Profile of the 7 Churches

Transcription

1 Profile of the 7 Churches of the Benefices of Crayke with Brandsby and Yearsley and Coxwold and Husthwaite Easter 2012

2 Welcome to our group of seven village churches, situated in the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the edge of the North York Moors National Park. Introduction Although legally we are two benefices joined in plurality Coxwold, Husthwaite, Carlton Husthwaite and Wass with Crayke, Brandsby and Yearsley we have, over the last nine years, joined together increasingly rewardingly for worship, days away, lent courses, regular Wednesday morning prayers, home groups and prayer groups. We are committed to the continuation of this work together in order to maintain and improve the health of our churches and to spread God s word in our villages. View from the Rectory We are blessed with a wonderful benefice ministry team to support our Incumbent: Nigel Chapman, SSM Curate who is also Diocesan Children and Youth Work Adviser; Heather Tisbury, Lay Reader licensed to the Easingwold Deanery; as well as three talented Lay Worship Leaders and several other lay helpers who have had training in leading worship and are regularly involved in their own parishes. The Rectory is in Crayke and has one of the best views in the village including of York Minster 12 miles away! It was purpose built in 1969 and has 4 bedrooms, a recently refurbished kitchen, a lovely garden and a double garage. There are two church primary schools in Husthwaite and Crayke both very successful and popular and we see our links with them as of key importance. Easingwold is our local market town and provides an Rectory entrance (the Church is across the road) outstanding array of services, including a very good secondary school, many and varied shops, excellent restaurants, library and many different societies (see The Galtres Centre has sport and fitness facilities and hosts concerts, plays and regular social activities. Although definitely a rural area, and a 4x4 vehicle has come in handy over the last two winters, there is ready access further afield via the A19 to the North-East and the A1 links to motorways north and south. York to London is only two hours by train. There are regular buses to York and Thirsk from Easingwold. Broadband is available in all the villages and the use of , and other IT skills, has helped hugely with the practicalities of our working together. Each village has an individual identity and a strong sense of community, as you will see from the following information, but we also see much similarity in our Christian mission within our villages (and the wider world) and the benefit of pooling our resources and talents to make this happen.

3 Brandsby All Saints The Village (brandsbycumstearsby.co.uk) Brandsby is an exceptionally caring, friendly village. As one newcomer recalled: The day I moved in one neighbour handed a cauliflower over the hedge and from the other side came a freshly baked chocolate cake. In recent years several young families have moved into the village and there are now over 60 children. Eggs are for sale from several houses, surplus vegetables are generously distributed. The village has a resident doctor, and Cherry Hill Nurseries attracts custom from far and wide. It is also great walking country with the North York Moors a few miles away. The Parish Brandsby and the nearby hamlet of Stearsby is off the York/Helmsley B1363. It is a scattered community, population 245 (2009) and is made up of farms, several large houses, many cottages, and some local Housing Association properties. The retired and those in work live comfortably side by side. All Saints Church A tree lined avenue off the main road leads to Rectory Corner and All Saints, a distinguished Georgian church with fine views across to the Howardian Hills. We have a loyal and dependable congregation averaging about 25 for most services, and they sing lustily from the Ancient and Modern, Revised Hymn Book. All Saints has 64 people on the electoral roll. Sunday services are usually held at am (occasional 8am HC). Both Common Worship and BCP are used, with a BCP Morning Prayer on the 4 th Sunday of the month. Combined Family Services, lay led, are worked into the rota, and all 7 churches meet together on a regular basis. A half-hour midweek prayer meeting is held each month within the Benefice. The invaluable Parish News keeps us informed. Lay members of the congregation assist with the chalice, intercessions, readings, preparing for communion, other duties such as collection, bell ringing, books and welcome, and on the first Sunday of the month producing coffee and biscuits. Flowers and cleaning of the church is undertaken by members of the village. We are also very fortunate to have a bank of retired clergy to call on, particularly during the present interregnum.

4 Community Activities Our village hall, known as Cholmeley Hall, is a well used centre with a good kitchen. It is the headquarters of Brandsby s thriving W.I. The Village Hall Committee run quiz nights, barbecues, country rambles followed by afternoon tea and the popular Christmas party. There is an active Parish Council. A play group for toddlers with a new adventure playground provides a welcome weekly meeting place for young mothers. Finances The funds of the church are in good order with general running costs being met by Sunday collections, regular donations and covenants, boosted by our monthly Coffee Mornings, Spring Fair, Summer Barbecue and Harvest Supper. All these contributions come from members and non-members within our community, giving us a shared experience of support for our beautiful and unique Georgian church. Our last building inspection showed work needing to be done to the cupola and we are therefore preparing a fundraising programme. However, having received donations from three well-wishers before the appeal is launched, we feel confident that our target will be met.

