THE WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Profile for the Benefice of Elmley Lovett with Hampton Lovett and Elmbridge with Rushock and Hartlebury and

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1 THE WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Profile for the Benefice of Elmley Lovett with Hampton Lovett and Elmbridge with Rushock and Hartlebury and Ombersley with Doverdale

2 A PRAYER FOR OUR PARISHES Generous and faithful God, you invite us and send us to share the living water of Christ: draw us ever deeper into your love and into our common life as your holy people, that your grace may flow through us to bring joy, hope and peace to the communities you call us to serve; through Jesus Christ our Lord. WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 2 of 19

3 OUR BENEFICE KEY Benefice Boundary - Parish Boundary - WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 3 of 19

4 OUR NEW PRIEST We know that our new Rector will inspire us through their spiritual leadership, as well as lead us in mission and ministry as we reach out to serve our communities and as we seek to help our churches grow. In particular we are praying for someone who; Is passionate about sharing their love of Jesus Christ Enjoys being with people, including during difficult times in their lives, and wants to be accessible and visible Understands the joys, opportunities and challenges of rural life Is enthusiastic about ministering to all age groups, from oldest to youngest Is committed to developing people s gifts and furthering lay involvement in ministry, especially in leadership and pastoral care Is an engaging preacher and teacher, sensitive in leading worship and able to adapt to a variety of settings and contexts Is approachable and empathetic, with excellent pastoral skills and a sense of humour Appreciates the importance of caring for themselves as well as for others We also hope that our new Rector might Have positive previous experience of rural and/or multi-church ministry Possess good organisational, communication and IT skills Have the ability to play to their own strengths and help others play to theirs Be creative and flexible about helping people respond to change WHAT WE CAN OFFER A commitment to serve our local communities A desire to see congregations grow in depth as well as numbers Supportive and dedicated churchwardens and colleagues in ministry A willingness to explore more about clergy and laity working together Enthusiastic lay people involved in many different aspects of ministry Hard-working, resourceful PCCs Prayerful and practical support and friendship WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 4 of 19

5 OUR STORY The Worcestershire Severn Parishes are set in a glorious rural area north of Worcester between Droitwich Spa and Kidderminster, close to excellent facilities and with easy access to the West Midlands motorway network and regional centres such as Birmingham and Bristol. For the past few years the churches of three former Benefices have been working together to form a new group of parishes, becoming a single Benefice in In each of our seven parishes the church has a central place in the community it serves. We all want to continue to develop ways of reaching out to people with the love of God, whether through pastoral contacts, baptisms, weddings and funerals, community occasions or special events, as well as by offering sacred space, welcome and hospitality in our beautiful church buildings. The population and the congregations tend to reflect the Worcestershire demographic, with a larger number of older people than the regional and national average, but it is important to us that our ministry encompasses all age groups. Amid the delights and challenges of rural life there is a wealth of goodwill towards the church, even if people do not attend services, and those who participate in church life are often very involved in other areas of village life. We see this as a significant part of our outreach, but we also want to help ensure people are not overstretched. This period has been a time of significant change for everyone, but a real sense of growing together as a family of churches is emerging and we are looking ahead with optimism. We are considering new ways of working together and supporting each other across the different parishes, as well as building on the links we have from the different strands of our shared histories. We hope that our new priest will inspire, nurture and encourage us as we move forward with this ministry in all its prayerful and practical aspects, as we engage with the people around us and try to grow as followers of Christ. LOOKING AHEAD We know that we are still discovering how to grow as a group of parishes, but we also believe we have made much positive progress, characterised by a greater openness to each other, improved communication between churches and a better understanding of what we have in common, as well as of how we are distinctive. We would welcome help to continue with this in a way that affirms the individuality of each community and the different church traditions, yet encourages us in engaging more fully as people of God s kingdom by helping us explore new possibilities locally and across the Benefice. WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 5 of 19

