The Heart of the Black Country

Transcription

1 St. Andrew s, Netherton and St. Peter s, Darby End The Heart of the Black Country Cum n join us wy doh yer!

2 St. Andrew s, Netherton and St. Peter s, Darby End are two churches who work closely together to offer Christian ministry to the local community in the Borough of Dudley. Along with the church of St. John the Evangelist, Dudley Wood, they form The Forge Group ministry in the Diocese of Worcester. The most prominent, St. Andrew's, an Anglican church, was consecrated and opened by the Lord Bishop Folliott on 16 July The foundation stone of the church had been laid by Dr. Booker, the Vicar of Dudley, on 30 November The present church of St. Peter's, Darby End was built in 1912 and made a Parish Church in The two churches, although retaining individual identities, have much in common and share worship for special services throughout the year. Up until a short while ago, a joint service of Evensong was held on each Sunday alternating between the two. Unfortunately, this had to be stopped due to falling attendances. It is hoped that this could be resurrected in the future. Members of both churches visit local schools with Open the Book sessions. Social events are also a regular thing, supported by both churches. There is a monthly walking group, Spring, Summer and Christmas Fayres, Quiz nights, Concerts and a shared Harvest Supper. It is hoped that our new incumbent would encourage and nurture the harmony between our two churches and create growth in our local Christian Community. Location and Amenities The parishes of St. Andrew, Netherton and St. Peter, Darby End are both part of the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley. Approximately 12,000 people live in the parishes. The housing within the area incorporates Victorian/Edwardian properties; pre and post war municipal housing, much of which is now privately owned, and recent modern developments which are still ongoing. The community is one of strong traditions made up of down-to-earth folk who work hard and are forthright in their views. Links to all the main motorway networks are within easy reach and there is a comprehensive rail service close to hand. The closest airport is Birmingham International which is around 25 miles away. The parishes are in an urban setting but have a reservoir, large canal system, nature reserves, conservation area and National Trust properties all nearby. The beautiful Worcestershire countryside is within a 5 mile drive with access to the Clent Hills, Lickey Hills and Kinver edge close by. Merry Hill Shopping Centre is around one mile away along with the popular tourist attractions of Dudley Zoo and Castle, Himley Hall and the Black Country Living Museum. There are also plenty of leisure facilities in the area including cinemas, sports clubs and restaurants. Health facilities are served by a new hospital at Russells Hall and Netherton Health Centre along with numerous Dental surgeries. 2

3 Qualities and Attributes in a new Incumbent The PCC's believe that the churches would welcome a priest who could lead them forward on a variety of fronts and would like a committed, enthusiastic and energetic priest who would; Work with the PCC to build a vision for the future of the church in the wider community, Help to develop growth and increase regular attendance by committing to work with families and community organisations, such as the Royal British Legion who keep their standard in St. Andrew's church. Our previous incumbents have been invited to be their Chaplain. Further develop links with the local primary and secondary schools and to have more contact with the secondary school in the parish. Work collaboratively with the churches in the Anglican Forge Group Ministry and help build stronger ecumenical links with the churches of other denominations within the local area. Preach in ways that connect the doctrines of the Bible and the Church to current issues facing society. Be committed to undertake the responsibilities of pastoral care in the parish including visiting parishioners and forming links with local residential and nursing homes. Be comfortable with the variety of liturgical styles to be found in the Forge Group. 3