5 Carlton Husthwaite St Mary s The Village (carltonhusthwaite.org.uk) Carlton Husthwaite is a village of about 100 dwellings, but with a Village Hall. The majority of the residents are retired professionals. There are approximately 10 young families and the school bus stops in the village every morning to take the children to Husthwaite Primary school or to Easingwold Secondary School. Sadly, the village pub has recently closed, while the shop and post office closed several years ago. Our Lay Reader is a church representative on the village and village hall committees. The village residents willingly take part in fundraising for the church in relation to the fabric of the building. Currently the fundraising efforts include a 200 club, coffee mornings and an annual sponsored walk. Other social events in the village include domino drives and quizzes. This year there will be a beacon at the village as part of the Jubilee celebrations. A party will celebrate both Jubilee and the 25 th anniversary of the building of the village hall. The Church of St Mary s This present church, with seating for 80 people, was built in 1678 on the site of an earlier building dating back to It was further restored in The church bells were refurbished in 2011 and, when funds permit, the gutters and stonework are due attention. The DCC feel it important that villagers and visitors alike be able to access the church at all times for private prayer. For this reason the building open daily. St Mary s is a daughter church of St Nicholas Husthwaite and consequently has a District Church Council. A small but committed group of parishioners living in Carlton Husthwaite form the Church Council. There is one Deputy Churchwarden and in addition, the Benefice Lay Reader, who lives in Carlton Husthwaite, is ex officio member of the DCC. One of our two resident Lay Worship Leaders acts as Secretary, whilst we are fortunate to have the services of a church member from another parish as Treasurer. The accounts and minutes of the APCM are held prior to St Nicholas APCM and forwarded to their PCC for verification and inclusion in their annual meeting. Worship The services of Holy Communion held in St Mary s use both the Book of Common Prayer and Common Worship liturgy. The hymnbook used is Ancient and Modern. Non- sacramental Family Services are held as frequently as possible and choruses are sung with the aid of an overhead projector and loose hymn sheets. Carlton Husthwaite has small number of young families and on average five families attend the Family Services along with other regulars. At key main festival times too, an all age environment is maintained. For example, on Palm Sunday a donkey procession leaves the Village Hall and the first part of the

6 Service is conducted outside the Church on the village green. Family Services are sometimes held in the afternoon followed by a shared tea - for example on Remembrance Sunday and at the Christingle Service. Palm Sunday procession Our Benefice Reader takes some of the Family Services at St Mary s and other non- sacramental services at other churches in the Benefice and the Benefice of Crayke, Brandsby and Yearsley, a commitment of up to 3 services per month. Two Lay Worship Leaders also living locally are able to take Family Services at St Mary s. Other members of the congregation regularly read lessons and periodically lead intercessions. The Churchwarden is also the organist. Harvest is an important time in the life of Carlton Husthwaite and for the neighbouring village of Birdforth. The church at Birdforth, St Mary s, is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust and although this ancient building is redundant, the Church Trust guidelines permits services to be held there twice per annum. Harvest Festivals are held on alternate years in each church. Occasionally, marriages are also held at Birdforth. St Mary s, Birdforh

7 Coxwold St Michael s The Parish The Parish of Coxwold lies astride the boundary between the North Yorkshire National Park and the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and comprises the Village of Coxwold and the Hamlets of Newburgh, Oulston, Thornton Hill and Wass together with their outlying farms. The population of the Parish is about 365 plus a further 109 in Wass which has its own Church and is described in a separate entry in this brochure. The Parish of Coxwold is itself part of a Benefice which includes the parishes of Husthwaite, Carlton Husthwaite and Wass and that Benefice, together with a second Benefice comprising the parishes of Crayke, Brandsby and Yearsley, make up the Joint Benefice. St Michael s Church and Churchyard As there is little direct employment in the Parish apart from farming and local service activities, residents either commute to work in York, Leeds and local towns or are retired people who have come to enjoy the attractions of the countryside and village life. The Village (coxwoldvillage.co.uk) The village has a population of 201 and lies roughly in the centre of the Parish, being 8 miles east of Thirsk, 6 miles north of Easingwold and 7 miles south of Helmsley. It has a Pub which includes a restaurant and attached shop and there is also a village hall, garage/filling station, cabinet maker and tea room. At the west end of the village there is the much visited Shandy Hall which is open to the public and was the 18 th C home of Laurence Sterne, one-time vicar of St Michael s Church and author of the novel Tristram Shandy. St Michael s Church The first mention of a church in Coxwold is in a letter dated 757AD. The original Saxon building was replaced by a Norman one in the eleventh century and that in turn was replaced between 1420 and 1430 by the present perpendicular style building which, except for minor repairs, stands as it was built on rising ground having a very fine outlook, both to the north and the south. There is seating capacity for over 200 in the fine St Michael s interior Georgian box pews and the Church is becoming increasingly popular for weddings. A faculty is being sought for significant changes to improve ease of use and to meet the changing needs and expectations of today s congregations. Funds for this work are already in place. The building is well maintained and a

