! South Wolds Group Parish Profile

Transcription

1 The Benefices of Asterby, Hemingby and Horncastle (Known as the South Wolds Group) Parish Profile RECTOR Around and about the South Wolds Group 1

2 Contents Page 3 The Benefices of Asterby, Hemingby & Horncastle - What we anticipate our new Rector to have - What we can offer you Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 The South Wolds Area The South Wolds Group The South Wolds Group Ministry Team (SWGMT) - Pastoral - The way our Ministry Teams engage in our Community Page 8 The South Wolds Group office - The Finances of the South Wolds Group Page 9 Map of The South Wolds Group Area Page 10 South Wolds Group Partnership 2008 Page 11 South Wolds Group Organistion 2012 Page The Horncastle Group - St Mary s Church Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 The Hemingby Group The Asterby Group Changes in the Diocese - This is our Profile 2

3 Churches The Benefices of Asterby, Hemingby and Horncastle (Known as the South Wolds Group) We make God known through our mission and ministry to all. We support the growth of healthy communities (in the church and beyond) characterised by openness, honesty and effective communication. We celebrate our differences and contribute our various gifts as members of the Body of Christ. We value and protect our heritage whilst welcoming positive and constructive change, we are followers of Christ and our life is rooted daily in the worship of God. A vision statement produced by the South Wolds Management Group We are the benefices of Horncastle, Hemingby and Asterby and we are looking for a Rector who will excite and inspire us. Although this is a relatively new partnership it is one that is supported by a significant team of lay and ordained personnel who are all committed to making it work. The growth of the group has meant that it is recognised as a fertile context for training curates and that there has been significant vocational development in recent years. We have a warm community of people, reordered and tidied up churches, a sense of responsibility to one another and a well ordered Eucharistic liturgy. We anticipate our new Rector to have: The capacity to take and move our Lay Ministry and Discipleship to a deeper level; you will have the ability to deal with this big role. As a creative thinker yourself, you will help others think creatively, and have the confidence, self-awareness and spiritual strength to work collaboratively to carry this through. An enthusiasm to continue to build on the existing work with young people. This work needs developing both in towns and villages at preschool, primary and secondary levels. An understanding of the issues to help us develop our knowledge about social responsibilities and community awareness. We have established Fair-trade which has not been easy and we feel we have a lot more to learn. We have an enthusiastic mission team who would support possibilities such as developing street pastors, teenage clubs. As this is a teaching post we would expect you to be someone who is capable of teaching widely, not just with our curates but also our existing worshippers. You will be someone who can communicate the faith and 3

4 help others to develop theirs both within our existing community and in outreach. Someone who can enjoy the diversity and challenge of working within a broad spectrum of tradition. We would want you to show a readiness to explore new models of Church within market town and traditional village contexts, and have an awareness of the challenges and effects of economic change in society. We would want you to be someone with the experience of, or desire to learn about, the support and management of volunteers. We hope that you will be the sort of Priest who can be both formal and informal with a great sense of humour. We Can Offer you Guaranteed space and time to develop your own spirituality and reflection. Administrative support for 25 hours per week. Support you with 5 active Retired Clergy and 1 self-supporting minister. A team of 28 trained, dedicated Authorised Lay Ministers who will assist you with services across all three benefices. Support you with congregations who are hospitable, loyal and faithful Christians. A fine historic church building in an excellent state of repair and a modern well-appointed Rectory. The Rectory, Horncastle St Mary s Church, Horncastle 4

5 Our loyalty and support in new and innovative ideas for developing ministry within our three benefices. Hospitality, warmth and fun It s good to Talk too. The PCCs of the South Wolds Group extend a warm invitation to potential candidates to come and visit the churches in the Group and discuss this post on an informal basis. Please contact: Please contact: The Venerable Tim Barker, Archdeacon Lincoln Contact details: archdeacon.lincoln@lincoln.anglican.org The South Wolds Area The South Wolds are a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Lincolnshire Wolds is a chalk ridge which forms the highest ground in Eastern England between Yorkshire and Kent and offers extensive views and spectacular skies. It is recognised locally as a beautiful and undiscovered part of the country in which to live and work. The Wolds area also offers some of the best walking cycling countryside around, with a labyrinth of quiet lanes, bridle ways and footpaths. The area abounds in Nature Reserves, including Snipe Dales and Red Hill. As this corner of Lincolnshire is one of the driest and sunniest parts of the country there is always plenty of opportunity to get out there We cannot emphasise enough how charming people find the country market town of Horncastle. Originally called Banovallum by the Romans, the remains of the Roman wall can be seen in the local library. Situated on the banks of the River Waring and Bain, the town contains many attractive buildings and is noted for its many antique shops. Horncastle is centrally placed and used by many South Wolds villagers who come for their shopping education and amenities. It offers a variety of shops; has a twice weekly market; a farmers market once a month and every year hosts a large Christmas and summer fair. A full range of healthcare amenities, doctors, vets, opticians, and physiotherapists are available with easy bus access 5