6 We are currently working with an Interim Rector who is helping us reflect on our experience of becoming a Benefice and consolidate what we have been doing, as well as develop our life and ministry further. We held vision days in 2016 and 2017 to take stock and think ahead: here are some of the observations made by the churches in 2017, which together give a good picture of our collective prayers, hopes and aspirations; Our vision is to make the church the centre of the community, with community support for each other. Rushock We are proud of the growth of the monthly family service, our friendly welcome, pastoral care among whole church community, appreciation of biblical teaching, an active PCC and good social events. Elmbridge We should like to broaden our appeal for people to use the building other than for services, to be connected to the community, to share God s love, to reach out as well as inviting in, and to cherish, celebrate and promote our BCP tradition. Elmley Lovett We are proud of the continued success of lay-led services with support from the congregation, Open the Book and strong links with school, and informal events and services in the narthex. Ombersley We would like to encourage more people to come to our church, from our own parish and the Benefice, and complete the building programme so the church can be an omni-purpose building for the wider community. Hampton Lovett We would like to maintain links with our local school, try to encourage younger people, which would mean a greater variety of services, and build on links with families, newly married couples and those baptised. Doverdale We are proud of having vibrant, dedicated members of the church community and a home group, open to all across the Benefice, and still developing. Hartlebury OUR TOP PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE To grow closer together as a Benefice, spiritually and practically To continue to develop pastoral care for the whole community in each place To minister effectively to people in all age groups, older as well as younger To deepen the faith of our congregations To reach out to people who are not connected with church. WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 6 of 19

7 MINISTRY LEADERSHIP Ministry is led by the Rector working closely with two Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) and a large number of lay people, two of whom are Authorised Lay Ministers, having trained in pastoral work on the diocesan course. One Reader is authorised to take funeral services and the other is training for this role. Currently, we have regular assistance from one retired priest as part of the ministry team. In addition, a number of other retired or self-supporting clergy and other Readers, from the deanery and beyond, can be called on for assistance when required. A significant proportion of Sunday services are led by teams of dedicated lay people, supported wherever possible by the Readers and the Rector, and a number of people act as Eucharistic Ministers or intercessors, as well as supporting worship and community life in many other practical ways. The churchwardens of all the parishes meet regularly with the Rector and the Benefice administrator for discussion, planning and reflection. There is potential for a half-time House for Duty post based in Elmley Lovett, made possible by funding from the Elmley Lovett Church, School and Community Trust. The new Rector would be closely involved in continuing discussions about the shape and focus of this role. PASTORAL CARE The gifts and commitment of everyone who contributes to ministry are greatly valued and we want to foster and expand this involvement. We are looking at the different ways in which we can work together more collaboratively in the parishes and also in sharing ministry between lay and ordained people. Our aim is to support the individual churches in what is best done locally as part of their involvement in each community, but also see where we can best share resources or encourage each other by pooling our experience or expertise. A cross-benefice pastoral team is being developed to help provide a clear point of church contact in each community, as well as to provide support for the many people who offer pastoral care informally to friends and neighbours. As part of this, each congregation is being encouraged to nominate baptism buddies to support families who come for christenings. We have been inspired by the Baptism Matters initiative and are thinking about ways to extend our baptism welcome. From amongst our Eucharistic Ministers we are identifying a group of people to take out home communions in any of the parishes as required. We offer baptism and marriage preparation on a central basis, led by the Rector and supported by members of the churches, and we are applying for a Bishop s Order to allow marriages to take place in any of the seven churches regardless of a couple s parish of residence or connection. SCHOOLS, FAMILIES AND CHILDREN We have excellent relationships with all four of the maintained schools in the Benefice and are actively looking for further ways to strengthen and enhance these links. At Cutnall Green CofE (VA) Primary School, Ombersley Endowed First School and Hartlebury CofE (VC) Primary School teams from the churches take Open the Book into school on a regular basis. At Sytchampton Endowed Primary School one of the Readers is involved in leading collective worship. Clergy, Readers and other church members are also involved in governing bodies, leading worship and informal pastoral care in each of the schools. All the schools also visit the parish churches for special occasions such as Christmas, Harvest and end of term services. Additionally, there are two independent schools: The Cambian New Elizabethan School in Hartlebury and King s Hawford in the parish of Ombersley. We do not currently have any specific links with the Cambian New Elizabethan school, which serves children with special educational needs, but King s Hawford, the preprep department for The King s School, Worcester, visit Ombersley parish church for their Christmas carol service. We would welcome the opportunity to extend links with these schools further. WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 7 of 19