8 Quinquennial Inspection Report is awaited but no horrors are anticipated. There is a large churchyard which is well cared for and has an area devoted to wild flowers. Gallery and Organ The Church is open daily and is visited by significant numbers, especially in the summer months. Church Finances are sound and the parish share is paid in full. Three principal fund raising events are held each year - Open Gardens, a Jumble Sale and Cyclists Sunday. The Congregation Those who attend church regularly roughly reflect the population mix. They are mostly retired and from the upper end of the community age bracket. Average Sunday attendance at St Michael s is about 17 and we use the Ancient and Modern, New Standard Version Hymnal and traditional and modern versions of Holy Communion. Administration and Services The Church is run by the St Michael s PCC (14 members including 3 from Wass) and two churchwardens; and the many duties required to make sure the Church runs properly are shared between the members and the wardens. The PCC meets four times a year. The Rectory for the Priest in Charge of the Joint Benefice is located in Crayke, about four miles to the south east and has a spectacular outlook over the Plain of York. We have the benefit of an ordained priest who lives in Coxwold and who, although fully employed as Diocesan Adviser for Children's and Youth Work, also leads services locally whenever his other commitments permit and supports the incumbent in other ways. There is a Church of England Reader and three licenced Lay Worship Leaders who assist at Eucharistic Services and lead non-eucharistic Services. The services are normally the following: First Sunday Second Sunday Third Sunday Fourth Sunday Fifth Sunday 0900 Morning Prayer Holy Communion Benefice Holy Communion (rotating) Holy Communion Joint Benefice Service (rotating) In 2011 there were four baptisms, four weddings and seven funerals. We ll pull together

9 The Village ( Crayke St Cuthbert s Standing proudly on the first hill north of York, with the church and castle visible for miles, Crayke cannot be missed! Its location offers panoramic views of the surrounding area, especially from the Rectory! However it s the people who make Crayke what it is - there are only about 400 of us but we are a thriving, well integrated mix of folk whose families have lived here for generations and others who have been welcomed much more recently. A questionnaire, as part of our 2005 Parish Plan, asked villagers to identify the most important assets of the village. Over 90% placed the Church School at the top of their list and this is a major reason for the significant influx of young families in recent years. The church from the Stillington Road Other aspects given a high rating included the village's strong sense of community (80%) and the Church (79%). The Sports Hall, built in 1998 thanks to much community effort, doubles as the Village Hall and hosts active cricket, football, tennis, bowls and darts clubs; social events and private parties. The thriving Playgroup, which has close links with the school, the Toddler Group and Rainbows are also based at the Sports Hall which boasts a well maintained children s play area. Other village groups include Crayke Ladies and Crayke Good Neighbour Scheme. The Gala Committee run annual fundraising and social events for the village including celebrations for the Queen s Jubilee. Our website is well maintained and worth a look. Village information is also disseminated via the Parish Magazine of Crayke, Brandsby and Yearsley and we are also beginning to share information with The Link in our sister benefice. We have an award-winning pub, The Durham Ox, which is also very much the local. The Dutch House is a cafe with gardens and also runs art and craft activities. The village green from the church Recent years have seen the expansion of the Galtres Festival, originating from and still based in Crayke, and raising money for local charities. Crayke is a designated conservation village with excellent well maintained footpaths locally, including the Crayke Estate walk, enabling the village to be circumnavigated!

10 Bale tossing at the Gala Agriculture has always been central to Crayke and farming remains at the heart of the surrounding community today even though, inevitably, the majority are employed outside the village. There is, however, a small but thriving business community within the village including several woodcarvers, as well as gardeners, homeimprovers and a murder-mystery organiser! Also, mainly due to broadband availability, a growing number of people are choosing to work from home. There are daily, though infrequent, buses to York and Easingwold from the village. The Church of St Cuthbert ( Crayke church is rated very highly by the vast majority of villagers. Although we would love, and pray for, higher congregation numbers, a large number of people help regularly with the maintenance and running of the Church and give generously of their time and talents on special occasions, even though they are not regular Sunday worshippers. The church and PCC are also supported by several members who live outside the village. An awareness of and caring for those who need support, both practical and in the form of prayer, is a community-wide strength. As well as having benefice-wide support and help from Nigel, our NSM, Heather, our Reader and three Lay Worship Leaders; within Crayke we have 6 other lay helpers, who have had some training on leading worship, and help particularly with Family Services, intercessions and with the chalice. We have a rota for readers and welcomers and for making the coffee we take our time of fellowship after services very seriously! We have mission links with the Ducker family, based in Moldova. St Cuthberts in the snow St Cuthberts and the famous Crakye daffodils We are fortunate in having two talented organists in the village who regularly play our small, recently restored, organ as well as several others who help out musically. A very exciting development in the life of the church building is about to be completed the formation of a kitchen/storage area and toilet! This is thanks to an extremely generous bequest and we look forward to ensuring it is used to further God s work in the village and benefices.

