Deanery of Erith Archdeaconry of Bromley and Bexley Diocese of Rochester

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1 Deanery of Erith Archdeaconry of Bromley and Bexley Diocese of Rochester

2 Welcome Welcome to our parish profile, as we seek a new rector to work with us in discerning and following God s call to worship and serve him in Crayford. Thank you for taking time to read more about our church family. We hope that in this profile you can find more about what we can offer as a parish, something of the variety and joy of ministry here, and an idea of what possibilities there are for us to grow and develop the work of God s Kingdom. Contents Introduction to the Parish Erith Deanery Buildings and Grounds Aspects of Church life St Paulinus Choir The Ministry Team Parish Communications St Paulinus CE Primary School The Friends of St Paulinus Parish Administration and Finances The PCC Charitable Trust and Property Church Finances Person specification for the new Incumbent 2017 St Paulinus Parish Profile Page 1

3 Introduction to the Parish The Parish of St Paulinus is based in the small town of Crayford, in the London Borough of Bexley with 383 on the electoral roll. An average Sunday congregation of 150 is made up of a wide range of ages. There are a significant number of families with young children and we try to meet the needs of all the parishioners by offering a wide variety of services and other activities. It is a busy parish but there is a good ministry team and plenty of help and support from the congregation, as well as strong connections within the life of the wider community. St Paulinus Church is situated on a hill on Perry Street overlooking the town of Crayford and is clearly visible from most of the Parish. The Parish contains private and Local Authority homes, some dating back to Georgian times, though over recent years there has been a number of housing redevelopments within the area which has increased the population growth. Crayford has good rail links to central London stations (London Bridge, Charing Cross, Waterloo and Cannon Street) and out to the North Kent coast, served by Southeastern lines from Crayford and other local stations, which fall in London Transport Zone 6. Crayford also has good road links, being situated on the A2 and M25, and is a 15 minute drive from the large Bluewater and Lakeside shopping centres. Crayford is located in between the larger towns and villages of Bexley, Bexleyheath, Dartford, Erith and Sidcup. Local leisure facilities in Crayford include the Geoffrey Whitworth Theatre, a centre for amateur dramatics groups, a popular greyhound racing track and two sports centres. Hall Place, on the edge of the parish, is a beautiful stately home by the river with extensive and accessible grounds, garden, café, steakhouse and gallery. The new Crayford Community Centre, located above the library, is the venue for many groups. Leisure facilities include "The Bear and Ragged Staff" public house well known as a venue for live pop/rock bands, five other pubs in the town centre, including a micro-brewery, who host a very enthusiastic carol-singing event in partnership with the church each year. There is a large Sainsbury's supermarket situated next to the dog stadium, a small Iceland store, and a newly opened Aldi supermarket as part of the Crayford Island Retail Park and also there is the Tower Retail Park is opposite Crayford Town Hall. The High Street is partly one-way for motor traffic and has a few shops and services including a doctors' surgery (now located in the revamped Town Hall), nail bar, golf store, Iceland, florists, takeaway shops, several betting shops and hair salons. Crayford Motors in London Road is a Citroen car dealership. Bexley Garage in Bexley Lane is a family owned motor works. St Paulinus Parish Profile Page 2

4 On its way from Erith to Old Bexley, the "London LOOP" walk follows the River Cray across the Crayford Marshes and through the town centre, and provides local walkers with a wellused route through the more picturesque parts of the locality. Erith Deanery Erith Deanery comprises 13 parishes in the north of the London Borough of Bexley. It covers Barnehurst, Belvedere, Bexleyheath, Bostall Heath, Crayford, Erith, Falconwood, Northumberland Heath, Slade Green and Welling. The area has a mix of urban and suburban communities and generally the population is growing and changing. The Deanery provides ample opportunities for our churches to work together. The clergy meet regularly as a chapter and churches are also grouped into clusters - providing smaller support networks and facilitating shared local initiatives. There are other useful ecumenical networks too, e.g. Transforming Bexley Borough (TBB) and local Churches Together groups. Our westernmost parishes border the Diocese of Southwark and this is reflected in some of the local partnerships they form. Through the Erith Deanery Youth Trust (EDYT) we fund a Children and Youth Work Support Worker providing encouragement, training and resources for our youth and children s work across the Deanery. The Deanery Synod meetings are generally well attended and we try to ensure that synods are places where people share experiences and grow in understanding of faith, celebrate diversity and engage in interesting topics. Two synods per year are open meetings for all members of the congregations. The House of Laity also meet twice a year on their own. Our Area Dean is the Revd Canon Julie Conalty and the Deputy Area Dean is the Revd Jane Edwards. The Deanery Lay Chair is Peter Green. Buildings and Grounds The Church The church is situated at the top of a hill, surrounded by an extensive and peaceful churchyard, overlooking the main part of the town below. The earliest part of the church buildings date from about the year 1100 AD; various aisles, chapels and vestries have been added during the last 800 years, most recently a vestry, kitchen and toilet extension in the 1990s. St Paulinus Church is only one of two churches in this country that have pillars going down its central aisle. There are two chapels, the Lady Chapel, south of the Chancel and the All Saints Chapel to the north of the Chancel. There are three vestries, one for each of the servers, choir and clergy. There is a tower housing eight bells with a soundproof space for parents to use for respite during services. Our recently installed audio-visual system St Paulinus Parish Profile Page 3