4 St. Andrew s Netherton In the Diocese of Worcester 4

5 A Statement of Parish Vision St. Andrew s stands proud in the community of Netherton as a sign and symbol of the presence of God s love in our lives. The church is there all the time; it is there when it is wanted, it is there when our busy lives lead us sometimes to forget it. We aim: To worship in ways that are a celebratory proclamation of God s eternal love for us all; we seek to worship in ways that value the traditions and insights of the Anglican Church, whilst making ourselves open, through bold and imaginative thinking, to the ever-present promptings of the Spirit. To nurture our fellow Christians, and all in our community who seek a closer communion with God. We seek to nurture the young through our explicit children s work in school and through the implicit support expressed in everyday contacts. To serve one another, and all humanity, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was the servant of all; we aim to offer ourselves and our whole church to God, as vessels through which his love for all the creation may be made known. St. Andrew s setting The Parish of St Andrew is situated in the small town of Netherton, which is part of the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the West Midlands. The church stands in an elevated position and is the highest parish church in the Worcester Diocese. It is seen as the central focal point for the community by worshippers and non-attendees alike. The church is located in the middle of a nine and a half acre churchyard which offers panoramic views of the nearby reservoir, nature reserve and canal system and of the distant hills of Shropshire and Worcestershire. The parish is in an urban setting but includes part of the Saltwells Nature Reserve. The housing within the parish incorporates the old established Victorian / Edwardian properties; pre and post war municipal housing, much of which is now privately owned, and recent modern developments. Approximately 7,000 people live in the parish. Parishioners come from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds and are employed in local industry, commerce and retail. The Parish of St Andrew is a community with strong traditions made up of down to earth folk who work hard and are forthright in their speech. History of the Church The building of the church was funded by the Government of the day in thanksgiving for the defeat of Napoleon, and is known as a Waterloo church. The foundation stone was laid on St Andrew s Day (30th November), 1827, by Dr. Luke Booker, Vicar of Dudley. The church was consecrated on the 16th July, 1830, and was a daughter church of St Thomas, Dudley. It became a separate Ecclesiastical Parish on the 1st December It was built of bricks hand-made in the adjoining fields and the facing stone was quarried at Gornal. The vestries were added at a later date. The building was Grade II listed in August The main approach is via the wrought iron gates set in a stone boundary wall at the bottom of an inclined avenue. At the top of the avenue there is a granite Parish War Memorial Cross. The interior of the church is well lit and there are several coloured stained glass memorial windows. There are box pews, a wrought iron chancel screen, magnificent alabaster pulpit, Caen stone Reredos and carved stone font. Most of the church s ornaments and furnishings are gifts from the many benefactors over the 184 years. There is a side chapel in memory of the fallen of the First World War and dedicated to St George. The gallery is on three sides, supported by iron pillars and in the north east corner of the gallery is the organ. The church can seat approximately 800 people. The square tower at the west end of the building houses the belfry with its eight bells and the church clock, still in use today. In 1999 the church was re-ordered at the west end which included the removal of several pews to make community rooms, toilet facilities and an area for making drinks. 5

6 Sunday Services Worship 10.30am Parish Communion (CW) at which vestments are worn. St Andrew s has a choral tradition and is of central churchmanship. Tea and Coffee are served in the community rooms at the back of church after the 10.30am Sunday service. Other Services During the year there are several services held in church including community carols, Christingle, annual memorial, St. George s day and Remembrance Day. At the latter the Royal British Legion participates along with the uniformed organisations in Netherton. 6

7 Lay Participation in Services and Church Life At the St Andrew s 10.30am Parish Communion there are six authorized chalice assistants able to administer the wine. The elements are carried up to the altar by members of the congregation. There is a rota for chalice assistants, readers of the Epistle and Gospel, and leaders of Intercessions. There is one Licensed Lay Minister (LLM) - Reader authorised in the benefice. Within the Forge Group of Churches, to which St. Andrew's belongs, there are three LLMs plus Ecumenical partners who work closely with the incumbent. The LLMs, within the Forge Group, have varying experience of leading non-eucharistic services such as Nativity, Carol services, Anniversary services, Family Worship and morning Service of the Word. St. Andrew's is keen to develop lay involvement in such areas as Home Communion and other areas where gifts are discerned within the congregation. Parish Office (St Andrew's) In recent years one of the vestries has been adapted to become the parish office, which has its own equipment including a computer, scanner and printer. These facilities on the premises enable the church to print its own service booklets, parish magazines, and pew sheets. Attendance Average Sunday attendance Statistics 34 Special Services Easter Day Easter Communicants Harvest Remembrance Day Service Christingle Service Midnight Mass (over 16) Christmas Communicants Baptisms Weddings Funerals including burials & interments Electoral Roll Number on Electoral Roll (April 2018) 62 (41 resident, 21 non-resident) Choir There has always been a great choral tradition and despite ups and downs of recent years this tradition continues. Whilst small in number each of the parts are covered, Treble, Alto, Tenor and Bass, but it would be good to attract new members. The choir has taken part in collaborative events in the area with churches from other denominations and it is hoped to develop these events to draw local choirs together. We have a Holy Week regular rendition of Stainer s Crucifixion where invited singers from Churches Together in Netherton and from St. Mary s, Kingswinford, among others, join with St. Andrew's in offering this particular work to the glory of God. 7

