Joint Profile : The Proposed Team Ministry for West Wight. and Emerging Mission Community

Transcription

1 Joint Profile : The Proposed Team Ministry for West Wight and Emerging Mission Community Two Priest in Charge Appointments: P-in-C (Team Rector Designate) responsible for The Brighstone and Shalfleet groups of Churches P-in-C (Team Vicar Designate) responsible for the Freshwater, Yarmouth and Totland Churches the potential for leading the way in enabling rural and town parishes to flourish Contents 2 An Introduction from the Bishop 3 The new Team Ministry and its Resources 4 The Isle of Wight 5 Team Rector - Brief Sketches of the Parishes and person specification 15 Team Vicar - Brief Sketches of the Parishes and person specification 1

2 Growing Together to lead and develop a new model of Ministry in the West Wight An introduction from the Bishop The Church faces challenging times and exciting opportunities and these posts in the West Wight will require gifted priests to tackle both in what is one of the most beautiful parts of the South Coast. Within the context of rural communities, small towns and villages there are many different aspects of life which are enriched in the summer months by many holiday visitors. Over the last three years the Church on the Island has developed the IW Plan which emphasises cluster working, encourages collaboration, open and mission minded congregations who are more determined to engage with their communities. We have created a single Deanery for the whole Island and now have a coordinated strategy for ministry and mission. This Team Ministry as it will become, is coterminous with the Cluster and is ideally placed to flourish with the right leadership. The people appointed to this post, Rector designate and Team Vicar designate, will lead the shaping of mission and ministry alongside the lay leadership of the parishes, a house-for-duty priest-in-charge (or in time title-curate) and a paid cluster administrator. This new administrative appointment is to help manage workload and enable greater cooperation amongst the parishes. This is not only an area of outstanding natural beauty but historical importance as well. St Mary s Brighstone is the former parish of Bishops Wilberforce, Moberley and Ken, and Freshwater the home of Tennyson and photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. With a rich past and with parishes open to new ways of working and enthusiastic to meet the needs of a changing environment, these are demanding posts that will develop new patterns of ministry and mission in a rural and small town environment that is eager to grow. At the heart of our mission strategy in the Diocese of Portsmouth are the words Live: Pray: Serve. The Church Commissioners have recently confirmed an application for almost 1m to develop Pioneer Ministry; a new programme, the Portsmouth Pathway, training Readers and Clergy together is based in Portsmouth and is much more accessible for IW candidates and we are seeing an increase in vocations from the Island. Lay Pastoral Assistants and Local Worship Leaders are being trained and commissioned on the Island and Churches are working more closely together than ever before. The foundations are good and it is my hope that the priests appointed to this post will play a key part in ensuring the engagement of West Wight Churches in diocesan life. We also believe that these post have the potential for leading the way in enabling rural and small town parishes to flourish. If you have any questions about this post please contact Archdeacon Peter Sutton who will be pleased to discuss it further. Christopher Foster Bishop of Portsmouth 2

3 The new Team Ministry and its Resources A pastoral scheme is currently being prepared that will create a West Wight Team Ministry. The Team also allows for a House for Duty priest based at Totland and an administrator. What is a Mission Community? It is a concept that seeks to enable these parishes to work together in ways that are best for them. Historically the parishes have been grouped in different ways. The Team Ministry will group them as a set of towns parishes and rural parishes but our hope is that as a Mission Community those boundaries will be soft enough to facilitate collaborative working whenever it is appropriate across the eleven parishes. Team Rector & Rector of the Brighstone and Shalfleet Joint Benefices Resident in Brighstone. We are looking for an inspirational leader and teacher of the Mission Community Ministry Teams. S/he will manage the Administrator; have an oversight of Rural Ministry; develop ministry to children and young people and providing ministry and oversight to the foundation governors in the Church Primary Schools. Team Vicar of Freshwater, Yarmouth and in due course, Totland. Resident in Freshwater. We are looking for an inspirational leader and teacher responsible for All Saints and St Agnes, Freshwater and St James Yarmouth and Christ Church Totland. S/he will have responsibility for the development of lay worship leaders and discipleship courses and have a key role in developing the already excellent ecumenical working of Churches in West Wight. Minister for Ministry and Pastoral Care: Resident in Totland and currently PiC of Christ Church Totland. After the retirement of James Cook who currently hold this post the house will be available for a H4D priest to serve the Mission Community or for a Title Curate. The H4D priest will have responsibility for developing ministry; establishing Local Ministers in Churches where there is no resident priest; overseeing teams of LPAs and Worship Leaders. Team Office Administrator This full-time co-ordinator for Cluster administration and communications is to be appointed this year Local Minister There is currently a H4D interim priest and Local Minister at Shorwell. We would hope that this can continue and for the house to be used in this way either for a priest or lay Local Minister in the future. Other Team Members A Youth Worker; a number of retired Clergy, as well as a growing team of non-stipendiary Readers, Lay Pastoral Assistants and Local Worship Leaders. Parochial Church Councils The new Team Ministry will wish to establish an appropriate pattern for managing the parishes. This could be along the lines of the current Brighstone model which has a Joint PCC meeting that brings together PCCs for shared and separate meetings. It will be necessary to set up a Mission Community Council which oversees strategy and manages the resources that are shared by the eleven parishes. 3