5 provides audio links to the vestry and tower room. The chancel was re-ordered in 1991, bringing the main altar forwards and opening up a space for a more inclusive feel and allowing flexibility for other chancel activities. The pipe tracker organ and choir stalls are situated at the back of the church. The outside tower is floodlit and the church is security alarmed. Building project (Heritage Lottery Fund) The ancient church of St Paulinus is in urgent need of repair if we are to safeguard its architectural significance for future generations. The proposed works will include improvements to the drainage system to alleviate dampness issues, make repairs to the ancient stonework, internal plasterwork, Lady Chapel ceiling and improvements to the accessibility of the building. We have been successful in securing a First Round Pass from the Heritage Lottery Fund to assist with this work, and have recently submitted our Second Round Application to enable us to go forward with the work to preserve the fabric of our church. This process is being led by one of our former churchwardens, and facilitated by the PCC. Church Halls The Church has halls situated across the road to the west of the church. There are two adjoining halls. The larger of these two built in the 1930s has a purpose built stage, a large kitchen and male and female toilets. The smaller hall, known as the youth hall, was built in the 1960s is at the back of the main hall. It has its own toilets and a small kitchen area. The two halls are internally connected but can be used independently. They are available for hire and are run by the Church Administrator and Halls sub-committee. There is a preschool which hires the main hall during weekdays in term time. Toddler group, Sunday Night Massive, Mothers Union, Rainbows, Brownies and dance groups use the hall on a regular basis. Whilst the Halls continue to serve the Church and the local community and are maintained, the future of the halls and the extent of their investment may be an important focus in the coming years. St Paulinus Parish Profile Page 4

6 The Rectory The Rectory is located over the road from the Church on Claremont Crescent, approximately 200 yards to the east, was built in It is a detached house with 5 bedrooms, bathroom, lounge, dining room, kitchen, utility room, downstairs cloakroom, and a study. It is security alarmed and there is a large garden, mainly grassed with mature trees and shrubs. To the side of the house are two garages and parking for 3-4 cars. The PCC also own two properties, one for housing a curate, and another for rental income from a bequest. Churchyard St Paulinus Church has an extensive churchyard that is divided into different sections. Crayford Living Churchyard, also known as the Old Churchyard, has been closed since It is managed by the council and the churchyard committee. Burial still take place here in existing graves where there is still room. It has a gardener Mr Mark Stallard who sees to daily duties in the Churchyard such as clearing flowers and maintaining the Garden of Remembrance. The other section is the Russell Stoneham Memorial Garden and Churchyard. This was opened in It has a large Garden of Remembrance with different beds for ashes which people can chose for their loved once to be interred. Each has rose bushes which are currently maintained by Gorden Jacques. Headstones are placed around the edge of the garden for the name of those interred. The new graveyard has also been opened since 2012 and is currently on its second row. There is a shed on this plot where equipment is kept for the gardener and the churchyard working group. There is a large underdeveloped area of land which is cut 3 times a year and is ready for the next phase of development for the burial ground. St Paulinus Parish Profile Page 5