11 St Cuthbert, as Bishop of Lindisfarne, was given Crayke parish in AD685 and we continue to celebrate his life each year, usually in conjunction with the school. Crayke remained part of Durham until finally joining Yorkshire in The present church was built in 1436 and extended in the mid 19 th century. The building and churchyard are in good condition with no major outstanding works and the churchyard is open for burials. Our heating system has been updated in recent years and a sound system and T- loop installed both have increased comfort hugely, not least at the hugely popular Christmas Eve Nativity service! Fellowship after worship with building works! In 1996 villagers old and young joined together, with guidance from Rural Arts, to make a fabulous textile of local history, social activity & environment which now hangs in the church. Whilst we are seeing some increase in the use of Gift Aid, there is room for much improvement, as with encouraging regular giving by standing order; especially important as we have more joint worship with the other parishes in the benefices. Once the bill has been paid for the kitchen, we will no longer be cushioned by that generous bequest, and need to seriously face up to our recent annual income deficit, with more regular fundraising and consideration of a village-wide stewardship programme. Crayke CofE School ( Looking east in St Cuthberts Our school is successful, popular and well loved by the community. It has 96 pupils with 4.6 full time teachers and 4 support staff. Traditionally serving Crayke, Brandsby and Yearsley, due to a long history of over subscription, there are also many pupils from elsewhere, including Easingwold, Stillington and Huby. Our Christian ethos and values are lived out in the daily working life of the school and this is hugely helped by the strong links with St Cuthberts Church. Children at prayer As well as regular visits to and worship in the church, members of the congregation recently helped the school to produce a day of "Prayer Spaces" for the children with activities such as

12 blowing bubbles and sending your worries up to God and writing your troubles on pebbles and washing them away. It was a wonderful day that benefited all who took part, from the oldest members of the community to the youngest and has spurred us on to collaborate with the school s Church Focus group in giving the children an "Experience Easter day. Children will come to church in small groups and have the Easter Story told in different areas, depicting the events leading up to and after the crucifixion. Members of Brandsby church are involved this time too, in bringing the story to life for the children. There is also a link with the local Methodist church in Easingwold who are helping our PCC to set up an "Open the Book" group to present interactive collective worship in school once a fortnight with Bible stories, plays, puppet and props. Overview As a church in a small village it is vital that we see ourselves as part of the whole village and spread the Christian word by example. Opportunities to take the church into the community and spread God s word need to be explored, including using days other than Sunday. For example: for the last two years, instead of singing carols around the village, we have joined with the pub for an evening of Carols and Curry much warmer in lots of ways! The future life of all churches hinges on engaging with the young. We have a wonderful school and nurturing our links there is vital. We would love to increase the children s involvement in church through Family Services and other activities; for example, playing instruments, singing, ringing our small round of three bells and Harvest Festival activities have been successful in the past and could be developed further. Having had a successful benefice Youth Group in the past, evolving from a confirmation group, we would very much like there to be something for the primary school children to follow on to again. However, the needs of the older, very dedicated, members of the congregation must also be met and a balance struck. We are committed to making use of the new facilities in church with which have been blessed and have discussed starting with a regular drop in lunch/coffee session during the week. We would also like to develop a choir perhaps benefice wide as a way of involving more people. It will be wonderful to move on in PCC from discussing the progress of the building work to how we put it to use in God s name Hallelujah!

13 Husthwaite St Nicholas The Village (husthwaitevillage.com) Husthwaite is a beautiful village set at the foot of the Howardian Hills, lying partly within an AONB and with stunning views to the White Horse and the North Yorkshire Moors. The Georgian market town of Easingwold lies within easy reach and York with its Minster just 17 miles to the south. Well-maintained footpaths link the village with Coxwold and other nearby settlements. From Beacon Banks the ridge to the east it is possible to see York Minster to the south, Byland Abbey and the wooded slopes of the Hambleton Hills to the north together with spectacular views westward to the Pennines. Some 440 people live in the parish of Husthwaite, mainly in the village itself. The thriving Church of England primary Opening the MUGA school has attracted to the village young families who complement the quarter of our population over 65. Those of working age occupy jobs in the nearby towns, run their own businesses from home or from premises within the village as well as a few on the land. We are fortunate still to have a village shop and pub. Bus routes between York/Easingwold, Helmsley and Thirsk pass through the village and the main A19 north/south trunk road is just 2 miles away. East Coast mainline and Virgin Cross-Country trains run via York. Trans-Pennine routes stop at nearby Thirsk as do Grand Central routes to London. Internet links are also good. A very active all-ages core of volunteers is responsible for a wide range of other services to the village. Many of these centre on the Village Hall (currently at the final stage of a major Big Lottery Fund Grant application for a new building). Over recent years the Drama Group has produced impressive pantomimes and well-acted comedies. The quarterly Elphin Drift evenings of light entertainment have given space to an amazingly eclectic range of performers, young and old, experienced and new from Husthwaite itself and further afield. A Gardening Club and History Society, the latter with active research projects, entertain visiting speakers. The newly introduced and successful Panto Time fortnightly Book Exchange has replaced the now withdrawn Library Bus service. Monthly, the Orchard Village Club provides transport, lunch and entertainment for those in the village who by age or infirmity would otherwise be unable to enjoy each other s society and that of other friends in the village. An annual Burns Night event, regularly and heavily over-subscribed, builds on the calling and dancing skills of the active and welcoming Scottish community. There are two co-operatives one supplies fuel oil (linked to other locally run co-operatives) and the other preserves the village s orchard heritage, producing apple, pear and other fruit drinks, both pure