6 to the hospitals in Louth, Lincoln and Boston. Crime rates are well below the national average. The area has excellent schools, amongst the highest in educational league tables. We have facilities for nursery care and a large community primary school, a secondary school, a grammar school and a school for children with special needs. We have a very good adult educational college in Horncastle itself and colleges of further education in both Boston and Lincoln. The University of Lincoln has brought another education dimension to the area too. We are not short of opportunities for hobbies in Horncastle. We have a wide range of clubs; a choral society, theatre group, brass band, dance school, uniformed groups, U3A, YFC, art clubs, as well as a variety of sporting facilities; swimming, tennis, gym, cricket, football, rugby, bowls and netball. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is very active and has its headquarters in Horncastle. The South Wolds Group The South Wolds Group is part of the Horncastle Deanery in the Archdeaconry of Lindsey. The South Wolds Group includes the benefices of Asterby (pop approx. 1000), Hemingby (pop approx. 1000) and Horncastle (pop approx. 7500). The three benefices are held in plurality by the Rector. Working as three benefices in plurality has brought unique challenges. A consultation process took place to explore how to improve and develop communication across the groups. We were assisted by a brilliant team of consultants who made us really think about what we wanted to achieve. Our consultation days, of which there were two, included representatives across the benefices. Ideas and opinions were sought from our worshipping congregations and others involved in our communities. As a result we organized teams to assist in the management of strategic areas. The reality of this is that communication has become a real and practical possibility throughout the benefices. In addition, the South Wolds Group Management team has ensured a level of cohesion and management, financial and administratively, which will assist our Rector to effectively manage this group. W h i l s t w e h a v e a churches, we have a this is a manageable support of the teams around you. Horncastle is a pleasant place to live and many people who come here never want to leave 6 large number of proven record that situation given the you will have

7 The South Wolds Group Ministry Team (SWGMT) Our current team consists of a salaried Ordained Community Chaplain, one stipendiary Assistant Curate, one SSM Assistant Curate, an Authorised Funeral Minister, two Readers and four retired Ministers at this time. They provide cover across the whole South Wolds Group for Eucharistic Services and the occasional offices. They work on a team basis and are enthusiastic and supportive of each other. In addition to our Ordained Priests, the South Wolds Group has significantly developed its Authorised Lay Ministry Team. This has grown from 9 to 26 over the last two years. Looking to the future, there is a distinct possibility that with Clergy, Readers and Parish Ministers we will have a team of 34 people for the area. This represents the largest ministry resource the Church has ever had at its disposal for the South Wolds and has a seriously exciting impact for the gospel in our communities. The ALMs meet regularly, all have working agreements, and attend the on-going training which has been facilitated by the current ministry team. We believe, however, that there is still an opportunity for people to grow within our community. The way our Ministry Teams engage in our Community Our group of trained Authorised Lay Ministers are able to lead worship in a wide variety of services that take place across all three benefices. The worship services are full variety. We hold services such as snowdrops, pets, horses, Plough Sunday, Christingle. On Palm Sunday we hold an Ecumenical Service with the Methodist Church. We have regular services at the seasons and special services such as Red Hill a Good Friday Procession attended by more than 250 people. Our Candlelight and Civic Services, Christian Aid, together with Women s World Day of Prayer and many other special services help to weave a rich tapestry of Ministry opportunities. Our churches at Christmas are filled with the sound of the young people of Horncastle and Donington who use our churches for their School Carol Concerts. Pastoral We have an active Pastoral Team who visit people in the local nursing homes. We offer outreach to members of the congregation when they are ill or have been referred by neighbours or friends. 7