8 A particular partnership has grown up between the school in Cutnall Green, which takes pupils from several of the parishes, and Elmbridge church where children from the school participate in the monthly family service in church when breakfast is provided beforehand. Other examples of ministry with families in mind include a new Sunday activity session being planned in the village hall at Rushock, a café-style Breakfast Church held once a term at Ombersley, the Sunday First service at Hartlebury and plans for a pet service at Doverdale. All the churches endeavour to be family-friendly and occasions such as Rogation, the Palm Sunday procession with a donkey and Christingle services are always well-attended. COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS Each church seeks to relate to its local community in different ways: examples from different parishes include a Big Paint Saturday morning which attracted people of all ages to create a mega-masterpiece, many of whom came to the family service the following day to see it unveiled; a Saturday Three in a village hall to offer hospitality and friendship to the local community; church people being instrumental in organising a bi-annual Bank Holiday Produce Show using both church and village hall, resulting in a great community event; and a Joy and Thanksgiving Service to celebrate and thank people for their contribution to their local community. Harvest meals and other church social events are popular and attract a wide range of people from the parishes. Some churches support the food banks in Droitwich and Kidderminster, the Maggs Day Centre for homeless people in Worcester or the Worcestershire women s refuge service. Some are also involved in dementia awareness, with the village of Ombersley being one of Worcestershire s first recognised dementia-friendly communities. We should like to continue to think creatively about these varied connections and also consider how we might be more connected as a Benefice with the world-wide church. WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 8 of 19

9 WORSHIP Worship in all the churches is central in style, with the priest usually wearing alb and stole for the Eucharist. The Book of Common Prayer and Common Worship are both in use, with two churches always using BCP, and there is a mixture of Eucharistic and non-eucharistic services each month. The latter includes a variety of informal family-friendly occasions as well as more structured services. Musical traditions are similarly varied, including the use of piano and instruments as well as the organ, and there are always opportunities to try new possibilities. Every church has the services of an organist, with two people playing regularly at more than one church in the Benefice which is in itself a helpful contribution to our shared life and communication between parishes. Two churches have regular choirs and a scratch choir can often be gathered for special occasions. One church has a plumbed-in data projector and screen, used particularly in all-age worship. On 5th Sundays the congregations meet for a united service and some festivals and special occasions are also celebrated jointly or shared between churches. We hold special services for occasions such as Palm Sunday, Rogation, Harvest, Remembrance and All Souls, when people who have been bereaved are especially invited to remember their loved ones. We offer a variety of formal and informal opportunities across the parishes for worship during Holy Week, Easter and at Christmas. Morning Prayer is said on Wednesdays at 9.15am in each church in turn and supported by a small congregation every week, when as well as joining with the daily worship of the whole Church we pray especially for the host parish and for the Benefice. We would welcome our new priest helping us review the pattern of Sunday services, to ensure that we are both serving the needs of existing congregations and making our worship as accessible as possible for people in the community, including those who come for baptisms, weddings and funerals. We want our worship to reflect our varied and rich traditions and be sustainable, but we also want to be open to new ideas and possibilities. CURRENT PATTERN OF SERVICES SUNDAY TIME ELMBRIDGE ELMLEY LOVETT HAMPTON LOVETT RUSHOCK DOVERDALE HARTLEBURY OMBERSLEY 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 9.00 am 9.30 am HC-CW MP-BCP FS am FS am HC-CW 9.00 am HC-CW 9.30 am FS am MP-BCP am MP-BCP HC-CW 9.00 am HC-CW 9.30 am MP-CW MP-CW am am HC-BCP 6.30 pm ES-BCP 9.00 am HC-BCP 9.30 am am HC-CW am HC-CW (joint, in turn) Key HC - Holy Communion MP - Morning Prayer ES Evensong FS Family Service BCP - Book of Common Prayer CW - Common Worship A service is also held once a quarter at St Mary s, Bishop s Wood, a Victorian mission church in the parish of Hartlebury. WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 9 of 19

