Parish Profile. Vacancy for Incumbent

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1 Parish Profile Vacancy for Incumbent Closing Date for Applications: 19th November 2015 Interviews: 10th December 2015

2 Introduction Christ Church Roxeth in Harrow is a lively and varied church community in London s most religiously diverse borough. Our electoral roll has 209 members of all ages, served through three distinct Sunday services: 8.30am service - formal traditional language with an average of 24 people 10.30am service - multi-generational and informal but structured with an average of 90 adults and 24 young people 6.30pm service - informal worship with an average of 43 people The church recently celebrated its 150 th anniversary and has a long heritage of evangelical teaching and mission to the community and the wider world. Since the mid-1990s, many of the congregation have been involved with New Wine, with a group of around 50 attending summer conferences each year. Although the congregation remain broad in their expressions of Anglican worship, there is a desire to encounter God s presence and see His Kingdom built through the Spirit s power. We benefit from an excellent flexible church building and facilities, volunteer involvement in all aspects of church life and an experienced team of paid staff which includes a Community Outreach Manager (0.8 FTE), Administrator (0.8 FTE), Youth Pastor (1.0 FTE), Children s Worker (0.4 FTE) and Worship Team Pastor (0.5 FTE). It s a wonderful, deep and loving community People genuinely seek and love God and want to serve Him There is a dependence on the leading of the Spirit even if it means certain things might be rough around the edges Over the past decade, there has been a significant focus on building involvement with our local community through a range of outreach ministries. This has culminated in the purchase of a charity shop that is increasingly becoming a base for outreach in the heart of our parish. There is real potential for evangelistic growth from a large fringe of around 150 local people with whom we have built connections. CCR Parish Profile 2

3 Our Vision and Priorities Our vision is to enable people from our DIVERSE local community to become DISCIPLES of Jesus, to DISCOVER their gifts and to seek God s Kingdom together. Through listening prayer and exploring Scripture, we have felt God lead us to focus on three specific areas: Presence we believe that God wants to be intimately involved in our lives both individually and corporately and so we should actively seek to experience His presence in our Sunday services and our daily lives Prayer we want to grow in our commitment to making prayer the engine room of all we do Purpose we seek God s calling and purpose for each of us as disciples of Jesus and we believe that He has a plan for us as a church to help build His Kingdom in Harrow and the wider world Feedback from the congregation has highlighted several priorities for growth in the life of the church, which we need a new leader to help us bring about: Establishing our vision more clearly - enabling us to have a more deliberate vision to ensure that our many activities are focused and purposeful Evangelistic growth from our community outreach - enabling us to strengthen our mission focus and see our community contacts come to faith in Jesus Deepening our discipleship - encouraging all members to discover their gifts and Kingdom purpose for their lives, deepen their maturity in Christ s love and knowledge of His word and fulfil their roles within His body Seeking the Spirit - helping us to encounter the presence of God and discover gifts of the Spirit for ministry and mission in a way that is sensitive to people s differing backgrounds Improving our communications - helping the church community to be kept informed through engaging and up-to-date communications Building integration across our congregation - facilitating the desire many people have expressed to encourage stronger relationships between our three services Reaching out to young people and the 20s/30s age range - encouraging the potential growth of our children s/youth work and addressing a noticeable decline in attendance amongst 20s/30s CCR Parish Profile 3

