St Michael and All Angels Cross Heath

Transcription

1 Parish Profile 2018 A Society Parish in Newcastle under Lyme. 1

2 Table of Contents Personal Profile and Vision for the Future... 3 About us St Michael s...3 Spiritual Life... 4 Congregation... 5 Governance... 5 Community... 5 Social Life...6 Building... 6 Financial Report...7 Accommodation...8 2

3 Personal Profile and Vision for the Future We seek a traditional Catholic Priest registered with the Society who will, supported by the Churchwardens, PCC, retired clergy and laity: Lead the celebration of the Eucharist as the focal point of parish life, maintain the high standards of the traditional worship. Be a good leader, teacher, communicator and encourage us in reaching out to our neighbours to help grow the Church here in Encourage links with schools and community groups in the local area, placing St Michael s back at the centre of our community. Meet the challenges and needs of two very different parishes. AND have a sense of humour to help deal with diverse personalities. About us We are a warm and welcoming congregation. We have many gifts that help in the running of the church. We understand the challenges covering two churches can present and willingly support and help where we can. We recognise the importance of rest in a busy clergy s life. is a shared Parish with St Paul s Newcastle, both half time posts. We are set in, which is a suburb of the Borough of Newcastle under Lyme. The church is set to the east of the A34, which cuts into east and west. is conveniently placed within the M6 corridor, which gives easy access to both the M6 and A50. We have 4 major airports that are little more than an hour drive away. Stoke on Trent railway station is approximately 2.5 miles away and Crewe Station is about 9 miles away. Although unconfirmed it has been suggested that the HS2 will be passing through Crewe which will give greater scope for travel in and out of this area. Within the parish there is one outstanding Primary school with whom we have close links. There is a Methodist church that is also within the parish. is in a regeneration area and much work has been done in recent years to improve the area. While there is a wide age range of people within the parish, there is also a high rate of poverty and unemployment. The residential make up includes a large number of social housing and while there are a number of private dwellings, many of these are rental properties. There is also a transient population due to the close proximity of Keele University and Royal Stoke Teaching Hospital. There are 48 people on the electoral roll. 3

4 Spiritual Life Day Time Description Sunday 9.00 am Sung Mass Family Service Monday Tuesday Wednesday 9.15 am Low Mass Thursday 7.00 pm 7.30 pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Low Mass Friday 9.15 am Low Mass Saturday Three retired priests are currently supporting the Parish and we have a Lay reader who is a member of the College of Reader s and has recently completed the Diocesan Pathways Ministry Year. The parish has a mutually beneficial friendship with other Society parishes in the Diocese supporting each other at Patronal Festivals and other events. They are committed to maintain the pattern of worship and have previously provided holiday cover. Previous incumbents have kept the Octave Masses of both Christmas and Easter with variable attendance. Attendance on a Sunday is between 30 and 40 but we are trying to encourage growth. Seasonal Services include Stations of the Cross Palm Sunday Mass of the Lord s supper and watch until midnight Veneration of the Cross and Liturgy of the Lord s Passion Pascal Vigil and First Mass of Easter Harvest Patronal Festival All Saints and All Souls Advent First Mass of Christmas 4