7 Worship at St Paulinus Church Style and ethos Aspects of Church life at St Paulinus Worship at St Paulinus is centred on the sacraments, incorporating a wide range of worship styles and settings for Eucharistic devotion and formation. We are nourished by a liberal catholic approach to worship, and our ministry team share in leadership of our services, together with the support of a fulsome team of servers and our choir and music group under the leadership of our Director of Music. The Healing Team also offer a valuable ministry within some of our services. Our lay readers and evangelist share in the preaching ministry of our Sunday services, and six times a year a visiting speaker brings a presentation for our away giving in place of the sermon. As you would expect, the liturgical year is well rehearsed in Crayford, with feast days marked and an attentive use of traditional variations to colour the seasons, especially Holy Week and the Triduum. There is also some gentle appreciation of charismatic renewal, and some of our congregation bring their experiences of Pentecostal spirituality. This creates a well-rounded and diverse community, centred around a joyful and open appreciation of liturgical worship, responsive and enlivened by new forms. Patterns of worship Photo Copyright 2015 Oakhouse Photography. Daily Office said in Church throughout the week, by clergy. Sunday 8am: Low Mass and Homily (Common Worship, said), 25 congregants. Sunday 10am [except when Family Worship]: Parish Mass and Sermon (Common Worship, part-sung), 90 adults, 30 children. For festival days, this would be High Mass and Procession (with incense). Once a month, Healing Ministry is offered in the Lady Chapel during the distribution of communion, with a significant uptake. Sunday School is offered in term-time during the Mass, with children joining at the Peace. Sunday 10am [once a month in place of Parish Mass]: Family Worship: shorter service with our music group, puppet show, all-age talk, and readings and prayers St Paulinus Parish Profile Page 6

8 led by our Sunday School, 80 adults, 40 children. For Patronal Festival, Mothering Sunday and Pentecost, a Family Mass takes its place. Sunday 6pm [once a month, when Family Worship is on in the morning]: High Mass and Address (Common Worship, part-sung), 30 congregants. Tuesday 9am: Collective Worship at St Paulinus C of E Primary School. Wednesday 9:30am: Low Mass and Homily (Common Worship, said), attended by one school class in term time, with talk and prayers directed at the children, 40 adults, 35 children. Thursday 9:30am: Toddler Praise, a short service, in the sanctuary, of action songs and the Lord s Prayer before joining our Toddler Group in the Hall, 10 adults, 10 children. Thursday 8pm [once a month, previously weekly]: Low Mass with Healing Ministry (Common Worship), in the Lady Chapel with laying on of hands and anointing, served by our Healing Team, 10 congregants. Friday 9:15am: Low Mass (Common Worship), in the Lady Chapel, of which once a month is a Mothers Union Corporate Communion, 10 congregants. School services: Several local schools also attend at Christmas and Easter for services. At Patronal Festival, Candlemas and Pentecost, a School Mass is led in St Paulinus C of E School. Baptisms: Sunday 12:30pm, Service of Holy Baptism. These are on set dates, on approximately 16 Sundays of the year, with 4 families in each service. In 2016, we had 73 baptisms. Each service is attended by around 200 people total. Photo Copyright 2015 Oakhouse Photography. Baptism preparation sessions are held monthly on a Saturday morning to welcome and get to know families, with some short instruction; the baptism visiting team arrange for a home visit to discuss the service. Funerals: We have an active funerals ministry, both in Church (mostly for burial in our extensive churchyards), and at Eltham Crematorium, with around funerals conducted each year. We also conduct many burials of ashes in the churchyard, around each year. A bereavement support group is also run by one of our Pastoral Assistants. St Paulinus Parish Profile Page 7

9 Special Occasions and Seasons Advent: Service of Light Christmas: Christingle, Nine Lessons and Carols, Nativity, Carols by Candlelight, Midnight Mass, St Stephen s Day Mass, St John s Day Mass, Holy Innocents Day Mass. Holy Week: Palm Sunday Procession, Palm Sunday Confirmation Service, Weekday Masses, Stations of the Cross, Mass of the Last Supper, Maundy Watch Vigil, Walk of Witness (with Churches Together), Liturgy of Good Friday, Easter Vigil Ceremonies, Dawn Service. Ascension Day: joint Mass with surrounding parishes. Remembrance Day service with parade to the War Memorial. Sunday school We have a very popular and thriving Sunday School ministry. Schoolage children meet in the Church Hall during the 10am Mass in term time, with activities, songs and games to explore a theme or bible story and to learn to enjoy their faith. The Sunday School is run by a committed team of helpers, working with children each week. Our current leaders are due to stand down Summer 2017 so we are currently seeking applications for someone to take on this leadership of this ministry. The children join the main service at the Peace, to take part in communion and worship. Under the permission of the Bishop of Rochester the parish prepares and admits children to receive Holy Communion before Confirmation, running a Let s Do Eucharist! course most summers. St Paulinus Parish Profile Page 8

