The Joint Benefice of Freckleton and Warton. Holy Trinity Freckleton

Transcription

1 The Joint Benefice of Freckleton and Warton Holy Trinity Freckleton Under the patronage of the Bishop of Blackburn and St Paul Warton Under the patronage of Christ Church, Oxford

2 The Bishop of Blackburn The Rt Revd Julian T Henderson Ministry in the Diocese of Blackburn Thank you for your enquiry about a vacant post in the Diocese of Blackburn, the Church of England in Lancashire. We believe God wants His Church to grow, and so are looking for gifted and prayerful clergy with a heart for the Gospel and mission, who have the energy and enthusiasm to implement Vision 2026, Healthy Churches Transforming Communities. You can read more about Vision 2026 overleaf. Almost all of our parishes have Vision Champions who have volunteered to work with their clergy and lay leadership in keeping the Vision on the PCC and congregation s agenda. The Vision is about a radical change of culture, in which we engage in new ways in making the unchanging Gospel of Jesus known in our communities. The spiritual, physical and emotional health and the ongoing development of our clergy is very important to us. Please be assured of my prayers as you consider whether to make an Bishop of Blackburn Living in Lancashire Lancashire people are known for their warmth and friendliness and those who are new to the area find it to be an easy place to make friends. There are excellent transport connections and the surrounding countryside is spectacularly beautiful. For those with children, the Diocese has over 180 church schools including 10 high schools; the vast majority are rated as Good or Outstanding. Canon Fleur Green Advisor for Women s Ministry Our call to Mission As a Diocese we are fully committed to the breadth and diversity of the Anglican tradition. Traditionalist, evangelical, catholic, progressive, Eucharistic, charismatic we don t care what the label is. As long as you are passionate about sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and long to make new disciples, there is a place for you in the Church of England in Lancashire. + Philip North Bishop of Burnley

3 VISION 2026 The year 2026 marks the centenary of the formation of the Diocese of Blackburn. In the ten years leading up to our centenary, Vision 2026 is a plan to turn around the long-term trend of gradually declining attendance. Our vision is for the growth of God s kingdom, not just of his church. Our vision is to develop healthy churches which transform their communities, a vision in which making disciples for Jesus Christ and pursuing social justice sit side by side. Our vision has had a long gestation. When the Vacancy in See occurred in 2012 we began to look at how we were going to move forward as a diocese. On his arrival, Bishop Julian spent his first year visiting every member of the clergy in their homes and visiting all the parishes of the diocese. At the end of that first year, Bishop Julian shared his reflections and the vision began to become clearer. It was shared with the diocesan family in the deaneries and in a number of local events and unanimously adopted by the diocesan synod. The first year was spent in prayer with the Vision 2026 as the focus has seen the Vision develop, with parishes nominating Vision Champions who were commissioned in Preston Guild Hall along with Churchwardens in the presence of 1,600 people. As a diocese with our Vision, we are willing to face the cost of change; and in prayer we see the grace and power of God which can alone bring renewal and growth. We are committed to work together (clergy, laity, church schools, diocesan staff and the cathedral) to deliver Vision 2026 by: Making disciples of Jesus Christ Knowing the Scriptures better through reading, teaching, preaching and study Praying with greater depth and urgency for the Kingdom of God to come Giving generously of our time, talents and money to the cause of Christ Being witnesses to Jesus Christ Sharing the Gospel of salvation with confidence Holding regular enquirers courses in as many local churches as possible Showing God s love in action through projects that meet a local human need Offering thorough and accessible Baptism preparation and follow-up Planting or renewing 50 new strategic congregations by 2026 Growing leaders for Jesus Christ Supporting and equipping the current leadership for today s context Enabling missional leadership in every Christian community Liberating lay leadership for greater participation Creating the varied patterns of Sunday and weekday worship necessary to welcome all kinds of people, especially the newcomer Prioritising work among children, young people and schools to raise up a new generation for Christ The Diocesan Vision Prayer: Heavenly Father, we embrace Your call for us to make disciples, to be witnesses and to grow leaders. Give us the eyes to see Your vision, ears to hear the prompting of Your Spirit and courage to follow in the footsteps of your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