5 The Congregation The people of St Michael s parish and the congregation are the most valuable resource for the future. At the present time there are 48, the majority of whom live within the parish. St. Michael s has a team of servers who assist the Priest and an organist and a small choir who lead the singing at the Sung Mass on Sunday mornings. There is a rota of people who are able to assist at Mass by reading or offering the intercessions. The Sidespersons welcome visitors and newcomers. There are books and drawing materials available for children who receive a blessing at the appropriate time in the service. Church cleaners, brass cleaners, flower arrangers all play their part. A parishioner currently beautifully maintains the Church Garden. The parish family enjoys working together to prepare the Church for Easter, Christmas and Patronal celebrations. They come together to clean and decorate. This usually finishes with a meal prepared by members of the parish. There is also a calendar of social events taking place throughout the year and these are well attended. Governance Membership of the PCC reflects the composition of our congregation. We have two experienced Church Wardens. The PCC meets approximately 6 times a year on a Monday evening. There is a Secretary, Treasure and two Deanery Synod representatives and 5 PCC members. Following training events during the vacancy the PCC has also set up a number of sub-groups to help in the daily running of the church. These groups contain between three and five members of the church family. The PCC are committed to paying the parish share in full, but did fall into debt due to the emergency repairs more recently undertaken, these debts have been written off at the end of 2017 by the parish paying the previous 7 years share in full. The parish is not a wealthy parish and the responsible management of finances is paramount to the churches current position. Community The Church is a landmark in the area being situated on the A34. There are several smallscale businesses within the parish and several nursing homes (which the previous incumbent visited to offer services to the residents). The local school, Hempstalls Primary, has close links with the church. The school offers places for children from 2 11 years; it has a similar catchment to the parish. The previous two incumbents have been Chair of Governors and a parish member works in the school. The school uses the church for several celebration services including Harvest and Christingle and the school choir has regularly opened fayres and attended events at the church. Both school and congregation are eager to build on existing links. The commitment to the school has been ongoing during the interregnum. 5

6 The local Slimming World group uses the Hall, which is attached to the church, weekly and community groups could be encouraged to use the hall. The hall also generates income from various private bookings. The Gallery Studio, which uses part of the upper floor, is a venture that was set up in August 2016 by a parishioner to operate as a venue for teaching music, (keyboard and voice) for the community of Newcastle-Under-Lyme. It is also seeking to develop a wider role in presenting imaginative aspects of the arts and crafts and to be a focus on key areas of faith and life. The Gallery operates by kind permission of the Incumbent, the Church Wardens, and PCC. When our new priest is appointed it is hoped he will consider the future mission of the Gallery. Social Life There are regular events taking place in the church hall. These include fayres (Christmas and Summer), celebrations including Easter, Christmas and St Michael s feast day. There have also been concerts by The Gallery including a come and sing day. A flower festival, quiz nights and a local NHS choir concert have also taken place. The parish has an annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of our Lady in Walsingham, with another Society parish in Stoke on Trent, which has been well attended for many years. There have also been several bus trips including Lichfield for the Chrism Mass. Each year a Bible study course takes place during Lent and Advent. A small team, who deliver several events each year, looks after the youth within the parish. These encourage the young people of the parish to take part in the activities of the church. This is an area of our church life that we would wish to grow with the support of the new Priest. The church is currently supporting Tariro through our charitable giving. For more information see their website at Building The church was built on the site of the original tin, mission church and consecrated in A major building scheme was undertaken in 1988 when a new presbytery was built and a hall built in to the rear of the church. The Church interior has some notable features, which include the extraordinary Baldacchino above the altar that is of particular note due to the uniqueness in the diocese. The sanctuary floor is covered in intricate mosaic tiles of a pelican feeding her young which was lovingly laid using locally produced tiles. The statues of St Michael and Our Lady, in the sanctuary, were both carved by the carpenter involved in the building of the church. 6

7 More recently structural work took place to repair the bell tower and pointing to the exterior which was helped by a local grant from the National Coal Board. The kitchen has been refurbished and decoration in the church and hall is in a good state of repair. The quinquennial is booked for 2018 but the PCC are not expecting anything major to be identified. The Presbytery, a four bedroomed, detached property, has been decorated and is in a good state of repair with the gardens being acknowledged as one of the best church gardens in the deanery. Financial Report The church has annual unrestricted income of c 36,000. Of this, 19,000 comes from regular giving by parishioners including the Gift Aid recovered from HMRC. Fairs and raffles are well supported: the parish holds two events each year and these generate over 3,000, which is a welcome supplement to regular giving. The church hall is used by the community raising over 5,000 p.a. with weekly slimming classes generating 2,600 p.a. Parish expenses are controlled tightly by the PCC. The parish share paid to the diocese has been paid in full every year for the last 7 years. Payments are made by monthly direct debit with top up amounts paid following the fairs and raffles to ensure any balance is paid before each 31 December. There were share arrears from 2009 and 2010, which accumulated during a previous interregnum when significant essential maintenance works were required to the church building. Contributions have been made since then towards those arrears which have been match funded by the diocese and a plan was agreed with the diocese to clear the balance. The terms of that plan have been met by the PCC. The 2017 share of 16,707 was paid in full by 31 December 2017 (the seventh consecutive year) and the diocese has confirmed that the balance of the arrears has now been written off. Heating costs and heating maintenance are the largest costs the parish faces and are to a large extent outside the PCC s control hence the PCC aims to accumulate a reserve of 4,000 on its unrestricted funds to meet unexpected costs. At 31 December 2016 the unrestricted reserves were 4,693 Additional designated income is generated. Donations have been received in previous years towards heating and lighting and at 31 December 2016 a balance of 1,673 was held towards the replacement of the heating system in the future. The church lighting was replaced in 2014/15 which was funded largely by donations from parishioners. A music group uses the church building for music lessons, paying rent to the church. This income is given towards music funds for the church and is designated in the accounts. 7