10 Sunday Night Massive In 2015 we relaunched our Sunday evening youth group, aimed at those in school year 5 and over, to provide a fun and safe space for those about to make the transition to secondary school, and to try to encourage an ongoing link for them with the church s ministry. Each term runs with a programme of activities including baking, team games, quizzes, Messy Mass, bowling and Christmas and Easter parties. The Ministry Team As well as the Rector we have a Curate, the Revd James Crockford who is approaching his fourth year in the parish. The Revd Joe Hogarth is an associate priest, and although retired he willingly helps with midweek services and funerals in church and elsewhere in the deanery. We have two readers, Denise Morgan and Richard Demuth, a parish evangelist Roger Laing, and pastoral assistants Lynn Wallington and Nicky Fry. This team between them help with our confirmation preparation, pastoral visiting and preaching. We also have two trainee Licensed Lay Ministers, Lynn Wallington and Magali Van Der Merwe. The two Church Wardens, Glen Bater and Francis Vordzorgbe have a strong team of stewards who help on a rota system with Sunday services and Baptisms. The Church Administrator is a paid employee of the church. Kelly Tharby is the present administrator. The church office at 8a Iron Mill Lane and is open to the public from 9am until 2pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. On the last Tuesday of the month, it is open in the evening for wedding appointments only. Kelly Tharby also serves as Wedding Clerk and Verger for Weddings and offers administration for funerals and churchyard ministry. St Paulinus Parish Profile Page 9

11 Music at St Paulinus The PCC employ a Director of Music, Mr Nic Turner, to lead our music ministry. Most sung services are supported by organ and choir (around 10 members each week), with the wellsuited tracker organ and choir stalls now located at the back of the church. The Choir practice each Friday evening, participate in local choir competitions and church music events. There is a small junior section of the choir; chorister recruitment has not come easily and this remains an area for attention and development. St Paulinus and Churches Together in Crayford Photo Copyright 2015 Oakhouse Photography. Churches Together in Crayford is an ecumenical body established between St Paulinus, St Mary s of the Cray s R.C Church, the Baptist Church and Act 2 in Crayford, as well as a range of new small Pentecostal chapels. The committee meet regularly to discuss and organised shared ventures of worship and common issues, and are exploring areas of potential service. The main points of ecumenical gathering are the Good Friday Walk of Witness, and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Church leaders participate in the work of the group as and when they can. Parish Communications The church magazine is distributed by volunteers to regular parishioners and to interested people throughout the parish at the beginning of every other month. Encouragement is given to groups, the school and individuals to write articles and reports so that full coverage of the life of the parish is recorded and interest in the church may be promoted. Copies of the magazine are also available at the back of the church for visitors to peruse or take away with them. Every Sunday the congregation at each service is given a weekly pew sheet, which advertises services and the forth coming week s events. Snippets of news may also be added or request for help. This weekly sheet is also posted outside the porch door so passing people can read it. Our Communications Committee are currently engaged in reviewing and St Paulinus Parish Profile Page 10

12 renewing aspects of our communications, from updated noticeboards to a fresh set of leaflets on parish life and history. St Paulinus also publishes a website (stpaulinus.co.uk) which gives information on all aspects of the church life, with a Twitter feed, photo gallery, and service information. St Paulinus CE Primary School At St Paulinus C.E. Primary School our relationship with the Church is an incredibly important one. When you walk into our school, when you look on our website and when you talk to any member of our school community it becomes clear what a close and special connection we share. Our local Church plays a key role in helping us to nurture and develop the spirituality of our children and staff. Both the school and the Church are there for each other and mutually support each other. School staff and members of the Church clergy meet regularly to plan the weekly Christian themes of worship which our children celebrate. We work closely together supporting each other to ensure the children at the school are provided with worship of a high quality. Every Tuesday a member of the clergy visits the school to deliver the whole school Collective Worship this enables the children to be familiar with members of their local Church and they are proud to welcome them to join the act of worship. Every Wednesday a class from the school walk to St Paulinus Church to attend the 9.30 a.m. Mass. They sit in the pews learning what it is like to become part of the congregation and are invited to the chancel carpet for a short talk during the service. Members of the clergy enjoy seeing the children and the children equally enjoy meeting them. There are many other times during the year where the school and Church unite together for special services (e.g. Harvest, Candlemas, Easter, Christmas and our St Paulinus Service) and families and members of the local community are invited to join in with these. At times when children are learning about a particular aspect of Christianity during their Religious Education lessons, they may visit the Church or invite someone from Church to come and talk to them and answer their questions. Many members of the school s Governing Body are also members of the Church community. This enables us to ensure our vision (of ensuring our children grow and leave our school with Christian values that prepare them for life in a diverse society) is at the heart of any decisions that we make. Volunteers from St Paulinus Church are also working on a programme where they act as mentors to individual children and we are always looking for new recruits to support our children emotionally as well as spiritually. Mrs Sarah Young, Head Teacher, St Paulinus C.E. Primary School St Paulinus Parish Profile Page 11