4 The Isle of Wight The Island with its population of 140,000 residents has a sunny climate, award-winning beaches, walks, cycle routes, enviable water sports and activities, a beautiful landscape and internationally important areas of SSSI, Coastline and Marine Conservation Zone status. More than half of the Island is AONB-designated with over 500 miles of public footpaths and bridleways including 70 miles of coastline. Osborne House and Carisbrooke Castle are major English Heritage sites and The National Trust is a major landowner. The information revolution has changed employment prospects on the Island. Once a region of limited employment and facilities, many more people of all ages now work and socialise, full time or flexibly, nationally & globally, from their homes. Now that the Island s unique advantages are available without many of the previous limitations of separation by sea, employment on the Island has risen steadily closer to the average for the South of England. A long-term PFI contractor is steadily transforming Island roads to an impressive standard. Frequent car ferry and fast passenger ferry services connect with rail services at Portsmouth, Southampton and Lymington. London can be a little over an hour s journey by road or rail from mainland ferry ports, on a good day. Portsmouth Cathedral is just 10 minutes by hovercraft and 40 minutes by car ferry. Each summer the Island hosts many festivals attracting thousands of visitors. The Island is a world class sailing venue and a major centre for active outdoor holidays and events, the location for thousands of tourists, second home and owners, campers and self-catering visitors. The largest employers are the tourism, retailing, marine leisure and aerospace industries, the NHS, and local government, education and prison services. For more information see the IW Council site In 2012, Island schools moved from a three-tier to a two-tier education system. This, with the positive recent effects of strengthened leadership and Academy status, is beginning to produce notably better performance in the schools. The Isle of Wight College provides an excellent range of vocational and further education. Christ the King College in Newport is an ecumenical secondary school which brings together young people from across the Island and is developing good relationships with parishes. Local clergy are encouraged to be present for termly communion services which, with a thousand young people worshipping together, represent the largest community Eucharist participation in the whole Diocese. 4

5 The Team Rector Designate Responsibility This post holder will have legal responsibility for what were previously the separate Brighstone and Shalfleet groups of parishes. They now consist: Brighstone, Shorwell, Brook & Mottistone, Shalfleet, Newtown, Calbourne and Thorley. S/he will seek to find the appropriate structures that enable these parishes to work together and with others in the emerging Mission Community as well as retaining their individual identity. The Brighstone Group All of the working churches in our Joint Benefice lie within a three-mile radius of Brighstone village centre at the heart of the South West Wight AONB. Since the departures of the previous Priest-in-Charge and our Commissioned Local Minister, a Reader and Lay Pastoral Assistants (LPAs) now support many aspects of ministry and there is real potential for lay ministries to be developed further. For the last five years, a Joint Council has provided a vital forum for developing local Ministry (with individual PCCs retaining control of their own fabric & finance). Quarterly JPCC meetings have certainly brought a growing fellowship, shared purpose and more effective use of PCC and ministry team resource. There is a growing readiness to try out new ideas. The JPCC is working to become one Church growing together in Christ CSR Growing Together by expanding lay ministry and leadership teams to help overcome the effects of loneliness, fear, distrust, mental illness and deprivation within the community. Building common ground with local community leaders and influencers to agree local pastoral needs and show how the Church is helping tackle these issues, and testing an innovative and sustainable Ministry model relevant to other pastoral teams in the West Wight. The Group s website features the seasons of village life and how our Church is engaging with the wider community. Our Joint PCC Administrator and her predecessor have also played a key part in enabling rapid progress in the past two years, creating and managing the website, coordinating appointments and information, and supporting lay volunteers in the parishes. The Benefice leases the old Brighstone village library at a peppercorn rent. The Exchange is available free of charge for use by the community and Church across the Benefice and offers regular drop-ins for a range of services including the Police. A Diocesan Mission Opportunities Fund grant has been recently awarded for upgrading washroom facilities. A full-time Youth Worker is co-funded with neighbouring churches with an 80,000 grant from the IW Council for three years to support youth club activities and events across the South Wight area. St Mary the Virgin, Brighstone St Mary s is a welcoming family church that attracts members from beyond the village. As well as our Reader, there are a number of gifted individuals with developing ministries of music, worship and preaching. The monthly Solace (a contemplative worship service) and Logos (a praise and Bible teaching service) are both led by laity. There are three Bible Study groups and a number of Alpha Courses and Marriage Courses have been hosted. It has recently commissioned four Lay Pastoral Assistants to help meet the pastoral needs 5