8 Accommodation The accommodation attached to this post is based behind St Michael and All Angels,. On the ground floor there is an entrance hall with Study off to the left The study is dual aspect and has a storage cupboard and shelving to one wall. A cloakroom to the right comprising wc and wash hand basin. Good size inner hall with 3 good sized storage cupboards and stairs to first floor. Kitchen off the hall has a variety of base and wall units and is of a good size. Leading off the kitchen is a small hall with outside door and leading from this hall there is a utility room with base cupboards and a sink. The lounge is also off the hall and has a fire place and dual aspect windows overlooking the garden. The dining room has a hatch through to the kitchen, window overlooking the garden and a door leading out onto a patio area. On the first floor there is a light open landing having an airing cupboard and leading to four double bedrooms, three having built in storage and two also having their own sink. There is a separate wc with wash hand basin and a bathroom comprising a sink and bath with shower over. The house sits in a good sized walled garden and has a detached brick garage with parking for several vehicles. 8

9 ST. PAUL S CHURCH Newcastle-under-Lyme Parish Profile 2018 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness St Paul s, Newcastle, Parish Profile Page 1

10 Parish Profile 2018 WELCOME Welcome to St. Paul s parish profile and we hope that there is much here to attract your interest and attention and that you are the priest we are earnestly praying for. THE PARISH St. Paul s Parish lies near to the town centre of Newcastle-under-Lyme, close to the A34. St. Paul s Church itself is set adjacent to a small park sandwiched between the two sites of Newcastle-under-Lyme (independent) School, and is but a short walk to the town centre, bus station and shops, and only a few minutes drive to St. Michael s on the other side of the town. View of St. Paul's from Stubbs Walk To meet the needs of an expanding population during the early years of the 20 th century the parish was formed from two nearby ones. In the 1960s extensive demolition of small Victorian terrace houses in surrounding streets involved major relocation of parishioners to nearby out- oftown development in Clayton. Geographically the parish is small and much of it occupied by the extensive buildings and grounds of Newcastle-under-Lyme School. Demographically it is a mixed area comprising of the elderly retired, families, and students of the nearby hospital, Keele University or Newcastle College. Within the Parish, as well as the Newcastle-under-Lyme School, there is a primary school, two nursery schools, businesses, dentist, accountants, solicitors and more St Paul s, Newcastle, Parish Profile Page 2