14 juice and alcoholic. The latter is non-profit making and uses its surpluses to fund village activities and needs (indeed the Church has been the recipient of a generous grant towards its new porch doors). The active Parish Council was most recently responsible for the creation of an impressive Recreation Area for all ages, but especially for the young. The Council and the Village Hall together produce a bi-monthly Newsletter, free to all villagers, with book reviews, reports of village events, news from Orchard Village Club the clubs, the council and village Neighbourhood Watch, school and churches events as well the traditional Diary Dates. (The parish church also contributes to the monthly Benefice Magazine The Link). The village also has its own attractively designed web site ( and Facebook pages. The Church of St Nicholas Church Building The centrally-located church has served the village since it was first built (or possibly rebuilt) around Although much changed over the years and now with modern lighting, sound enhancement/loop and oil-fired heating systems its fundamental purpose to serve its community and tend to its spiritual needs remains constant. The fabric of the building is generally in good shape, as identified in the recent Quinquennial Inspection. A programme of minor general maintenance work is underway and due to be completed with work on the churchyard wall in April. Longer term improvement plans include installation of new oak porch doors (approved by Faculty) and the creation of a fellowship area to the rear of the nave. St Nicholas Church Although not formally closed, no burials have taken place in the churchyard for over 100 years. In a small area ashes may be buried, marked by plaques. Maintenance of the churchyard is fully funded by endowment. The building itself is open daily to visitors. Church Finances Over the last 30 years or so our treasurers have invested wisely. With the income thus generated we survive difficult times. We expect to continue to pay our annual Quota in full, even though the amount and yearly increases become evermore substantial. Figures for 2011 show an annual income of 25,320 supporting expenditure of 23,632. Minister s expenses (fully paid) were 832. Gift-aided income tax recovery was 5,277 (about double the more usual figure due to generous one-off donations). Typically about 35 individuals contribute through taxefficient giving.

15 Church Membership, Worship & Ministry of the Laity The loyal worshipping congregation at St Nicholas, largely middle-aged and above, averages about 21 who attend regularly, sharing fellowship after services, welcoming visitors and supporting each other in time of need. Willing helpers from among the congregation provide coffee and tea following services and there is wide support for fundraising activities. Village working parties help with maintenance in the churchyard and building. A flower rota, also drawing widely from the village community, ensures a beautifully decorated church throughout the year. Members of both churches are deeply involved in many projects within the village with a heartening relationship between church and village communities. An example is the annual Harvest Supper and Ho-down which, over recent years, has raised money for Help for Heroes, Farm Crisis Network and Arc Light (a York Homeless Charity). In addition to the regular services, united services are held with our Methodist friends. Special allage services such as those on Mothering Sunday (28 adults/10 children), Easter (56/15), Harvest, Remembrance Sunday with its whole-village focus, Working Party St Nicholas Sunday (45/1) and Christmas (65/21) attract some younger family support and larger congregations from within the village we would love to see more. Common Worship liturgy is used for communion services and Book of Common Prayer or Common Worship for morning prayer. Our tradition is broadly central but open to other forms of worship. Hymns are drawn from Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Standard version or the Husthwaite Hymnal (worship choruses and alternative hymns) supported by the local Phoenix Choir for Morning Prayer when responses are sung (with either liturgy). At a weekly prayer meeting, prayers are said for the village, the church and the wider community. Two members of our congregation have been Lay Worship Leaders for the last nine years, assisting at Communion services and leading non-eucharistic services, both at St. Nicholas and at other churches in the Benefice. Some church members lead intercessions and help plan special services. Church School (Husthwaite C of E Primary) The school specifically serves Husthwaite, Carlton Husthwaite, Coxwold and Wass, but also has many pupils from Easingwold and surrounding villages. There are currently 103 pupils supported by 6 full and part-time teachers and 6 support staff. Assembly has been routinely taken on alternate weeks by the incumbent with particular focus on church services and celebrations. All school assemblies are given a half-termly theme and include bible stories, raise moral issues, and involve prayer and hymn singing. Nigel Chapman and Kim Gabbatiss (Methodist youth worker) also contribute to assemblies. As an active Foundation Governor joined by Lesley Seaman from the PCC the incumbent visits for productions, theatre groups, to help out in class and to serve on a committee. Members of Easter Event