6 of the Church and community, including administering home communion. A quarterly Newsletter featuring church/community activities is delivered to every home in the village. Increasingly, St. Mary s recognises its place within the wider provision of the Benefice and the Cluster. Special events include the annual Christmas Tree Festival, staged at local venues by a committee of volunteers. This attracts many visitors from across the Island and the Mainland and raises approximately 10,000 annually for local and national charities. The employment of a neighbourhood worker, with Age UK, is helping reduce isolation and loneliness among older residents, and is recruiting and developing volunteers to help deliver a wide range of activities and services. The village is an increasingly popular holiday destination. Close to the village centre is a pub ( The Three Bishops celebrating former Brighstone Rectors: Bishop Ken, Bishop Samuel Wilberforce and Bishop George Moberly), a cafe, village store which also incorporates the Post Office, Newsagents, and a Hairdresser, a GP surgery, volunteer library and the primary school. There is a hall in the centre of the village, owned by the church and administered by a committee of community and trustee representatives, where a wide range of activities takes place. In addition there is a Scout and Guide centre and a Social club. There is a recreation ground with cricket and football pitch, tennis courts, pavilion and an enclosed children s area with play equipment. Brighstone boasts many organisations and activities including uniformed organisations for children and young people, plus an active branch of the Royal British Legion. There is a wide range of special interest groups, including art, history, horticulture, walking and keep fit, several singing groups and a WI. The Parish Council is very active. BIG Worship is a half hour of all-age worship before the main service, after which Sunday Club meets whilst the rest share in the main service. On the first Sunday of the month everyone meets together for Family Communion. St. Mary s seeks to provide a quiet contemplative space for visitors as well as opportunities for all kinds of regular worship, but also feels a strong sense of its role in and mission to the whole community. The recent quinquennial inspection indicated that the fabric of the church is generally in good order but recommended some work which is being put in hand. Currently the church is raising a significant sum to cover the cost of roof repairs. A major re-ordering in 2005 added a single-level stone tiled floor (giving disabled access to all parts of the Church), under-floor heating, a vestry and toilet, an enlarged bookstall/library and a small kitchen. Old fixed pews were replaced by more comfortable chairs allowing higher seating density and greater flexibility for special events. There is a hearing loop and sound system offering audio facilities, which are currently in the process of being upgraded by the use of Wi-Fi. Main services at Brighstone include contemporary and traditional music led by the Director of Music from organ or keyboard. The Director encourages the musical talents of the younger members of the Church, and there is a Christmas concert shared by Church Members and the wider Community. The St Mary's occasional choir sings on the 3rd Sunday and at special services. There is an enthusiastic team of bell ringers who frequently welcome ringers from across the UK. Brighstone is the only tower on the Island which is able to silence the bells and use a computer simulator for practices. The bell-ringers are currently looking to increase their six bells to eight. There is also an enthusiastic team of hand bell ringers. The Church has close links with the village Methodist chapel including occasional united services, and the sharing of meeting rooms. Brighstone PCC, in recent years, has met its annual Parish Share, however its regular income requires additional input from fundraising activities. Recent adoption of the Parish Giving Scheme has also produced an increase in regular giving. In September 2015, the PCC launched a Friends of St. Mary s scheme to allow all members of the local community to assist in meeting the cost of the church fabric. This has begun to make a significant contribution. 6

7 Brighstone Church of England (Aided) Primary School has had to expand to serve a bigger age range and a wider catchment area as other local small village schools have been closed. It is a popular and ambitious school with a thriving pre-school playgroup. December 2015 saw the opening of two new classrooms giving greater capacity. The school has a supportive PTA and excellent links with Church and Community, offering a community lunch every Tuesday in school. Members of the PCC and congregation serve on the Board of Governors. Church members take weekly Assemblies at the School and pupils attend Eucharist on the first Thursday of each month in the church. The school takes part in occasional festival services and holds an annual Leavers Service. There is a variety of 'After School Clubs', and a range of adult evening classes. The church runs a weekly informal breakfast discussion group for Mums. The Chair of Governors hopes for the new priest are: Someone who will make sure that the school has a love of others at its heart, with a leadership focused on pupils' learning and progress. Ensure a reflective start to the Governors meetings and generous and common sense contributions to discussion. Bring an appreciative, encouraging but unsentimental approach to issues and people, befriending staff, parents, and particularly the children at the School, while building lasting relationships between church, school and the wider community. Brighstone Group Communications: The Team Administrator/Manager keeps our team of Ministers, Assistants, Churchwardens and PCC secretaries well informed and supported to ensure effective use of their time. ensures that the website and other online media reflect a lively, relevant & outgoing Church as well as providing up-to-date parish information. collates and reports routine information as required by the Diocese. helps forge trusting relationships and sharing of skills between church members and all in the local community. Our Group Website shows examples of active voluntary participation by churchgoers in every aspect of non-church community life, Ministry, church maintenance and organisation. It provides links to relevant sites for local charities and social services; shows individual examples of trust, compassion, unselfishness and unconditional love and an energetic local ministry shared by growing numbers of trained and untrained lay people following the example of the ordained leadership; responds to fast-changing social needs and aims to counter some negative aspects of social media; makes more effective use of Church and community skills, experience, time and assets by better exchange of news and information within the Benefice and between Cluster neighbours; encourages travel to a choice of local service/worship forms to suit demand, age and tradition, and it enables easy online/planned giving, legacy documentation and costed lists of repairs and improvements needed at individual churches, encouraging gifts in thanks and in memory. St Mary the Virgin, Brook: St Peter and St Paul, Mottistone Brook with Mottistone has seven licensed Eucharistic assistants and a rota of nine lesson-readers from the congregation (who also cover verger/churchwarden duties at each service). As well as alternating Sunday services of Holy Communion and Evensong between the churches, Brook church currently hosts the Cluster weekly service of Evening Prayer. A bi-monthly Holy Communion service held at the homes of the lay assistants has recently been started for less mobile church members. 7