10 FINANCE, PLANNED GIVING AND STEWARDSHIP Each parish is responsible for its own finances and more information can be found in the individual parish sections. There is a Benefice fund to which all the churches contribute and out of which the office and other shared costs are paid. Clergy expenses, which are met in full, are also paid from this fund. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT Our part-time, paid administrator, who works from an office in Ombersley church, is a valued and vital member of the Benefice team. The office is open for two mornings each week for personal callers and available via or mobile at other times. Administration for baptisms, weddings and funerals is all managed centrally through the office. Both centrally and via the local churches we work hard to keep in touch with people in each community by , individual parish websites and in print, including Sunday newsletters and parish magazines. Some churches are engaging with social media and we are exploring a benefice website. SOME FACTS AND FIGURES FACTS & FIGURES ELMBRIDGE ELMLEY LOVETT HAMPTON LOVETT RUSHOCK DOVERDALE HARTLEBURY OMBERSLEY Population Electoral Roll ( 2017) ASA (2016) FS 30 / HC Usual Liturgy CW BCP CW + BCP CW BCP CW CW Baptisms (2016) Weddings (2016) Funerals (2016) Burial of Ashes (2016) Seating Capacity Sound System Planned Change Ringing Regular Choir Church Listing Grade II* Grade II* Grade I Grade II Grade II Grade II* Grade II* Toilet Planned Kitchen Parking In lane In drive, field + lane In lane Small car park+lane Small car park In chuchyard and road In chuchyard Church Open Daily Daily By arrangement Daily By arrangement Daily Daily Churchyard Open Other local facilities Village hall nearby Village hall in Cutnall Green Village hall nearby Village hall nearby Village hall at Sytchampton First floor meeting room Meeting room in narthex Several churches are able to arrange additional parking for special occasions WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 10 of 19

11 ELMLEY LOVETT St Michael s Church Although the majority of the parish comprises farmland, Hartlebury Industrial estate forms the north-western boundary. The church of St Michael itself is isolated, the original settlement having been destroyed in a medieval plague. The tower dates back to around 1200 with the rest of the church being rebuilt in There is a fine Bird organ and a ring of 8 bells restored in 1990, the 6 originals having been cast in The church is in good repair and can comfortably seat 180. We plan to add toilet facilities in We value our rich cultural heritage and enjoy the traditional liturgy of the BCP, the King James Bible and the music from Hymns Ancient and Modern, all of which we embrace without undue formality, aiming to provide a welcoming traditional resource, adding diversity to the Benefice. Our services are well attended, considering the population, and are drawn from the neighbouring villages. Our regular epistle readers come from several of these local parishes. The bells are rung before each service and there are refreshments afterwards. The church hosts several group services, in particular the Nine Lessons and Carols at Christmas (2016 congregation: 180) and both the Remembrance (2016 congregation: 60) and All Souls (2016 congregation: 80) services in November. Our Harvest Festival is also a highlight of the year with a barbecue following the service. The Carol service musters an enthusiastic informal choir from around the parishes and we aim to include children in special services where possible, in particular reading lessons. St Michael s is fortunate to be one of the beneficiaries of the Elmley Lovett Church, School and Community Trust. The Parish Share is being paid in full and a planned giving scheme exists. The PCC are loyal and supportive both of the church and to each other. It has a camaraderie which spills over into our services. There are also two strong and enthusiastic churchwardens. In the future we wish to maintain and broaden the appeal of our traditional approach, to encourage a wider awareness and understanding of the Book of Common Prayer, and to increase the number of events to be held in the church, such as concerts, recitals and special services. WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 11 of 19