4 Person Specification We are looking for a strategic equipping leader who will help us discern a clear vision and enable us to encounter God more deeply, grow as disciples and see evangelistic growth from our community outreach. The congregation has prayerfully reflected on the type of leader that would help us to reach our full potential, but our heart is to be open and willing to be led by the person whom God calls. Calling To have a clear sense of calling to lead Christ Church Roxeth into the next phase of its ministry and mission Character To be prayerful and demonstrate an openness to the leading of the Spirit To be an inspiring team leader who encourages every member to grow in their gifts To be a strong leader able to make clear decisions and resolve relational conflicts To have a commitment to a biblically orthodox perspective on the person and work of Christ and matters of ethics and morality To have a Kingdom understanding of the Gospel and the role of charismatic gifts, whilst demonstrating a sensitivity to the breadth of the church s experience and practice Competence To be able to see God s big picture, discern key priorities and take risks for the Kingdom To have strong skills in biblical teaching and helping people to apply God s word to the challenges of 21st century life To have an ability to communicate effectively, build a shared vision and inspire people to get involved in bringing it to life To have an ability to facilitate evangelistic growth through outreach to the community, in collaborative partnership with local churches To be humble, servant hearted and willing to listen Chemistry To be able to relate to and care for a diverse, multicultural and socially mixed community To have an evangelical approach to Scripture CCR Parish Profile 4

5 Our Parish The Local Community The parish of Christ Church Roxeth is in the Willesden Episcopal Area of the diocese of London, towards the south of the London Borough of Harrow, about 15 miles north-west of the centre of London. The parish has a diverse population of about 10,000. The 2011 Census showed that 70% of the population of the parish are of non-british ethnicity, with the majority being of Asian or Asian British heritage. 31% of the population does not have English as their first language. It has a youthful profile with approximately 25% of its population being below the age of 18, although rising house prices are noticeably impacting on the ability of people in their 20s and 30s to settle in the area. There is a high level of marriage in the parish, but 21% of all families with children are lone parent families. Over 65s account for 11% of the population. Near the church are two wealthy private estates and owner occupied property where over half of the residents have a degree and work in professional occupations. This contrasts with more deprived areas towards South Harrow such as the Northolt Road and Grange Farm estates, the latter of which is about to be completely redeveloped. Nearly 1/3 of households in the parish have multiple deprivation markers, and are more likely to be engaged in part-time, or lower paid employment. 18% of the population of the parish live in social rented accommodation, with 25% of children and 20% of pensioners classified as living in poverty. Living in Harrow The church is in a conservation area and there are parks nearby with scope for lovely walks and the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful architecture and history of Harrow on the Hill, Pinner and Ruislip. The town centre of Harrow has two shopping malls, one of which has a cinema, a good selection of high-street and independent shops and lots of different pubs and restaurants to choose from. The borough has an arts centre, good public sports facilities and a large district general hospital at Northwick Park. The church is excellently situated within walking distance of both South Harrow and Harrow-on-the- Hill Underground stations, which are served by the Piccadilly, Metropolitan and Chiltern lines. A bus route linking South Harrow Station to central Harrow, Wealdstone and Watford, stops just east of the church entrance. Harrow lies between the M1 to the North, and the A40/M40 to the South, in the suburban ring between the North Circular Road and the M25. There are a range of schools in the immediate area, including a primary school located directly opposite the entrance to the church drive. There is also a private preparatory school, a state secondary school and a Roman Catholic sixth form college located within the parish boundaries. Within the wider area, there are a number of colleges and the Harrow campus of the University of Westminster. CCR Parish Profile 5

6 Who We Are Demographics We are a mixed group of people from a range of backgrounds: 209 on electoral roll 26% live in the parish 61% female and 39% male Approximately 80% white and 20% Black and Asian Staff Team The staff team is based on site and forms the core of a strong, committed leadership team: Administrator Jane Atfield Community Outreach Manager Rachael Matthews 27 hours per week over 4 days 28 hours per week over 4 days Volunteers The church enjoys active involvement from a number of volunteers who support its ministry through giving, prayer, practical service, leadership, outreach and extensive contributions to our Sunday services (including leading and preaching). However, we are seeing some key areas of church life (eg. youth work, children s work, sound and vision) struggling with a lack of volunteers. Many church members are busy with work and family commitments, although there is a lot of untapped potential which could be released if volunteers were better supported and a clearer structure was in place to encourage involvement. The church has a remarkable history of encouraging people to pursue both lay and ordained ministry, with one member (Steve Buxton) currently training to be a Licensed Lay Minister. We also have a retired clergyman (Ken White) with permission to officiate. Youth Pastor Paul Cable Children s Worker Emma Routledge Worship Team Pastor Kay-Marie Stroud Licensed Lay Minister Clive Scowen Full time 15 hours per week over 2 days 19 hours per week In full time work but actively involved in ministry and leadership CCR Parish Profile 6