8 Since 2014 our PCC has cared for each church with the help of The Friends - a monthly rota of villagers who care for and prepare the churches between Sunday services. Other new ways of sharing non-core ministry work are helping build goodwill in the wider village community. The PCC delivers its own half-yearly Newsletter to all village households. This initiative is in its third year and is helping encourage volunteering, fundraising, and a wider understanding of the central contribution made by the church to the whole community. With others in the Group, we know that we have an important ministry to holiday-makers. These include self-catering and second home visitors to West Wight in spring and summer, many of them spending time in our churches. The villages include extensive Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Conservation Areas and SSSIs, largely on protected National Trust land. Together with the Village Hall and the Sun Inn, the churches of St Mary the Virgin and St Peter & St Paul provide the main centres of village life. At main festivals, at village weddings and funerals and throughout the year, they are permanent reminders of village history, notably of the Brook Lifeboat and previous generations of village families. Brook and Mottistone share one PCC, one churchwarden and a united congregation of some 25 regular worshippers. They use traditional-liturgy Common Worship Holy Communion and Common Worship Evensong, regularly attracting worshippers and enthusiastic singers from other churches. Each has a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere, with alternating Morning and Evening services at each church (or four services each month). Highlights of the year at Brook are Harvest lunch at the Seely Hall followed by church evensong; the Advent Carol and Christingle Services. Because of its unique views and character, Brook is a popular church for weddings and baptisms. With its smaller resident community, Mottistone is a more intimate and neutral space, attractive for Mottistone Manor visitors, and those on the fringe of the church, to drop into. The Cheke Chapel provides a perfect area for small exhibitions and services using sacred music and secular readings. Recent visitors have included a number of talented choirs. Both of the churches are fitted with induction loop systems. Mottistone church has recently been made much more accessible for less able visitors by creating a level wheelchair route from a safe lane. Quinquennial inspections reports for each church were completed in spring Priority repair and conservation works will have been completed by Easter 2016, including ground-level repairs made by experienced local Friends Team volunteers. Exterior stonework at both churches shows the gradual effects of exposure to south westerly winds, and annual repair costs are estimated at 10,000 per church for the next five years. The general condition of their interiors is good. The PCC regularly fulfils its Parish Share obligations. In 2014 a village consultation meeting and follow-up explained the value of the work of the local church ministry team, and the running and maintenance costs of the two churches. An appeal for regular giving has helped increase the total income and number of donors. An easy-completion GiftAid (and Legacy) form delivered to every household and provided in each church has helped to increase the number of regular donors and gross income. The Seely Hall is an important part of village life, with more than 100 events and bookings taking place each year inside, or outside on the village green. Each summer the PCC and the Hall committee run Harvest and Lent Lunches, Strawberry Tea and Evening Songs of Praise events. Last Easter Eve, Youth Group members slept in the Hall before walking to a dawn communion service at Mottistone church followed by a hot breakfast at the Sun Inn. 8

9 St Peter, Shorwell Shorwell also provides alternating Sunday services of Holy Communion and Evensong. The church hosts the annual Flower Festival and Praise service every August Bank Holiday weekend, and has a keen small choir. Shorwell recently produced one of the first Local Ministers on the Island - a significant development in delivering pastoral ministry to the parish and a positive model for the wider Cluster. Once a month, there is The Moot, a wellattended Sunday gathering held in the Parish Hall. This café style service is proving very popular with a regular congregation of over 40 people, mainly non-traditional church goers. In March 2016 The Moot celebrated its first baptisms. Among other regular activities taking place in the village are a new coffee morning called Pitch up at the Pub and a new Table Tennis club held each Wednesday evening which is bringing people of all ages together. The Church regularly supports a Latin Link missionary. It also supports other outreach events such as a weekly youth group and has close ties with the Youth Worker project. The Church recognises the need to continue to build a closer union with the community in order to face the challenges of the years ahead. The congregation and its PCC are developing a new confidence that will help us achieve this. Shorwell is a popular and compact village with St Peter's church at its centre. It has a broad mix of local housing including three historic Manor houses. The village has a busy pub, The Crown, a shop and Post Office, a village hall and social club, and a recreation ground with a play area. A wonderful 15 th century wall painting attracts many visitors to the church. Although Sunday congregations have reduced in recent years, St Peter s remains hugely important to the village for weddings and funerals, and for Christmas and Easter celebrations. Services are also shared with the village Methodist Chapel. Monthly services include a BCP Evensong and two Communion Services, and a new third Sunday Fresh Expression. The village supports a number of activities and special events throughout the year. These include the very popular Midsummer Fair and the annual Wolverton Manor Garden Fair. Shorwell Drama Club produces a sell-out pantomime each December. The recent quinquennial confirmed the need for considerable work to repair an ageing structure. Insurance repairs were made to the tower following a lightning strike last year. This has not deterred the active bell ringing team from ringing the six bells regularly, nor visiting teams. St Peter s is currently up to date with all its Parish Share payments - a struggle for the small church congregation. Kingston church, St James, is located within Shorwell parish but no regular services have been held since the 1980s. The Shalfleet Group Until July 2016 the four parishes in our Group were led by a Rector and Reader. In recent years they have also enjoyed the ministry of a Title Curate. Our four PCCs work closely together but have no formal Joint meetings. 9