4 If you come to Blackburn Diocese we will look after you We have a great property department, who will do their best to ensure your house works for you and your family and is well maintained. We encourage all clergy to take their full annual leave entitlement, and also to use creatively the overtime we all put in to take an extra day off once each month, to enable you to have a midweek weekend away. We have a beautiful diocesan retreat house in the grounds of a ruined Cistercian abbey, where clergy are welcome to have personal reading days without charge (bring your own lunch). Whalley Abbey Retreat and Conference Centre We encourage all parishes in vacancy to consider how they will pastor and support their new priest. We have a unique pattern of peer-led Ministerial Development Review, designed by the clergy for the clergy. We are setting up a pilot reflective practice group for clergy new in post, in partnership with St Luke s Healthcare. If you are looking for a spiritual director or a mentor we have networks of people with whom we can put you in touch. We are always looking for ways for clergy to mix apart from work including reading weeks, regular hospitality, and a clergy walking group. Further suggestions are welcome. Bishop Philip leads a clergy walk

5 Joint Benefice of Freckleton and Warton What we offer The two parishes of the Joint Benefice of Freckleton and Warton offer friendly congregations who embrace new people and families. Each congregation has diverse levels of faith, some long standing members and some younger who are just starting their journey with Christ. We both have dedicated teams of experienced sides persons, lay assistants, readers and intercessors. These are supported by wider contributions from both choirs, Sunday school leaders, flower arrangers, visitors groups and cleaners. Both churches enjoy traditional and modern music to enhance worship, thanks largely to the skill and dedication of our experienced organists and robed choirs. Between us we offer and share a wealth of groups catering for different interests and activities. We have thriving Sunday schools, teenage church group, toddler group, very well attended Uniformed Organisations, and groups for adults such as Mothers Union and Men s Fellowship. Each parish has capable PCCs who are very well informed with a clear structure of sub-committees that meet regularly to allow for deeper and more focused discussions in key areas. Both PCCs have always maintained a productive relationship with the incumbent to further the ambitions of the Parishes and Benefice. An incoming Vicar can look forward to a very supportive and welcoming environment in both churches. Both congregations are keen to move towards developing our vision, and believe that Holy Trinity Freckleton and St Pauls Warton provide an excellent opportunity to the right person. We re excited about the spiritual growth that this appointment will bring to the future of our churches together. The patrons of the living of St Pauls Warton are the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church, Oxford. Christ Church is in the happy position of being able to support the incumbents of its ninety livings through the revenues of the Dr South Trust, which is able to assist with grants for study, administration and holidays, as well as offering a biennial conference and loans for the purchase of a car. What we need We would like to attract somebody who shares our need for these qualities A love for God and for all people, willing to take the church forward in line with Vision 2026 and our respective Mission Statements. Strength in leadership to continue both the growth of the parish and the nurture of an existing congregation. A leader and facilitator who is happy and willing to work with existing teams within the respective churches.