8 Bell Ringing There has been a peal of six bells at St Andrew s since 1871 with a further two bells added in The present ring of eight was recast in 1935 with the tenor weighing 13cwt. There are a number of members still around from the team formed after a recruitment drive in January 2005 but we don t have enough to ring regularly. If required by wedding parties then we can source ringers to do this from neighbouring towers. We also receive requests from ringers around the country to come and ring at Netherton. Open the Book Since September 2012 a group of volunteers from both St Andrew s and St Peter s have been conducting assemblies at Netherton C of E Primary School. Every other Wednesday morning sees us arrive at 8am to prepare for our next story. We pray together, rehearse together and have fun together making sure that the story we are acting out is put across in a way that the children will understand, remember and be entertained by. Space within the school hall dictates that we can only perform our stories to the children of KS1 but the way they sit, listen and join in shows us just how engaged they are in this national initiative. We all love going into school and sharing the stories from the Lion Storyteller Bible with these fabulous children. We have children playing parts in the story, which they get so excited by. We get the others to shout, make sound effects and even spray them with water for certain stories (which makes them scream with joy!). Feedback from staff within the school is always positive, with children talking about our assemblies throughout their school day. Our members get recognised out of school too, which is always fun, you re the Open the Book lady is heard quite often by many of us. We are always open to new members and our hope is that one day we will be able to have a regular attendance within other local schools within the Parish. Mothers Union Netherton MU was founded in 1926 and we are a small group of ladies, mostly elderly, who meet monthly on Mondays. We regularly have speakers on various topics, alternating with outings to out of the way villages and churches. We support Christmas and Summer Fayres and various other fund raising events. We always start our sessions with corporate communion. 8

9 Craft Kids and Chaos (CKC) CKC was launched on St. Andrew s Day 2016 as a result of a growing awareness of the need to attract young people into church and to try to help address the underlying problem of child poverty within areas of the parish. CKC normally takes place after school at least once during each half term. The current format sees the children taking part in 3 separate activities linked to a common theme of biblical teaching which is underpinned by a story given by the session leader. Our biggest challenge is in providing a nourishing meal to all who attend given the restricted catering facilities and the fluctuation in numbers attending which varies depending on the out of school activities arranged by the school. Community Café A recent innovation To St Andrew s, is the Community Cafe. Set up with the help from Dudley Age Concern UK. We are aware that there are many people who for various reasons, are lonely and have little or no contact with anyone. We are trying to bridge that gap. This is a non-denominational social cafe, for people to pop in for a chat, or to play board games, learn a new skill. At the moment it runs once a month, but we are hoping to expand it to perhaps every week. The group members will be encouraged to run the cafe themselves with a little supervision. 9

10 Walking Group We operate across both churches and have a varying number of attendees. The walks are arranged for the second Saturday of each month. The group make suggestions of walks they would like included in the yearly programme. This is then published so that they can be planned into diaries. The walks vary in length and gradient but are no more than 5 miles in length, although some can be quite steep in places. The walks usually start and end at a suitable place to have lunch on our return. The group is a mixture of individuals, both young and not so young but the object is to have good companionship and moderate exercise as well as a good lunch. Parish Magazine The magazine is published monthly and printed in church. It contains items of news, a diary of events and details from the parish registers. It is expected that a new priest will make a contribution to the magazine each month. Netherton C of E Primary School School Mission Statement As a Church school, we have a major role to play in promoting community cohesion and educating children within the context of the diverse nature of society. To do this we adhere to the core beliefs of Christianity: Acceptance, Truth, Justice and Forgiveness As a Church School, we have a major role in promoting community cohesion and educating children within the context of the diverse nature of society. The number on roll in May 2018 is 415. This figure includes the recent expansion into Time for Twos The school has a strong Christian ethos rooted firmly in Christ s teaching and the Anglican tradition. There is a strong connection between the School and St. Andrew s with members of both St. Andrew s and St. Peter s taking part in OPEN the BOOK. A School - Church Team involves staff and members from St. Andrew s. This has the aim of bringing School and Church ever closer through assemblies and the use of the Church buildings to develop greater understanding of the way of the Anglican Church, how it works. The children hold end of term Christmas and Easter services in the Church as well as the Leavers Assembly. The SIAMS Inspection in January 2014 saw the school being classed as Good. At every level the School strives to help each individual to achieve their very best. Collective worship is relevant to all the children. Following on from the SIAMS inspection the School had an Ofsted inspection in 2014 where again it was classed as Good. Pupils spiritual, moral and cultural development is central to the School s work. Pupil s behaviour in lessons 10

