Section 1 Details of Post. Section 2 Role Purpose

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1 Section 1 Details of Post Role Title: Name of Benefice: Deanery: Archdeaconry: Vicar St Cuthbert s Fir Vale Ecclesfield Sheffield and Rotherham Section 2 Role Purpose a. To exercise the cure of souls in the parish in collaboration with the Bishop b. To grow Christ-like, lively and diverse Christian communities in this place which are effective in making disciples and in seeking to transform our society and God s world c. To represent the Church of England in society d. To support, encourage and resource colleagues in the deanery and diocese as together we seek to realise our diocesan vision Section 3 General Responsibilities a. To fulfil the responsibilities of clergy as described in the Canons, the Ordinal, the Code of Professional Conduct for the Clergy and other relevant legislation b. To watch over yourself c. To ensure that high standards in worship, preaching and pastoral care are maintained d. To develop the ministry of the laity such that all are encouraged to use their gifts for the common good, and (with this in mind) to develop a ministry team e. To offer the Gospel in a lively and engaging way to those outside the church f. To provide pathways for people to explore the Christian faith, leading to Baptism and Confirmation

2 g. To offer clear pathways for young Christians to grow to maturity as Christian disciples h. To lead the church in responding to human need by loving service i. To participate in diocesan, national and international initiatives to transform unjust structures of society j. To seek at all times to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life on earth k. To encourage Christian Discipleship in people s use of time, money and abilities l. To collaborate with Churchwardens to ensure that the church building(s) serve the church s wider mission in the community m. To seek ecumenical cooperation wherever possible n. To collaborate with the Deanery in mission and ministry, and cooperate in the implementation of the Deanery Plan o. To ensure full compliance at all times with the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy Section 4 - Specific Responsibilities a. To grow the church by developing a strong discipleship culture, equipping lay leaders and building good missional links in the wider community. b. To ensure full engagement with our mission partnership c. To work collaboratively with other leaders and groups in our church, especially: Associate Vicar Churchwardens Reader Lay leaders in the congregation Food Bank d. To develop our work with families, children and young people and to engage effectively with local schools e. To maximise pastoral opportunities for mission in the parish and those on the fringes of the church

3 Section 5 - Key colleagues within the church (local, deanery, diocese and ecumenical) a. Associate vicar and Lay Reader b. Churchwardens c. Mission Partners (Christ Church, Pitsmoor & St Peter s, Ellesmere) d. Church Growth Administrator e. Hospital Chaplaincy f. Churches together in Firth Park g. Mission Development Co-ordinator for the North Sheffield Estates h. Area Dean and Lay Chair of Ecclesfield Deanery i. Archdeacon of Sheffield & Rotherham j. Bishop of Sheffield and Bishop of Doncaster Section 6 - Key partners within the wider community a. Local schools b. Local councillors c. Eden Project d. Friends of Firth Park e. SOAR f. Sheffield Church Burgesses (the Patron) Statement by the Archdeacon on behalf of the Diocese: St Cuthbert s Fir Vale is an important inner-city parish, and the church community is committed to working in a Mission Partnership to meet the specific needs found in this area of multiple-deprivation. There is a strong vision to be engaged with the local community, and the church building has recently undergone significant refurbishment to make it a more effective resource for mission and ministry. The food bank operating from St Cuthbert s is one example of the church serving the local community, and it is anticipated that the new Vicar will not only develop this ministry but also help the church community to discern new mission initiatives.

4 We are looking for an incumbent who will bring experience of urban ministry and a track record of growing churches. The successful candidate will be someone who is pro-active in mission and will serve collaboratively with ministry colleagues in the Northern Lights Mission Partnership. Together they will lead the churches of the partnership in discerning a shared vision for mission and ministry, especially in relation to the three diocesan strategies of growing the Body of Christ, reimagining ministry for a changing context and engaging in the wider community as salt and light, expressing the love of Christ in word and action. For more information on the diocesan vision for developing Mission Partnerships, see Key to growing the churches across the partnership area will be the development of discipleship and lay leadership, and so we are looking for someone who can also bring demonstrable experience in this regard. Finally, Ecclesfield Deanery is diverse both in regard to social demographics and to ecclesial churchmanship. The Vicar of Fir Vale will serve collaboratively with ministry colleagues across the deanery, and also be willing to work positively with other faith communities. This is an exciting Incumbency for any priest who shares the church s passion for reaching a deprived community with the good news of Christ s love, and we look forward to seeing St Cuthbert s continue to grow, with new leadership, as a beacon of the gospel in Fir Vale.