11 THE CHURCH The church itself, a grade two listed building, was built by public subscription in replacing a previous tin chapel. The architect was Ronald Scrivener, and a local philanthropist, Archibald Coghill, generously ensured that it was a spacious building constructed superbly of stone inside and out and with a splendid tower and spire. The modern church hall was built onto the north side of the church in 1974 but is hidden behind the vast tower. A refrain frequently heard when a stranger first enters St. Paul s is, What a lovely church. Mini cathedral-like it is built in the Perpendicular style with a four- bayed clerestoried and aisled nave. On the east wall of the chancel, above the high altar, is a fine stained glass window depicting The Transfiguration. Other memorial stained glass windows are found on the north wall of the chancel, in the north aisle and in the Baptistery. St. Paul s is also known for its organ. St. Paul s benefactor, Archibald Coghill, also presented the Church in 1913 with its organ, a three manual instrument by the renowned builder, Arthur Hill, which with a few additions and modifications gave good service until 1995 when a complete rebuild became necessary and with it opportunity for enlargement. The Transfiguration Window WORSHIP Our worship is Eucharistic and on Sundays we celebrate the Eucharist at 11.00am using Common Worship with Malcolm Archer s The organ from the Sanctuary steps St Marks setting and the hymnal, Common Praise, but these are replaced by traditional language, Merbecke and English Hymnal in Advent and Lent. Vestments are worn and the Sacrament is reserved. The midweek service on Tuesdays at 10.30am is a said celebration of the Eucharist in traditional language and is well supported. St Paul s, Newcastle, Parish Profile Page 3

12 Evensong (BCP) is sung on the first Sunday of the month at 4.00pm, (currently suspended during the interregnum) and Holy Days and Festivals are observed. Members of the congregation read lessons, administer the chalice as well as presenting the Sacraments and as sidesmen. Music has been a special feature of St Paul s services and now, when resources have become minimal, the Director of Music still finds it possible to reflect and complement the Intention of the Day. A former leading parishioner of St. Paul s writes, We do miss the high standard of music of St Paul's, which added so much to the worship and dignity of the services. For special services, such as the Carol The Director of Music with Ivy, a young hospital doctor and Josh, a Nigerian student of Keele Service or Seven Last Words, our minimal choral forces may be augmented by members of the congregation, former choristers and friends. Congregation The number attending services has decreased in recent years and now stands at an average of 25 on Sunday morning, 15 at the midweek service and 6 at evensong. St Paul's over the years has welcomed students who form a transient part of the congregation. Some have formed a close attachment and find it a welcoming church. The average age of the congregation, however, continues to rise, leading to resources being drawn from a smaller body of willing and capable helpers. The proportion of worshippers from outside the Parish is greater than that of the local community. There is, therefore, significant scope for the development of outreach within the community, and this is something we would welcome. St Paul s, Newcastle, Parish Profile Page 4

13 Fellowship and Outreach Fellowship is important in the life of St Paul s people and opportunities exist to meet others over coffee before Sunday morning service and after the midweek one. Children are welcome to services and there is a children s corner arranged in the Lady Chapel where they can always be in their parents eye. The monthly Tuesday Group is fellowship when churchgoers and friends follow a varied programme of activities, games, raffles, talks, or meals in hall, or out in a restaurant. Children's Corner Some may believe that St. Paul s runs on tea and coffee! The Social Committee arranges a monthly Coffee Morning Bring and Buy, which not only attracts visitors but generates a welcome contribution to Church funds. At the twice yearly seasonal Fairs, friends and neighbours buy their goodies, retire to a table and get to know each other. Even Lunchtime Music does not escape. 30 minutes before the recital, the audience is already gathering in the hall for coffee! A few members of St Paul s attend a weekday Mass in St Michael s and also a few for several years now have joined its annual Walsingham Pilgrimage. On a social level the seasonal fairs and other initiatives are supported. St. Paul s publishes a monthly (10 issues) magazine, Epistle, to which St. Michael s is invited to contribute. Newcastle-under-Lyme School, the neighbouring independent, mixed school for pupils age 3 to 19 uses the church twice weekly for assemblies and additionally for other services at the ends of term. There is an orchestral and choral concert in March/April and two Carol services at Christmas. By long tradition a representative group attends Church on Remembrance Sunday for the Act of Remembrance and it is likely that a future Priest of St. Paul s may be invited to be Chaplain of the CCF. The connection with this school has evolved over numerous decades, developing as people with allegiance both to St Paul s church and to the school St Paul s, Newcastle, Parish Profile Page 5

