Team Vicar. Trysull, Bobbington and Wombourne

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1 The Smestow Vale Team Ministry Team Vicar for Trysull, Bobbington and Wombourne 1

2 Contents The Challenge 3 Role Description 4 Person Profile 5 Team Area 6 Maps 7 Smestow Vale Team Ministry 8 Staff 9 Joint Team Activities 10 Team Policies 11 The Vicarage 12 Bobbington 13 Trysull 17 Wombourne 25 Himley 30 Swindon 32 Trysull Deanery Profile 32 Diocesan Going for Growth 33 Bishop Clive s Statement 34 Bobbington Accounts 35 Trysull Accounts 36 Wombourne Accounts 37 Bobbington MAP 38 Trysull MAP 39 Wombourne MAP 40 2

3 The Challenge Developing our Ministry and Mission in the Smestow Vale Team Ministry Trysull, Bobbington and Wombourne P.C.C.s would like the new post holder to give priority to: Leading Trysull and Bobbington in Mission Action Planning. Building on the successful All Age Worship Service and Toddler Church in Trysull and engaging with young families in Bobbington. Taking an active part in and enjoying village life in Trysull and Bobbington. Developing a pastoral ministry in all parishes. Encouraging lay participation in the life and worship of our churches. Strengthening our work with All Saints and Corbett Schools. Continuing The progress of additional facilities at All Saints. 3

4 Role Description We are looking for a person who in broad terms will fulfil the following role. 1. Mission and outreach develop ministry which encourages new Christians make full use of opportunities for outreach and service to the community in cooperation with the other team parishes and our ecumenical partners 2. Leadership and working collaboratively lead the churches in Mission Action Planning work collaboratively with others including clergy colleagues, lay ministers, church officials and volunteers encourage the building of a community of faith 3. Worship and Preaching lead worship that enables others to worship and gives glory to God plan worship that supports the individual churches vision and needs including appropriate use of resources, music, teaching and preaching 4. Pastoral care identify pastoral needs and ensure that appropriate structures and people are available to meet those needs including pastoral visitors support and visit those who require pastoral care 5. Stewardship and Parish Organisation work with the Team Council, P.C.C.s and their officers to ensure that decisions are properly made and acted upon ensure that policies and processes in relation to occasional offices, health and safety, finance, staff management etc. meet Diocesan and legal requirements 6. Personal Development and Spirituality manage time effectively so as to cope with the stresses of a complex appointment, ensuring care of themselves and their personal relationships to continue to grow in faith and discipleship 4

5 Person Profile We are looking for someone who has completed IME 4-7, for a post of incumbent status, to join us in the Smestow Vale Team ministry who will:- Be Energetic and grounded in prayer and the sacraments Be good at sustaining quality relationships Be discerning when it comes to recognising gifts Be open approachable and flexible Lead worship, preach and teach effectively Support Team policies and the administrative and legal side of parish life Collaborate with the laity and clergy with whom they share ministry Gain the goodwill and cooperation of others in taking forward initiatives and opportunities identified in our M.A.P.s Relate to a wide range of people 5

6 The Team Area The Smestow Vale Team area is located in the glorious countryside of South Staffordshire and covers the villages of Bobbington, Himley, Seisdon, Swindon, Trysull and Wombourne. There are a range of leisure activities available. 6

7 Where we are. 7

8 The Smestow Vale Team Ministry The Smestow Vale Team Ministry formally came into being in 2002 when, after a number of years of cooperation, the parishes of Himley and Swindon joined the former Wombourne, Trysull and Bobbington Team Ministry. The Team Ministry is now well established and all the parishes have benefited from the support and fellowship of the other churches. In the Team Ministry there are five independent parishes each with its own P.C.C. and churchwardens. The parish of Wombourne also includes the district church of the Venerable Bede. This Team Ministry is fortunate to serve a delightful rural area on the fringes of the West Midlands conurbation. The major towns of Birmingham, Dudley and Wolverhampton are all within easy reach, as is the historic market town of Bridgnorth. Road and Rail links are excellent. Holy Cross Bobbington The proximity of our Team Parishes to these large towns means that there are excellent shopping and cultural opportunities nearby. Birmingham and Wolverhampton both have theatres that are regularly used for traditional and contemporary musical events. The National Exhibition Centre and Birmingham Airport are about 45 minutes away by road. The countryside on the Staffordshire/Shropshire border provides many leisure activities including walking and cycling. Himley and Baggeridge Parks are very local to us. In Wombourne there is good local shopping and we are served by large supermarkets located nearby. There are major retail centres at Merry Hill, Wolverhampton and Dudley. Baptism at Holy Cross Bobbington There are excellent schools and each of our villages, except Himley, has a local primary school. There are good secondary schools in both Wombourne and Kinver. Other local schools include St. Peter s Collegiate Academy in Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton Grammar, Wolverhampton Girl s High School and King Edward V1 College in Stourbridge. There are universities in Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Worcester. There is high employment with most people working in the West Midlands conurbation. Wedding at All Saints Trysull 8

