The Parish of the Icknield Way Villages Profile

Transcription

1 The Parish of the Icknield Way Villages Profile Welcome to our parish. Thank you for being interested in us. All Together God s work in progress

2 We are praying that God is preparing a new leader for us. We believe that you, too, will be praying about whether that person might be you. Who are we? We are a single rural parish comprising seven villages in north-west Essex. Our last rector consolidated the work of forming us into one parish, and he leaves us as a warm, hospitable Christian community in good heart and harmony. We believe that God is at work here. He has a plan for us and wants us to join him in his work and we have faith in the power of the Holy Spirit to help us. We have seen our congregations expand and we long to see them grow further, spiritually as well as numerically. We feel we must do more to encourage young families, to deepen their faith in the Lord Jesus or to meet him for the first time. We realise we need patience and gentleness as we work together to build a church where God will be very evident. We seek to follow the vision of the Diocese of Chelmsford, to be a Transforming Presence here ( to be distinctive in our Christian faith and outreach. We aim to be Christ-centred Prayerful Faithful to scripture Loving Welcoming Accepting all Sharing fellowship together 2

3 Who are we looking for? Someone who can..lead us in our efforts as we focus on these 3 overlapping strands: Evangelism Pastoral care Use/adaptation of our buildings. The goal is increased community use of our buildings, via stepping-stone events, to help more people find faith, therefore making each of our churches the heart of the community Is the Lord prompting you to find out more about us and the kind of leader we are seeking? Please read on. We hope that you will be inspired by the things that inspire us! We are praying for someone with vision and enthusiasm. A creative, positive thinker who can guide, inspire and encourage us and the community we serve, with the help of the Holy Spirit. Someone who is..an approachable, collaborative leader, who will ably and humbly encourage ministry and nurture growth, enthusiastically embracing both traditional and more contemporary styles of worship. A capable manager and team leader, who will help us move forward in unity, as we pursue our priorities in the areas of evangelism, pastoral care and the use of our buildings..a good communicator, inspired by faith and adherence to the Anglican creeds, able to relate well to all ages and to worshippers who prefer a range of styles, offering engaging and relevant Bible teaching for spiritual growth, wishing to help us reach those who do not yet know the Lord Jesus..servant hearted: building us up, helping us to use our gifts to enable us to develop relationships, especially with fringe families; offering loving, empathetic pastoral care; being joyful and with a sense of humour!..called to rural ministry, with experience and understanding of the opportunities and challenges this poses..has a functional level of IT literacy! 3

4 What can we offer you? Willing, actively involved church members with a strong sense of fellowship. You won t be alone! Strong support team: office administrator with fully equipped office in Chrishall Village Hall, an Authorised Local Preacher, a Children s and Youth Worker Supportive single PCC and two parish wardens with a deputy, with much of the fabric responsibilities and localised outreach devolved to the 7 dedicated District Church Councils (DCC) Sound finances and effective, straightforward governance Community experienced in supporting ordinands and training curates Modern, warm four-bedroom rectory with fast broadband in Great Chishill Car, if needed Desirable rural location with close links to Cambridge, London and Stansted Airport, and the historic market towns of Saffron Walden and Royston Excellent nurseries, preschools and schools, including our local C of E Aided primary school, with which we have strong links Excellent cultural opportunities. In 2014 we topped the Halifax Rural Areas Quality of Life Survey. Progressive, supportive deanery Normally only 2 Sunday services plus a protected day off! Great hospitality! The Rectory at Great Chishill 4

5 The Parish is about 12 miles south of Cambridge, set in the hills in the north-west of the Chelmsford Diocese between the market towns of Saffron Walden and Royston. London is around an hour away by train. The population is around 2,300 spread over some 7 villages. A mixed collection of people working locally or in Cambridge or London, many with young families. This is also an attractive area for people who are retired. We are a group of Christians with many different ages, backgrounds, skills and abilities united in one purpose to spread the love of the Lord Jesus and his message of hope to the people in the communities around us. 5