7 Presence We believe that God wants to be intimately involved in our lives both individually and corporately and so we should actively seek to experience his presence in our Sunday services and our daily lives 8.30 Service (average attendance 24) The 8.30 Communion service comprises a warm fellowship of mostly older people. It offers a traditional and reflective form of service with robed clergy, using the timeless structure of Common Worship Order 2 and accompanied by organ-led hymns. This is followed by informal fellowship and sometimes a mission presentation, over coffee and croissants. The congregation is very supportive, many having been at Christ Church for most of their lives. They maintain midweek groups and support the church through generosity and prayer for our Mission Partners and community outreach. The service is sustained by a small but committed group of volunteers. The fellowship and care I receive mean a great deal to me I find the 8.30 service helpful and easy to reflect in... I enjoy its strong supportive fellowship Service (average attendance 90 adults 24 children) The service aims to enable all ages from young children to older people to meet with God, with a sense of loving community across the generations. It is informal but structured with some liturgy, incorporating a broad range of sung worship expressions, biblical teaching and mission updates. There is a mix of views about the right balance between informal and structured styles. Communion is celebrated twice a month using accessible Common Worship liturgy and we have explored various approaches to intercession and also occasionally pray for members working lives. There is a growing openness to God s presence and gifts of the Spirit, with prophecy and prayer for healing being regularly offered. I appreciate the way it draws in a broad selection of Christ Church family I love the freedom given to children to be themselves during the services CCR Parish Profile 7

8 6.30 Service (average attendance 43) The 6.30 service is more informal, with a mixture of singles and couples spanning all ages and backgrounds. The overall aim is to be led by the Spirit and listen to what God is saying, with many members expressing a desire for more depth and expectation. There are times of extended sung worship, different expressions of prayer, regular testimony and the opportunity for people to respond to teaching in a variety of ways. Communion is celebrated twice a month, once formally and once in a more informal family style. We are experimenting with alternative cafe style evenings which enable us to grapple with big issues and ask questions as well as being accessible to newcomers. We also want to integrate our young people (12-18) more into this service in the coming year. A considered focus on the gifts of the Spirit I feel it can attract many non-denominational or unchurched people Sung Worship We have a large team led by a part time Worship Team Pastor, with 7 worship leaders, several organists and over 40 musicians with a range of ages, backgrounds and musical abilities. The different congregations are led in sung worship through a variety of styles ranging from formal hymns to contemporary worship songs. Several new worship leaders have been identified and mentored in recent years, and there are occasional open jam sessions to enable new musicians to build confidence as well as exploring new repertoire. The Worship Core Group has also encouraged greater fellowship amongst the team and holds a monthly gathering with a focus on extended times of worship in a variety of styles. Lots of musically talented people are encouraged to contribute in any way they feel comfortable CCR Parish Profile 8