5 Diocese of Sheffield The Parish of Fir Vale Person Specification Criteria Essential Desirable Qualifications/Training Spirituality and Prayer Life Theological training to an appropriate level. Ordained Priest in the Church of England. A person of prayer, spiritual maturity, confidence in Scripture as the Word of God and sensitive the work of the Holy Spirit. An understanding and tolerance of other faiths & cultures. Experience of secular employment A willingness to lead regular bible study and encourage biblical learning. A willingness to help in the development of personal prayer. Knowledge Experience Skills & Abilities A good awareness of theology and the practice of mission. Passionate and committed to mission action planning and the continuing growth of the Northern Lights Mission Partnership. An understanding of the need for the Church to think beyond themselves in relation to issues affecting our society, nation and world. Proven ability to communicate effectively with children and young people and work with families. Experience of leading people to faith in Jesus Christ. Track record of leading a church community into growth. A good listener able to support and encourage. The ability to work collaboratively and to encourage leadership in others. Ability to design, prepare and lead worship, which is accessible and inspiring to all ages. Some understanding of the needs of the parish and the diversity of its people. A willingness to work with other groups working with vulnerable people such as the food bank. Experience of working with other denominations, faiths and cultures. Strong gifts in all-age worship and preaching. Able to assess and grow the financial life of the parish and lead it into good practice and sound management.

6 Have sensitivity in relating to people and managing change. Ability to use I.T. effectively in communication and presentation. Good time management skills with the ability to prioritise and delegate work. Ability to establish a high profile as an active partner in the local community. Musical ability Personal Attributes A willingness to learn about our Church family and wider community A dynamic person who is willing to try new things. Kind, sensitive and approachable. A sense of humour. A willingness to embrace a broad churchmanship. Someone who is fun, lively, enthusiastic and willing to try new things. Someone who is interested in the needs of all ages. Our children have requested a funky vicar.

7 Parish Profile: ST CUTHBERT S CHURCH FIR VALE Barnsley Road Fir Vale Sheffield

8 The Diocese of Sheffield is called to grow a sustainable network of Christ-like, lively and diverse Christian communities in every place which are effective in making disciples and in seeking to transform our society and God s world.

9 Contents Welcome to St. Cuthbert s Church in Fir Vale... 3 Sheffield... 3 The Parish of Fir Vale... 4 St Cuthbert s Church... 5 Northern Lights Mission Partnership... 5 Church Services... 6 Healing Eucharist... 6 Other Services... 6 Musical Tradition... 6 Vicarage... 6 Our Congregation... 7 Key People/ Groups within the congregation... 7 Children and Youth Work... 8 Buddy Groups... 8 Mothers Union... 8 Women s fellowship... 8 Open church... 9 PCC... 9 Church Newsletter... 9 Baptism... 9 Marriage... 9 Confirmation... 9 Funerals... 9 Lifelong Learning Finances Open to change? Links with other churches and Christian Groups Mission Opportunities Food bank The church s involvement in the community Schools The Elderly Challenges for our church/parish Partying and Celebrations The Future