12 HAMPTON LOVETT St Mary and All Saints Church We are a small semi-rural parish with a history dating back to at least 817, including a reference in the Domesday Book, and a long association with the Pakington family. The parish comprises a residential home park, scattered individual or small groups of houses and farms, and a large industrial estate, all located close to the main Droitwich to Kidderminster road (A442). Most residents are aged over 55. The church building, which is Grade 1 listed, dates from the 12th century, with significant later additions and alterations. It is at the end of a residential lane and is on the route of the long distance footpath, the Monarch s Way. The late Victorian parish rooms, which are separately managed, are located nearby. Our church is friendly and welcoming. Every month we have a morning Communion service and an Evensong service. We use old and new traditions and lay leadership plays an important part in our worship. Special services at Christmas, harvest and 5th Sundays are well attended. We offer hospitality, ranging from coffee and biscuits after morning services to more elaborate catering at special events. We encourage music such as the hand bell ringers and members of the congregation are part of a scratch Christmas choir. We are proud of the support we offer to members of the community who are facing difficulties. Some parishioners receive home communion, and a member of the PCC supports families preparing for baptism. We value our many links with the school in Cutnall Green, including hosting their services at Christmas and some leavers services. There is a small hardworking PCC. We aim to pay our Parish Share in full and promote planned giving, including Gift Aid. The PCC has access to funds from a bequest through the Hampton Lovett Trust, without which we would struggle to meet our financial commitments. We want to attract more people to come to the church to worship and to enjoy its history and unique features. We are embarking on a significant building and development programme to preserve the building and extend its use. This includes repairing the 14th century tower, including a priest s room, and opening up part of the nave to create a more social space. We are installing sound systems, a hearing loop and interpretative materials to bring worship and the church s heritage more alive to all. The PCC is applying for Heritage Lottery Funding for some of this and other work. WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 12 of 19

13 ELMBRIDGE St Mary s Church St Mary s Church is a happy, positive, welcoming, inclusive church dedicated to spreading the good news of Jesus. The church has been a place of worship since the 12th century. Always open, people can be seen sitting on its benches, taking in the peacefulness of the surrounding farmland and hills. This contrasts with how active a church we are. The church and village hall are the centre of the community. We have three services a month, including a successful Family Service for children and from the local primary school at which breakfast is served beforehand. Special services at Christmas, Easter, Mothering Sunday and Harvest are packed; a sit down hot Harvest luncheon for 100 is served in village hall which is close by, followed by a produce auction in aid of charities. The new AV system enhances our hymn singing accompanied by our organist, and handbell ringers provide music for special events. The church has fresh flowers each week, provided by 28 people on a rota and every mum receives a bouquet of fresh flowers on Mothering Sunday. In 2016 Elmbridge paid its Parish Share in full, though with some difficulty. In addition, an incredibly active PCC raised over 40,000 to pay for a new boiler and cupboards, to sand/varnish wooden floors, buy new chairs, repair chimney and build a much needed WC. Our vestry was fitted with kitchen facilities so drinks and light food can be served with services. The church building is in excellent repair. The church community is also extremely energetic. Among other things, they deliver the Christmas post around the village with donations in lieu of stamps being to charity. They serve mulled wine and mince pies before leading parishioners Christmas Caroling to the elderly and housebound. They provide pastoral visits to the sick and newcomers along with Friends of Elmbridge. Currently they are cleaning up the churchyard and plan to beautify it by planting flowers and bulbs. The main goal of the PCC is to attract young families to church. This began with the Family Service and its breakfast. Following that we launched a website and a Facebook page is planned. More information about the church is at, stmaryselmbridge.org WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 13 of 19