9 Prayer We want to grow in our commitment to making prayer the engine room of all we do Prayer Meetings We have regular prayer meetings which typically include the following: A pre-service prayer meeting before all of our Sunday services, at which we seek to listen to God for specific prophetic words Morning staff prayers (Monday to Thursday) Monthly prayer meetings for our outreach projects, Mission Partners and Christians Against Poverty Weekly prayer meetings at the Language Cafe and Found charity shop One off prayer meetings for specific needs The church has long struggled to establish a sustained pattern of corporate prayer and our various prayer meetings are mainly attended by a faithful but small group of older people. Busy working lives mean that giving time for prayer remains a constant challenge. We believe there is opportunity for fresh leadership and development in this very important area. It would be great to have more prayer opportunities to engage the whole church in joining in Creative Prayer We have endeavoured to explore different styles and expression of prayer in recent years: 24/7 prayer - this has proven to be very popular with nearly 50% of the church attending Presence - dedicated evenings of sung worship and seeking God s presence Prayer walking 40 day fast - individual church members choosing to fast and pray on certain days Celtic style prayer during Lent Prayer concerts Prayer Ministry Prayer ministry for healing and other needs is offered at all of our Sunday services. The principles are based on the New Wine model and prophetic ministry has been nurtured through congregational teaching and training events. A Healing on the Streets ministry was launched by Christ Church and operated in South Harrow for five years up to 2014 in conjunction with other local churches. This allowed over 25 church members to gain practical experience of using spiritual gifts in an outreach context. We are looking forward to being involved in a new Healing on the Streets initiative being launched in central Harrow by another local church. CCR Parish Profile 9

10 Purpose Growing Disciples We seek God s calling and purpose for each of us as disciples of Jesus Welcome Strategy The church has a reputation for being friendly to newcomers, with people who become regular members often speaking of the warm welcome when they first visited. A small number of people we have connected with through outreach projects have attended our services, although we are keen to grow in our effectiveness in welcoming people from all backgrounds. We would benefit from some better co-ordination and support for the stewards and welcome team. Several people have commented that the location of the church building on the fringe of the parish and away from the main road with a lack of good signage are limiting factors in people knowing where we are. Midweek Fellowship Around 50% of our members are involved in some form of midweek fellowship and a small number involved in prayer partnerships and triplets. A network of core groups (typically with 6-12 attendees) offer fellowship, Bible study and discipleship in a variety of ways. There are some larger midweek groups which also include an outreach focus. Feedback suggests that busy lives, childcare and not finding a suitable group are the main barriers for those not currently involved. We would benefit from greater clarity and purpose in how midweek fellowship is organised and supported. We felt welcome when we came but we weren t sure if there is a dedicated team We need a structured way of getting people involved Occasional Offices and Pastoral Care There are occasional infant baptisms and full immersion baptism of adults, supported by appropriate preparation. Up to 5 weddings and 10 funerals are conducted each year, with marriage preparation and bereavement counselling being offered as required. Pastoral care is provided to church members through a small team of volunteers. Home communion is administered to those elderly people who are unable to attend Sunday services. My core group helps me to learn about God and get to know a few people in a deeper way They provide the vast majority of input as I am not great at maintaining focus during the week God speaks through others and I process and deepen my faith by unpacking the Bible CCR Parish Profile 10

11 Discipleship and Mentoring The prayer ministry team recently offered personal ministry to our members through a venture called Journey of Discovery. It was a combination of prophetic ministry, a spiritual gifts inventory and a secular Strengths Finder assessment, to enable people to discover their gifts. This was extremely well received and was repeated due to high demand. A mentoring programme has been reinvigorated, with training offered to 17 adult and 3 teenage mentors, although there are a limited number of male mentors. The training will be followed up over the year by informal events for mentors to share experiences and network with each other. Children s Work A part time Children s Worker was appointed in 2014, with a vision to see children equipped to be passionate followers of Jesus walking in the love that God has for them. There has been considerable effort to make the service more welcoming for families and seasonally themed All Age Worship services are now held six times a year with an all age band and involvement of young people in all aspects of the service. A creche is offered by a small team of volunteers, using Bible-themed resources and encouraging young children to engage with God through biblical stories and activities. The Children s Worker has overseen the relaunch of ministry to 5-9 year olds in the Treasure Hunters group on Sunday mornings. This group combines a mixture of teaching, craft, games, prayer and ministry. There is also a Treasure Hunters club held monthly on a Friday evening. We need to keep investing in our children s work... they are the future of the church! Youth Work A full time Youth Pastor was appointed in 2013, with a remit to transition from our former model of running a separate youth congregation (Soul Survivor Harrow) to establishing a more integrated approach. We now see at least 30 young people involved on a weekly basis, a number which is growing at a steady rate. The activities include a Monday night core group (for s), a Friday night open access youth group (for s), a revamped Sunday school, away days and retreats. The youth work is great and needs to be encouraged. It is an area where there is a great appetite to expand but it needs more active support, encouragement and resources to grow CCR Parish Profile 11