6 A continuing appreciation of worship guided by Eucharistic tradition and a passion for the Scriptures, with relaxed and family friendly worship that reflects the heartbeat of both parishes. Able to work with the current level of lay involvement and encourage and foster more of the same. Willing to protect and grow the tradition of music within the church with the organ and robed choir being central to that tradition, but with the introduction of more informal music styles from other traditions. Able to energise and engage with families, young people in particular the current age group gap of 20s-30s, those on their own and the elderly, administering both faith leadership and pastoral care. A strategic and long term thinker who identifies areas for development, in particular with regards to St. Paul s C of E Primary school encouraging, and in the case of Freckleton C of E Primary School maintaining, close relationships with the respective head teachers and all teaching staff. A person immersed in both parish and village life with an engaging, outgoing and visible presence, willing to partake and keen to be involved. Above all we need a person of God, a good communicator who can lead us by example as we prayerfully seek God s way forward in the growth of our Parish. Both parishes have their unique qualities and opportunities St Pauls is in need of someone who can Continue the energetic life of the church through strong community links and imaginative use of our church building for both worship and alternative community outreach and fundraising use. A future vision for our facilities as we undertake renovation and alternative use of our building. Forge a strong church relationship with our link School (St Pauls C of E primary), influence the school leadership to engage with more with the life of the church and generate an exciting link with parents and children. Holy Trinity is in need of someone who can Maintain the strong link with both Freckleton village schools and continue to foster and encourage a close and mutually beneficial relationship with the Governors, Head Teachers, staff and pupils. Continue a close involvement with our young people both at Sunday school and our teenage church group. Devote equal amounts of time to both parishes and be a visual presence in our village community. Pledge time and resources to various village groups. They would be made welcome on the Freckleton Club Day committee, Freckleton Charitable Trust Fund Committee and the Village Hall Committee. All of which meet infrequently. Holy Trinity enjoys and benefits from an active social committee providing much needed outreach to others who are not members of our congregation. By organising fun events we hope to grow our fellowship and congregation. It is important to us that the new incumbent can join us in outreach and growth.

7 Holy Trinity Church Freckleton (By Alexander P Kapp) Lytham Road Freckleton Preston PR4 1AA Holy Trinity Church website

8 Where we are Freckleton is a village in the borough of Fylde which adjoins Warton and lies 2.5 miles to the SSE of Kirkham and is east of Lytham St. Annes. According to the last census, Freckleton has a population of just over six thousand inhabitants but this is slowly increasing with several new house-building projects and the continued success of Bae Systems, by far the major employer in the area. Other employment is mostly retail and farming. The community are very proud of the fact that Freckleton won the Village in Bloom (small town) category in 2016, having won several other awards over the years. This year (2017) Freckleton in Bloom won a Gold Award and have made a video of our village which can be found at / Who we are The Foundation Stone of Holy Trinity Church was laid in 1837 and it was consecrated in June It can seat some 200 worshippers, including spaces in the gallery which houses the 1905 Harrison and Harrison organ. There is a graveyard which is for the use of the entire village, which is now closed for new burials but still used for burials in existing family graves and for burial of cremated remains, for which a large plot is available. Within the Graveyard is the special Children s Grave. (Mrs. R. Scholz)

9 On the 23 rd August 1944 an American plane crashed onto our primary school killing 38 children and two teachers as well as seven American servicemen, four RAF airman and seven Snack Bar staff. A memorial service is held every year at the Children s Grave in the Graveyard of our church. Membership: The electoral roll stands at 73, of whom three live outside the parish. The age profile is heavily biased towards older members of the community, but with a strong contingent of teenagers who have been confirmed in recent years and act as Servers/Acolytes at the 11am services. Age Profile (regular attendees) within the Congregation Our Services Since the joint benefice came into effect, we have established a pattern of worship in conjunction with St Paul s, which broadly sees: Two BCP (Book of Common Prayer) Holy Communion services at 8.30am at each church each month (i.e. alternately at Freckleton and Warton) Three ASB Holy Communion services at Holy Trinity at 11am each month, plus one non-eucharistic Service of the Word per month; and Two BCP (Book of Common Prayer) services at 6pm at each church each month (also alternately). When there is a fifth Sunday, the pattern is for 8.30am and 6pm services at Warton and 11am at Freckleton. There is also a BCP (Book of Common Prayer) Holy Communion service at 10am every Thursday and nightly services at 7pm Monday to Thursday during Holy Week. These services have been, during the last few years, mainly conducted by our retired NSM supported by clergy from St. Paul s and occasional outside help. Attendance at Services Average congregation sizes at present for services at Holy Trinity on a Sunday are: 8.30am 12 11am 35 6pm 16 Around eight people usually attend the Thursday service at 10am.

