PARISH PROFILE FOR ST BARTHOLOMEW S CHURCH, CLAY CROSS AND ST BARNABAS CHURCH AND COMMUNITY CENTRE, DANESMOOR (IN THE NORTH WINGFIELD TEAM MINISTRY)

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1 PARISH PROFILE FOR ST BARTHOLOMEW S CHURCH, CLAY CROSS AND ST BARNABAS CHURCH AND COMMUNITY CENTRE, DANESMOOR (IN THE NORTH WINGFIELD TEAM MINISTRY) WELCOME We re a lively evangelical team committed to demonstrating the love of Jesus in word and deed. We are passionate about connecting with people and serving in our community. We are now looking for someone who can minister and teach the church family with a tender pastor s heart and build on our community connections to share Jesus' love with those around us. WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR? A PASTOR someone with a heart for people someone who can nurture, care for and encourage A STABLE PRESENCE someone who can provide stability in churches that have experienced a great deal of change and are still in the beginning stages of new projects someone who can draw on personal experience to see things through A STRONG LEADER someone who can provide teaching and discipleship to all someone who can model and enable evangelism someone who can inspire and lead administrative staff and a church and community liaison worker (to be appointed) someone who can lead the church family with integrity, tact and understanding A COMMUNITY PRIEST someone who will be passionate about community ministry and sharing Jesus' love with all someone with a sense of humour AN ENCOURAGER someone to encourage church family members in the community work they are doing someone to help us to encourage others to become followers of Jesus "The church is friendly, inviting, welcoming and always has an ear at the ready" Anne Marie, Danesmoor Youth Club Leader. Page 1 of 7

2 AN HONEST REFLECTION OF WHO WE ARE We are actively engaged with our community, specifically with a heart for those most in need. We now need help with how we consolidate the work and progress we ve made within the community, with encouraging people to become followers of Jesus. Our buildings are a strength - we have a fully re-ordered church and a purpose-built church/ community centre (which presently sees an average footfall of 600+ people per week). Funding is in place for a community liaison worker (to be appointed by the new team vicar). We have a good administration and support network. However, finances are an issue, as congregation numbers have fallen. This is in part due to the church having encouraged and supported several individuals into their own ministries. Fewer people in church has also meant fewer children and young people and a reduction in the number of house groups. Although we feel we ve had a level of success with engaging with the community and are a nurturing and caring church family, we feel we need strengthening through teaching and discipleship. We as churches have experienced significant change and hurt over the past several years. We need someone who can minister and teach the church family with a tender pastor s heart. "People hurt a lot because we love a lot" Jen, Church Member. OUR VISION FOR LEADERSHIP We would like to develop and strengthen the links we ve already made with our community. We see the need for us as individuals and as church to develop a deeper relationship with God to empower us to minister to others. We need to develop the bonds of fellowship within the church family. We need a leader with a heart to stay for the long term and develop what has already been started. CHURCH LIFE St Bartholomew s, Clay Cross (Electoral Roll 41) St Barnabas, Danesmoor (Electoral Roll 8) The churches in Clay Cross and Danesmoor have a long history of good teaching, with a real openness to the work of the Holy Spirit. People in the congregations have a strong sense of identification with the local community and a desire to demonstrate the love of God through pro-active social care and initiatives. "There is always a warm welcome on offer and the church make genuine efforts to get to know you, and make you feel at home." Kay, Foodbank Volunteer Page 2 of 7

3 WORSHIP Corporate worship at St Bartholomew s varies enormously. There is a wide appreciation of musical tastes varying from hymns accompanied by an organ through to modern worship with guitar and drums. Music at St Barnabas is more informal, varying from CD accompaniment to guitar and keyboard. The majority of the churches worship has a contemporary feel. Liturgy is used for more formal services and Eucharists, however this is not always the case. Our worship pattern offers a range of very distinctive services, however the churches are open to new approaches and fresh ways of helping people engage in worship. Robes are only worn at occasional offices and St Bartholomew s Parish Communion service (first Sunday of the month). St Bartholomew s is open from 9am till noon every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There is a weekly prayer meeting on Tuesday mornings and a mid-week communion service on Wednesday mornings at St Bartholomew s. St Barnabas is open and occupied seven days a week. A further weekly prayer meeting is held at St Barnabas on Thursday mornings. SMALL GROUPS Across the two churches there are four small groups who seek to work out the Willow Creek principles of Love, Learn, Serve and Reach. Several of the community engagement projects have been initiated by individual house groups. CHILDRENS AND YOUTH WORK Two children s groups run at St Bartholomew s on the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month (second and fourth Sundays are typically all age worship services). There are currently three children regularly attending the age nine and under group (with more children joining occasionally) and up to five children regularly attending the group for young people age 10 and over. Although there have been very active children s and youth groups at St Barnabas in the past, these are not currently running. Page 3 of 7