6 APPENDICES Confirming our faith 6

7 Sundays Regular Life in our Church Typically we run 2 services each Sunday, moving between our 7 buildings and a village hall week by week. These are 9.00am BCP Holy Communion Service (usually held in one of our smaller churches) and at we have another service designed to appeal to all ages with a more contemporary style of liturgy and music. The less formal service takes place in the larger buildings each week, with one service a month in the Village Hall in Chrishall. This is a deliberate attempt to worship in a place which provides a way into the church for people who would not necessarily be comfortable entering the traditional church buildings (one of our stepping-stones ). The larger buildings allow for accommodating the Sunday Clubs. Together they attract routine attendances of between 60 and 80 people, with much greater numbers on the major festivals. Currently we have this pattern of two services each Sunday, (with evening prayer services occasionally), because we see the benefits of congregations mixing across what is a large parish, with its seven villages. There is a growing sense of togetherness in our worship. It also means that our rector is not completely worn out at the end of each Sunday! Faithful, expositional bible teaching has always been a central feature in all services, with the aim to help our faith grow individually and as the body of Christ, being relevant to day-to-day life. Most members of our congregation travel from building to building around the parish, Sunday by Sunday. There are some who prefer just to worship in their particular village, but we encourage them to move if necessary by offering lifts. Sharing fellowship and refreshments after the services (or in some cases before) is also a means of building bridges. The PCC has adopted the five minute rule whereby the congregations are encouraged to approach people they might not normally talk to after each occasion. Once a month in Chrishall Church we start a service Ten with coffee and pastries, followed by a much briefer service with themed activities for the young people. There are hearing loops and PA systems in some of our churches. Music We embrace all styles of music from traditional NEH to Sing Glory. The Icknield Way Parish Choir performs for special occasions, which include concerts during the year and carols at Christmas. An outdoor Songs of Praise was very popular and made good use of many instrumentalists in the parish. There is a band/music group to support worship at our less formal services. There is also a dedicated group of tower bell ringers. 7

8 Festivals We enjoy the major Christian festivals of Christmas and Easter, when many of our community attend church for traditional reasons. We welcome them and this provides an opportunity for outreach. Christmas starts with a Christingle service with much involvement from our school. Then continues with a crib service, carol services and a midnight service on Christmas Eve. We have also persuaded one of our local farmers (who is also a district warden) to provide tractors and trailers to carry carol singers round our 3 local pubs in the run-up to Christmas. Before Easter we run a Lent course and Good Friday workshops for young families. At harvest, as you might expect in a relatively rural part of the country, we always give special thanks for God s provision. Harvest suppers take place in most of our communities and attract substantial numbers. We have services at war memorials on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday (run jointly with the local United Reformed Church). Chaplaincy work There are three bedside communion givers from within the parish serving on the Addenbrooke s Hospital Cambridge chaplaincy team, and each DCC has at least one communion helper. Provision for younger people Chrishall Village Primary School We are blessed with a Church of England aided Primary School in Chrishall, which is attended by many children in the parish. The teaching staff welcome weekly Christian assemblies, previously led by the incumbent. 3 members of our church community serve as Foundation Governors. The positive attitude of the staff and governors give us a wonderful opportunity to reach many children and their families. The school has special services in Chrishall Church at Christmas, Easter, Harvest and at the village war memorial on Armistice Day. In preparation the church runs weekly lunchtime clubs ( One Way Club ) before Christmas and Easter. This year the parish helped to fund ising POP to visit the school for a few days. This gave the children an opportunity to learn a set of specially written pop songs and record their own album. The visit culminated in a much enjoyed concert in the church. 8