12 Purpose Mission We believe that God has a plan for us as a church to build His Kingdom in Harrow and the wider world As a church, we are seeking to establish an integrated vision for mission which encompasses outreach in the local area, partnership with the wider church, passion to see suffering relieved and support for mission around the world. Community Outreach The church took the strategic decision five years ago to employ a Community Outreach Manager responsible for building bridgeheads into our local community and supporting a range of emerging outreach projects which have attracted involvement from many church members. We are now an increasingly community-focused church, with a growing fringe of over 150 people who regularly have contact with us through our outreach projects, children s and youth work. We see it as a priority to equip church members to share their faith more effectively and to bring those we are connecting with to faith in Jesus. Although the Alpha and Start courses have been run with a small number of guests attending over the years, we are seeking to translate our current outreach into further evangelistic growth. How our outreach and church activities draw people into membership and ministry to varying degrees. CCR Parish Profile 12

13 Found (Charity Shop) Around 35 years ago, we felt God speaking about having a tangible presence down the hill from the church. In 2012, this vision was finally realised with the establishing of a charity shop called Found. The charity shop has a vision to see the love of God shared in the community. Its mission is to be welcoming and generous in serving our local community, inspiring everyone to flourish, enhancing education, relieving poverty and helping with life s issues. We have been able to demonstrate God s love, share prophetic words and seen a number of healings. Several regular customers have come to faith and begun to connect with church life. To date, the shop has served over 55,000 customers and is in an encouraging financial position. A separate Charity and Limited Company has been set up with a Board of Trustees from amongst the our church members. A full time manager and part-time deputy manager are employed by the Trust to run the shop with the help of over 35 regular volunteers. The charity shop is becoming the primary base for outreach in our parish and may offer longer term scope to establish a worshipping community. Christians Against Poverty (CAP) CAP is a national charity enabling churches to reach out to those struggling with debt. Christ Church established a Harrow CAP Centre in 2009 and is now supporting around 50 individuals and families, several of whom are now free from debt and discovering the Christian faith. We listen to their stories, share the good news that Jesus brings and offer prayer. We work with the local Food Bank, take around food parcels, put on parties and try to bless these families in any way possible. I was at the end of my finances to the level of desperation and then I found CAP quite by chance and I thank God I did as the help and kindness given has been beyond reproach. My financial situation is now steady and all my debts being paid (Client) Such a lovely shop. A pleasure to come into. Staff very friendly. Prices great too! (Customer) I m really excited about the charity shop as our real presence in the community Helping out at Found is great because I feel that I am part of the team there CCR Parish Profile 13