16 the church support the Friday Unfrazzle coffee morning for parents with numbers ranging from six to sixteen or so. The church community is invited to five services throughout the year Autumn, Christmas, Easter, Summer and Leavers Assembly. The Christmas service is usually held at St Nicholas and the Leavers in school. Clergy, local community and lay preachers are involved, giving readings and talks. Community members are invited to these events through fliers posted to all the local churches. For special services - Mothering and Education Sundays - posters at the school invite families to attend. Classes frequently visit the church for curriculum studies, recently exploring the churchyard looking for family links among the memorial stones. The children also maintain an attractive and liturgically relevant display in the entrance porch, changed monthly. In a special feature this year, the Easter story was told outside in the churchyard. A number of adults (mostly PCC members and School Governors) dressed up as early Christians and guided the children in groups from one visual representation of the story to another. Other church members served refreshments including hot cross buns. It was a great success. The school writes a monthly review forthe Link benefice magazine. Ecumenism (the Methodist Church) We are delighted to have firm links with our friends in the Anglican Church, meeting twice yearly together to talk through plans for joint activities. United Churches Planning Meeting symbols in the tree on the Village Green. We come together for services of special significance including the Covenant Service and Chapel Anniversary in the Methodist Church. The Village Harvest Thanksgiving Service, another united service, alternates annually between the two Churches. For the Queen s Diamond Jubilee, a short united service of celebration is planned. Members of both Churches participate in the Village Christmas Service and Carol Singing and, in recent years, became responsible for a display of Christmas Since the formal Covenant between us, the Methodist Minister and the Vicar have led Communion Services in each others churches and joint Bible Study/Discussion Groups have been similarly led. The Churches support each other s fund-raising activities and, after natural disasters, have organised fund-raising within the village. We have similarly worked together in support of village community events. Our hopes and aspirations would be a furthering of links between us, thus providing a united Christian witness to the village. Linda Davison (Church Steward)

17 The Village (wass.co.uk) Wass St Thomas Wass is an attractive, sandstone and red-clay pantile village, about 23 miles north of York, within the southwest boundary of the North York Moors National Park. Located at the crossroads at the foot of Wass bank, the village is protected from the north, east and west by the hills and forest of Wass Moor, while its southerly aspect includes views to the Howardian Hills and the nearby ruins of Byland Abbey, a twelfth century (Cistercian) monastery. Three miles to the east lies Ampleforth Abbey (Benedictine) and a new monastery (Benedictine) has recently been constructed on the Moor above Wass. This is Stanbrook Abbey, which retained its name after downsizing and moving to Wass from Worcestershire in St Thomas Church Once mainly accommodating agriculture and forestry workers, the village was part of the Wombwell Estate based at Newburgh Priory. Wass now comprises (since 1924), private residential accommodation for retired households or households that have little or no connection with the two former staple industries. However, those in employment include teachers, lawyers, financial experts, people employed in construction and managers. The population, including the nearby hamlet of Byland Abbey is about 100; if outlying farms are included the population is about 120. The village has three community facilities - a pub (The Wombwell Arms), the recently rebuilt Village Hall and St. Thomas' church The Church of St. Thomas, Wass St. Thomas Wass is unique. From 1546 the village formed an important part of the 'Parish of Kilburn and Wass' centred on St. Mary's church at Kilburn. There was no church at Wass and residents had to endure the inconvenience of worshipping at Kilburn, about 4 miles away by road. This problem was solved in 1866 when the schoolhouse, built by the estate owners nineteen years earlier, was consecrated as a 'Chapel of Ease' and the building remained in dual 'school/church' use until the school closed in Use of the onetime schoolroom as the village church has continued since then, though Parish boundaries changed in 1956 and Wass is now a chapelry within Coxwold Parish and is the daughter church to St. Michael's in Coxwold village. Having no stained glass, pulpit, stone font or graveyard, St Thomas' has few of the recognisable characteristics of an old church. Furthermore, without Tower or Steeple, it is the old school bell that