14 RUSHOCK St Michael and All Angels Church Rushock is a small parish, located between the A448 (Kidderminster to Bromsgrove) and A442 (Droitwich to Kidderminster). Visitors tell us they are blown away by the warmth of the welcome at Rushock. Of the almost 120 people living in the village, approximately one in 6 are on our Electoral Roll. The congregation for our monthly communion service averages over 20, drawn from Rushock and some of the surrounding villages as well Rushock parishioners also travel for services, principally to Elmbridge, Elmley Lovett and Hampton Lovett. The church attracts a lot of visitors because the musician John Bonham (of Led Zepplin) is buried in the churchyard, though not many of them participate in our services. As with many small villages, our PCC depends on the services of people who have many other commitments to village life for example, through membership of the Parish Council or involvement in the running of our Village Hall committee. Many of them have been playing these multiple roles for many years so the church is very much part of the DNA of village life we should like to engage more of our neighbours in the life of the church, and have an interest in doing this in different ways, encouraging families and young people while still serving those who might prefer a more established way of engaging with the church. We are looking for leadership and support from our new priest in doing this. As a small church in a small hamlet, we have had to be innovative in seeking ways to raise funds to support the work of the church and maintain our Grade 2 building. We run a biennial Produce Show, have used the church building for concerts and lectures and organise special services such as an extremely well attended Crib service and a Harvest Lunch. Our PCC is committed to seeking to support our community with the limited resources, in particular of time, that we have and will look to our new priest for help in this area. Over recent years, we have invested in the fabric of the building to deal with issues raised at the Quinquennial Review and to make the building a more attractive place for worshippers. This year, we will be replacing the church tower roof. We make the best contribution we can to the Parish Share, but have not been able to pay in full for some years. WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 14 of 19

15 HARTLEBURY St James Church Our parish church provides an opportunity for spiritual growth and the coming together of our community. The parish is made up of Hartlebury village and several hamlets. A new housing development will provide an additional 92 houses. It is a mainly agricultural area, with a brick works and a trading estate. The village is served chiefly by the A449, and has a limited bus service and small railway station approximately half a mile from the village centre. Hartlebury Castle (Grade 1 listed) is also close: this was the official residence of the bishops of Worcester, from the 13th Century until 2007, when the then bishop moved to Worcester. The castle is now owned by a Trust, and open to the public, along with the adjacent County Museum. Nearby is Hartlebury Common, an area of Special Scientific Interest. There are two schools in the village, a CofE primary school and an independent school, The Cambian Elizabethan School. Other facilities include a combined post office and general store, and a village pub. The Parish Hall provides a venue for the many societies, classes and functions in the village, including a Community Cafe, which is open weekly and is well supported by many villagers and the church community. The church building, although mostly Victorian Gothic, dates back to at least 1269 and is Grade II* listed. The Friends of St. James was formed in 2012 to raise funds for on-going repairs, which has recently enabled the roof to be replaced. Located in the centre of the village, the churchyard holds five bishops' tombs, whilst the small mission church of St. Mary's at Bishop's Wood, has the grave of Bishop Philpott who commissioned the building in The church community comprises a loyal, committed, and somewhat mature (!) congregation who still feel strongly about our church, worship, and living our Christian faith. Our church is open daily (9am-5pm) and our members are very much involved with the day-to-day running of the church. We have bellringers, a choir, and a music group. Members of our congregation are actively involved as Eucharistic Ministers, reading the lessons, leading worship and preparing intercessions. We produce a monthly parish magazine, and have organised door-to-door collections for Christian Aid for almost forty years. We have strong links with the primary school, where two of our members are Foundation Governors and a team of 11 take part in Open the Book there. We hold special services with the school community at the end of each term, and also on Mothering Sunday, Harvest and Remembrance Day. A Christingle service, in support of the Children's Society, is held annually on Christmas Eve. We have a home group which meets regularly for Bible study, and we have identified Pastoral Care as an area of our Christian witness which needs to be more visible. We organise well-supported fairs at Advent and in the Spring. We have a small kitchen which enables us to provide light refreshments, and, on occasion, we hold BBQs in the churchyard and concerts in the church. In the past we have always paid our Parish Share in full, but found this difficult in We hope to pay our full share in WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 15 of 19