11 and around school is good. They have excellent manners, are polite and friendly and talk positively about their school. Pupils feel safe there. Collective Worship is held every day either in classrooms, in year groups or in assemblies. A prayer Book is available for all children to write in their own prayers. Worship includes the Lord s Prayer and The Peace. The Churches seasons are demonstrated by a vicar figure with changeable coloured robes. The School also visits Worcester Cathedral on a regular basis for workshops as well as services. The Church is used for exploring the meaning of services such as Baptism and Marriage as well as exploring the meanings of the various parts of the Church. A wreath made by the pupils is placed on the War Memorial on Armistice Day. The School holds keys to the Church as a place of safety in case the School has to be evacuated. The School is now an Academy Netherton C of E Primary, part of the Diocese of Worcester Multi Academy Trust (DoWMAT). The Governing body includes 2 Foundation Governors and the vicar who is ex officio. The Diocese of Worcester has a vision for a community of Kingdom People, those for whom Love, Compassion, Justice and Freedom are fundamental principles. The School sees itself as part of this community. 11

12 The Vicarage The vicarage is a four bedded 1960 s detached home, comprising of bathroom, shower room, kitchen, dining room, living room, second sitting room and conservatory, garage, out buildings and a large garden. Recently an eco-friendly vicar s study with separate entrance and disabled toilet has been added which provides the ability to separate duty and home life. A PCC General Statement St Andrew s Church has a widespread congregation, with about half of the regular worshippers residing outside the parish. The PCC endeavours to maintain the building and keep it in good repair. However, there are a number of outstanding repairs from the last quinquennial report of We are due to have the next quinquennial in 2019 and it is the PCC s minuted aim to take action based on that report. The PCC, which meets monthly, recognise the importance of paying Parish Share. As part of our commitment to the environment we had Solar panels installed on the South roof of the church and this generates power for our heating system and also provides energy back to the grid, which in turn provides us with a steady income stream. The PCC and churchwardens are active in all aspects of the church s life and encourage all church members to participate in worship and in a regular calendar of social fundraising events. 12

13 St. Peter s Darby End, Netherton In the Diocese of WORCESTER 13

14 Mission Statement St. Peter s is a community of Christians bound in love and faith to learn, develop and work together as we try to serve others in the community and share our faith with them. We aim to Meet the spiritual needs of all those who worship at St. Peter s; Encourage participation of all members in the life of St. Peter s; Communicate with local people and develop Christian Ministry; Raise awareness of the Church s wider role in the Parish and the surrounding area; Show that we seek to be an inclusive community in order to strengthen Christian Faith through Worship and Prayer. 14

15 History of the Church The Church was originally a mission church/school in the 1800 s and the present building was built in 1912 of local red brick made nearby, with the mission church becoming the church hall. It was the daughter church of St. Andrew s Netherton and was looked after by the vicar there and a priest-in-charge at St. Peter s. In 1977 St. Peter s was made a parish church and the priest-in-charge - Father Norman Lambert - was made our vicar. Father Lambert continued as our priest until his sudden death in 2003 when once again the priest-in-charge at St. Andrew s in Netherton became our priest with help from other staff in the group ministry. Presently the Group Ministry comprises the Parish of St. Peter s, Darby End, St. Andrew s, Netherton and St. John s, Dudley Wood. The old church hall made way for a new hall in The hall is attached directly to the church and is used for the choir robing room as well as for all church functions. A new vicar s vestry and toilet was built in The organ was taken from the original mission church and rebuilt in the new church in It was completely renovated in The Church stands almost on the very edge of the canal (Dudley No. 2) and Netherton Tunnel is a matter of a few hundred yards away. This area is now a designated park known locally as Bumble Hole Conservation Area where wildlife and narrowboats abound. 15

16 Worship Sunday Service 9.00 a.m. Parish Sung Eucharist (CW) Churchmanship at St. Peter s has been influenced by Anglo-Catholicism. Vestments are worn and the Sacrament is reserved. 16

