where people could meet and an office was made where people could receive private consultation. It caters for local residents, and offers information, support and guidance and works with other agencies such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Coalfields regeneration Coach Club helping to get local people back into work, as well as hobby clubs. St Helen's Ward councillors hold regular surgeries in the Centre.

Athersley Cares

This is based in the church hall to the rear of the church. It has been delivering projects identified by the community for over 25 years. It was initially funded by the Church Urban Fund and is always looking at the changing needs of the community. At present it offers a variety of activities including Zumba, Be Well weight loss group, gentle exercise sessions for people who do little or no exercise. Cook and eat sessions, Little Big Group for families with 0 – 4 year old children offering activities for children and parents/carers which includes breakfast included. Kids In the Community project which meets twice a week after school offering art and craft, cook and eat, homework support and ICT for young people aged 8 to 16. The Twilight group caters for older people who may feel isolated and want to meet new people and old friends, play bingo, have trips and quizzes etc.

The Vicarage

The vicarage is a 4 bedroom detached property, with a double garage, standing within the church grounds. It is brick built, approximately 60 years old, with a small walled garden to the front and a larger private garden to the rear which overlooks school grounds. The house is in reasonable repair.

OUR PARISH NEEDSWe offer a warm welcome to a priest who will be committed to helping us grow both spiritually and numerically, as well as engage with the local community and schools. We would like someone with energy, and a sense of humour and committed to outreach and with experience of growing a church or congregation, and who has new ideas but has an awareness that change has to be handled sensitively.

We would like a man who is prayerful and who will continue the traditions of the Church and maintain a daily mass. We would like someone who is a good teacher, prepared to arrange and lead discussion groups and courses and encourage the congregation to develop and extend their ministry.

There are a number of schools in the Parish and children and young people's group using the hall and we hope that a new priest will enjoy working and encouraging young people and young adults to get involved with the church and worship.

We are looking for a man who is an experienced and confident team leader but who would delegate and not always lead from the front, a good communicator and with good people skills. We would like a priest who will lead by example and act in a way which can teach, inspire and to develop and make the best use of the skills, strengths and talents of the congregation.

We would like him to have a keen interest in the wider community and support the work of Athersley Care and the Romero Project and other caring agencies in the Parish.

We would like a priest who is a committed to the parish, a keen visitor of parishioners, the hospital, schools, local institutions and who would take an interest in church groups.

We would like a man who is committed to the Church Of England and its catholic traditions, who would value being part of this deanery and diocese and build up relationships with the other congregations and their priests as well as the wider church.

We would like someone with the necessary experience to be able to train an Assistant Curate.

Although not essential we would like our priest to have some musical skills.

And finally we would welcome a married priest but again this is not essential.