9 The Staff The Team Rector is Revd. Preb. Paul Brown who has been in post since He looks after the parish of Wombourne with its churches of St. Benedict Biscop and the Venerable Bede. Paul is happy to have informal conversations or to give more information to prospective candidates. Tel Team Vicar 1 will live in Trysull Vicarage and will be responsible for the parishes of Trysull and Seisdon (0.5) and Bobbington (0.2) and will give pastoral support to Wombourne (0.3). Team Vicar 2 (0.5) The Revd. Charmaine Host lives in Swindon Vicarage and is responsible for the parishes of Himley and Swindon. These parishes have worked closely together for many years. Children s Worker in the parish of Wombourne Sarah Mullen is our children's worker. Sarah is responsible for our children s clubs. Administrator Maxine Banner is our part-time administrator working from a well-equipped Parish Office in the Wombourne Institute. Maxine works mostly for the parish of Wombourne but is available to the other parishes by negotiation. Readers We are fortunate to have the services of three Readers. Although the Readers are based in specific parishes, they are happy to work across the churches of the Team Ministry. They are: Ian Host Retired Teacher Laurie Gainer Retired Teacher Susan Williams Retired Doctor 9

10 Joint Team Activities The Team Council The Team Council, with equal representation from all the churches, meets quarterly for the exchange of information and to support and co-ordinate the activities of the parishes. Joint Activities Prayer Diary Laurie Gainer, one of our Readers, co-ordinates a monthly Prayer Diary which is used in all six churches. This puts prayer at the heart of our life together. Grapevine Grapevine, the Team magazine, is published 6 times a year. The lay-led editorial and production team produce an excellent magazine which is delivered to approximately 1800 homes. Grapevine tries to balance church and community news and has a significant ecumenical input. Trysull retains its own Parish Magazine. Adult Education Lent House Groups and a wide variety of courses, including the Diocesan Course Living Faith, have been held over the last five years. These have included pastoral, spiritual and growth courses as well as some with a more academic approach. Recent courses have included: Facilitating lay ministry Encouraging better knowledge of the Bible Developing Faith Confirmation 2016 at St Benedict s Wombourne 10

11 Team Policies Parishes Each of the members of the staff team has a responsibility for one or more parishes and has a specialist ministry which they exercise across the parishes. Sunday Worship The clergy normally lead worship in their home churches but each minister leads worship on a Sunday in each church twice a year and as necessary to cover for holidays and sickness. Working and Praying Together There is a monthly staff meeting which follows Morning Prayer and the Eucharist. At present this takes place at St. Benedict s on a Tuesday. The ordained staff are joined by the Readers. Each year the clergy have an away day in the summer to plan for the following year. All staff members are expected to attend these meetings. Joint Worship Each year the six churches of the Team Ministry meet for a joint Advent Carol Service. A joint service is held on Ash Wednesday and the weekdays of Holy Week including Maundy Thursday. A further joint service has been held on Ascension Day. Inclusive Ministry All our Team Parishes support the ministry of women. Holy Baptism All our Team Parishes support and encourage parents to bring children to baptism and to play a full part in the life of the church. Confirmation Young Peoples Confirmation Preparation is offered to our young people beginning in year 5 of primary school to capitalise on our links with our four church schools. Adult preparation has used a variety of introductory and follow-up courses. Both of these take place on a team-wide basis. There is an annual joint Service of Confirmation and First Communion. Marriage after Divorce All our Team Parishes permit remarriage of divorcees during the lifetime of their former partner. Applications are treated in the strictest confidence and are determined at the discretion of the Team Clergy. Expenses Full travelling expenses are paid. 11

12 The Vicarage The Vicarage is situated in School Road, Trysull, just 100 yards from the Church and our school. Built in the 1960 s it is a fine four-bedroom home with well-proportioned rooms. On the ground floor the accommodation includes a large lounge with a large bay window which overlooks the garden, a recently refitted kitchen with an adjacent utility room, a study with separate reception area and a downstairs cloakroom. On the first floor, there are four large bedrooms and a bathroom with separate WC. There is full gas central heating and the house has been recently double glazed with UPVC windows There is a separate garage. The garden extends to about three quarters of an acre and is laid to lawns, with established shrubs and fruit trees. The gardens have been used for garden parties and the Vicarage has been used occasionally for PCC meetings. A storage shed for parish purposes is located within the grounds. A ride-on lawn mower is provided by Trysull PCC to assist with maintenance of the extensive lawns surrounding the Vicarage. 12