8 Through our bereavement support scheme we can touch families who have been recently bereaved. We send a card to the next of kin of those who have died, offering the Church s support and visit if required by one of our trained pastoral team. The people we see are invited to our monthly Pastoral Teas, held in the Church. This links in to our area All Souls Services. More than 200 family members attended last year. They lit candles in memory of their loved ones during a spiritual and moving service. This significant piece of pastoral ministry is offered throughout the South Wolds Group. We have several Lay Ministers who have attended the Home Communion training and, when appropriate, take Home Communion to housebound people. Our Diocese has a policy of all volunteers being DBS checked and all Authorised Lay Ministers will be attending safeguarding training before they are re-authorised this year. The South Wolds Group Office The Group Administrator works twenty five hours per week. We acknowledge how important it is to have administrative support. To this end St Mary s Horncastle has a fully fitted resource office for use of the three benefices of the Group. She arranges the occasional offices of weddings, funerals and baptisms and deals with day to day management and the fees for the group of benefices. She maintains databases and church registers. Our Administrator shares the office with the St Mary s Church Verger/Administrator. The Finances of the South Wolds Group The PCCs of each of the groups have good Treasurers who manage their funds and keep clear records. Our South Wolds Group Treasurer, working with our Administrator, manages the fees and payments to the clergy, organists, etc., across the three benefices. We have maintained our payments of Parish Share and see this as a supportive I regularly visit a requirement. You will appreciate that the financial housebound couple descriptions are a snapshot in time but the accounts give a good understanding of how our benefices run together and and we share home independently. communion If you are interested in combined with reading further about our finances the information is friendly available. conversation, it is 8

9 Map of the Area The three parishes of Asterby, Hemingby and Horncastle (not to scale). Key: Churches 9

10 The chart above shows how the three parishes, working in plurality, were organised in Following our parish review, it was shown that in order for the teams to get to know each other and to work together a collaborative approach would be necessary. The chart on the next page shows how the three parishes working in plurality were organised as from St Mary s Church, as the largest in the group, offers administration, advice and support to all the village churches when asked. We want to emphasise that we are still work in progress. We would like our new Rector to recognise that there is an established team who are ready and keen to both develop and continue the work already started. There is much to be done in terms of developing and collaborating together. 10

11 South Wolds Group Organisation Rector of South Wolds Group Strategic leadership, oversight, director, ambassador, setting the tone and values: works closely with all Ministry Teams South Wolds Management Group Chair Rector + Lay & Ordained: Communications and organisation across 3 benefices Community Chaplain Mission Animateur South Wolds Group Administrator South Wolds Group Treasurer SWG Ministry Team 34 people (Rector, 24 ALMs, 2 Readers, 2 Asst Curates, Community Chaplain, 4 Retired Clergy) Worship Leaders ALMs Trained with on-going training to take special Services (18 Harvests & 20 Carols in 2012). 3 month Rota prepared by administrator. Ministry Team Leader/s Community Chaplain and Ass Curate. Role includes: Pastoral care, annual review and identifying training needs, liaising with CALM. Rector responsible with Ministry Team Leaders for training and quiet days. Localised clergy reviews. Pastoral Team (Chaired by retired Health Visitor and CRUSE Counsellor). Organise pastoral visits/ home communions/ pastoral teas/nursing home ministry/ bereavement ministry-(cards to bereaved lists for All Souls) liaise with clergy at urgent times/ hospital visits, Last Rites, etc. CALM Co-ordinating Authorised Lay Ministry Chaired by experienced lay minister and Spiritual Adviser. On-going training for ALMS courses in Funeral Ministry, Bereavement, Care of the Elderly, schools work, Suicide Alertness The Asterby Group 9 churches United Parish 1 closed & 1 approaching VCC chaired by Laity (unless there is a major issue) Group Council Chaired by SWG Rector The Horncastle Group 7 Churches United Parish VCCs chaired by Laity (unless there is a major issue) Group Council Chaired by SWG Rector The Hemingby Group 8 churches United Parish VCCs chaired by Laity (unless there is a major issue) Group Council Chaired by SWG Rector St Mary s, Horncastle Town Church Committee Chaired by SWG Rector 4 management teams created to include all church activities. meeting independently they report to TCC and SWG Rector Mission Team Chair: Asst Curate Mission Initiatives Mission Giving Coffee Plus Social Activities Christmas Market Summer Fair Welcome Packs School work Church Sitters Refreshments Ministry Team Chair: Community Chaplain Ministry Training SWG Discipleship SWG House Groups SWG Worship & Spiritual Services Music Organist & Choir Weddings Wedding prep Lent/Advent Courses Deanery Events Buildings Team Lay Chair Advice resource for SWG All external building matters All internal building matters Governance Team Lay Chair Advice resource for SWG Stewardship Finance Gift Aid Fund raising St Mary s Friends Insurance Office furniture/equipment Electoral Roll Pew Notes Web site with SWMG. Paid verger/admin 11