4 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Both churches have initiated and have got involved with numerous local community projects over the past few years. In May 2012 the churches initiated a Trussell Trust Foodbank, which is widely supported throughout the Clay Cross area. "(The churches) continue to carry out the mission of Jesus by feeding those facing poverty in our community" Andrew, Project Leader, Clay Cross Foodbank St Barnabas Church host a toddler group, a nursery, a youth club and a weekly café specifically aimed at the elderly living in bungalows surrounding the centre. They also have a community garden and have been involved in tree planting and The Big Tidy Up (a Keep Britain Tidy campaign). "In my experience the team at St Bart's have social and community concerns at their very heart." Jess, Member of Holmgate Evangelical Church St Bartholmews regularly hosts The Living Room (a befriending group for women); Ladies Nights (social events, bridging the gap between church and community) and a Friendship Hour (a befriending group for the elderly and bereaved). Both churches are also involved in projects that include visiting a local nursing home to provide worship and prayer services for residents and in donating to a gifting project in conjunction with Social Services to give Christmas presents to local children in need. Other community projects include a weekly mountain biking group (The Pedallers of the Apocalypse) and involvement with Clay Cross Town Football Club (where the previous vicar was club chaplain). "I recognise St Bartholomew's as one big family, that its congregation do a terrific job serving its community." Marti, Ladies Nights Organising Team TEAM The North Wingfield Team is lead by the Team Rector, but leadership and management of the Clay Cross/Danesmoor cluster is the responsibility of the Team Vicar. Support is available centrally to ensure each cluster fully works out the wider Team s vision and ethos but as a rule each clergy has autonomy to facilitate this as he/she sees fit. The Team Vicar chairs both District Church Councils (meeting bi-monthly) and is expected to make a significant contribution to the Parochial Church Council which meets approximately five times a year. The Team Vicar also chairs the St Barnabas Centre Management Committee (meeting bi-monthly), a Page 4 of 7

5 sub-committee of the PCC established to manage the St Barnabas Centre and ensure its outputs are achieved. The new Team Vicar will appoint and directly line manage the church and community liaison worker (funding has already been secured for this part-time worker for a three-year period). The Team Vicar is also responsible for line management of the church administrator and the St Barnabas centre manager. FINANCES Full details are available on request. OCCASIONAL OFFICES The number of couples requesting weddings at the cluster churches has increased over the past few years - there were three weddings in 2012 and five in There are seven weddings already planned for There have been nine baptism or thanksgiving services at St Bartholomew s and St Barnabas over the past year. Cluster clergy are primarily responsible for conducting funerals in their district areas. A flexible arrangement is in place to ensure all services can be covered by a team staff member. There were 30 funerals in the cluster churches in 2012 and 15 funerals taken at Chesterfield crematorium. CHURCH BUILDINGS St Bartholomew s is a Grade II listed traditional Victorian parish church built in the neo-gothic style. St Bartholomew s was extensively re-ordered 10 years ago and is in very good repair. The church is carpeted and pews have been removed in favour of chairs, creating a flexible worship space. The kitchen has recently been refurbished with the addition of cooking/ catering facilities. The St Barnabas Centre was completed in 2007 and dedicated in 2008 by Bishop Alastair (Bishop of Derby). The centre is an integrated community facility with space for a nursery, corporate events, private hire and general community meeting, including a bar area. The building is not covered by faculty restrictions. THE LOCAL AREA Located between Chesterfield and Alfreton on the A61, Clay Cross (population c. 9,000) is one of northeast Derbyshire s major towns. On the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District, Clay Cross was originally founded by rail pioneer George Stephenson while he was driving a line between Leeds and Derby. The town quickly grew into the industrial powerhouse of Derbyshire. Page 5 of 7