9 Youth Work As already mentioned we are fortunate to have a part-time youth and children s worker who has overall supervision of our activities for young people. These include Sunday Clubs. The team run sessions for 2 age groups on 3 Sundays a month. On the 3 rd Sunday there is a special, themed service, We have a weekly crèche, supported and run by young mums. Church Mice. Run by the mums for very young children and supported by members of the church, the Mice meet twice a month in Chrishall Village Hall. Songs, craft and snacks are all consumed with delight and much noise. Many Mice (and occasionally their parents) have been baptised. We have a custom of providing evening meals for a week for the families with new-born church mice. We regard this group as a prime example of an initial stepping stone in coming to Christian faith. Youth Group. We have a lively group of teenagers who have confirmed their faith and delight in meeting once a month on Sunday evening. Food, laughter and avid conversation are the common features of these evening gatherings, led by our youth worker and a group of supporters from the parish. The youth group has formed a habit of enjoying annual excursions, which are often joined by other youngsters from across the parish. We hope to develop this work. Children s Corner. We try to make sure that everyone feels welcome in our services. A children s corner is set up for each all age service, for those too young for the Sunday Clubs. For those circumstances where a crèche is not practicable we have backpacks containing craft materials to entertain the little ones. 9

10 Fellowship Our church life and fellowship extends beyond meeting on Sundays. We are blessed with: Bible Study groups. There are 4 active groups. They are run by lay members of the church and cover a range of interests starting at a very simple level. Soul Space, the newest group, is run by young mums; Barnabas, Wednesday afternoon and Firm Foundations have all been going for some years. All the groups welcome new members and offer stimulating discussion, fellowship and refreshments! Prayer Groups. Currently this is restricted to a short prayer meeting of around 30 minutes on Monday mornings in church. However members of the church community frequently lead intercessions during Sunday services. These provide an opportunity to pray for the needs of those locally and across the world beyond. Preparation courses for baptism, confirmation and marriage. A parenting course and challenging Lent courses. Annual Parish Walk. A great day of fellowship and exercise and prayer, when all our churches are visited! Church working parties caring for some of our churchyards. Bring and share lunches (wonderful food in variety is a characteristic of many events) Church cleaning teams. In Elmdon the Marigold Maids (not just ladies) has transformed a drudge into quite a social occasion, and encourages people to join in services (another stepping-stone!) Church Flower rotas Pub Breakfasts designed mainly to appeal to men, but open to both sexes. Trips to Word Alive and Spring Harvest have deepened faith and friendships There is a strong sense of fellowship and support among us. Recent Evangelistic Events We ran a bread-making morning in the school recently, aiming to engage with people on the fringe, or who may have few links with church. Many of us made very passable loaves which were eaten with a simple lunch, at which the Rector gave a short talk on the Bread of Life. Wallace and Gromit starred in the film A Matter of Loaf and Death! Earlier this year we held a Walk Through The Old Testament Day, also wellattended. 10

11 Charity Partner Two years ago we established an annual charity partner scheme, to encourage us to look beyond our small part of the world. This year we are supporting Open Doors who seek to help persecuted Christians internationally. Communication Village Web our monthly self-funding magazine is delivered free of charge to every home in the parish. Primarily designed to communicate church services, The Web contains a balance of secular and religious material to make it attractive to read and reports general happenings and events within the church and life around the villages. Bulletin produced weekly by our the parish manager, communicates key information about church life (including services) Website recently redesigned into its third incarnation, carries lots of information about our activities. We are fortunate to have a professional photographer in our church community who records some fabulous images of our activities. Do have a look at If you would like to find out more We would be pleased to welcome you for an informal visit. Contact either of our parish wardens Liz Stott lizstott13@gmail.com Jon Wayper jwayper@hotmail.com Erica Debnam (our parish administrator) iwp.erica.debnam@gmail.com 11