13 Holy Cross Bobbington Bobbington is a small village in delightful South Staffordshire countryside adjoining the county boundary with Shropshire. The historic market town of Bridgnorth is about 8 miles away. Our Church Family There is a small loyal congregation with dedicated wardens together with the P.C.C. and the congregation are open and supportive. The Flower Guild decorates the church throughout the year and for major festivals and weddings and in recent years raised the funds for new porch gates. Successful parish fund-raising paid for a new organ in Over the past few years the parish has organised many events including concerts in church and Harvest Suppers. Parish Communion at Holy Cross Link with Air Scouts A developing relationship has been established between Holy Cross and the local Air Scouts based at Halfpenny Green Airport. The troop is very active and attracts large numbers in all divisions: Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. One of the Church Wardens acts as liaison and makes regular visits to the Scouts centre. The Air Scouts have made valuable contributions to Church life, taking part in Services in church and with the church s congregation attending the annual Battle of Britain Service on the airfield. As part of their Community badge all divisions have helped to maintain the churchyard. Worship The Air Scouts Community Service in the churchyard Holy Cross has one Sunday service at a.m. Morning Worship on the 1st Sunday and Parish Communion (CW) on other Sundays. A range of seasonal books are used. The Church tradition is broadly central; Eucharist vestments are used. The church is open daily for private prayer and for visitors. Holy Cross has the services of a regular organist who plays on four Sundays of the month. Occasionally music discs are used through the church sound system. Bobbington plays a full part in shared Team worship. Holy Cross the nave 13

14 In 2015 The average Sunday attendance was 16 (14 adults and 2 children). This rises at festivals. Special services are held at Harvest, All Souls, Remembrance Sunday and at Christmas including Christingle. At some of these services we are joined by members of the Halfpenny Green Air Scouts. On Christmas Eve 2015 there were 66 at the Crib Service and 25 at Midnight Mass. On Easter Day there were 33 adults and 3 children present and on Remembrance Sunday there were 113 including a large contingent of Air Scouts. In 2015 there were 4 baptisms, 2 funerals and 11 weddings. Blakelands Holy Cross has an established link with Blakelands Country House Hotel a popular local wedding venue within the Parish. In 2017 the venue will host 92 Weddings. Couples who have booked their reception at Blakelands have opted to be married at Holy Cross and have become members of the congregation to fulfil a qualifying connection. Blakelands have also hosted a number of social functions including the 2016 Harvest Supper. Communication Bobbington contributes to the Smestow Vale Grapevine, our monthly parish magazine, which is produced in Wombourne. A Bobbington newsletter is delivered throughout the village but is in abeyance during the vacancy. Our Village The population is approximately 550. Many residents are commuters and retired people. There are a number of employment opportunities in farming and support services, garden nurseries, the local vineyard and various hostelries. There are about 200 dwellings mostly in the village, a hamlet at Halfpenny Green and some outlying farms. Halfpenny Green Airport also includes a small area of light industry and is within the parish. Blakelands The Red Lion and village centre 14

15 Halfpenny Green Vineyard and Craft Centre, which produces some prize-winning English wines. The wellequipped Village Hall is used for village functions and by a children s nursery attached to our Primary School. It is available for meetings and for hire. Holy Cross, Grade II* Our church is an example of an early 12 th century building. Its simplicity and the tranquility of its setting give it a very special atmosphere. A major restoration of the interior was completed, in The interior walls and ceiling were re-plastered and the church was redecorated, some external stonework was restored, the gutters and down pipes refurbished and the drainage system overhauled. This was followed in 2008 when the tower roof was replaced to the original design. Both projects have been paid for in full and were generously supported by English Heritage. The restoration has been a great success, revealing the beauty of our church Successful parish fund-raising paid for a new organ in The Vineyard Holy Cross from the east In order to create more space, especially for wedding parties signing marriage registers, we have an Experimental Licence to remove the pews in the Chancel and this is proving a success. A new heating system is currently planned. The Churchyard is open and space is available for several years. It is maintained by the P.C.C. with substantial financial help from the Parish Council. The Chancel Finance A stewardship scheme is in operation and each year the P.C.C. gives away 10% of its ordinary income to missions and other charities. The Parish Share, ( 9,479 in 2015) is paid in full and continues to be paid up to date. The Village School The village school is the Corbett C of E Aided school. There is considerable contact between the school and the church. The parish priest is both a Governor and a Trustee. He/She conducts a weekly act of collective worship and co-leads, 15 Corbett School

16 with the children, church festivals: School Christmas, Easter, and the Leavers Service in July take place in church. He/she supports R.E. teaching in the school once a term. He/she also has liaison meetings with the Head Teacher. At present the school is full with 103 children, the majority of whom do not live in the parish. The school had an outstanding Ofsted in November 2014 and also gained an outstanding grade for SIAMS in July There is a thriving private nursery on site which also received an outstanding Ofsted. Parents views of the school are universally positive. They greatly appreciate the work that the school does with their children. One parent told the inspector, The school represents all of the values and everything that I would want to see in a school. If I was asked to make the perfect school it would be this. (Ofsted report 2014) Holy Cross priorities for the future are: welcoming wedding couples. quarterly village newsletter. to develop our pastoral care of the village and congregation. 16