14 Get Together Get Together meets weekly to share a meal, enjoy social activities and study the bible in an accessible way. The group connects with around 50 people and is supported by around 15 church members. Most of the group are from a wider variety of backgrounds and beliefs than the Sunday congregations. Some have mild learning difficulties or have experienced mental illness, but find love and acceptance within the group. A few members have recently come to faith and begun attending Sunday services, although we are grappling with the challenge of how to truly welcome and integrate those coming from different backgrounds. Get Together is like a big family sitting round a table Get Together has taught me things I could learn nowhere else... it s taught me patience, love and joy and given me a glimpse of God s heart for people Language Café The Language Cafe aims to teach English to up to a dozen ladies each week. Many faith groups are represented but the Christian faith is introduced, prayer requests are taken and the stories of Easter and Christmas are shared. I like our teachers, I like to find out something new every time The class is very useful for us. I found a lot friends and good people as well as good teachers Jelly Tots Jelly Tots was established three years ago to provide a toddler group for parents, carers and their little people. It meets every Wednesday morning in term time and welcomes up to 35 youngsters, regularly having to turn away customers! The sessions involved play time, songs and a creatively told Bible story. A fantastic toddler group run by wonderful people with high quality toys and outside space Messy Church Messy Church has operated previously in various forms, with the current ministry established 6 months ago by the Children s Worker. It aims to engage children and adults through creativity, celebration and hospitality. It welcomes people from a range of churched and unchurched backgrounds. I always feel so welcomed and at home when I come to Messy Church. When we leave we count the days until the next one (Hindu visitor) YMCA A YMCA residential hostel is located at the entrance to the church grounds and one of the church members works there as a manager. Until recently, the Get Together group had built relationship with the residents through a range of activities including movie screenings, pamper nights and cookery classes, although unfortunately these are no longer happening. The Youth Pastor has re-established links with the YMCA and this represents a significant opportunity for outreach. CCR Parish Profile 14

15 Children s and Youth Work Outreach We are excited about investing in the growing potential of our children s and youth work. Although we are at times limited by the current volunteer base, our weeknight clubs for children and youth are increasingly attracting newcomers and a three day children s Holiday Club was held in August 2015, with most of the attendees not being from the church. Our Children s Worker also works for a local charity called Re:Generation, which partners with other Harrow churches to deliver ministry into local primary schools. Our Youth Pastor has been pursuing new opportunities in the community, including a Christian Union and a boys self esteem course at nearby Whitmore High School, which is in the parish. There is potential for expansion to employ a secondary schools worker through various external funding options. There is a desire to build up a larger team to support youth and schools work and maximise the potential of providing youth services in the local community. We also have a longstanding relationship with the Charles Gardner Memorial Fund, a small local charity established in 1920, which owns a hall and field (as well as two small cottages) close to the church. These were used extensively over the years for church youth work with the currently inactive Church Lads & Church Girls Brigade and the former Soul Survivor Harrow youth congregation. They are now only used occasionally by Christ Church for events such as Slum Survivor. The majority of the trustees are church members and the present trustees intend to invite the new Vicar to become a trustee, recognising the significant potential of these facilities for future development of youth work. The children can bring their non-church friends to Friday nights as a form of evangelism CCR Parish Profile 15

16 Partnering with Other Churches Christ Church has sought to be proactive in working with and supporting other churches: Active representation from church members on the Deanery, Diocesan and General Synod. Involvement in the South Harrow Churches Together, through the Fraternal leaders gatherings and the Women s World Day of Prayer Organising a Harrow wide Church Leaders prayer lunch two to three times a year Long term connections with St Paul s Harrow and St Peter s Harrow, which were part of the former Roxeth Team Ministry Hosting a Sri Lankan church on Sunday afternoons in the church hall Ongoing partnership with St George s Southall We do not have especially active relationships with other faith communities, despite Harrow being notable for having the highest level of religious diversity of any local authority in England and Wales. Approximately 37% of the population identified themselves as Christian in the 2011 census, with the next largest religious identities being Hindu (25%), and Muslim (12%). Relief of Poverty, Injustice and Suffering Many church members are passionate about encouraging prayerful engagement with issues of poverty, injustice and suffering around the world: Active involvement with 9 other churches in the Harrow group of Action by Christians Against Torture, with the chair and treasurer both being members of Christ Church. Growing support for Harrow Against Trafficking Regular communication and prayer for the needs of the suffering church Generous giving by church members to the work of relief agencies such as Tear Fund World Mission As a church we strongly believe that Jesus calls His church to share in His worldwide mission of proclaiming and demonstrating the Kingdom of God. We therefore support a number of Mission Partners, the majority of whom have direct personal connections to the church. We also give smaller donations to a number of people or organisations at home and overseas. CCR Parish Profile 16