10 Festival Attendances Easter Easter Sunday normally sees a congregation of 80 which includes 6 under the age of 16. During Holy Week, the average number attending at 7pm is 10. On Good Friday there is a said service at 10am and currently there are no services on Saturday. Christmas One of the best attended services of the year is the Christingle Service on Christmas Eve where, in 2016, we saw a congregation consisting of 125 adults and 54 children. Christingle Service Midnight Mass Having fun preparing for the very popular Christingle Service, In 2016, 79 attended the Midnight Mass celebration There is only one service on Christmas Day (at 10am) and it is a said service and the congregation numbered 29 in Occasional Offices and Celebrations Baptisms - In 2016 there were 17 baptisms, and in 2017 there were 6. Pre-baptismal visits are normally carried out by the Pastoral Assistant who attends the actual service and prepares the paperwork. We offer the option of having the Baptism as part of the 11am service on a Sunday or afterwards at 12:30pm. Weddings Between 2016 and 2017 we have celebrated 3 weddings - All visits are conducted by the Incumbent. Funerals In 2016, there were 33 funerals and so far in 2017 In Church 9 5 Ashes burials 11 6 In Church and then at the Crematorium. 7 3 At the Crematorium* 6 7 In the first instance, the Funeral Director contacts the Incumbent who then visits the family and arranges for the organist if required. A member of the PCC usually acts as verger. Burial of ashes is arranged with the Incumbent.

11 Confirmation - In June 2017, six young people and one adult were confirmed. In the first instance an approach is made to both of the primary schools in the village at the start of the spring term. Classes, which run for six weeks, are then arranged for the candidates and the instruction is shared between the Incumbent and members of the PCC and congregation. Groups within our church: There is a Mothers Union branch at Holy Trinity, with a membership of around a dozen Led by a dedicated group of leaders, we have a thriving Sunday school. At the time of writing, there are approximately 20 children registered to attend. This group meets in Freckleton C of E Primary School at 11am during term time. There are several Sundays when the children meet in Church and may also take part in the service e.g. Mothering Sunday, Club Day, Prize Giving, Harvest and the Sunday School Christmas Presentation. What our young people need: YURCH is our Post Confirmation church group and currently there are around 12 to 15 participants. Many of these young people play a full part in the church services acting as acolytes and servers. These young people also make and sell items for their chosen charities and have been very successful in this endeavour over the past few years. They meet weekly during term-time as a home group or for fun outings. When asked what qualities they would like in a new priest they said: a) Funny, friendly and helpful b) Interesting someone who makes learning fun c) Middle aged d) Experienced not straight from college and not ready for retirement. e) High self-esteem confident, self-assured, capable f) It doesn t matter if it is a man or a woman.

12 Our links into the Community Ecumenical Links - We have a strong relationship with the local Methodist church including sharing ecumenical services from time to time. A Covenant between the two churches was signed in 2003 but the relationship goes back much further, flourishing during Revd. Michael Gisbourne s incumbency. Also the clergy from Holy Trinity/St. Pauls; Freckleton Methodist Church and Holy Family Roman Catholic Church hold regular Fraternal Meetings. Club Day - The Church, Sunday school and the village schools play a strong part in the Club Day Procession of Witness on the third Saturday in June which is led by the clergy from all the churches in the village. On Sunday there is an Ecumenical Songs of Praise which is hosted by one of the churches. The church also plays a full part in the Remembrance Sunday and Christmas Tree Lighting services with the council and the other churches. (Both of these take place at the village War Memorial.) Home Visiting and Communion - There are three retirement/rest homes in Freckleton, to which Home Communion is taken on a monthly basis by volunteers (and the incumbent at Easter and Christmas). Home Communion is also taken, on a monthly basis, to those who wish it but are physically unable to attend Church. We also collect for Fylde Food Bank. Serving the Community in various other roles The church has strong community links in Freckleton, including hosting the council s Civic Sunday service when the chair of the parish council is an Anglican. It is hoped that the Incumbent will take the opportunity to serve as a trustee on the Village Hall Committee, which meets quarterly. One PCC member and the Incumbent serve on the Freckleton Charitable Trust committee, which administers funds from appeals dating back to the 1944 crash and distributes them to local good causes (especially youth). This committee meets once a year in October. During the run up to Christmas, collections are taken and/or goods are sold for a local Children s Charity e.g. Derian House; Brian House or Donna s Dream House. In previous years, the Incumbent has taken a service once a year at the area hospice (Trinity Hospice, Blackpool). The Incumbent plus two members of the PCC also serve on the Club Day Committee whose task is to organise and ensure that all goes smoothly on the day.