17 All Saints Trysull Our Church Family. All Saints has a diverse and loyal church family. Some of our members have lived in our village for many years, others have moved into the village from the surrounding urban areas. In recent years the average age of our Church family has decreased and much of this is due to the development of our All Age Worship Service. We would like the continued integration of families to be a priority for our new Team Vicar. All Age worship Worship All Saints tries to balance formal and informal worship. At the 8.00am Holy Communion Service and at 6.30pm Evensong the Book of Common Prayer is used. At the 9.45am Parish Communion Common Worship is used with the variety of seasonal booklets. A wellattended All Age Worship Service is held once a month (the largest regularly attended service), this is more informal and involves our hand bell ringers. Toddler Church is held during the afternoon of each Monday during term time. This gives an opportunity for parents or carers and their pre-school children to join together for worship, crafts, chat and of course, refreshments. There is an extensive rota of lay people who read the lessons at our 9.45am and 6.30pm services. Four people are licensed as Eucharistic Assistants. There is a rota of sides people and those involved in the ministry of welcome and intercessions. Light refreshments are available after the 9.45am service. Special Services are held to celebrate our Patronal festival, at All Saints and All Souls tide, at Harvest, for Remembrance Sunday, Christingle and at Christmas. The service of Nine Lessons and Carols and the Christmas Eve Crib Service are particularly well attended. At our Christingle and Carol services the church is so full there is standing room only for the late-comers! On the first Monday of every month Holy Communion is taken to the residents of Woodford House. Pastoral care with visits to members of our church family and all villagers in need is an Important part of our church life. 17

18 The Average Sunday adult attendance in 2015 was 64 plus 9 children. The 2016 average was similar. At our special services attendance in 2015/2016 was: Christmas Eve Crib Service 130 adults 55 children Harvest 42 adults 10 children Easter Day 57 adults 13 children All Souls service 49 adults 1 child Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals Baptisms Funerals 5 9 Weddings 13 3 Music Music is very important at All Saints and our church is fortunate to have a robed choir who support both the 9.45am and 6.30pm services. The choir have developed an excellent repertoire of both traditional and modern music. Anthems are sung at Festivals. The church uses two hymn books: Ancient and Modern Revised and Anglican Hymns Old and New. The choir is affiliated to the RSCM. All Saints has a single manual pipe organ and an electric piano which is used for some of our more informal services. The church is served by a team of organists. Sunday School Our Sunday School meets monthly at the same time as the main Sunday morning Service. This is congregation-led and meets in the Bell Tower Room. The Sunday School and Toddler Club are a good introduction for the All Age Worship Service. Toddler Church The 10.30am Communion 18 Junior Hand Bells

19 All Saints Controlled Church of England Primary School All Saints School is situated at the heart of the village, adjoining the village green. With just over a hundred pupils it is a very important part of church and parish life. The Team Vicar is an Ex Offico Governor and regularly takes collective worship. End of term services are held in church and there is scope to develop the celebration of festivals in both school and church. Led by Mrs Jane Woodhall, our head teacher, the school is keen to reinforce and develop its existing strong links with the church. Confirmation preparation is offered to all children in years 5 & 6 and, although take up has been limited, there is much potential for future development. The 2014 SIAMS denomination inspection commented: The distinctiveness and effectiveness of All Saints C of E (VC) Primary as a Church of England school are outstanding. Every member of All Saints is proud to belong to this exceptionally caring school community in which all pupils are nurtured and supported. Pupils believe that this is something special and recognise the importance of living out Christian values in their daily lives and relationships. As a result they are developing into confident, articulate, aspirational young people who believe they have a voice and a role in helping to develop their school. The 2009 OFSTED report judged the school outstanding. All Saints School 19

20 The local Thomas Rudge Educational Charity has the potential to part-fund a Christian Children's Worker to assist with the development of the Christian Ethos of the School and Church. Although funding is available, the post is at present vacant, the trustees have indicated their continuing support for the project when a suitable appointment can be made. This charity also supports Sunday School with the provision of annual awards and Toddler Church for consumables and educational toys. Social Events All Saints has had a very active social committee for many years, the committee has been very successful in raising community awareness within the village and raising funds. During recent years the following events have taken place: A Magicians evening A Nativity Festival Harvest lunches with entertainment Several Quiz nights Flower Festivals A Garden Fete at the Vicarage An open gardens event 20

21 Charities Our Team Vicar is an ex officio trustee on: - The Trysull and Seisdon Charity. The charity has 8 alms-houses (four built in the 1970 s and four built in 2006). It aims to provide affordable housing for residents of the villages. The charity can also provide grants to local residents who are in need, hardship or distress. The Thomas Rudge Educational Charity. The charity supports the work of All Saint s School by making grants for resources and services not provided by the Local Educational Authority. The charity can also make grants to those, up to the age of 25, who are in need of financial assistance to enable them to continue in education. In the recent past The Thomas Rudge Charity has made a grant of 3,000 per annum to enable a Christian Children s Worker to support Christian educational development in the parish. Finance All Saints is a stewardship parish, the envelope scheme is widely used with some members contributing by standing order and by a single annual donation. The parish uses the Gift Aid Scheme to recover tax paid on donations. The PCC is aware that the parish is overdependent on fund raising. The Parish Share ( ,437) will be paid in full by the end of December PCC The PCC meets six times per year. About 5 years ago, the following sub-committees were formed which report back to PCC: Worship and pastoral. Buildings and churchyard, Social and fundraising Each sub-committee includes co-opted members from the villages with appropriate skills and they meet regularly. This delegation of duty has helped improve the management of the church and assist the strategic development of new projects in our mission. 21