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13 The Horncastle Group Our villages, like those in the Asterby and Hemingby Groups, specialise in their services. We have a group of 26 Authorised Lay Ministers who, together with our Clergy, support the services held in all our village churches. We also have a unified Mother s Union, who meet monthly in one of our villages. We hold Flower Festivals, Remembrance Day Services; The Thankful Village at High Toynton - celebrating the return of everyone from the First World War. A Communion and one Morning Praise are regulars in some churches and all the other churches have special services during spring, summer and autumn and the usual Carol Services. There is ample opportunity for further development of this mission in the villages. St Mary s Horncastle St Mary s Church is the largest church in the three benefices, situated in the centre of the town. The church has been on the site for hundreds of years, the oldest part of the Church dates from the early 12th century. We are a Market Town church ripe for further mission within the area. As a town church we take seriously our responsibility to provide spiritual worship to our community. We hold weekly Wednesday (CW) and Thursday (BCP) morning Communion services. On Sunday we hold a a.m. Communion service, which attracts a congregation of between people. House groups meet weekly and a men s group have recently met to explore their faith and some of them can be found in the local hostelries discussing not just the weather but issues around faith On a monthly basis we have an early Communion Service, Wholeness and Healing Service and Rejoice Service. Our Lord ate with his disciples often, we love starting our Church@4 with afternoon tea it feels like a real moment of sharing, even though it s a lot of work Our young people and baptismal families are encouraged to join us on a Sunday afternoon once a month for Church@4. Our Facebook page has been very helpful in encouraging this fun session. St Mary s ecumenical links are with the Methodist Church for Palm Sunday and Remembrance Day. On a Saturday night our church is used by the local Roman Catholic community for their Mass. On the fifth Sunday in the month a Group Communion service is held which is a great opportunity for the whole Group to come together in worship. We are known for our friendly hospitality. 13

14 We see this as part of our ministry to our community. Our sides-stewards and Church Wardens are trained to meet and greet on a Sunday morning. We especially encourage new people and visitors t o join us for tea and coffee after the service. We are a very social and sociable Church and like nothing better than an opportunity t o celebrate an occasion. We open on a Thursday and Saturday morning (market days) for coffee in St Catherine s Room. Every Wednesday morning a group of us host Coffee Plus, an activity group for people with learning difficulties. We have a great team of Church Stewards who are knowledgeable about our church history. This ensures our church is open every day during the spring, summer and autumn months. We have between 1300 and 1600 visitors a year. Our visitor s book speaks for itself in terms of how great people think St Mary s Church is both as a building and a place of sanctuary and peace. We are encouraged and appreciate the comments on the warmth of their visit. Our regular worship, which includes both young and old, is enhanced by our exceptionally talented musicians who play the piano and organ for our services. We are blest indeed by a professional musician whose contribution to our church music is well known locally. St Mary s has recently undergone extensive renovations and is now in an excellent state of repair. The Friends of St Mary s are a strong and successful association that has worked tirelessly with the people and businesses of Horncastle to help keep the building in good order. 14

15 We are keen to continue to develop the Church to be used as a community building as well as an inspirational worship space. The fund raising events of concerts by national and international acts are educational, uplifting and great fun We are fortunate to have a salaried verger. She is our Jill of all trades and covers administration for St Mary s and carries out all the tasks, and more, expected and recognized in that role. Our cleaning teams, Church Stewards and flower arrangers are all assisted by her knowledge and enthusiasm. The three benefices of South Wolds all have their distinctive characters and histories but what is true for us all is that we are very committed Christians, who are sociable, with a creative array of fundraising and social events. 15