13 Social Activities - We have a very active Social Committee who organise very successful events which are open to all villagers and members of the other churches in the area as well as non-churchgoers in the village. They are usually well supported and include the following:- Our Saturday morning drop in for coffee or tea and toasties plus cake and biscuits has proved most successful. It not only provides a pleasant relaxed atmosphere for our friends from the village and other churches in the area who join us for refreshments and a chat but has also proved to be a real fund raiser for the Church. We host a number of successful and popular social events throughout the year including an annual Bingo evening. Seasonal meals are also arranged. The photograph on the left is of the Passover Meal which was held in Church but others are at Lorenzos in the village. These events facilitate most enjoyable meetings with our friends from the other Churches and also in the village. Recently our young Rose Queen organised a very successful Afternoon Tea event in aid of the Church path appeal. Our School School Mission Statement We are a welcoming and caring Christian school where everyone can learn and grow as part of God s family. The school involved in the 1944 crash was eventually totally demolished and there is now a thriving church school (Freckleton CE Primary School) some five minutes walk from church. Holy Trinity maintains extremely strong links with the school, including regular worship services in church, involving the whole school and planned by the pupils own Worship Committee who actually led the service, acting as readers, acolytes, servers and intercessors. As an ex-officio member of the school governing body, we look forward to the incumbent playing an active part in school life continuing the excellent church and school relation that exists today. The incumbent has traditionally taken services in school, as well as those held in church. The CE School is also the meeting place for Holy Trinity s Sunday school, which meets most Sunday mornings in term time, with a roll of about 20, ranging from infants to those who have been confirmed.

14 There are several Sunday school services in church throughout the year, including a Christmas Presentation, Mothering Sunday, Harvest Festival and Sunday school Prize giving. Every year, Sunday School elects a Rose Queen, who leads a Club Day procession of witness round the village in June, in company with the other churches in the village (Methodist and Roman Catholic) and, recently, church members from our joint benefice at St Paul s, Warton. Holy Trinity PCC nominates 7 Foundation Governors (out of a complete total of 12 Governors). There is one other school in the village, Strike Lane County Primary. Further details - Strike Lane is a local authority establishment which has a good relationship with our Church School. This includes providing a joint choir for special village occasions - such as the village s Christmas tree lighting ceremony and the annual Ecumenical Songs of Praise Service on Club Day weekend. Freckleton children progress to Carr Hill High School or, providing the young person is accepted and the parents/guardians are financially able to meet the fees, to Kirkham Grammar School Our Buildings The Church - As was mentioned earlier, there is seating for 200. Following two major restoration projects in the last quarter of the 20 th century, the building has continued to be well and regularly maintained. The Vicarage - After Holy Trinity s penultimate incumbent left a couple of years ago the Diocese decided to sell the Vicarage in Freckleton. The Vicarage, which is situated opposite St. Paul s Church in Warton, is now the domicile for the incumbent of the joint Benefice of Freckleton and Warton. The Hall - Holy Trinity currently has no parish office or community hall. Numerous plans have been explored for providing one or both, but none have yet come to fruition. It is anticipated that this could be at least partially (if not fully) funded out of the monies made from the sale of our Vicarage (which was at the insistence of the Diocese). Our Finances In addition to planned giving and plate collections, the church has other regular sources of income, such as the annual Spring Fair, Bingo Evening and other social events, plus a very profitable monthly Parish Magazine, a successful 100 Club, in addition to legacies and income from investments. We give some 1200 annually to nominated charities and make additional contributions to local hospices, etc., through various fund raising efforts.