12 The Organisation of our Parish Our Parish was formed in 2009 from six, formerly separate, parishes (Heydon, Great Chishill, Little Chishill, Chrishall, Elmdon with Wenden Lofts (now The Hamlet), and Strethall), which had previously been a United Benefice. The Incumbent The parish is eligible for one ordained, stipendiary minister. The Parochial Church Council (PCC) PCC comprises 15 members chaired by the incumbent (the two Church Wardens share this responsibility during the interregnum) and it includes a Treasurer. 7 members are appointed by the District Councils (DCC), the other 7 (including the wardens) are elected at the Annual Parish Meeting. Each of our churches has a DCC led by District Wardens. In both Strethall and Great Chishill there is a Friends body, which raises funds for the fabric of the building, in support of the local DCC. The single, unified parish structure has given us huge benefits With services conducted in two churches only each Sunday, congregations tend to be larger, which helps make our worship more fulfilling. The PCC has overarching responsibility for all matters; the DCCs enable us to deliver local care to the people of each village. The PCC also delegates to the DCCs first-line responsibility for fabric issues. This has helped enormously to relieve pressure on the incumbent. We have been able to use the central PCC body for economy of effort, for example in finances, HR, insurance, security, health and safety, child protection. Members of the PCC act as champions for specific groups of parishioners: children, men and the older generation. We are growing as one body, in fellowship, regardless of which style of worship or in which village parishioners are based, or to which church building they are most likely to have been attached. Our new leader will be able to help us to continue to reap the benefits of this structure for all parishioners. The Standing Committee of the Parish The Standing Committee consists of the incumbent, and four lay members, including the treasurer and parish wardens. It meets regularly to support the incumbent between PCC meetings. It acts as an executive board and has the authority to ensure the smooth running of the parish. Parish Wardens Within our parish structure there are two dedicated wardens who form a valuable support to the incumbent as right hand people. 12

13 Parish Manager We are blessed with a part time manager, who works from an office in Chrishall Village Hall four mornings a week. She deals smoothly with much of the daily administration of the parish and is brilliant as a first point of contact for many parishioners. Youth and Children s worker We have recently appointed a long-standing member of our Church Community, Helen Williams, to the position of Youth and Children s Worker, initially for a year. She encourages our young people to come to know Jesus through fun and interesting activities and events, helping to promote growth amongst our younger congregations. The Parish Trust and Finances Our finances are relatively straightforward, but constantly in need of refreshment. Our gross General Fund income for the Parish as a whole is around 120,000 annually. Of this some 90,000 is collected by the Icknield Way Parish Trust. In 2016 this was raised from donations given direct of 37,000, Gift Aid 10,500 and contributions from the 7 districts of 30,000. The balance came from various events, advertising in the Village Web and collections. This Trust income is used to pay our Diocesan Quota of some 70,000 (currently around 6,000 monthly) and the expense of running the Parish Office, employing the Youth Worker and other routine costs. Income retained by the 7 District Treasurers is used to pay their local running costs (insurance, electricity etc) and for routine maintenance of their buildings. Major refurbishments are dealt with through special appeals. There are separate funds for particular purposes, including youth work and the choir. Deanery Our previous rector was a rural dean for a while and helped forge close links with Saffron Walden, the centre of our deanery. This collaboration included a significant parish participation in the Growing Leaders course and the Christian Pastoral Care course. Saffron Walden is the first area in the Diocese to be designated as a Mission and Ministry Unit under Transforming Presence. 13

14 The Future We have benefitted from a steady process of amalgamation into a single united parish. We have transitioned and grown from a disparate group of villagers to a united Church. We have an abundance of enthusiastic Church members who are keen to develop our Church Community here. We are earnest in our desire to reach the many in our parish who are on the fringe, or who have no contact with the church. For those who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour we hope to experience encouragement, enlightenment and sustenance in their faith. Substantial refurbishment programmes have been concluded for 2 of our church buildings with 2 more underway. We are exploring ways to make our buildings of greater routine use to their communities. We are eager to build on and go beyond what we have achieved, and we seek a leader who can guide us in realising our hope to be salt and light here in the Icknield Way Parish. We hope and pray that our new incumbent will be able to develop our unique model of rural ministry 14