10 Welcome to St. Cuthbert s Church in Fir Vale We are pleased you are taking the time to look at our profile. St Cuthbert s is not like any other parish! We are unique in the opportunities we offer. The right person will find our church a warm and welcoming place with plenty of opportunities for development, but being an inner city deprived area, not without its challenges. Please read on! We have seen a recent redevelopment of our church building over the past year, with growth both in our congregation and in our church use. We are seeking a dynamic, enthusiastic person who can help us in continuing to grow our church family, someone who along with our Associate Vicar, can lead us spiritually, guiding us as we reaffirm our relationship with God and with our local community. Sheffield Sheffield is located in the County of South Yorkshire and is the 4th largest city in England by population (550,000). The city, which is famous for producing the iconic Sheffield Steel and for inventing stainless steel, has seven hills, five rivers, two and a half million trees and more parks and woodland per head of population than any other UK city. The city is surrounded by spectacular countryside and boasts the Peak District Park within its boundaries. Due to this dramatic landscape, Sheffield was chosen to host the 2014 Tour de France. A vibrant city centre features art galleries, museums and theatres, most notably The Crucible and The Lyceum. There are also two concert venues, the City Hall and Sheffield Arena. Sport is an important part of Sheffield life with the impressive UK Institute of Sport close to the city centre and thriving football, cricket, rugby, basketball and ice-hockey clubs. Despite being an inner city parish, you can find yourself in beautiful countryside within 10 minutes, with the opportunity to take part in walking, running, cycling, climbing or pot holing. Meadowhall matches the best retail shopping centres in the UK. The city boasts two universities The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University and is home to 60,000 students. More students decide to stay and live in Sheffield after they graduate than any other UK city. Sheffield is an easy city to get to; it is situated close to the heart of the UK. The city has 4 major airports within 1 hours travelling time, has close links to the M1 motorway and has a regular rail service to London taking just over 2 hours. 3

11 The Parish of Fir Vale Fir Vale is an inner city, urban area that has a rich diversity of nationalities, cultures and faiths. It is the home of the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - Northern General site, situated opposite the church of St Cuthbert s - the largest employer within the area. There is a wide variety of housing in the parish. Immediately around the church is a small area of large Victorian housing. In the south and eastern edges of the parish are smaller terraced houses. These houses are usually owner occupied or privately rented accommodation. House prices in the area are below average for Sheffield. In the centre and north of the parish there is a large area of social housing (although some of this is now owner occupied as many residents took advantage of the council s right to buy schemes). Housing type in the area is mainly semi-detached and terraced housing, with only a few low rise blocks of flats, bungalows or detached properties. There are a number of places to shop in the parish. Small rows of shops can be found in Fir Vale, Page Hall, Owler Lane and Sheffield Lane Top but the largest shopping centre is found at Firth Park, about a mile north of the church. There are a couple of small supermarkets, greengrocers, butchers, take-aways and charity shops among others. Firth Park is a busy commercial centre and many local residents do not have transport that would allow them to shop at retailers further away. The parish has good public transport links, possibly due to the presence of the Northern General Hospital. Sheffield has a low crime rate compared to other cities of similar size. Crime in most of the parish is a little higher than the Sheffield average (the Firth Park area is the exception with much higher than average crime rates). About two thirds of the crime reported in the area is anti-social behaviour. The parish has been home to immigrant populations for many years. In the last census, over half of the population of the parish classed themselves as non-white British. The largest ethnic groups at the moment are Asian (mainly Pakistani) and eastern European (predominantly Slovakian and Roma). Over three quarters of the children in schools are from non-white British backgrounds. According to a study by Public Health Sheffield, the parish also has a young population compared to the rest of the city (over 10% of the population in the area is aged under 5). The population of the parish is 17,580. Fir Vale is a very deprived area with all the problems and issues you would normally associate with this. The most significant poverty-related issue in this parish is the relatively high rate of child poverty (41% of children in the parish live in poverty compared with the national average of 21%). Child poverty, pensioner poverty and working age poverty in this parish are among the highest in the country (all are at least double the national average). Male life expectancy, female life expectancy and qualification levels in this parish are among the lowest nationally. Lone parenthood in this parish is higher than average compared with other parishes in the country. 4