15 Where we are going Our Vision Due to the fact that our penultimate vicar did not present or encourage the PCC with any M.A.P. documentation over the years, we have always tried as a group to follow our Church Mission Statement by including/inviting those who don t normally attend church to join us in our various social activities and charity events. Our mission is to worship God and work together with our fellow Christians in the power of the Holy Spirit to: develop the spiritual life of all Christian people; share the good news of the Kingdom of God; bear witness to His love and forgiveness. We look forward to working with our new incumbent to develop our Mission and realise our Vision.

16 St Pauls Church Warton Church Road Warton Lancashire PR4 1BD

17 Where we are Bryning-with-Warton is a small long-established township (large village) at the southern end of the Fylde coast and is contiguous with the neighbouring parish of Freckleton. Warton was in former times a tiny cluster of cottages on the Preston to Lytham road, where poultry and glasshouses formed the main source of employment as well as farming. In far distant times it lay on a pilgrimage route from the Chester to Furness monasteries at a safe crossing point on the River Ribble. The Second World War brought its solitude to an end, when, in 1942 roughly half the village was swallowed up in a huge American airbase with an establishment of many thousands of servicemen. In the years after the war ended, the fully-completed airfield was progressively taken over by English Electric Co. for aircraft manufacture and flight testing. Today it is still a major employer under its new name of BAE SYSTEMS. Many in the local population are its employees or former employees enjoying retirement. The local schools are St Pauls Church of England Primary School and The Holy Family Roman Catholic Primary School. Warton enjoys a very favourable position on the north bank of the River Ribble, where the weather is predominantly benign and sheltered. The township has a variety of shops including Fish & Chips, sandwich shop, small convenience stores, funeral directors and two pubs. It s close to Lytham, Preston and Kirkham having very good road connections to all these centres. Warton is a friendly place in which to live, is served by a supportive and active parish council. The church is well respected and through our own men s fellowship group and regular catering for church events, the Birley Arms pub and St Pauls parish church enjoy very good relations. The local garage is at the time of writing undergoing a complete rebuild and is scheduled to house a Spar shop which will be in addition to the Tesco Express store. Who we are St Pauls is a joint benefice with the adjoining parish of Holy Trinity Freckleton, joining in There has been a church building in this same spot in Warton since 1723 and very possibly long before. The present building dates from 1886, is of stone construction and on the Fylde coast is widely considered to be one of the most handsome and well-proportioned structures of its type. The two Churchwardens represent both the older and younger generations and enjoy an excellent working relationship. There is also a very good mix of age-groups on the PCC, coupled with a wide range of skills and experience. The incumbent is very well supported in leading worship, having a non-stipendiary Curate for four days a week plus a ministry team comprising two Readers and a retired vicar. In addition, both Old and New Testament lessons are read by lay people and the gospel is read by the vicar/president. Our family services often attract occasional preachers. The incumbent is supported by a team of lay administrators at Holy Communion and the church has a small but very enthusiastic robed choir, led by a first-rate organist and musical director who is employed by the parish.

18 Our Sunday school St Pauls Little People has a regular attendance of between five and ten children. We mix bible studies with fun craft and interactive sessions in the vestry during main Sunday services. Parents attend the main service and children re-join the service for communion and blessings. We have a monthly children s service All Aboard non Eucharist where the style of worship is relaxed and child focused. St Pauls runs a weekly toddler group Jellybeans run entirely by church volunteers and is popular with local parents, grandparents and carers with preschool aged children, attracting up to 20 parents in a session. A very active and well supported Mothers Union meets monthly with a lively agenda of communion services, meetings, trips, visits and fundraisers. They hold a regular position on the rota at the Cathedral for welcoming and gift shop. In addition to regular meetings a Coffee Cake Chat informal meeting is rotated around the village in people s homes with open invitation. Our male fellowship group Community Pint Night meets monthly either at a local pub or restaurant. Male fellowship is growing strong in numbers and is proving a popular way of attracting males both young and old to our growing church family. A similar dining group for women has also been formed. A Chasuble is normal wear at Eucharist services and the seasonal colours are also represented on the hangings at each side of the reredos. At present, Evensong uses the sung rite of the BCP where cassock and surplice are the customary robes. Pastoral support in the Parish has been increasingly the responsibility of a small team of Visitors, directed by the Incumbent, acting upon information received. This team holds special events for the elderly at Christmas, with gifts and, during the summer it hosts a tea party. Harvest gifts are also distributed. St Pauls supports the Fylde Food Bank and an initiative for homeless young people in Blackpool called Streetlife. A recent innovation led by the Curate has been in visiting the community on a Prayer Visiting basis where those called on are invited to request prayers to be said for their particular needs and concerns. Whilst still largely in its infancy prayer visiting has so far been very positive. Prayers are read out at our All Aboard family service. This initiative has attracted new people into St Pauls. Pattern of worship Main Sunday service is 09:45 weekly Family Holy Communion (2 nd Sunday monthly is non Communion all aboard family service including uniformed organisations) Alternating Sunday services between St Pauls Warton and Holy Trinity Freckleton are 08:30 Holy Communion and 18:00 Evensong. Mid-week service Wednesday Holy Communion 09:30 Healing Ministry with the laying-on-of-hands and anointing - Holy Communion on the 2 nd Wednesday of each month at 7pm plus a Quarterly Ecumenical Healing Service.