13 The Friends of St Paulinus Since 1966 the Friends of St. Paulinus has been a separate body devoted to fundraising to support the preservation of the fabric and contents of the church. The Rector has always been a committee member and supporter and we look forward to a continued good relationship. Events are organised to attract and entertain local people. Annual events in recent years have included coffee mornings and a Quiz Night. Last year a concert was produced and earlier an Old Time Music Hall was staged, both proving popular and successful. On-going fundraising is through membership fees and the weekly draw. The Friends have taken responsibility for the maintenance of the church clock and also for the purchase and maintenance of the church flags, ensuring they are all in good order. Occasional substantial income has included donations and bequests which have facilitated major projects such as the restoration of the Mence Smith triptych, and the restoration and repair of the organ. St Paulinus Parish Profile Page 12

14 Parish Administration and Finance The PCC The PCC has 25 members in total. There are 10 ex officio members, who are the Rector, Curate, one reader, two church Wardens, Secretary, Treasure, Director of Music and the Church Administrator. The PCC has 14 elected members, who serve for three years after which they may be reelected for a further period of three years. In addition, there are four members elected to serve as Deanery Synod Representatives. The Rector is the chair of the PCC, assisted by the elected Vice Chair. Each member of the PCC is expected to sit on a further sub-committee. The chairs of these subcommittees do not necessarily have to be members of the PCC but each committee must have at least one PCC member on it to represent and report back to the PCC. PCC Sub-committees St Paulinus Parish Profile Page 13

15 Charitable Trust and Property The Chair is a member of charitable trusts, several of which are quite small. However, one or two are quite substantial and include a number of properties. The Rector and Churchwardens are the trustees to three almshouses and a house on one side of Iron Mill Lane, near the church. The Rector and a number of other trustees have the responsibility for four almshouses and two other properties on the other side of Iron Mill Lane. From day to day there is little to do regarding these properties, whose rents are managed by a letting agency. Church Finances In 2016 our net income was 8,576, with total incoming resources totalling 197,027. A third of our income in 2016 came from voluntary giving and tax reclaim, a fifth from funeral and wedding fees, and just under a fifth from hall rental income. Our parish offer to the Diocese last year was 73,292. At the end of 2016, the PCC bank balance held 64, with a further deposit of 82, with the Rochester Diocese Fund. Each year a Stewardship Sunday is held to provide a chance to think about Christian giving, and how parishioners can best give to support and take responsibility for the shared ministry of the parish. Copy of the accounts can be provided on request. St Paulinus Parish Profile Page 14

16 Person specification for the new Incumbent 2017 Well-developed leadership and team working skills. Good facilitator and able to encourage others to fulfil their potential in terms of their particular ministries and gifts. Rooted and articulate in Eucharistic worship with good skills in leading liturgical services, yet able to be flexible, adaptable and open to lead and support new styles of worship. Able communicator, with good computer skills. Prepared to support and encourage outreach within the parish. A desire to work collaboratively with other Parishes within the Deanery, and with other Christian congregations in Crayford. An enthusiasm and capability for ministry in a Church school. Comfortable in dealing with people of all ages and backgrounds, supportive of diversity and able to facilitate an inclusive approach to ministry. Proven management ability to cope with the demands of a busy parish. Someone with an engaging and thoughtful approach to teaching and preaching ministry, including confirmation classes, assemblies, and facilitating home group ministry. Good organisational and time management skills. Approachable, caring and empathetic character, with an ability in providing pastoral support and nurture for all ages. A sense of vocation to Parish ministry, and an ability to relate well to those in and outside the church, with a particular heart for ministry through the occasional offices. Ability to support those exploring or new to faith, and challenge all to find a place within the church family. St Paulinus Parish Profile Page 15