15 Our Location The area contains excellent recreational, sporting and social facilities, along with some of the best schools in the region. The parish is located halfway between the market towns of Saffron Walden and Royston. Saffron Walden, with its classic old buildings, castle and two mazes, contains many interesting shops, along with the usual supermarkets, chemists, butchers, a superb library, a great leisure centre and a multitude of coffee shops, wine bars and restaurants. Royston also offers a wide range of amenities from local shops to large supermarkets and a smart new leisure centre. Although not in the parish, within 2 miles of the Rectory there is an excellent and very useful village shop and post office at Barley. The countryside is dotted with a network of footpaths and bridleways, there are a number of golf courses within a 10 mile radius, several riding stables in the locality. There are tennis courts in most villages, mostly privately owned but available for use by arrangement. Cambridge, some 12 miles to the north, besides having a world renowned university offers all the amenities of a modern city, including a large teaching hospital, good cultural facilities, with museums (the Fitzwilliam Museum is world class), art galleries, cinemas and theatres, restaurants and a wide range of shops. It is of course famous throughout the world as a centre of academic excellence, which extends to some of its schools. The locality boasts superb transport links, with train services from Audley End to London Liverpool Street (60 minutes), Royston to London Kings Cross (45 minutes or less), and Cambridge 25 minutes away. The M11 and A1(M) ensure rapid road connections north and south and the A505 & A14 to the north offer easy access to the East coast (1 ½ hours) and to the West. The proximity to Stansted & Luton airports (25 & 45 minutes by road) opens up air travel to the whole of Europe and beyond. 15

16 Our Parish, Churches and Communities The parish occupies a unique position at the three corners of Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, with all 7 villages within a few minutes of each other by car. It is situated in beautiful countryside, with rolling hills, an abundance of medieval hedgerows and rich ancient woodland. The landscape is predominantly arable, interspersed with small villages and copses and narrow country lanes. Many of the villages within the parish have picture postcard views of the surrounding countryside and contain many excellent examples of traditional rural architecture. Until comparatively recently most people employed in the villages worked on the land or in farming-related jobs. Nowadays, many commute to work, either in London or in Cambridge. You can read more about the locality, and our churches, and also see more detailed images of the Rectory and the Parish Office, on our website Great Chishill Great Chishill is 480 ft above sea level. There are approximately 230 dwellings in the village and there is a fairly balanced mix of old and new houses with varied architecture saw the completion and occupation of 11 affordable houses for rental. It is a very friendly village with many events attended by a cross-section of the residents. There are carpet bowls, badminton, football and cricket clubs, an active W.I. and toddlers group and a wine circle; many of these meet in the excellent village hall. A very good pub, The Pheasant, is situated in a central position and involves itself in all aspects of village life. There are some good walks from the village into unspoilt countryside and limited links to local towns by public transport. The Rectory The Rectory is a warm four bedroomed double glazed house. It is located in the centre of the village, almost opposite the church. It is a modern house of standard brick and tile construction. It has been adapted purposely to serve as a Rectory with separate access and toilet facilities. There is a good sized home office with fast broadband. 16

17 St Swithun s, Great Chishill Situated opposite the Rectory, the church is built of flint and rubble, locally gathered, and set in mud or clay. It occupies a prominent position in the village, which is the highest point in Cambridgeshire, with wonderful views over the surrounding countryside. A major programme of restoration is currently getting underway, supported by a substantial grant from the lottery fund and energetic fund raising in the community. A group of volunteers helps to keep the churchyard looking beautiful. The church can accommodate approximately 220 people. It has a dedicated children s area and a crèche area for babies and toddlers. The bells were restored and a new ringing platform installed in A group of villagers regularly ring the bells services are typically held here. Little Chishill The hamlet of Little Chishill lies one mile to the south of Great Chishill. Other than the church there are eight houses in the hamlet. The remainder of the former parish, which is largely farmland, extends for three miles up to the A505, and is now for political and practical reasons part of Great Chishill. St Nicholas, Little Chishill The church is of 11th century origin. There is a Norman window on the north side of the chancel. The Crossman family who owned the nearby Cokenach estate restored the church about 1880, it has been in use ever since. Thanks to a hard working DCC the church is generally in good condition, there is no electricity, candles are used when required. The church has just received a substantial grant from the Listed Places of Worship Roof Grant scheme and work is underway to replace the roof of the nave. The churchyard is open and well-maintained. St Nicholas Church is a much loved, peaceful and happy place that holds a number of events such as a bring and share summer picnic. The Church seats about 80 people and BCP communion services are typically held here. Heydon Heydon is a pretty conservation village of 96 houses, on high ground overlooking Cambridge some 12 miles away. Heydon does not have a village hall, and the church is the focal point for the community, and draws together both churchgoers and those who are not. In recent years the church has hosted a variety of events including brass band carol concerts, quiz evenings and a tea party to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday. There is also a very good pub in the village and Wood Green animal shelter. 17