22 Communications A parish magazine is published monthly with regular contributions from parishioners. Church services and events are included and it is distributed to over 200 homes by volunteers. We use social media as a new platform to communicate with the wider community. We have a website, a Facebook page and are listed on A church near you. Our Church All Saints is believed to be of 12th century origin, although the oldest part of the structure belongs to the 13th century. Major works were carried out in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, and in by Robert Ebbels; the main body of the church was restored in 1889, and, in 1897, the tower was restored and a new porch was built by F.W. Simon of Edinburgh. The church consists of a nave with large north and south aisles and a small chancel. The Tower houses a fine ring of six bells which are rung for services. The ground floor of the tower is used for meetings and has a small, built in, refreshment point. The church was reroofed in 2005/6. The recent Quinquennial Inspection Report (2013) raised no major issues except external masonry repairs which have recently been commissioned. The PCC is continuing to explore how to improve the church s facilities and plans have been produced to install a toilet within the church. The church is listed Grade 2*. In 2016, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport decided to add Trysull and Seisdon War Memorial to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest as Grade II. The churchyard is well maintained with the help of a grant from the Parish Council. Recently we have prepared an additional adjacent field for burials and this was consecrated by Bishop Clive in June 2015 so there is ample room for further burials. The churchyard has won many Diocesan best kept churchyard competitions. 22

23 Our Village The Parish of Trysull and Seisdon consists of two villages situated about five miles to the south west of Wolverhampton. Seisdon is 1 mile to the south of the A454 Bridgnorth to Wolverhampton Road and Trysull is about 1 mile further to the south east. Our Parish is basically a commuter community in a rural setting. Many of our residents commute to work in the surrounding urban area. The population of the parish is approximately 1100 with a mixture of homes ranging from social housing through to local manor houses in their own grounds. All Saints Church of England Controlled School is situated adjacent to the village green and opposite Woodford House Nursing Home. Within our villages there are four public houses/restaurants, three garden centres, a village shop and a small garage. Although primarily agricultural, within the parish there is a sand quarry and a little light industry. Sainsbury s is only 2 miles away from Trysull. The village supports a very active WI with a membership of 35 and an Active Pensioners Association (APA) which aims to enable older members of the community to remain part of village life. Fund raising by the APA takes place regularly and this enables coach and theatre trips and an annual Christmas Lunch. 23

24 Trysull is fortunate to have a village hall that is well used by both the local community and the church. It caters for a variety of uses and is managed by the Village Hall Committee on behalf of the Parish Council. Each village has a playing field for community use. In Trysull the field is used for both cricket and football and has a children s playground with refurbishment planned. Trysull Tigers play in various local football leagues and have 9 teams with membership that spreads well beyond the village. Trysull has two cricket teams using the grounds - the local Trysull team and also Wombourne 3rd team. Our Priorities The PCC have prepared a Mission Action Plan , key areas are: Continuing pastoral care of the congregation and village communities Maintaining the balance between formal and informal worship including congregational participation. Continue with the development of the link between the Church and School Welcoming all who attend the AAW Service and outreach to into the wider community to bring them into the life of the church Holy Baptism, Flower festival, Toddler church, Remembrance Sunday 24

25 St Benedict Biscop and the Venerable Bede Our Church Family. Our Wombourne church family is between 350 and 400, with an Electoral Roll of just under 300. The vast majority of our members live in the village. Although our congregations are predominantly over 50 we have regular contact with approximately 50 children; our occasional contact list for children and young people is in excess of 100. Worship St Benedict s has an 8.00am said Communion Service (Common Worship) and a 10.30am Parish Communion (Common Worship with hymns, servers and choir). Average adult Sunday attendance is around 150 but this can rise substantially at festivals attended services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Evensong is help on the 1st Sunday of the month and Taize prayer on the 2nd Sunday of the month. The Venerable Bede has a 9.00am Parish Communion and the average adult Sunday attendance is 15. There are two midweek Communion services. Eucharistic vestments are worn and the sacrament is reserved at both churches. Weddings Baptisms and Funerals. In 2015 there were: 21 Weddings 54 Baptisms 83 Funerals There were similar numbers in 2016 Children and Young People St Benedict s has a very active Sunday Club, Mother and Toddler Group, Little Fish and a full range of uniformed organisations. It offers children s workshops at Christmas, Easter and in the summer holidays. Which are also available to children from the other team churches. We have recently started Messy Church. The first one was a great success and we aim to hold these six times as year. 25

26 St Benedict Biscop Foundation Primary School St Benedict Biscop Foundation Primary School is situated in School Road, Wombourne, a few hundred yards from the Parish Church. With a one form entry and a thriving Nursery it has around 200 pupils. The Governors are justifiably proud of the school s strong Christian ethos. A disappointing OFSTED report in December 2015 has led to the school joining the newly formed St Bartholomew s Multi-Academy Trust on the 1st December, This innovation has given the Governors confidence that the school will return to its previously high academic standards. The Rector visits the school regularly and leads a weekly Collective Worship and school services in St Benedict s. Social and Pastoral care Wombourne has an active social life. Each year a variety of events are organised. In 2016 these included a flower festival, a monthly mid-week lunch, a festival and harvest lunch, quizzes an Advent Fayre, and a week-long music festival which included local schools. Dayspring Dayspring is our church sponsored group for the single bereaved. It meets monthly with some smaller groups meeting mid month. It has a membership of around 70. Wives Group Our Wives group meets twice monthly with a membership of around fifty. It has a varied annual programme which includes fund raising for charity and a weekend away (with husbands). 26