19 OUR BUILDINGS For many years, the church building remained much as our Victorian forefathers had completed it in 1886 apart from the installation of electricity in the early 1930 s and improved boilers burning gas. However, for some time past the building has progressively and sensitively been enhanced. Initially this was in the form of the addition of a wash room with baby changing. A full row of back pews was removed plus front pews enabling a small, carpeted play area to be established for the tiniest of children. In the northwest corner of the church, a mobile servery for coffee and cake following morning Eucharist has been added as well as the installation of a modern sink and kitchen units in the vestry. There is a current faculty in place for the extensive renovation and replacement of the roof, divided into different phases, with plans and work schedule agreed by the DAC and a builder appointed. Work here is scheduled to commence in spring Financing this project is largely by way of a diocesan loan plus local fundraising. (Plans and tender documents are available to view) The same faculty also permits the further removal of two rows of rear pews, removal of three South aisle pews and the entire North aisle pews. This will allow chairs and small tables, thus further extending the potential of the building. The Church St Pauls is large light and airy, having only high quality stained glass at the east end. For many years the building has had ramp access for wheelchairs which is incorporated in remodelled south entrance steps, having handrails. Internally, convenient recesses have been provided for wheelchairs and baby buggies. Thorough cleaning is carried out weekly by rota and the vestry/meeting room/office is heated by a gas fired system separate to the larger system which heats the church itself. There is a well-organised calendar of usage of the building and a clear reproduction of it is on the external church notice board. A monthly magazine is published which maintains a loyal though rather static readership. At the west end of the church a large screen television used for advertising forthcoming events as well as being offered for photographic slide shows at funerals and weddings. The church has a Health and Safety officer, First Aid trained volunteers and a Safeguarding officer. Burials take place in the extended church grounds and all new interments of Freckleton deceased now take place at Warton. The Freckleton church grounds cannot now be developed any further. At St Pauls a memorial garden for the interment of ashes has recently been enhanced by the addition of a new memorial stone, the cost of which having been met by the Parish Council and the George Blackburn Trust.

20 The Vicarage The Vicarage is across the road from the church and is a four-bedroomed house, with mature gardens, dating back to the 1950 s. The Vicarage is a convenient and substantial fourbedroomed brick house with attractive gardens which are not overlooked. It has a large living room, study and familysized dining room. It is anticipated that modernisation of the kitchen will be desirable. The entire house is fully double glazed, has parquet floor downstairs and is centrally heated throughout by a modern boiler. Our Finances St Pauls currently finds itself with the once in a generation need of significant fabric repair. As detailed earlier, our roof replacement/repair is well progressed. This is recognised by the Diocese and provision is being made for us to be able to deal with the needs of the building financially. In due course we will continue our long standing tradition of meeting our full parish share obligation.