18 Holy Trinity, Heydon Heydon Church (1298) is a grade 2* listed building situated within Heydon village. It has notable stained glass and reredos, and is heated and well maintained. It is hoped to adapt the building to enable greater multi-purpose use. The capacity is about 160 of which 80 will be in the nave, and the pews (moveable) can have additional stackable chairs added. The simple servery is used for coffee after services and can cope with simple 'Harvest Supper' food, or buffets. There is an annual pet service. BCP communion services are typically held here. Chrishall This village has expanded rapidly since the mid 1960 s and now comprises in excess of 250 houses in a ribbon development over 2 ½ miles. There is a small development of low cost houses near the centre of the village. Aside from Holy Trinity Church, other focal points are the C of E aided Primary School (with links to both Joyce Franklin Academy and Saffron Walden County High Schools). There are the New Village Halls (used for Open Door lunches twice a month, Pilates, cinema screening, keep fit classes and art classes). There is a monthly village lunch group and a preschool. We have a large communal sports field with cricket regularly played. The pavilion is also to be used as an office for the Parish Clerk, museum and local free library. There is an annual village market, with stalls selling local produce and wares. The Red Cow Pub (which serves food), serves as a convivial meeting place for several causes as well as monthly cricket club quiz nights, and now has a darts team. There is a good neighbour attitude where villagers offer friendly, helping hand to those in difficulties, those who need transport, pet care. There is a local charity which offers financial help to those villages who find themselves in need. Many of the villagers volunteer to look after the church and grounds and support the fund raising events. The Parish Office The church office is at the centre of the parish in Chrishall. It is located in a room in the village hall, which was the former Methodist Church, and is rented from the Village Hall Committee. The office contains a PC, networked to a photocopier/ scanner. It enjoys high speed wireless broadband. The usual office furniture is in good order. The two adjacent halls, with good-sized kitchens and toilets, can be rented for meetings. There is good car parking space and relations with the village hall committee are very friendly. The building has a good central heating system. 18

19 Chrishall School Chrishall Holy Trinity and St. Nicholas C.E. (Aided) Primary School serves the parish. The incumbent plays an active role in the school in a pastoral capacity, serves as a school Governor and is expected to contribute to Assemblies and R.E. The school, which is classed as good by Ofsted, is set in a beautiful environment overlooking an extensive meadow with its own playing field, hard playground and wildlife area. There are four teaching classrooms, one of which is a temporary demountable unit, a library and a shared tiled area for creative work. There is also a hall which is used for assemblies, P.E., drama and school meals. There is a small group room and a conservatory which houses a purpose built space for Foundation children and a room for small groups to work in. You can read more about the school via the website: The children come from a variety of backgrounds and cover a wide range of abilities. They are encouraged to feel a sense of belonging to the school family and of being cared for, valued and involved in school life. The school slogan is "REACH to be the best you can be", with REACH representing the shared values of Respect, Enjoyment, Achievement, Christian Caring and Health. Children are taught through a skills based and creative curriculum in which life skills are highly promoted. The school is proud of its outdoor learning facilities (spiritual garden, outdoor classroom, musical instruments, and gym) and many lessons are taught outside, including Forest School, which is integral to learning at Chrishall. The school is a Green Flag school and is aspiring to become an ambassador school. In recognition of its sporting provision, the school has recently received its gold kites mark sport s award. Every year, applications for places typically exceed the number available, and this popular school has become highly regarded in our region. The school currently has 107 children on roll. The school has just entered a soft federation with another local village school and the head teacher leads across both schools. Whilst the partnership has only just begun, lots of exciting opportunities are planned for both the children and staff. 19