12 St Cuthbert s Church Our parish is part of Ecclesfield Deanery within the Sheffield Diocese. The Church Burgesses are our Patron who are very supportive of the work done at St Cuthbert s. Our church dates back to 1902 and is grade II listed. The church building was reordered in 2012/13 which saw the modernisation of the existing premises. Our building is now a stunning mix of the traditional and the modern. We altered our building to include an enclosed entrance area, office space, used by the Church Growth Administrator (a post shared with the Northern Lights Mission Partnership), community room, new toilets (including an accessible toilet and baby changing facilities), storage facilities and a commercial grade kitchen. We are delighted with the result but are still dealing with a few minor fabric issues. We also have a fenced and gated garden space to the front of the church, which is regularly maintained by a company that has an interest in an eco-friendly gardening. Our food bank has also used a corner of the garden to grow vegetables which they use to make soup. Three churches currently use our building on a regular basis for their worship. Sheffield Christian Fellowship meet weekly. The Overseas Fellowship of Nigerian Christians and Friends meet monthly (from midnight to 6am) and the Four Square Gospel Church also meet monthly (from 10pm to 3am). Other places of worship within our parish include 3 Methodist Churches, a Wesleyan Reform Chapel, 2 Mosques and the Hospital Chaplaincy Service. Northern Lights Mission Partnership St Cuthbert s is part of the Northern Lights Mission Partnership, along with Christ Church Pitsmoor and St Peter s Ellesmere. The Northern Lights Mission Partnership was launched in September 2015, so this is a new venture for us, which we are very excited about. Our church growth administrator for the partnership started work in November 2015 and is a member of the congregation here at St Cuthbert s. We want our partnership to flourish and are looking for a vicar who is keen to work closely alongside our partners. Christ Church has a large congregation and is already involved in many areas of mission and outreach. St Peter s is an Anglican/Methodist LEP. They currently have both a Methodist Minister and an Anglican Vicar involved on a regular basis at their church. Like St Cuthbert s, St Peter s has a small, but dedicated congregation. 5

13 Church Services Healing Eucharist We have a weekly Sunday Eucharist at 10am based mainly on Common Worship. Robes are worn by the minister. Children are invited into Sunday School and re-join the congregation during the peace, when they will often share what they have been doing. There is a children s area at the back of the seating, with books, colouring and toys where younger children and parents can sit during the service. At least monthly we hold all age worship services. This is planned by a specific team alongside our Associate Vicar. These services are often more relaxed and a chance to try new things. We try to ensure that all members of the congregation will enjoy these services. A Healing Eucharist with anointing of oil is held weekly, although during the interregnum it has been reduced to twice monthly. Other Services Special Services include Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday (with the stripping of the altar and night vigil), Good Friday, Easter Day Sunrise Service, Annual Memorial Service, Remembrance Sunday, La Posada (first Sunday in Advent) Christingle and a Carol Service. Musical Tradition Our pipe organ had seen better days and was removed as part of our reordering. We have use of a digital organ and an electric piano but most of our music is played digitally. Hymn words and music during our services is shown on a screen at the front of church. We have a small team of volunteers who create and run the presentations. We have a small group of young people who will occasionally play in church. We would like to encourage this group to grow and flourish and are looking for a musical adult to help nurture this group. Vicarage The vicarage is a three storey house with integral garage, cloakroom and study on the bottom level. The middle floor contains a kitchen, utility room, dining and lounge areas and opens onto the rear garden, which has been well tended and is an inner city haven for bird life. The top floor has four bedrooms and a bathroom. There is room for one car to be parked on the driveway. The house was built in

14 Our Congregation We currently have 55 members on the electoral roll. Our congregation is small and diverse and many members travel in from outside of the parish. Many people volunteer for more than one position in the church. Newcomers see us as a welcoming, warm and friendly church. Our average Sunday attendance is 40 adults and 10 children. Christmas and Easter attendance is usually a little higher than this. Key People/ Groups within the congregation Associate vicar (the Revd Monica Sutton) who is a worker priest (SSM) spending three days a week working in the NHS alongside full commitment to parish life. Wardens We have two churchwardens (Linda Elms and Susan Hinde) and one deputy/vice churchwarden. Reader At the moment we have one Reader. Buddy group leaders Verger Powerpoint team Team of intercessors and readers who take part in morning worship All age worship team Sunday School leaders, youth leaders and mother and toddlers group Volunteer cleaners Catering team Welcoming team Mothers Union Women s Fellowship 7