27 Lay Involvement There is extensive lay involvement in Wombourne. It has a Local Ministry Team which consists of the rector, the church wardens, the treasurer and secretary and two elected members of the P.C.C. Our Leadership Team meets quarterly. The P.C.C. operates through a number of sub committees: Fabric, Finance, Giving, Pastoral, Social and Music Festival. St Benedict s School We have a full team of sidespeople, readers, eucharistic ministers, servers, pastoral visitors, intercessors in addition to those who work with children and young people. Ecumenical There is an active local Churches Together with representation from Methodists, U.R.C., Roman Catholic and Pentecostal Churches in which the Anglican churches play a full part. Bishop Michael at St Benedict s Finance Wombourne has followed the principals of Christian Stewardship for many years. The annexed accounts show that the parish finances are stable. The Parish Share is paid in full. The P.C.C. gives around 12,000 away each year to a mixture of local, national and international charities. This includes the collections at Christmas, Easter and Harvest. In 2106 our Christmas collection of 2400 was given to a Nepalese Charity Classroom in the Clouds. A parish lunch The P.C.C. supports the work of Christian Aid and the local food bank. Classroom in the clouds 27

28 The Parish Church of St Benedict Biscop Our Parish Church dates back to Saxon times although the earliest visible part of the present building is late medieval. The church was rebuilt to the designs of G.E. Street in 1865 and had remained almost unaltered ever since. In 2006/7 the Lady Chapel was restored to an innovative design by Arroll and Snell. It is now separated from the nave by glass screens and it is reserved for private prayer. In 2012 the church was extended to provide a small community room and toilet facilities. The following year the rear of the nave was repaved, hospitality and storage facilities installed. The tower room has been restored for use by young families. The P.C.C. have approved plans to re tile the front of the nave and to decorate the church. This will be completed by Easter The extensive churchyard is closed and is maintained by the District Council The Venerable Bede The church of the Venerable Bede is sited in the South of the parish in an area of mixed residential housing. Just over 50 years old our church and community hall is an important part of the Blakeley Heath Community. In addition to commercial lettings groups using the community hall include a Toddler Group, Dayspring and Rainbows. St Benedict s nave, the Ven Bede, Teddies at Sunday Club 28

29 Our Village Wombourne is best described as a commuter village or small town. It is situated on the South West fringe of the City of Wolverhampton and has a population of around 13,000. There is a good social mix with high employment. The village has a mixture of housing from large, detached homes to social housing. The Parish is predominantly white European with approx. 80% describing themselves as Christian in the 2011 census. The village has a strong sense of community with many voluntary organisations. The church of St Benedict Biscop is situated at the heart of the village by the cricket pitch. In Wombourne there are nursery, primary and secondary schools with excellent academic and pastoral standards, several residential homes, a small industrial estate and a number of village shops. Sainsbury s have a large supermarket on the southern fringe of the village.. The Advent workshop, Christingle, spring at Gravel Hill, Cricket on the green, Sainsbury s, the village centre 29

30 Our other Parishes: Himley The Church Family and Worship There is a service at 11am every Sunday with three being Holy Communion and on the third Sunday in the month an All Age Worship service is held. A prayer group meets regularly, we have four licensed chalice assistants and one licensed member of the congregation who takes Holy Communion to the housebound on a regular basis. There is lay participation within the services for intercessions. The average weekly attendance for 2016 was 35 adults and 3 children. There were six baptisms, five weddings and three funerals during the year. St Michael's has an aboveaverage of occasional offices as many of the congregation are drawn from the surrounding urban areas. The team vicar and members of the congregation visit the Himley Mill Nursing Home when invited to sing hymns and carols. The church has a joint- fund raising group with St John's at Swindon, known as 'Swimley' and a number of joint services are held during the year with them and also with the Smestow Vale Team. St Michael's parish share is paid in full. The Church Building The church of St Michael and All Angels occupies a very prominent position on the busy B4176 main road to Dudley and is within easy walking distance of the popular Himley Hall and parkland. The present church was built in 1764 and is a Grade 2 listed building. In the late 1970s a vestibule and vestry were added to the west of the church which helped to provide more space within the building. Christingle, the chancel, the Open Day 30

31 The churchyard is well maintained and the church has permission from the Earl of Dudley to open their Garden of Memory every year in June when the church holds its Open Day, this attracts many visitors from the local community. The Village of Himley Himley is the smallest of the team villages, situated in the south of our district and is separated from the church by the A449. It is a former estate village to Himley Hall which was the seat of the Earls of Dudley. The Estate and Himley Hall are now owned by the Local Authority and is run as a major leisure facility. In the village there is a large nursing home with 90 patients housed in three units, there are two hotels, one public house and a cricket club. The population of the parish is around 350. Future Priorities The PCC is applying for a faculty to remove further pews from the north side of the aisle to create more space for the children who attend, wheelchair space and much needed space for buggies when we have baptisms. To develop a worship team from both churches to work together to develop the All Age Service into a more relaxed service possibly in the style of cafe church. To continue to develop our relationship with Himley Hall and Himley Mill Nursing Home and outreach into the local community. To develop our hospitality within the services and encourage more lay participation and education. Himley Mill Nursing home Himley Hall and Park 31