17 Lay participation in services At present there are two assistants at the distribution of Holy Communion. A member of the congregation reads the Epistle. During the clerical vacancy Holy Communion is taken to the sick either by Group Clergy or by one of St. Peter s Chalice Assistants who is authorised for this ministry. Financial Review The Deanery Parish Share, The Deanery Parish Share, our greatest expense, has always been paid in full and we fully intend to treat this as our number one priority and are on course to see it paid in full again this year. The Summer and Christmas Fayres, in June and December, proved very successful and we were able to pr ovide refreshments in the Church Hall for visitors to this year s Boat Festival held on our canals. Other events through the year also proved financially successful. We also receive valuable income through the hiring of the Parish Hall, mainly to a local dance school who have used our facilities for some years, and the Bethel Apostolic Church group. Financially, the picture looks fairly stable. Even though we continue to operate on a very tight budget, we seem to be able to rely on support both from church members and non-churchgoers, when the occasion arises. 17

18 Activity Groups Mothers' Union. The Hall is let out each evening to a local dance school who cater for all age groups. 'Open the Book' is held every two weeks at Netherton C of E School. 18

19 Attendance Statistics Population of Parish: 5,400 (at 2011 census) /18: 5 17/18: 2 17/18: 12 1 St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Mothers' Union: Meet once a month Annual Services include: Patronal Festival - Feast of St. Peter - 29 th June, Remembrance Sunday, Requiem/Eucharist for the War Dead of the Parish, Evensong at which we remember the names of those from the Parish, or with Parish connections, who died during the previous year. Lent and Advent services, usually following a general theme, have been shared at other churches within the Group. There are good ecumenical relationships with other churches. Other Activities include: Parish Relationship: Christmas and Summer Fayres Providing refreshments for the Annual Boat Festival held on the local canals. Harvest Supper. Concerts. A variety of other social events in the church hall. St. Peter's and St. Andrew's enjoy a friendly, healthy relationship joining one another in a variety of communal and social events such as:- 'Open the Book'. Supporting one another financially by joining in with regular social events. Joint walking group. Keeping one another informed of things happening at both churches. 19

20 Mothers Union The Mothers' Union Branch of St. Peter's, Darby End and St. Andrew's, Netherton has been in existence for many years and meetings are usually held on the first Monday of each month. Junior Church Unfortunately, St. Peter s do not at present have any junior church or young members. This is a great sadness to all church members and they would dearly love to welcome young people back to the Church. Parish Magazine The magazine is published monthly. Reports on various functions, poems, recipes and other local news items are included as are the Calendar and Rotas associated with weekly services. News During vacancy worship will continue with all the regular services taking place organised by staff from the group ministry with help from neighbouring churches and retired clergy. Arrangements are being made for visiting clergy to lead all services of Holy Communion. 20

21 The Church Hall The Church Hall is accessed directly from the Church. It was built in There is car parking at the rear of the hall. The floor is sprung maple and is used by a local Dance School holding classes for all ages including juniors. There is also a weekly Zumba class. On Sundays, the hall is used by the Bethel Apostolic Church for praise and Worship. Due to our convenient location within the Deanery the Hall is used several times during the year for Deanery Synod and Deanery Pastoral Committee Meetings. 21

22 PCC General Statement St. Peter s Church has a small congregation of local people who mainly live within the Parish. 90% of the congregation is retired. Unfortunately we have very few young people attending the Church (under 20 years old). There are a number of other chapels within a very short distance of St. Peter s, these being Methodist and Evangelical. The community which St. Peter s serves is a mix of council homes and privately owned homes with a mainly working class base. We try to serve the community in our worship and social events. We hope that a new incumbent will recognise the strongly held allegiance of the parishioners to the older traditions and to the traditional forms of worship. However, St. Peter s congregation recognises that to survive, the Church must attract younger members and families. St. Peter s were very fortunate in having a long time priest and vicar, Father Norman Lambert, who sadly died very suddenly after 27 years in the post. After a period of vacancy, in 2006 Rev'd. Stephen Carter succeeded Father Lambert as priest of both St. Peter's and St. Andrew's. He took his retirement in Fr. Mike Rutter joined us in May 2015 but has now decided to accept a full time commission as Chaplain in the British Army. We realise that there is a shortage of priests and many have to minister to more than one parish. We are in need of a dedicated priest who understands our ways of worship whilst drawing in a wider congregation so that the Church will continue to grow. 22