10 St Michael the Archangel, Shalfleet Shalfleet parish lies within the local AONB. The National Trust owns much of the land adjoining the Newtown river estuary and some of the surrounding woodlands. There is a small harbour with mooring facilities at Shalfleet Quay, a quarter of a mile from the church. The coastal walk between the village and Yarmouth has wonderful views and is described as a walkers' and nature lovers' paradise. The village C of E primary school has 169 pupils and receives excellent Ofsted reports. The school is closely involved with the church. There is an annual Christingle service where pupils, siblings, parents & grandparents fill the church to capacity. A service is also held at Easter. At the end of the summer term the younger children come on an explore the church outing where they play the organ and dress in clergy robes. Shalfleet School is federated with Yarmouth C of E (VA) Primary school and the chair of governors attends Shalfleet Church. Shalfleet is a scattered parish with a population of around 1500 embracing all age groups and social classes. Shalfleet village is made up of some social housing, a modern private estate and a wide variety of individual houses, including a manor house. The vicar of Shalfleet has been ex-officio trustee of the village Almshouses. There are two public houses, one in the centre of the village that has a quality restaurant and another a mile towards Yarmouth. The central meeting place for essential shopping and chatter is the village shop in a converted farm building. There is a thriving village hall, owned by the PCC, in the field adjacent to the church which is used for recreational activities, a fortnightly community lunch, parties and social events and most importantly the village fete on August bank holiday Monday. The pastoral ministry of clergy not only for the children but the sick, elderly, needy and bereaved is valued highly within the whole Benefice. The church of St. Michael the Archangel is a grade 1 listed building of Norman origins and very much a focal point of the village. Archaeological digs have unearthed the earliest known Christian burials on the Island, late C7 th and early C8 th. The building needs a lot of committed care and attention and a Fabric Trust undertakes this on behalf of the PCC. The church fabric is in good repair following major works in 2003 and A large legacy left to the church by Jim and Claire Rice in 2007 has enabled this maintenance to continue but careful stewardship of this and other fund raising is needed. Worship at St Michael the Archangel had been very much a traditional pattern with Common Worship Parish Communion on two Sundays a month with BCP Matins or a Family service on the other two Sundays. We have had to make changes over the last few months with a benefice communion for all the on the first Sunday of the month and traditional services worked between the churches, as possible, for the other three weeks. We have a small but dedicated choir which for the benefice service and weddings etc. join together as one with the other three churches. The congregation of the church has fallen over the last few years and averages around 20 on a normal Sunday but Easter, Christmas, Remembrance Sunday etc. will be far more. The recently bereaved are invited to the All Souls service. Most of the congregation are of the older generation: although the Sunday Club attends family services and has regularly met in the village hall for some years, the shortage of leaders may necessitate new ways of working, possibly in partnership with the school and other churches in West Wight. There has been for many years a Friendship Group which meets in the hall monthly for a natter & tea, usually with an outside speaker and with various outings spread throughout the year. Communication with not only the benefice but the whole Shalfleet parish and further afield is done with the church and 10

11 community magazine Village News. This is run by volunteers, printed monthly with all the area news, church service times, important local contact numbers, local events and news of local people. It is financed by local advertisers and delivered by hand to nearly every house in the area. All Saints, Calbourne Calbourne also is situated in an AONB and Conservation Area. Close to the church is Winkle Street, with its thatched cottages, one of the Island s best-known beauty spots. Just outside the village lies one of the oldest working water mills in the country and another popular local tourist attraction. There is a good village support network, helping each other whether ill, lonely or just needing a helping hand on occasions. Many of the community volunteer, participate, donate items and make copious numbers of cakes for the various village events. We are proud of the way we rally together, whatever the situation. Parish finances are reasonably buoyant, due to a stewardship campaign initiated at the end of 2013, but upkeep of the fabric is particularly challenging. Our Quinquennial report of 2014 identified a need for roof repairs costing an estimated 67,000. A fundraising campaign is ongoing, and grants totalling 43,300 have been received so far. We hope that under the guidance and fresh input from the new Rector of the West Wight our church will not only survive but flourish. There is an identified need for our church to remain in Calbourne and we hope to maintain a strong presence in the village. Calbourne parish is fairly large geographically, consisting mainly of farmland, with the Downs and forest south of the village. The village itself is small, with approximately 130 residents. At the last census, the population of Calbourne Parish was around 200. There is a pub (The Sun), a few small business outlets, the village hall (Recreation Centre, not owned by the church) and All Saints church. Our church doors are open every day of the year for quiet reflection, prayer or just to have a look around. In 2015 a service was held every Sunday. Our service style is fairly traditional, using the traditional language CW service for Holy Communion; BCP Matins and Evensong; and a slightly more modern language for our all-age services. Attendance at these services is around 9, the average age is 70. There are 33 on the electoral roll, most of whom come to at least one service per year. We have very few children and young families in the village and children rarely attend our normal services. It contrasts greatly with our Christmas and Easter Day services when children and grandchildren of our congregation visit; last year there were 46 adults and 25 children at Easter and 76 adults and 18 children on Christmas Day. We also have good attendance at Harvest, Remembrance, Patronal Festival and the Carol Service. Although our regular attendance is low, there is a strong feeling in the village that the church has an important role in the community. The PCC has 9 members and meets around six times per year. It is a friendly group, committed to serve God and the community. Regular income is just short of our expenditure; the remainder is made up from fundraising events. For several years we were significantly in arrears with our Parish Share. However, due to a successful home grown stewardship campaign we hope to have caught up by the end of There has been a church in Calbourne for over a thousand years. Calbourne is one of only a handful mentioned in the Domesday Book. The Grade II* listed church we see today was built in around 1240, with later c17th and c19th additions. 11

12 The churchyard is open, but with very limited space left for full burials. We have just created a Garden of Remembrance within the churchyard for cremated remains. Holy Spirit, Newtown Newtown village and Newtown Creek are very popular with ramblers and bird-watchers. The early Victorian parish church is small, compact, light and airy with a charm of its own. It is supported by a very loyal and welcoming congregation with 25 members on the Electoral Roll and an average attendance of 12. Numbers at church have been steady over the years with a mix of people who live in and outside the parish. A much larger congregation comes on special days, particularly our annual Sea Service on Newtown Quay. A new pattern of services includes the monthly Benefice service, a Holy Communion service at Newtown once a month and two 3 p.m. services, with occasional Morning Prayer in the absence of clergy, and an all age service to encourage families. We have recently introduced lay intercessions and a lay-led service. Our aim is to maintain regular and special services, encourage lay pastoral care and lay leadership, to engage with families and the younger generation in Newtown outskirts and to be part of the Wight Pilgrimage Trail initiated by the Diocese. We support our Church Schools in Shalfleet and Yarmouth in our prayers. The Benefice and cluster service planning meetings are supportive and helpful. Church members value the style of Church of England worship and a new Rector with energy, enthusiasm and a love of country life and nature would be very welcome. Newtown parish church is located in the very heart of the quiet hamlet of Newtown. A very small community with mainly retired people and holiday and week-end homes, it is popular with the yachting fraternity. A copy of the history of the church and a booklet on the history of Newtown itself is available. A new replacement altar frontal is currently being made. The Church is in a good state of repair and we manage to pay our parish share. We have an open churchyard. There are limited facilities in the church and village and therefore no meeting room. There is a chemical toilet housed in the churchyard. We try hard to keep in touch with people with a connection to the church, and children who have been baptised and invite them to special services. Our social events and fundraising consist mainly of coffee mornings and church sales. Books and other saleable items in church are a good source of income. We support various charities throughout the year. 12