18 summons the faithful. However, the church is widely recognised for its internal simplicity, tranquillity and reverent ambience. The building comfortably seats about forty in the pews, but with additional temporary seating a further twenty can be accommodated. A modern electric organ, having two-manuals and pedals, is sited at the west-end of the church next to a small vestry. The church lacks any toilet and water supply. Some stone replacement in the west wall might soon be required and there are some minor works requiring expenditure that include window repairs in the north wall and some repointing of a small area of the west wall. Otherwise the church is in sound structural condition and was re-roofed 7½ years ago. A diocesan approved architect, Mr Stephen Parry, provides a quinquennial review. There are 26 persons on the current Electoral Roll (2011) and Sunday services are held twice in each calendar month; Morning Prayer on the second Sunday and Holy Communion on the last Sunday. In addition, at two monthly intervals, there are services on a Wednesday, comprising Morning Prayer (7:30am and 9:00am) followed by Holy Communion (10:00 am). St Thomas also hosts the Benefice Service in rotation (3 times in 2011). There are the usual Good Friday Vigil, Easter Day, Harvest Festival and Christmas Carol services, as well as occasional Baptism and St Thomas, interior Thanksgiving services. The church tradition is central and the rite for Holy Communion is taken from 'Common Worship'. Hymnbooks are currently Ancient and Modern though the church council is actively considering other possibilities including The Complete Anglican and Mission Praise. In 2011, Holy Communion was taken by a total of 292 communicants at 21 services. Discounting Benefice occasions (three in number, average communicants 24) the average number of communicants who attended other Communion services was about 12. In the same year there were 21 Morning Prayer services attended by a total of 173 persons, which gives an average attendance of 8 persons. An informal but important period of fellowship, with coffee and biscuits, follows each communion service. The age profile of the regular congregation is mainly elderly with a few persons of middle years. There are no young people or children amongst the regular congregation though younger people and children attend at Easter, Harvest and Christmas Carol services in small numbers. Women outnumber men in the congregation by a ratio of 4:1. Two regular attendees previously lived in the village but still attend from Easingwold. Other occasional visitors come when services elsewhere in the Benefice do not suit their personal timetables. Our strength is a committed congregation though we want others to play an active part in all of the church's affairs. Our weakness is our small congregation particularly at Morning Prayer. There are no Lay Readers from St Thomas' and we rely on Lay Readers from elsewhere in the Benefice. The village has a significant proportion of Roman Catholic residents (about 26%) who look to Ampleforth and Stanbrook Abbeys for their worship, although some occasionally attend at St Thomas for special events. Church governance is through the Wass District Church Council (WDCC) normally chaired by the Incumbent. There is an Annual General Meeting and three Committee meetings are usually held each year. The District Council has a representative on the Coxwold Parish Council as well as on the Deanery Synod. Church Council objectives for the next few years might be stated as financial survival and an increase in the numbers attending services by encouraging newcomers to the village to worship at St Thomas'.

19 The Church Finances are in a satisfactory state. Our giving is sufficient to meet normal expenditure. Funds are raised through offerings and a share of the monies raised at the village annual Open Gardens Day. A total of sixteen people - virtually all of our congregation - Gift Aid their offerings. Special services throughout the year - Songs of Praise, Harvest Festival and Christmas Carol Service - also increased church income. The Parish Share is currently 3411, which is paid in full and working expenses to our incumbent for 2011 were also paid in full. Last year's income was 7700 whilst expenditure amounted to 10080; the shortfall was made up by reducing the amount held in the current account as well as by transferring 1000 from the deposit account. Last year 565 was given to Charities, being the proceeds from Lenten Lunch and a pre- Christmas coffee morning. For its size the village is a very active community with a library, exercise class, snooker/billiards, Bridge, Women's Institute, Home Encouragement Show, etc. The WDCC sees itself as a full participant in community affairs. Wass is without a dedicated Church Hall and so there are strong links between the church and the village hall - the two buildings being located only 100m apart. Wombwell Arms the church - such as the Harvest Festival Lunch and the Lenten Lunch. The Church District Council holds all of its meetings in the committee room at the hall. The WDCC sees the Benefice magazine (The Link) as a part of the Church's outreach to the community and distributes the magazine free to every household in the village so that all villagers are made aware and kept informed of church affairs within the Benefice. At the informal level there are strong links between regular church attendees and the wider village community through membership of organising committees and charity initiatives. At the formal level, most events held in the village hall have no specific church input and are generated as village events, but the hall is also used for social occasions generated for and by Wass Village Hall

20 Yearsley Holy Trinity Village History (visit-easingwold.com/yearsley) Yearsley is an outstandingly pretty village, although we may be a little biased! It was mentioned in the Domesday Book and in the 11th Century the manor was held by the Mowbrays, later passing to the Colvills. In 1358 a Thomas Yearsley witnessed a deed relating to land at nearby Oulston and by 1560 it was owned by Sir William Belasyse of Newburgh Priory, later becoming the Wombwell family, who owned the village until 1944 when it was sold off to private individuals. There are still three working farms here. Originally there was a bakery, a blacksmith, a tailor, a grocery shop, a school, a Wesleyan Chapel and a public house, but none of these facilities have survived the test of time. Only the Church of the Holy Trinity remains, which is why it is particularly valued by the village community. The population of the village is approximately 45 adults, 11 children of school age and five young adults away at University. Many of the older residents have lived here for 50 years or more, which makes for a lively cross section. Most of the houses look out over stunning views of York and we are so lucky to have some of the most beautiful woods in the area, used for horse riding and by dog walkers and runners, with views across the valley to Ampleforth. The Church of the Holy Trinity The Church of the Holy Trinity, a Grade II listed building, was built in 1839 by the Wombwell family, as a Chapel of Ease. The present Church replaced a much older building dating from before the Dissolution, but nothing remains of this. The present Church is built of stone with a slate roof, there is a small vestry and a north porch with a pointed arch doorway, over which is a plaque dated 1839 with a unicorn s head, the symbol of the Wombwell family. The oak pulpit was one of Robert Thompson s first ecclesiastical commissions. It was dedicated at the time by the vicar to his father in The Church has a bell cote with room for one bell. There is a memorial plaque to two Yearsley residents from the Yorkshire Regiment who lost their lives in the War. Another more recent plaque is dedicated to the crew of a Lancaster Bomber who (apart from one survivor) lost their lives when they crash-landed in the village in December The dedication of this plaque on 8th May 2011 was very much a village affair to which relatives of the crew from the Canadian Air Force were invited. Some 110 people attended the dedication service and tea afterwards. The Church is not licensed for weddings and funerals, although a special license was obtained for a wedding only two years ago.