16 OMBERSLEY St Andrew s Church The church plays a major role in the life of the village for example, our involvement in Open the Book at the local school is said by the staff to be 'a lovely link with the village and church.' There is considerable goodwill in the local community towards the church. This means that significant services in the year are well attended and that fundraising for building projects is usually well supported. The summer Church Fête is a highlight of the village year, involving many of the wider community. Links between the church and other groups in the village particularly the Memorial Hall, Parish Council and the Ombersley Endowed First School - are strong. The church supports the Alzheimer s Society (the regional HQ is based in the village) and is working towards creating a Dementia Friendly environment. The website documents the history of this Estate church, ombersleyparishchurch.org.uk The building dates from 1829 and is generally in good repair, but the sandstone from which it is constructed results in ongoing maintenance needs. The beautiful and architecturally significant East Window is in need of quite urgent repair for which a grant is being sought. Being of a considerable size the building lends itself to events, such as concerts, debates etc. To improve the facilities, including ensuring all windows are in good repair, the PCC is launching the Towards 200 project to make the building fit for purpose for its next 100 years. We aim to involve the wider community in this project. The congregation (mostly older people who include a number of retired professionals) has been stable during the last few years. The PCC aims to pay the Parish Share in full, although this is increasingly difficult. Planned giving is in place, including Gift Aid. There is a commitment to supporting charities, particularly local ones, including donating 10% of regular church income. All services have a high degree of lay involvement with parishioners leading intercessions and reading the lessons. Family Services and Morning Prayer are lay-led and there is much sharing of thoughts, ideas and reflections in these two services. Family services are relaxed and make use of a variety of instruments, music and styles of worship, including Breakfast Church. The village first school celebrates Harvest, Christmas and Easter in the church and uses the building as a historical and geographical resource. The older children visit the church before Easter to experience the Easter story through drama and activities and also to climb the tower on Ascension Day WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 16 of 19

17 DOVERDALE St Mary s Church Doverdale is an ancient settlement, mentioned in the Domesday Book, and is geographically the smallest in the Benefice. This delightful district, popular with walkers and others who enjoy outdoor pursuits, lies in a network of country lanes and whilst the parish itself has no local facilities, good transport links and services can be found in nearby towns and villages. Agriculture still provides some employment, but a significant proportion of the working population are commuters. The church of St Mary has Norman origins, but was totally rebuilt in We maintain the building in good order and have invested heavily over the past years, financed through active fund-raising and with the help of a generous benefactor. This has involved a new roof, heating and electricity, the provision of an outside toilet and the stabilisation and repair of the east wall and windows. We plan to bring water to the building when we can. We have won the best kept small churchyard award for several years. The Friends of St Mary s has a very active committee and organises an annual outing as well as a number of fund raising events. Our special services are well supported we organise posies on Mothering Sunday, and host a Christingle service with Sytchampton School. Christmas, Easter and Remembrance Sunday are well attended. We have 11 flower arrangers and 12 holy dusters (cleaners). Following our well received pet service, we plan to organise another. We make coffee after the services and use Sytchampton Hall for larger events. Our use of the Book of Common Prayer attracts a committed congregation weekly who come from all around, though we are open to the use of other hymn books and style for special services. We intend to be more proactive with those who are married, baptised or hold funerals in our beautiful church. We give donations to Christian Aid, St John s Eye Hospital in Jerusalem and St Luke s Hospital for the clergy though we regret we have not been able to pay our Parish Share in full. WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 17 of 19