32 Our other Parishes : Swindon Our Church Family Our main service is at 9.30 a.m. on Sundays. Average Sunday attendance is 15 adults and 2 children. We are currently planning to hold a a.m. service with a Café style to increase the opportunities for more of the population to worship. Each month we hold a Messy. Church in the Village Community Centre. This is a collaboration with the village U.R.C. and currently attracts around 30 children. Our Village Swindon was an industrial village in the South Staffordshire countryside until the closure of the Baldwin Steel Works just over 30 years ago. Now almost entirely residential most of our residents commute to work in the surrounding urban areas. The Staffordshire and Worcester canal runs through the village and this provides a focus for leisure activities. The village is an active community and supports a post office/ general store and an excellent fish and chip shop. Swindon's population is around 1,100. St John s Our Church St John s has a record of 162 years of service to the village. A simple Victorian church it has a nave, large chancel and north aisle and is well cared for. St John s is not listed. The churchyard is closed and is well maintained by South Staffordshire District Council. Our School Swindon Locks The local St John s Primary School is C. of E. controlled and has approximately 90 children on the register. The school is a very important part of both village and church life and the current Vicar is a member of the governing body. It has recently received a rating of Good by Ofsted. Services are held in school every two weeks and the school attend church each term. They also take an active part in some of the church events e.g. Christmas Tree Festival and Remembrance service. Finance St John s pays the parish share in full each year and is currently saving to get roof repairs carried out. 32

33 Trysull Deanery Profile Our Deanery Trysull Deanery straddles the border between the City of Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire. Our parishes range from inner city, to suburban and rural. The Deanery has 13 Parishes and 21 churches served by 11 clergy (FTE). In addition to the stipendiary incumbents there are a number of NSM s. OLM s curates in training and Readers. Three of the Deanery parishes have established Team Ministries and only one parish is a single church benefice. The Deanery has active churches and able and supportive lay people. The Deanery is primarily residential with some light industry with farming in the more rural parishes. The Deanery clergy chapter meet regularly and aims to create a supportive and non competitive ethos. Meetings combine business with speakers and social events. All our Parishes welcome the ministry of both men and women and the church tradition is broadly central without the extremes of churchmanship. Our Rural Dean is the Revd. Preb Maureen Hobbs, the Vicar of Pattingham with Patsull 33

34 Going for Growth in the Wolverhampton Episcopal Area In 2004 Lichfield Diocese adopted a central strategy entitled Going for Growth. This is a long-term mission strategy to move the Diocese from numerical decline to growth. Each parish is encouraged to develop and implement its own Mission Action Plan that will enable it to grow spiritually, numerically and in the effectiveness of its ministries. In 2011 the diocese revisited its Going for Growth strategy and identified that this strategy should be based around five significant mission indices: i) Discovering the Heart of God. ii) Reaching New Generations. iii) Growing Disciples. iv) Transforming Communities v) Practicing Generosity Therefore we are looking for clergy who can demonstrate: 1. A track record (where appropriate) of leading growing churches. 2. An understanding of how churches can grow and flourish. 3. Enthusiasm for the Going for Growth strategy and a commitment to mission and evangelism through the local church. 4. Commitment to reaching the younger generations we have been losing. 5. A personal and corporate spirituality that resonates with the will of God The Diocese is committed to providing a helpful environment, within which churches can be born, grow and flourish. Bishops, Archdeacons, and Diocesan staff give a high priority to helping churches shape and implement mission plans. A Growth Fund is available to make grants to help churches have the financial strength to grow. Training programmes are geared towards the Going for Growth objectives. Clergy are encouraged to experiment, to try Fresh Expressions and to be leaders in mission and enablers of lay ministry. We are looking for clergy who will focus their ministry on growing the numbers, maturity and ministry of their church members. 34

35 Bishop s Statement By the Rt. Rev d. Clive Gregory - Bishop of Wolverhampton The Smestow Vale Team Ministry is an established Team Ministry which has enjoyed a good record of collaborative working between clergy and laity. This has brought benefits to all five parishes. The Team Ministry sustains a good balance between maintaining the separate identities of the parishes and working together in the service of the Kingdom. It is essential that any candidate for this post is committed to team working and that they are prepared to share their skills and ideas with other members of the Team. The five parishes of the Team Ministry are fortunate to have able and committed laity who take active parts in the mission and ministry of their churches. One of the challenges of this post is to encourage vocations to authorised local lay and ordained ministries. This post offers good opportunities for ministry in attractive locations, with supportive colleagues. I would encourage applications from anyone who has relevant experience and skills and the desire to serve in this kind of parochial and team context. + Clive Wulfrun 35