15 Children and Youth Work Our Sunday School leaders and helpers are looking at developing a rota to meet their current needs as the group is growing. Three of our church members run a weekly mother and toddler group. Numbers in this group have been falling and looking to revitalise this group is one of the challenges we are facing in church. In the past we have run a youth group (the Crib). This group is taking a break at the moment as we have a lack of children in a suitable age group. We are open to starting this group up again should we feel it is appropriate. There is a lively and well-resourced youth group in the mission partnership which we can join in with. All our children and youth workers are volunteers. We are also working towards applying for a Centenary Fund Youth Worker for our Mission Partnership. Buddy Groups St Cuthbert s Buddy groups have been in existence for 4 years. The aim of Buddy groups is to get to know each other, look out for each other, pray for each other and to work together on building the Kingdom of God in Fir Vale. The congregation is divided into 5 groups, each with its own two leaders. The Buddy Group leaders are supported and pastored by our Associate Vicar. The leaders meet every other month for fellowship and encouragement. Each group has developed its own characteristics and way of working. Some meet regularly over food, some provide well needed support for those who cannot get to church or offer lifts, some have been very active in raising funds for St Cuthbert s, some are putting their creative skills to work in craft and cooking. Some church members are actively involved in their Buddy Groups; others value the support of the group but cannot attend all the activities and meetings. Everyone is encouraged to be part of a Buddy Group. Every 6-8 weeks we have a Buddy Group Sunday Eucharist where people sit with their own Buddy groups around tables. This service is more relaxed and Buddy Groups Leaders are involved in the planning and leading of worship. Mothers Union Our MU group meets on the first Wednesday of each month. We welcome new members and have advertised our group within our mission partnership, as neither of the other churches has its own branch. Women s fellowship This group meets weekly over a meal and is an opportunity for friendship and fellowship. 8

16 Open church Members of our congregation facilitate a monthly open morning. The church is open for anyone to come and look round, ask questions or just enjoy the peace and stillness. Refreshments are also served. We have a few regular visitors from a nearby nursing home. PCC Our PCC meets monthly (except December and August). Church Newsletter We have a weekly news sheet giving information about current and future events. We also have a weekly prayer sheet which suggests bible readings and prayer topics for the week. Both of these are given out to the congregation on Sunday mornings and copies are left in church for other users to pick up. The information is also sent out as an to other interested parties and buddy group leaders, who will then forward it to members of their buddy group who were not in church. Baptism Marriage Last year we had 9 baptisms. Visits are made by clergy prior to the baptism and the service takes place during a normal Sunday Service (usually an all age worship service on the first Sunday in the month). We see these services as an opportunity for mission and evangelism as many are for unchurched families. We have an open policy for baptism. We try to keep in touch with our baptism families and invite them along to suitable services and events throughout the year. At the moment we don t have many weddings, on average maybe one per year, although hopefully with the reordering this number will rise. Confirmation We had four candidates for Confirmation this year (all children who have been regularly attending church for many years). The Deanery Confirmation Service rotates around the Deanery: last year s was held at St Cuthbert s. In previous years we have had a mix of both adult and child candidates for confirmation. All candidates attend classes before confirmation and these are usually run by the clergy supported by members of the congregation. Funerals We do not have our own graveyard but we do have a Memorial Garden at the rear of the church which is much valued by our members. 9

17 Lifelong Learning We believe in offering our congregation and others the chance to explore and learn more about the Christian faith and Christian living. We run regular courses during Lent and Advent. These are often organised and led by different members of our congregation with support from the clergy. Our courses are advertised to the other churches within our mission partnership. We have also run Start courses (which we ran in a local pub) and youth Alpha courses. Finances We had a stewardship campaign in June We can t yet quantify the results as it usually takes time to see the results. Working parish receipted expenses are paid in full by the PCC. Due to the major reordering project that we undertook we do still have some debt. There was a shortfall in the project which is currently around As a church we are working to cover this. Our parish share has always been paid in full and on time. We had a two year reprieve during the reordering project but are now contributing to the common fund, acting in faith that we will be able to fulfil our pledge. We are a generous church giving regularly to other areas of mission (Christian Aid, Leprosy Mission, the Children s Society, Water Aid, the Pakistan Disaster fund). Open to change? As a congregation we are open to change and trying new things, but like to be involved in the process and to be given the opportunity to give our opinions. Links with other churches and Christian Groups Northern Lights Mission Partnership As outlined previously Churches together- St Cuthbert s is a member of Churches Together in Firth Park, along with Trinity Fir Vale Methodist Church, St Patrick s Catholic Church, Firth Park Methodist Church The Eden Project a youth and community project linked to St Thomas Church in Crookes (Sheffield). Deanery We are part of Ecclesfield Deanery and have taken part in deanery events in the past. The Mission Development Coordinator for the North Sheffield Estates, the Revd Ali Dorey. As outlined earlier, a number of other churches use our premises. 10