18 THE RECTORY Main Road, Ombersley WR9 0EW The Rectory is a modern, centrally heated two storey house set back from the road in the centre of Ombersley village. The ground floor comprises a study and visitors cloakroom just inside the front door, a large kitchen with separate utility room, a dining room and a lounge. Upstairs there are four bedrooms and two bathrooms. There is an attached, generously-sized garage and additional parking for two cars. There is garden to the front and rear of the house. Ombersley is a beautiful village with a long history. Today it has a mixed housing stock, which includes a small housing estate with middle-range and affordable homes, together with a small block of flats. There is also sheltered accommodation for the elderly. The village benefits from its close connections with the Ombersley Conservation Trust (formerly the Sandys Estate). As well as the central core of the village, there are numerous outlying hamlets, country lanes and surrounding farmland. Ombersley is well-served as regards amenities. Unlike many comparable villages, it still possesses a popular and well-used shop; this contains a delicatessen, newsagent, off-licence and butcher (the last of which has a national reputation). The Medical Centre, in the heart of the village, is rated Outstanding by the CQC; there are also facilities for physiotherapy and a local dentist, chiropractor, hairdressers and garage. There are a number of sports facilities, including for tennis, cricket and golf; village clubs and similar activities including Pilates, handbell ringing, amateur dramatics, crafts and book groups. Ombersley is famous in the neighbourhood for its wealth of pubs and restaurants; one being listed in the Good Food Guide. There is more information about the village of Ombersley at; ombersleyparishchurch.org.uk/ombersley-village WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 18 of 19

19 THE DIOCESE OF WORCESTER The vacancy is within Droitwich Deanery in the Archdeaconry of Dudley in the diocese of Worcester. The Bishop looks to appoint applicants who will work collaboratively with clergy and lay people in the deanery to encourage and sustain the wider mission and ministry of the church. The Diocese of Worcester covers an area of 671 square miles and includes parishes in Worcestershire, the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, and a few parishes in northern Gloucestershire, south-east Wolverhampton and Sandwell. It has around 170 parishes, 280 churches, around 120 stipendiary and 30 non-stipendiary clergy and 170 Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers). There are 100 church schools, 97 primary and 3 secondary. The diocese is divided into the Archdeaconry of Worcester, with six deaneries, and the Archdeaconry of Dudley, with seven deaneries. Kingdom People We are committed to mission, seeking to bring the good news of God s love in Jesus to all who live in our cities, towns and villages and to show how the gospel is relevant today. We are developing new patterns of ministry for changing times. Growing numbers of people from across traditions are offering themselves for ordination or for licensed and authorised lay ministry, and the diocese has a genuine family feel. Our Diocesan Synod has adopted an imaginative Kingdom People vision. This is a vision for a Church which enables its people to be: Deeply rooted in prayer and study of the scriptures Renewed and transformed by regular worship Equipped to witness to the gospel of love, compassion, justice and freedom Dedicated to helping children, young people and young adults to belong and be nurtured in faith Devoted to growing deeply in discipleship, offering our time and talents and money to God Resourced and released to minister to others Ready to engage with and serve our community Committed to making our buildings fit for purpose as a spiritual and community resource. Kingdom People aims to be a gift to the parishes and not an additional burden. It aims to provide a framework in which churches might flourish and grow, rather than impose a blueprint of how every church should look. Within our Kingdom People vision, we have identified four main priority areas which shape our strategic plan to engage with children and young people, strengthen stewardship, deepen discipleship and develop buildings for mission. Droitwich Deanery The deanery covers an attractive area set between Worcester, Bromsgrove, Stourport and Redditch. Largely rural in character, it comprises small village communities and the ancient salt town of Droitwich Spa, which has a population of about 28,000 and is at the geographical centre of the diocese. It offers a range of facilities for shopping, banking and recreation. There is a station on the Hereford Worcester Birmingham line and good road connections via the motorway network. There are four groups of parishes in the deanery, with six full time stipendiary clergy in the deanery, one of whom currently serves as full time rural dean with a brief for developing collaborative ministry and enabling mission through the nurture of training and vocations. There are two stipendiary curates, seven Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers), plus one in training, and a large number of lay people involved in ministry of many kinds. These include several who have trained on the diocesan Authorised Lay Ministry (ALM) scheme. We greatly value the support of retired clergy in many of the parishes. The deanery clergy meet together regularly and also once a term with lay colleagues in ministry for mutual support, reflection and planning. Deanery Synod meets three times a year and is an important forum for matters to do with mission and ministry and for sharing good practice. There is an annual service of Celebration of Lay Ministry and an annual confirmation in the deanery. WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 19 of 19