13 St Swithin, Thorley Our Grade 2 Listed Victorian church is attracting a gently increasing congregation. The PCC and a small army of willing helpers arrange half a dozen fundraising events throughout an average year which not only help maintain the fabric of the church, but bring together the village people who enthusiastically support our efforts. Some members of our congregation are extremely diligent in caring for the aged and sick in the parish and liaise closely with the priest when the need arises. Every household in the parish receives the Village News which keeps them informed of both church events and other activities throughout the Benefice and the surrounding area. We have found this an invaluable resource and one which gives our incumbent the opportunity to spread the good news of the church s work. We enjoy the monthly Benefice services in each other s churches which help us to feel part of a much wider community of rural parishes. We contribute to the support of a youth worker whose work amongst older children covers the whole of the West Wight. We also take an active part in the ecumenical Churches Together in West Wight which again brings us into contact with the wider church world. We see our church as providing an essential reminder of the presence of God in our village; we are looking for leadership in making changes which could stimulate our growth and help us to be relevant and a force for good in our village. Thorley church is situated on the main road which runs through Thorley Village which has a population of about 300, largely within the village with the remainder scattered in farms and other dwellings. We are just far enough from the beaten track to be tranquil and untroubled by the visitors who swarm around the major tourist attractions. We have two bells that hang in the open Bell Tower which were cast in the 13 th Century and transferred here from the old church, as was our Font. We have had a hearing loop installed which our church members are finding helpful. In 2014 we were able to rebuild the Vestry, converting it into a small kitchen, a toilet which is suitable for the disabled and a mingling space at the back of the church. It is our intention to organise a weekly activity, perhaps involving a light lunch, for the isolated and lonely people in our village since our church is the only meeting place in the parish of Thorley. We already offer ourselves as a venue for concerts and other events and some of our fundraising has been around light meals served at the back of the church. Numbers at weekly services are around 15 but are considerably swelled at the major services of Harvest, Christmas and Easter when the church can be full. There are not enough young people in the parish to justify a Sunday school or Youth Group but we have an All Age Worship service one a month which occasionally attracts younger families. We would welcome greater links with our church and the local Church Primary school in Shalfleet. 13

14 The Team Rector Designate S/he will: be a visible sign of Christ s presence in the wider community, preaching the faith to build up the body of Christ. lead by example, befriend, teach and encourage the Team and their churches to grow together. develop, support and release the gifts of all in sharing ministry and pastoral care. work in the power and grace of the Holy Spirit with colleagues in the Team, Deanery and Diocese. identify with the Diocesan Strategy of Live, Pray, Serve, working with Island colleagues in developing the IW Plan and encouraging generosity in giving. share in developing an effective Ministry in the schools of the Cluster and will ensure the highest protection of children and vulnerable adults in accordance with Diocese protocols and guidelines. maintain a discipline of prayer and study to be rooted in Christ. Strengthen discipleship and foster and form vocations The Team Rector will chair the monthly Team meeting to arrange Leadership of all Sunday and other services across the whole West Wight Cluster, including the four churches of the Yarmouth Group. This meeting is attended by clergy, retired clergy with permission to officiate, readers and representatives of all the churches. The Rectory The modern Brighstone Rectory has green field views and is located in a quiet lane 150m from St Mary s church, the Primary School, GP Surgery and the village centre. The ground floor includes an entrance hall, large kitchen/diner, washroom, utility room, study a large sitting room and a dining room. The first floor has a bathroom, shower room and four bedrooms. There is a garage attached to the side of the house, as well as parking space for four cars. The rear garden has a lawn, patio, and a heavy-cropping damson tree and shrubs. 14

15 The Team Vicar Designate The post holder will have responsibility for Freshwater, Yarmouth and in due course, Totland All Saints & St Agnes, Freshwater Freshwater is one of the larger towns on the Island with a population of approximately 5,400. All Saints, the parish church stands close to the river Yar. It is one of the oldest church buildings on the Isle of Wight, having its first building begun in the 8 th century. Its daughter church, St Agnes, in Freshwater Bay, is the only thatched church on the Island. It was a gift from Lord and Lady Tennyson and was built for the Tennyson Estate just over 100 years ago. There is a thriving congregation of between 60 and 70 communicants for a Sunday service, with a small congregation attending evensong or compline at St Agnes. Junior Church meet in the Bier House. There is a choir of 13 and a team of bell ringers who ring regularly on a Sunday morning. All Saints has a Prayer Chain and there is also a large Mothers Union branch and an embroidery group. Both St Agnes and All Saints are popular venues for weddings. At the back of the church is a modern kitchen from which hot drinks are served after services. The church hosts various concerts, including brass bands and choirs. The Thatched Church of St Agnes 15