14 made strong links. The school s hiring of the church is of important financial benefit and we would hope to continue the connection. It could, however be enhanced, leading to greater exchange between the church and school communities. The Home Economics department invites all pensioners, of the area, including those of St Paul s to afternoon tea in December, just before Christmas. There may be other initiatives which could be developed. Pupils, however, travel varying distances, thus undermining the potential of out of school or weekend activities. We would, none the less, look to increasing relations with the school and would hope a new incumbent could work and lead in both this area and initiatives within the local community to achieve the community outreach we seek. Hassell Community Primary School uses the Church at end of terms for presentations to which parents are invited. On these occasions St Paul s church is full to capacity and these visits could be an important part of the children s early education. We would, therefore look to developing further links with Hassell school. Hassell in St. Paul's The Church is used from time to time by a number of organisations such as the North Staffs and District Organ Society, amateur orchestras and choirs. St. Paul s holds Lunchtime Music in the church, 10 recitals a year on the second Tuesday of the month, given by students, teachers, retired professionals, in fact anyone needing experience, and aimed at those who do not have access to live music, or who need an oasis in the middle of the working day. The audiences keep coming, performers are forthcoming, and, in particular, the music department of Keele University is very appreciative of the opportunities offered to students. Little Moreton Singers - Lunchtime Music St Paul s, Newcastle, Parish Profile Page 6

15 THE CHURCH HALL The Church Hall is an important adjunct to all the activities that take place in the Church itself and there is potential for development of lettings for parties and other meetings. It was built in 1974 on the North side of the Church. The main door is at the front and View of the Hall access for the disabled is available at the side. There is also direct access from Church. It is a large spacious room with lightweight stackable furniture and with access to toilets. The kitchen is up-to-date with stainless steel units, and both hall and kitchen have recently been redecorated. FINANCIAL The Gift Aid Scheme is in operation and the accounts are in good order due to the loyalty and generosity of parishioners. St. Paul s has no debts and the Parish Share is fully paid up. A quinquennial is due this year 2018 but the fabric of the church is in a good state of repair. OUR NEW PRIEST will be steadfast in faith and prayerful, and by his own being, able to infuse and enthuse others. A true man of God. be humble and empathetic, responsive to the needs of others. recognise strength and weakness in others, using the one and strengthening the other. be a leader, a good teacher and communicator, innovative and enthusiastic in a desire to increase St. Paul s witness in the community and schools. present a visible presence around the Parish and in meetings and events. able to meet the challenges and needs of two separate churches and their parishes. St Paul s being a Forward in Faith Church, be a member of The Society. St Paul s, Newcastle, Parish Profile Page 7

16 ABOUT US What we offer St. Paul s is a welcoming congregation Many of the members are very long serving with a strong sense of loyalty to St. Paul s. Though tending to be elderly many members are actively busy with the running of the Church. St Paul s has a tradition of being supportive of its clergy and leaders. We are mindful that no one person has all talents, aptitudes and abilities ideally required. Holidays and free days will be respected. LIVING IN NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME Living in Newcastle is good, for the ancient borough not only has distinctive character by its several gardens but has been cited in the Royal Horticultural Society s Britain in Bloom Competitions. It has good schools and Keele University is just over two miles away. On its border is the first class Royal Stoke University Hospital. It is well served by public transport, the bus station being placed in the town centre and Stoke railway station is but two miles away. By road the major route, A34, passes St. Paul s nearby and even closer to the Vicarage at St. Michael s. The M6 may be joined/left at junction 15 and the M1 via the A500 and A50. Close by are the attractions, Trentham Monkey Forest and Alton Towers, and easily reached is the Peak District, the country side of South Staffordshire, and Wales. Culturally, Newcastle has an Art Gallery and the New Vic, a purpose built theatre in the round. In Hanley Cultural Centre are the Regent Theatre and Victoria Hall, and we should not omit to mention Keele University, its concerts and lectures open to the public. Thank you for reading this profile; hope you have enjoyed it and feel attracted to 0ur Church. St Paul s, Newcastle, Parish Profile Page 8

17 Ben and I are indeed blessed to have met so many friendly, kind and inspiring people at St. Paul s. Being a part of this church makes us feel ever so belonged and loved. St. Paul s will always be dear to our hearts and we want the best always for this beautiful parish. (Ivy a former parishioner) St Paul s, Newcastle, Parish Profile Page 9