20 Holy Trinity, Chrishall Holy Trinity stands proudly on the edge of Chrishall Village. It is the largest church in the parish, with a seating capacity of 240. It is a grade 1 listed building and is well endowed by the Brand Trust, but for fabric purposes only, one of whose trustees is the Incumbent. Although traces of its Norman origins are clearly visible in the tower arch, the bulk of the church was built in the 14th and 15th centuries. The building was extensively restored in 1869, with further major works over the last two decades and stands today in good physical condition. Recently toilet facilities and a kitchen area have been incorporated. The church is fitted with wireless audio facilities including an induction loop hearing system. A new floor was recently laid throughout the body of the church with some pews being removed and replaced by chairs which allow far greater use of the building for worship, community and fund raising purposes. This should serve as an opportunity to raise income for the church, which struggles to support its share of general expenditure. In addition the church has on loan a copy of Rubens Adoration of the Magi. There are also three notable brasses relating to the de la Pole family. The churchyard is supported by volunteers from the community services are typically held here. Elmdon The village site is ancient and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The church and village hall are surrounded by clusters of old cottages (many thatched) that are delightful. There are regular village-wide events to enjoy: the annual fete, harvest supper and an occasional licensed bus shelter the King s Headless! that started when the pub was closed down. We have a very real (and active) sense of community with numerous clubs and social events taking place, ranging from quiz nights to apple pressing and cider making, to which all are welcomed. There is an active Cricket and Football club, using the village sports ground which has won numerous awards for excellence. The village enjoys a monthly magazine The Elmdon Gazette. There is also a very small village hall used for Sunday children s work, a toddlers music group and other occasional events. St Nicholas, Elmdon St. Nicholas is our Parish Church. It is situated at the centre of its community and is reasonably large for what is now a fairly small village. The building is substantially in good order. The interior has been redecorated, and high quality lighting and a sound system, complete with induction loop, have been installed. The vestry is a good size and used for Youth group on Sundays. A study is underway into making the church building more user friendly for its community and for more general use. Re ordering of the church is 20

21 being actively considered. Meanwhile, a massive re-ordering of the churchyard has been undertaken and work continues including replacing the brick and flint wall along the boundary with the road. The Church, which suffers from a major bat problem, is cleaned by a group of volunteers affectionately known as Elmdon s MMMs (Magnificent Marigold Maids) who meet the day before every service services are typically held here. Duddenhoe End A small, pretty village of 92 houses scattered over Pond Street, Bridge Green and Woodmans Lane. Duddenhoe End dates back to Celtic times and is a mixed community made up of a combination of professionals commuting daily to Cambridge or London, retired people and a significant number of young couples with children. It is an extremely friendly and welcoming village. Although it has no amenities, the social life of the village is thriving around the church, known as Hamlet Church, and the village hall. There is a very active committee organising a wide variety of social events. The Hamlet Church, Duddenhoe End This church dates back to 1610 when it was a tithe barn in a farm called Lantern Thatch. It was converted and consecrated on St. Peter s Day 29th June 1859, following local fund raising. By 1990, the Church had fallen into disrepair and following considerable generosity from villages, it was possible to renovate it extensively. Seating around 80 people it is one of only two thatched churches in Essex. One of its unusual features is that the Lord s Table is on the long (east) side of the church, with the pine pews arranged accordingly. The church was re-thatched in 2010 and the porch roof repaired, funds having been raised through grants and donations from the residents of Duddenhoe End. We typically have monthly BCP communion services held here together with Harvest and Christmas Services. We hold a variety of fund raising events in the church, such as an Organ Recital, Flower arrangement demonstration and talks on a variety of subjects: i.e. Local history. 21