17 Resources Finances Christ Church s finances have been finely balanced over 2013 and 2014 with income covering expenditure only by a small margin. Anticipated levels of income and expenditure in 2015 show a deficit for the year, mainly due to a significant issue with the tenants in one of our properties, which has now been resolved. Funding is in place to cover the effects of this deficit through a combination of cash reserves brought forward from 2014 and loans received from church members during We have often faced projected deficits before, but God has always proved his faithfulness and there has been incredible generosity from our members. A strategic review of finances in 2014 identified the opportunity to sell one of the church s properties, pay off the mortgage raised to buy the charity shop and secure funds for property and church maintenance in the future. However, the local council s decision compulsorily to purchase the Grange Farm Community Centre, as part of a complete redevelopment of the Grange Farm Estate, has put this plan on hold until we know the size of any funds released by this sale and determine how they should be used. The Church has met its Common Fund contributions in full in recent years and has been able to contribute funds over and above core costs. The Church s unrestricted income in 2014 was 333,000 ( ,000) and unrestricted expenditure was 361,000. The annual rental income across our properties on a fully let basis is 53,000 per annum. CCR Parish Profile 17

18 Income from Properties Property Estimated Value Comments YMCA Unknown On Lease to the YMCA until 2131 The Lodge 500,000 2 bedroom bungalow at the entrance to the church drive currently rented by church members Grange Farm Community Centre 100,000+ Used by local residents and Language Cafe but due to be compulsorily purchased by the local council FOUND Charity Shop 250,000 in 2012 Leased by the CCR Foundation Charity that manages the shop and allows it to trade 69 Southdown Crescent 500,000 with mortgage of 205,000 to finance purchase of charity shop 4 bedroom house, about 2/3 mile from church, intended for use by a curate but in recent years let commercially Church Building Christ Church is located on Roxeth Hill, a mile from Harrow town centre on the southern slope of Harrow Hill. The George Gilbert Scott church, which was built in the Gothic style in 1862 and extended in 1888, is a Grade II listed building which seats up to 270 people. Transepts extend from the front of the nave, with low aisles extending west from the transepts to the west wall. Stone arches separate the nave, transepts and aisles. The church is decorated with stained glass windows above the Lord s table, in the chancel, the transepts and the west wall of the nave. A modest belfry (without bells) with a clock extends from the roof of the nave towards the west end. The church is set in its own grounds, away from the road, approached by a drive which provides a fair amount of car parking. There is a closed graveyard to the east of the church and a garden to the west, accessed from the hall or the drive. A significant reordering was undertaken in 1999 which involved reconfiguring the layout and introducing carpet, chairs and projector screens to create a flexible space for worship and community activity. Most recently, the vision system has been upgraded, and we are looking to improve the sound system. Emergency lighting and fire alarms were installed a year ago. Our last Quinquennial inspection took place in November While there are no outstanding urgent works arising from that report, we are mindful of the need to ensure that financial provision is made to enable us to respond to movement under the south transept (with consequential need to refurbish the windows), damp in the Prayer Room and a likely replacement of the lighting in the hall and lounge over the medium term. Church Hall In 1979, a two storey extension was added at the west end of the church. This consists of a hall, lounge, kitchens and an office that has recently been expanded and renovated. This accommodation enables children s and youth work and other church meetings to take place on site. The downstairs hall can accommodate over 100 people sitting down for a meal and for a less formal occasion. The attractive, carpeted upstairs lounge (at church level) can comfortably accommodate people for an informal occasion. CCR Parish Profile 18

19 The Vicarage Built in 1939, the Vicarage is a substantial detached house located immediately next to the church, with its own garden, garage and private parking off the church drive. It is a spacious and comfortable house, with rooms of a very good size and proportion. There are five bedrooms (one en suite), two reception rooms, a study and a large kitchen. The YMCA residential hostel next door to the vicarage brings occasional noise challenge, but also opportunities for outreach and evangelism. CCR Parish Profile 19