18 Mission Opportunities Our Mission Action Plan identified eight areas that we would like to focus on. Ensuring our church is a place where everyone is welcome by providing training for our congregation. To continue to create a 24-hour prayer room during the 10 days of prayer at Ascension to Pentecost, which is open to all. To develop an understanding of the lives of our congregation, offering prayer and support. To encourage our young people to have a voice on the PCC by having a junior spokesperson. To encourage all members of the congregation to take part in the wider life of the church by making everyone aware of volunteering opportunities in church regularly. To join with other concerned community groups to start a local campaign for safer road crossings in the parish. To develop our work with children and young people who live in the parish. Food bank Fir Vale food bank is held in the church every Thursday afternoon. It was started by our previous vicar and is now run by a small team of volunteers and overseen by the PCC. The food bank has an open policy (no referral is needed) and provides a community meal each week. They have on average 40 users per week. We are looking at how the church can become more involved with the food bank. One of our church wardens meets briefly with the volunteer who runs it each week, and is attending the food bank meetings and we are also looking at ways of providing spiritual support to users (with help from our mission partners) The church s involvement in the community We already have a number of community groups that use our fantastic premises on a regular basis. SOAR (a local community regeneration charity) and Foodcycle run a weekly cook and speak group (mainly for Muslim women) on Wednesdays. SOAR also run a women only support group twice a month on a Monday, and a chronic pain clinic once a month. Our churchwarden and church growth administrator both have regular contact with these groups and are building relationships there. Heritage open days For the past couple of years St Cuthbert s has taken part in the national heritage open day in September. We are used as a polling station for local and national elections. Following our reordering, we are hopeful that our building will be used for community meetings and events in the future. 11

19 Schools Sheffield schools are organised as follows; Nursery/foundation Primary (Key stages 1 and 2) Secondary (Key stage 3 and 4) Sixth form colleges (No schools in the parish have a sixth form) There are 6 schools/colleges within our parish. Hucklow Primary School. Oasis Academy Fir Vale (Primary School) Owler Brook Primary School Whiteways Primary School Fir Vale School Academy Trust (secondary school) Longley Park Sixth Form College The Elderly There are 2 care homes within the parish. We hold regular services at Abbey Grange and Westbourne, which our vicar has been involved in. During the interregnum these are being organised and led by members of our congregation. Challenges for our church/parish We are a small congregation working in a deprived area of Sheffield. The parish faces many challenges such as economic deprivation, high levels of immigration, poor levels of education and high unemployment and a mobile population. Many of the congregation are on very low incomes, so the church struggles financially. Some members are reluctant to come out in the evenings as they have issues with childcare and/or are worried about safety. Partying and Celebrations St Cuthbert s likes to celebrate and party! Birthdays with live bands and dancing, multicultural parties, Valentine s day, Christmas lunches We have wonderful facilities which we are using to extend our church social life as well as being an excellent venue to hire out. 12

20 The Future We are not standing still in the interregnum. Under the leadership of our Associate Vicar and Churchwardens we are evolving: new members are joining us, new ministries are being offered by members of the congregation. It s an exciting place to be part of. St Cuthbert s faces many challenges due to its location, but we hope that you can see from the above that God has great things in store for us, under the leadership of a Vicar who shares and can help us to shape our vision. 13

21 Church House Effingham Street Rotherham S65 1BL