16 The Hemingby Group The Hemingby Group hosts the popular Viking Way, a well-known walk, which is situated in wonderful countryside. It is located to the west and north of the town of Horncastle. We are fortunate to have three thriving pubs, a number of well used village halls and quality Residential Homes where the residents enjoy a Communion Service once a month. Like the Asterby and Horncastle Groups, the Hemingby Group have been very well served by NSM and stipendiary clergy who work across all three benefices. By nature, we are a very self-sufficient and efficient group. We have an active worship committee who organise the various worship rotas. Sunday services are rotated to ensure each church has the same opportunity for worship and we could develop our worship rota further. At present we hold one Service of the Word and celebrate three Communion Services each month. Additionally, we hold special services as required. We have good attendances at our Harvest, Carol and Easter Services. The average weekly attendance is between people depending on the location. Our pastoral team have joined the other groups for training and skills and are regularly seen about the parishes. The Hemingby Group has a single Parochial Church Council, of which the worship committee is a sub group. Each of our Churches has an individual Village Church Council. Our free, bi-monthly magazine is delivered to every house in the area. It helps us to keep our communities in touch. We are committed to each other in terms of our parish share too. Our Group is best experienced through hospitality. Our Harvest Suppers, Group Barbeques, and money raising events like the Snowdrop Festivals and Cream Teas are great opportunities to get together. Our churches host many community events. We are lucky to have some good organists in our group to help with our services too. We have a band of dedicated carol singers who are renowned for their ability to raise as much as 800 for local charities from their annual Christmas village appearances. 16 " I find it quite challenging to write worship and intercessions for our Service of the Word each month but I love the fellowship it brings to our church #$

17 The Asterby Group Situated in the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds amongst rolling peaceful countryside, in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the Asterby Group is found to the south west of the attractive market town of Louth, east of the historic county town of Lincoln and to the north of Horncastle. We share worship in the village churches on a rota basis with some parishioners travelling from their own villages to worship together, while others attend when it is held in their particular church. Numbers fluctuate with greater numbers attending at Harvest, Christmas and special services. The average congregation size is 8-15 people. We continue to keep our local communities abreast of church events through our free magazine which is distributed throughout our parishes. Every Good Friday an important service of witness takes place at Red Hill, in Stenigot. Three cross bearers walk from the bottom of the hill, followed by a procession of people, with pauses for reflection on the way. At top of the hill, the crosses are erected and a short service takes places in the amphitheatre below. This special service attracts upwards of 250 people each year and for many is their principal act of Easter worship. The occasional services of Plough Sunday, Rogation, Snowdrop Festival, Pet Service, Horse Service, Harvest and Easter and Carol Services are of great importance to the Group and are well and enthusiastically supported. These are usually held in the afternoon or weekday evenings. We also offer midweek Communion Service in St. Andrew s, Donington on Bain. In the warmer months our churches host the Wholeness and Healing Service celebrated by our Community Chaplain and other Team members. The village of Scamblesby is blessed with a Church of England Primary School and we are pleased that it shows very high in school league tables. We have a well-supported walking group, The Asterby Amblers, which also meets monthly to explore the beautiful countryside. We consider that these are important ways of exploring our faith in this part of rural I enjoy watching the interaction between the old and the young at our messy church in Donington- on-bain School. We have a great time Lincolnshire. The Asterby Group is a united parish, with a single Parochial Church Council. The village churches each have their own Village Church Council. We join with our fellow group worshippers on the fifth Sunday at the Group Communion Service in St Mary s, Horncastle. 17

18 Changes in the Diocese The Diocese of Lincoln is undergoing a period of significant change at present. The Rt Revd Christopher Lowson became Bishop of Lincoln in the autumn of Since then the Diocese has been undergoing a period of intensive review. Representative panels from across the Diocese are currently reviewing and refining strategic thinking on Discipleship, Worship, Ministry, Finance, Church Buildings, and Governance. The Diocesan Synod received initial reports on these and other areas of mission and ministry in July Further developments will be discussed in October This is an exciting and challenging time for the Diocese, and for those clergy and laity who serve its very varied parishes. The Diocese can offer considerable scope for developing their experience to forward-thinking, innovative ministers who long to seek God s kingdom here, to make Christ-like, outward looking disciples, to enjoy and encourage lively and holy worship, and to work with others in serving those most in need in rural and urban communities. For more detail about the Diocese and its parishes please see the Lincoln Diocesan website: This is our Profile Thank you for following the profile through to the end. We hope you have found it interesting, exciting and challenging. If so, we would ask that you prayerfully seek God s will, as we look together to further promote ministry and mission within the South Wolds Group of churches. We look forward to receiving your application. 18