16 The daughter church of St Agnes is situated at Freshwater Bay and built in 1908, on land given by the Tennyson Family. It is the only thatched church on the Isle of Wight and one of only a very few thatched churches in the country. The church is well maintained and most attractive. It is set in well- tended gardens. A feature of the church is the carving on the rood screen, which was undertaken by a curate of the parish. The choir stalls were originally in another daughter church which was closed in the 1960s and sold. Services are held in the church every Sunday. The church is kept open most days and is very popular with visitors who comment favourably on the peaceful, prayerful atmosphere of the church. We also have a parish hall which is used not only by the congregation but by many groups. Attached to the hall is a small chapel which is used for daily services during the week. A communion service is held in the chapel every Wednesday and it is also used regularly by the Mothers' Union. Freshwater itself has developed predominantly from Victorian times with substantial growth in the last 30 years. The area is actively involved in tourism, one of the Island s major industries. Freshwater is a fairly selfcontained for shopping facilities. The parish church of All Saints is thought to date from the Saxon period, this Norman church is a large, attractive, well maintained building, which was substantially extended and altered in the The church has the benefit of a magnificent organ and a peal of six bells, which are regularly rung and attract visiting ringers. The back of the church has recently been refurbished and a kitchen and social area have built. This area is used for coffee every Sunday and often for lunches. The craft group meet here fortnightly. There is also an open area at the back of the church with a children s play area. The church stands in a large churchyard of approximately 4 acres, still open for burials and the former bier has recently been redecorated to provide facilities for the younger members of the congregation and is now known as the Jamjar! The churchyard is maintained by volunteers and has wonderful views over the Yar - it is a most peaceful place. The church is kept open most days. Comments in the visitors books regularly refer to the peaceful, prayerful atmosphere in the church. Services comprise of one Holy Communion s, one Matins and one family service a month. Fund raising consists of regular concerts in the church, coffee mornings and evening socials. This November we are planning a Christmas craft fayre and raffle. St James, Yarmouth Reputedly the second smallest town in England, with a charter dating from 1135 AD, Yarmouth has a strong sense of identity. It grew up around the harbour, now home to commercial fishermen, yacht and dinghy sailors, as well as the Lymington car ferry terminal. It is a popular destination for tourists and visiting sailors, with a number of public houses and restaurants as well as two flourishing sailing clubs. St James church (early C17 th ) overlooks the central square. There is a continuing programme of repair and upgrading and a possible re-ordering of the interior for more flexible use, is under discussion. The Friends of St James group was set up in 2012 to encourage regular giving of time and money by townspeople who do not worship at St James but who value the building and the church s presence in Yarmouth. A clergy house is currently let out and we are fortunate to have a small group of retired clergy who provide cover and leadership for Sunday services. 16

17 Parish priorities are visiting and outreach. Messy Church, held in the newly-established community hall on second Sunday afternoons, attracts non-churchgoers from babes-in-arms to nonagenarians. The parish supports the hall and works closely with several of the groups that meet there. St James has long had active links with local Methodists and is a strong supporter of Churches Together in West Wight. The PCC is enthusiastic about the move towards Cluster-based ministry, and the increasing role of lay ministry in our churches. We look forward to working closely with the new Team Rector in sharing the Gospel throughout West Wight. The town, with a resident population of about 600 (there is a high number of second homes) is concentrated in a small area with water on three sides and with water meadows to the south which flood in winter. The surrounding countryside is a bird watchers paradise! There is a regular car and passenger ferry service to and from Lymington in the New Forest and due to Yarmouth s popularity with yachtsmen, the town receives a very large number of visitors. The harbour welcomes up to 250 yachts on a busy weekend! Attendance at St. James swells to nearly four times the normal population at Festival times! Yarmouth is a picturesque historic town set in an area of outstanding natural beauty and base for walkers as well as sailors. The main road is diverted to the South of the town, leaving the Square and High Street quieter for pedestrians. The small town has a castle built by Henry VIII, an ancient Town hall, a long wooden pier, a number of inns, the Royal Solent Yacht Club, Yarmouth Sailing Club, an old tide mill, its own surgery & pharmacy and an Abbeyfield Residential Home. We have an excellent C of E Primary School with an average of 100 pupils, many from surrounding parishes. The annual Pancake race in the Square is a popular event and we have a Carnival week every August. There is an RLNI all-weather lifeboat station based in the harbour. The high tower of St. James Church is a conspicuous feature visible from all directions, whose weather vane is an aid to passing sailors. The West Wight is a popular retirement area. There is a regular bus service to Newport (County Town of the Isle of Wight, ten miles away )and to Freshwater (three miles to the West) where there is an excellent Swimming Pool & Sports Centre, a new Co-op supermarket and a library. We are fortunate to have a regular, volunteer driven, community bus linking Freshwater, Yarmouth and Totland. St. James Church Building The present building dates from1614 and the tower was raised to its present height in This year we are undergoing an extensive restoration programme to make the church water proof and safe. The costs of this first phase have been covered mainly by enthusiastic fund raising by The Friends of St. James. More major work is needed on the tower and the state of the stonework is being monitored. The clock keeps accurate time for town & sea, due to modern mechanics, even though the frame dates from St. James possesses a number of beautiful stained glass windows, some interesting paintings and plaques and an historic statue of Sir Robert Holmes. We have an organ of very high standard, played by competent organists. The Church is surrounded by a small Churchyard, part of which is kept as a garden and quiet sitting place. There is a large Cemetery to the east of the town which is maintained, used and monitored. Evidence of one or two earlier churches can be seen in the Cemetery. 17