6 The town has recently undergone redevelopment, with a new Tesco supermarket, bus station and medical centre. New housing has been created, including many single family homes and a multi-level senior housing complex. Danesmoor (population c. 4,000) was predominantly formed as a coal-based housing estate to house workers from the local pits. Danesmoor has in recent years shared in the decline common amongst former industrial towns and villages. Lately Danesmoor has seen significant investment made in the area with new housing and other facilities being built. Danesmoor is predominantly a dormitory community with Clay Cross providing most of its residents day to day needs. "(It's) a warm, welcoming and diverse church at the heart of the local community." Ruth, Headteacher, Holmgate Primary School & Nursery. THE NORTH WINGFIELD TEAM KEY FEATURES CHURCHMANSHIP Open Evangelical - open to renewal TEAM VISION To grow! Numerically, spiritually, corporately and personally as we encounter Jesus more, and share him with those around us. TEAM ETHOS Stronger together - as a team we work together on projects and activities that benefit us all. We all have our weaknesses, but with God s help and each other s support can become stronger and more able to share in the Kingdom work we are called to do. ORGANISATION We are a team ministry and diocesan MMA (mission and ministry area), comprising St Lawrence's, North Wingfield, St Mary's, Pilsley and St John's, Tupton. Our shared churchmanship is definitely evangelical, open to charismatic renewal. SUMMARY We are exploring day by day mission and ministry possibilities to grow churches in an area that was previously thought of as difficult. We are a team that is not threatened by the gifts and abilities of others. We rejoice in the Body of Christ and seek to release all that God has given us effectively in both lay and clergy. We are all community minded churches- seeking to bridge the great gap between church and the people amongst whom we live. Page 6 of 7

7 DEANERY St Bartholomew s and St Barnabas (in the North Wingfield Team) are part of the Missionary Deanery of Chesterfield. Chesterfield Deanery is the largest deanery in the Diocese of Derby having 32 churches from all traditions within the Church of England supported by 20 stipendiary clergy (including 5 curates), 2 non-stipendiary ministers, 21 retired ministers and 35 Readers. There are also 2 Church Army officers and 1 pioneer priest who are involved in new fresh expression church initiatives. The deanery incorporates Urban Priority Areas (UPA), urban, suburban and rural areas. Synod convenes three times a year to discuss issues primarily concerned with the health and mission of the Deanery. Synod uses tools from the Continuing Indaba initiative to stimulate its meetings and encourage cross-fertilisation between parishes. Clergy meet about every 5-weeks over lunch across two chapters, primarily for mutual prayer, support and encouragement. The Deanery is currently working on a Deanery Mission Action Plan that will further guide strategic deanery development. VICARAGE The vicarage is a modern; purpose-built detached house situated within easy walking distance from St. Bartholomew s. Set in substantial grounds, the vicarage comprises of a spacious living room, dining room and family kitchen with utility room, four bedrooms, a bathroom and separate shower room (both with WCs). Accessible via the front door yet separated from the main house is a study, store room and downstairs WC. All windows are doubleglazed, the house is gas central heated. All work in the most recent quinquennial inspection has been completed. A single garage and outside store are both accessible from the main house. Adjacent to the garage is a stoned hard-standing surface suitable for storage of a caravan or trailer. There is an electric hook-up point next to this area. To the front of the property is ample off-road parking for three or more vehicles separated from the road by a large open grassed area. To the rear of the property is a well-proportioned private garden with sun patio, bedding areas and small cultivated vegetable patch. The house is alarmed and has external security lighting. Altogether the property offers a spacious family home situated close to Clay Cross town centre at the head of a quiet cul-desac (Vicarage Gardens). CONTACT DETAILS Application forms and more information are available from: Revd Colin Cooper Team Rector, North Wingfield Team The Rectory St Lawrence Road North Wingfield Derbyshire S42 5HX (01246) revccooper@gmail.com Page 7 of 7