22 Strethall Strethall is a combination of the hamlets of Strethall and Catmere End, with a population of no more than 200. Due to the size of the hamlets, there are no formal facilities in the village. There is, however, an exceptionally strong community spirit with many well attended village activities. The parish of Strethall is on the eastern edge of the Icknield Way villages. There are a number of varied activities to raise funds for the church. There is also enthusiasm outside the village for the church building which is a small but very fine example of Anglo-Saxon architecture, as evidenced by the numerous passing visitors and others who attend events organised in the church. St Mary the Virgin, Strethall Situated on the ancient Icknield Way the church building, which is Grade 1 listed, probably dates from around In 2010 we held a Millenium service led by the Bishop with music written for the occasion by John Rutter. Strethall underwent very substantial restoration a few years ago. Some funds are raised locally not least by the Friends of Strethall church, but significant funding has been received from English Heritage, The Historic Churches Preservation Trust and other grant giving bodies. The fund raising effort has encouraged an on-going series of high-profile events such as concerts, flower and art festivals. The building which is ½ a mile from the village and approached through a farmyard, has a normal seating capacity of around 40, although approaching 100 squeeze in for the annual carol service at Christmas. Many walkers and visitors to the Parish stop to pray in the church because of its exceptionally peaceful and tranquil environment. BCP communion services are typically held here. 22

23 Saffron Walden Deanery Saffron Walden Deanery is at the forefront of the implementation of the Diocesan strategic priorities heralded and articulated in the Transforming Presence vision ( ). We were commissioned as a Mission and Ministry unit in October 2016, and are working collaboratively on being effective in evangelism, encouraging vocations, improving our work with children and young people, and making the most of our resources. Alongside four chapter meetings each year that include the retired clergy who play an active role in our life together, there are an equal number of gatherings just for the licensed clergy, ministers and the lay chair. These provide an increasingly useful forum for consideration of how we can develop as a Mission and Ministry unit, and have helped to deepen our commitment to work together. One initiative has been the Deanery Growing Leaders Course. Building on the experience and expertise of the Saffron Walden and Villages Team Ministry which had run this CPAS course successfully several times, the deanery has run this course twice now. Given that developing lay ministry is a priority for the deanery, it is envisaged that this or another similar course will start in The Deanery Synod is also a focal point for engagement with Transforming Presence with one of the four priorities determining the major item on the agenda at each meeting. In addition to Synod being a lively forum for discussion, the building of strong relationships across benefices and sharing of expertise are also features of our gatherings. Biennially, there is a deanery conference in September with a sharp focus on one of the four strategic priorities. We have just had our third conference when the theme was working collaboratively. Given the collegiality of the clergy and laity, and active collaboration across the deanery on specific ventures, it was a natural step for the deanery to become a mission and ministry unit. This proposal was affirmed in our Deanery Synod, and acclaimed by licensed clergy and minsters, and our lay chair. The aim across the whole diocese is to build a network of such larger units. 23

24 In addition to learning and working together, we worship together. Our annual deanery service takes place in the autumn at different churches across the deanery. Supplementing the sermon, there is also an attempt to explicate the theme with some examples of good local practice. At our service in October this year, we focussed on the increasing collaboration, mutual support and sharing of resources in our deanery. Any candidate for this post can be confident that in this deanery, they will have support and encouragement, and colleagues who are committed to working together. You will find in this profile, many other reasons to apply for this attractive post, and I warmly commend it to you. Should you have any questions for me at any stage of this process, do not hesitate to be in touch. With warmest best wishes, David Revd Canon David Tomlinson, Area Dean of Saffron Walden Deanery Rector.saffronwalden@ntlworld.com 24

25 I hope that we get someone with a charismatic personality, someone interesting. Harry aged 16 We would like a new vicar who... knows a lot about Christians, is joyful and happy Ula aged 6 is exciting, funny with serious stories from the Bible Eleanor aged 9 25