36 Trysull Accounts Summary Summary of accounts 2015 Receipts Payments Planned giving 30,223 Gifts to Charities and Missions 1,376 Collections 2,933 Parish Share 39,437 Income tax recovered 8,892 Church Running Expenses 5,857 VAT recovered 564 Clergy Expenses 434 Donations 7,476 Cost of Services 1,568 Investment income 313 Organists and Wake Sleeper 3,701 Fees 11,176 Management and administration 1,570 Fund raising 9,328 Cost of Fund raising 2,123 Magazine Income 4,161 Magazine expenses 2,722 Ancillary trading income 220 Preparation for new churchyard 1,456 Clergy expenses 1,087 Churchyard running expenses 2,611 reimbursed by Diocese Children's worker 1,385 Miscellaneous expenses 623 Totals 76,373 64,863 Statement of Assets 2015 General fund 43,030 Capital Fund 29,555 Parish Magazine 2,430 Sunday School Fund 509 Vicarage Repair Fund 5,423 Total 80,947 36

37 Bobbington Accounts summary Statement of accounts for 2015 Receipts Stewardship 3,178 Collections 2724 Tax Refunds 3545 Fees 9918 Special events 2376 Elect Refund 1631 Donation 910 Other 5 Total 24,287 Payments Parish Share 9479 Donations 115 Churchyard Maintenance 1040 Clergy and Organist 2382 Diocesan Fees 2202 Utilities 1020 Insurance 1281 Events 356 Fire Extinguishers 66 Sundries 547 Total Restoration Receipts Restoration Payments Donations 3000 Interest 27 Total 3027 Architect 216 Porch Gates 90 New Organ 5805 Statement of Assets 2015 Restoration account 4636 Fabric account 847 Current account Flower Guild ,868 37

38 Wombourne Accounts Summary Expenditure Income Raising Funds Donations and Legacies Fundraising Costs Voluntary income/receipts Total Tax efficent planned giving Charitable Activies Other planned giving Church Activities Collections at services Mission Giving and donations All other giving and voluntary receipts Diocesean Parish Share Gift Aid recovered Salaries/ Wages Legacies Received Clergy and staff expenses Grants Church Expenses Total Mission and Evangelism Charitable Activities Church running expenses Church Activities Church utility bills Statutory Fees Cost of trading Fundraising Activities Major Expendidture Total R & R of St Benedict s church Other Trading Activities Activities for Generating Fund Governance Costs Bede Hall Hire Total Grapevine parish magazine Other printing, coffee Other Total Total Investments Bank Interest Total Other Total Total Resources Expended Total Incoming Resources

39 Trysull MAP Discovering the heart of God Develop a prayer group to encourage more participation in intercessions Continue to develop our rota system for the ministry of Welcome Continue to review and improve on pastoral care. Encourage more pastoral visitors Growing Disciples We need an integrated approach to Children s ministry to encourage the leaders and ensure transition from Toddler Church to Sunday School. Encourage progression to confirmation preparation for the older ones Continue the strong links with the church School Recommit to a part-time Children s Worker Reaching New Generations Develop Baptism friends as part of baptism preparation Increase the music repertoire especially those with a more modern feel Explore the possibility of a school choir Transforming Communities Encourage greater local contributions to the parish magazine Increase our use of social media Improve internal noticeboards as part of the reordering Practising Generosity Encourage a sense of being as part of the wider Church Review our giving to charities Move from maintenance to mission and ministry Encourage members to think about realistic stewardship A fuller MAP is available on request from the Team Rector. 39

40 Bobbington MAP Heart of God Ensure that our services are welcoming and accessible Maintain the open church as a quiet space for prayer. Actively pursue ways of ensuring the church is warm and sufficiently spacious for catering, work with children, meetings etc. Growing Disciples Promote and support the courses offered by the Smestow Vale team Ministry Reaching New Generations Continue to develop the potential of a Wedding Ministry Engage with and support our outstanding Church School through Collective Worship, Church services, involvement with the church through, for example, designing our Christmas card Encourage links with the local Air Scouts and Cubs Support team initiatives for wedding and baptismal preparation. Transforming Communities Continue to produce the Bobbington Brief as a means of promoting community cohesion. Use Grapevine more effectively Explore ways of making the Christian community more visible to the village Practicing Generosity Promoting the principles of Christian stewardship to all our members. Continue to organise the Harvest Supper each year and encourage the involvement of local people 40

41 Wombourne MAP Discovering the Heart of God Promote wider use of the Prayer Diary and Morning Prayer Hold a Quiet Day Review our services to ensure they meet need Use the piano and other instruments in worship Growing Disciples Develop the use of Pilgrim both as an introduction to and means of Support the work of Dayspring with the bereaved Reaching New Generations Continue to build on the work of our Children s Worker Offer Choral Scholarships for teenagers in the choir Re-establish the afterschool club Try Messy Sunday for families Hold a seventh Wombourne Music Festival Transforming Communities Continue the building improvements at both churches to improve Support Grapevine as means of improving community cohesion Revisit our website and improve our use of social media Improve our signage Practicing Generosity Encourage effective stewardship Maintain our charitable giving A more detailed Map is available from the Team Rector on request. 41