18 St. James is a much loved church building kept to a high standard by a small band of volunteers. It is open daily and welcomes many visitors during the week. Worship Every Sunday - 8am Holy Communion BCP with an average attendance of am Three weeks in the month we offer a Common Worship Sung Eucharist and on the fourth a Service of the Word Av. Weekly attendance is 35. Matins is said in church every day except on Wednesdays when we hold a said Holy Communion service (CW) at 11 am. Av. attendance is 12. We join in with many other services with our Benefice churches and regularly with our Churches Together partners (monthly on Sunday evenings.) We really value all our many shared ecumenical activities. Informally we are a member of the West Wight Cluster a grouping of 12 Anglican churches. We endeavour to keep in touch with our house-bound members of our church family and offer Home Communions where needed. We welcome our Primary School for their Harvest festival and end of term services. Messy Church We are in our third year of this exciting outreach venture. We meet once a month at the local Community Hall on a Sunday afternoon, and welcome all ages (children have to be accompanied) for a mixture of crafts, activities, games, informal Worship and tea. We now have an attendance of over 50. House Groups We have two fortnightly house groups, one evening and one morning and a fortnightly Parish Prayer group. Churches Together in West Wight run ecumenical Lent Courses. Clergy and Lay Readers In Yarmouth there is one retired priest, who is also PCC Treasurer, and his wife, a PTO Lay Reader and one of the Church Wardens. Two other retired clergy live in the Parish, one with PTO. Mission Giving and other Activities We have a PCC policy of giving at least 10% of our ordinary income away to charities and we have a close link with a rural parish in Northern Uganda. The Parish Share is paid in full. We hold Flower Festivals, host concerts and have a Christmas fayre using the church building. We organise a Summer Fete at The Towers, a large private house by the Solent, and we hold several coffee mornings over the year. As our church is in the middle of our town, we are involved in many local activities and take part in the annual Carols in the Square, Isle of Wight day and we organise a Songs of Praise for both the Old Gaffers weekend and St. James Day. Yarmouth Community is friendly and welcoming. We are privileged to live in such a special place. 18

19 Christ Church, Totland Bay Christ Church is the western-most parish in the Diocese of Portsmouth. It includes the tourist attractions of Colwell Bay, The Needles, Alum Bay and Tennyson Down. In addition to the church and church hall, we have a wooden annex behind the church with a fully equipped kitchen. Christ Church is within the evangelical tradition. Following an interregnum on the retirement of our last stipendiary priest, we feel, blessed to have the Reverend James Cook (Associate Priest, House for Duty) as our Minister. Our PCC meets 10 times a year, and is chaired either by the Minister or by one of the churchwardens. Our main service takes place on Sundays at 11 am and include Holy Communion (currently 3 rd and 5 th Sundays) and an informal, frequently lay-led Worship for All (currently 1 st Sunday). Mid-week Communion takes place at 9.30 on Thursday mornings and is followed, either then or later in the day, by a prayer meeting. We have 3 Home Groups, one of which is a Women s Fellowship. There is a small Junior Church. Average Sunday attendance is 62. There are 105 names on the electoral roll. We are active partners in the many activities of Churches Together in West Wight. A recent newcomer to our church described her first service with us as joyous, something, she said, she hadn t known for a long time. We do find real joy in our faith, in the fellowship of Christ Church and in the loving care shown by James and his wife Suzanne, the Pastoral Care Team and all the members of our church family. Prayer and financial support for mission overseas is an important feature of our church life. We enjoy our times together, both during worship and at our other gatherings, often centred round food. As part of our mission, we strive to engage the local community in various ways, including help at a local dropin service. Four church members drive the local community minibus, the FYT (Freshwater, Yarmouth, Totland) Bus, working on regular routes and, in addition, bringing the less agile members of our congregation to and from Sunday worship. Much care is given to our large, but secluded and peaceful churchyard. Music plays a pivotal part in the life and worship of Christ Church; we are blessed to have a gifted organist and a talented and inspirational choir master. Our regular choir numbers some 10/12 adults and is augmented for special occasions. The church, with its first class organ and enviable acoustics is the venue for many organ recitals and concerts, both sacred and secular. Our most recent undertaking was a musical, set in the Second World War and composed by our choir master. The large choir was drawn from across West Wight, and such was the support that we received at two performances, we were able to donate the proceeds, 1,850, to SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. We look forward to a closer association with the churches of our cluster, and wish the new Rector of West Wight every blessing as he/she joins us in showing God s love in this beautiful place. 19

20 The Team Vicar Designate The Team Vicar designate will: be a visible sign of Christ s presence in the wider community, preaching the faith to build up the body of Christ. lead by example, befriend, teach and encourage the Team and their churches to grow together. develop, support and release the gifts of all in sharing ministry and pastoral care. work in the power and grace of the Holy Spirit with colleagues in the Team, Deanery and Diocese. identify with the Diocesan Strategy of Live, Pray, Serve, working with Island colleagues in developing the IW Plan and encouraging generosity in giving. share in developing an effective Ministry in the schools of the Cluster and will ensure the highest protection of children and vulnerable adults in accordance with Diocese protocols and guidelines. maintain a discipline of prayer and study to be rooted in Christ. Strengthen discipleship and foster and form vocations The Freshwater Rectory West Wight Churches Together One of the main strengths in West Wight is the work undertaken by West Wight Churches Together, an ecumenical group of churches that work together on many projects and activities, for examples weekly Lent brunches which raise money for charities. 20