21 Our school St Pauls (Endowed) school, dates back to the 1820 s and has played a very significant role in the life of the community it serves. Though old, the buildings have been modernised and much has been added during the second half of the last century. Until quite recently the Chair was a lay person but the previous two incumbents have held that post. The last incumbent was forced to relinquish the post owing to ill health and in recent months (2017) the Blackburn Diocese has provided Ms. Gerrie Byrne to fill the vacancy. The Curate who is also a Governor visits the school regularly and takes Worship in the school hall. Over the last few years the number on roll has fallen by half and the school must now be considered to be a work in progress. The current SIAMS inspection rating is OUTSTANDING and the recent OFSTED inspection rating is NEEDS IMPROVEMENT. In spite of there being a first-rate teaching staff, parents have been opting to move their children to other local schools (including the RC) or not submitting them as entry pupils. The incumbent would have a wonderful opportunity to see the school with fresh eyes and, assisted by the Curate, breathe renewed spirit and morale into what is a fine place of learning. The hall St Pauls has no Parish hall and in fact has not ever had need of one. The nearby Warton Village Hall, which is a trust, has been and may still be rented for events needing such accommodation, but increasingly the church building has been adapted and continues to evolve into a space usable for a wide variety of Parish activities and events. It is to be noted that changes made or projected within the church building in no way detract from its primary role. Our links to the community We hold strong links with the community through open and friendly worship as well as frequent social events and concerts. The church and its congregation is an integral part of the village life and its position is central to the village. We maintain a friendly working relationship with the local pub where frequent parish lunches are held. BAE Systems, the major local employer uses our facilities weekly for prayer group meetings and their annual carol service. Apart from the social activities provided by the church and set out elsewhere, the WI is active, well established and supported. The village hosts a variety of groups and associations including the History Society, dominos and a Bridge club all meet regularly in the village hall. St Pauls has a long standing link with the parish of Timmerlah (Germany) and enjoys frequent exchange visits. The former incumbent held an active role at our church school as a governor and held position on the Village hall trustees.

22 Our Vision Alternative use of our church building St Pauls for the last two years has embraced what could be seen as a large financial burden of the roof replacement with a positive attitude that has led us to look how this can help us grow our congregation and standing in the wider parish. This comes in the form of opening our doors as often as we can not only for worship but also alternative sociable community use. We now have a strong reputation for providing high quality social entertainment, concerts and exhibitions. We provide catering capability and a licenced bar at these very popular events. This is an area of growth for us and opportunity to grow the size and style of our parish. Engage with and encourage younger family units into our church St Pauls has a very healthy and diverse Congregation, with worship central to the life of the church. We have an active Sunday school and toddler group. We would like to build stronger, long-lasting relationships with young families. We know we need to nurture a stronger relationship with our church school and with our Uniformed Organisations. We aim to make greater use of electronic communication in order to keep in touch with people of all ages, and to ensure information is readily available. Different forms of Service and worship to suit different ages / purposes might be a possibility, perhaps with different styles of music or prayer. It is important, however, that Services remain in line with the Common Worship materials, in that the Service follows a predictable structure. Building a strong relationship with parish groups and organisations Our Church currently identifies as Central churchmanship with family friendly worship in a traditional but accessible style. This is seen as one of our strengths, and something we would wish to maintain. We would like to build the involvement of other groups and organisations into our services. This should include our school, Sunday school, uniformed organisations and other inspiring guests. Wider provision and making worship and church life interesting and inviting is important to us. Growth through faith teaching There has been, over the last few years, the provision of Lent and Pilgrim courses. These have proved very popular and well attended (15 to 20 people) and very well received. We would like to continue this, and look to make provision for people at all stages of their faith journey. We would hope to do this by on going provision of Enquirers Courses together with opportunities for further study in small groups. A very recent innovation is the introduction of a monthly Wholeness and Healing service with laying on of hands and anointing, led by the Curate. It is invariably held on a weekday evening and already has a small but very appreciative congregation Promote and develop positive relationships with local traders. It s important to St Pauls that we continue our relationships with local businesses and grow this where possible. We have developed some healthy partnerships and these have helped us promote and normalise ourselves in the Parish. People have looked on these relationships with admiration and it has served us well with important advertising, staging of alternative events and fundraising.