21 There is in the village an enthusiastic band of residents who clean the church, provide floral arrangements and cut the grass. Many visitors from around the country (and from overseas) visit the church and remark how well it is kept. Worship There are currently ten people registered on the Electoral Roll. The usual pattern of services is one Holy Communion service each month, plus a Family Service every other month and services at Easter, Harvest and Christmas. There is traditionally a Brass Band Service of Lessons and Carols at the beginning of December, which is supported wholeheartedly by much of the village. There are also mid-week Morning Prayers, which take place six times a year. The average attendance at each Holy Communion Service is eight, with an average of 12 at the Family Service. Dedication of memorial to crew of Lancaster bomber Finances Income, in the form of collections, regular donations and covenants, only just covers expenditure. However, this is boosted by the occasional coffee morning and fund raising event and when there was an appeal for electrical re-wiring a couple of years ago, there was a very encouraging response. Our last building inspection showed work required on the bell tower; we are confident of a generous response from the village so that the bell in Yearsley can be rung once more.

22 Our Aims One of the main challenges of rural ministry is the small number of people scattered over a large geographical area. Bringing people together therefore is vital, including young people who find peer support so necessary and older people with mobility difficulties. This challenge forms the basis of our joint aims and priorities for the future: To further God s work in our villages and to show by Christian example and discipleship within the community, the joy of knowing Him in our lives To further improve our seven churches togetherness in worship, prayer, music and study and to share more talents and resources to encourage the development of the Deanery Plan to share resources more widely (such as clergy, youth work, skills, materials) to maintain and further develop links with our Church of England Primary Schools (Crayke and Husthwaite) and the local Secondary School in Easingwold To make fuller use of our church buildings in the service of Christ in the life of our communities. Easingwold Deanery Plan Faced with the many changes in the nature of and resources for ministry over recent years, every Deanery in the York Archdeaconry has produced and regularly updated a Deanery Plan, tailored to their specific situations. Easingwold Deanery consists of 24 churches largely (but not exclusively) grouped round the market town of Easingwold. The Deanery Plan has at its centre the need for much closer working together throughout the deanery than has traditionally been the case, not only among the ordained but more widely among all who minister in whatever way. The idea that a parish or even a benefice can exist as a kind of separate island is no longer sustainable especially in a rural area like this. The process is very much a developing one. We take as our inspiration work done elsewhere and we look to work towards a high degree of mutual commitment. Canon John Harrison (Rural Dean)

23 Qualities and Attributes We have listed below the attributes we think are right for our new incumbent. However, we are united in praying for God s guidance in our choice and His help in keeping our minds open to His vision for us. Faith A deep, broad, yet ever-searching Christian faith rooted in the loving example and teachings of Jesus Christ; a welcoming faith that breaks down barriers and a personal depth of faith that will inspire others through prayer and Bible teaching. Teacher A teacher, able to share the love of God and inspire, encourage, challenge and lead us on our journey of faith. Comfortable with a variety of service forms and keen to involve the congregation in the use their talents in the service of Christ. Ecumenism Be able to recognise and build upon individuals different approaches to faith and worship of God, recognising, respecting and rejoicing in other traditions. Personal and Team Development Able to enthuse, encourage and develop the significant lay contribution to all aspects of the life of our churches, recognising individuals personal gifts and scope for individual growth; Willing to introduce creative ideas designed to encourage more people to worship; Be sensitive to the needs of each congregation and of all ages and traditions, whilst encouraging still closer links between the seven churches. Community A strong commitment to the pastoral care required in diverse villages like ours; Enjoy working with people of all ages, whilst continuing and improving the existing ministry in our schools; Able to nurture the goodwill which exists towards the churches amongst those who are not church members, working with those of other faiths and aiming to be known to members of the whole community. Have an approachable, friendly manner and sense of humour. Management Have the time-management and organisational skills to meet the demands of personal contact within the communities and the team leadership abilities to maximise use of the talents available across the benefices.

24 Map showing location of churches miles