Parish of St John the Evangelist Carrington Parish Profile
St John s Carrington seeks to be an inclusive church community into which all are welcomed equally, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender/sex or sexuality. St John s Church & Community Centre Mansfield Road, Carrington, Nottingham, NG5 2DL For further information about our vacancy please email the Venerable Peter Hill, Archdeacon of Nottingham, or call him on 07771 778182. For an informal chat about St John s, you are welcome to contact our parish representatives: Maggie Jones call 0115 9622115 or 07708 880345, or email David Allen call 0115 9287012 or 07518 067828, or email www.stjohnscarrington.org.uk
1. About St John s Who and where we are St John the Evangelist, Carrington, is an urban parish two miles north of Nottingham s city centre with a population of approximately 8,900. The community has much of the buzz of an exciting modern city culture, and the parish borders with the vibrant, multi-cultural Forest Fields and Hyson Green, the more suburban but still diverse Sherwood and Sherwood Rise, and the mixed housing, light industry and green spaces of Basford. We are a diverse church in many ways, with members from a range of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. The congregation is drawn from across Nottingham, and many come to us because of the distinctively Catholic style of worship and inclusive values at St John s. There are loyal members of many years standing and newer faces who have found their way to us and made a home here St John s prides itself on the warmth of its welcome. How we measure up The church electoral roll currently stands at 63. Average Sunday attendance is 62, with 220 attending at Christmas last year, including extremely successful crib and carol services. Attendance was 117 at Easter this year. The age-profile of the congregation shows a normal distribution skewed to the 50 70 age range. Last year there were three baptisms, one wedding, one thanksgiving for a civil partnership and 12 funerals (seven in church). We shall pay our full parish share this year, which is 28,101. The substantial investment made recently in the reordering of our church and community facilities is now paying dividends in the form of income from room hire, which provides a useful safety net for our finances. More about our parish The heart of the parish Carrington itself developed mainly from the early 1900s onwards, built up with high-density terraced and semidetached housing. Some small pockets of this area score quite highly in indices of deprivation, but most parts of Carrington have a mobile population of younger and mid-career professionals living in what is now regarded as a desirable urban residential area. Commercial landlords have bought up a significant number of the larger houses in Carrington for letting, predominantly to students. There is also some recent modern infill housing and a major new residential development on an old industrial site. The church s large garden, with its grassed areas and mature trees, forms a welcome green centrepiece among the terraces. Nearby Mapperley Park has many large Edwardian villas interspersed with a few more modern, equally substantial houses in pleasant wooded streets. Houses here, built at much lower density than in Carrington, are much sought-after by professionals at the tops of their careers. The busy A60 road runs between Carrington and Mapperley Park, however, and there is a sense of separateness between the two communities. 3
There is an unusually large number of residential settings in the parish, which cater for people with a range of needs including elderly people, learning disabled people, those with care needs, and ex-offenders. At one count there were 34 such settings, and developing closer relationships with them is a potential growth area for St John s. There are plenty of shops in Sherwood and Carrington, including a variety of interesting small independent retailers, and the city centre itself is less than a half-hour walk away or about 10 minutes on a very frequent bus. Europe s largest college of further and higher education has its campus nearby. There are three primary schools in the parish, with which the current curate has developed good working relationships. Our church and community centre The church building of 1843 was extended with a chancel in the 1860s, and by a north aisle almost as large as the nave in 1922. In 2009 there was a major reordering of the church, which included creating new community facilities on two levels in the north aisle, a brand new entrance and foyer, and a wonderfully renewed worship area in the nave focused around a square stone altar which is at the heart of our Eucharistic worship. Visitors are almost always moved within this powerful yet prayerful space, the reality of which outstrips all images. The church organ was extensively restored in the 1990s and again enlarged and housed on the balcony during the reordering. Our up-todate website has further information about St John s and its history. The Mass: our commissioning to go out into the world The liturgy is formal and well-ordered but not stuffy. The complete Order of Service for every Sunday (and every feast day) is printed afresh. Incense is used at every Solemn Mass. The format is Common Worship Order 1, with additions from other sources, and the music is mainly from the New English Hymnal and contemporary Catholic hymns. The style of the mass is a compromise between modern Catholic and older Anglo- Catholic ways of doing things; it is unusual in the Southwell & Nottingham diocese and the congregation is committed to retaining and celebrating it. Our Catholic identity is reflected further in our annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham England s Nazareth. As well as the incumbent, St John s is currently served by an assistant curate in the third year of her curacy. There is a retired priest in our congregation who offers ministry by presiding at mass, preaching, and leading discussion groups, and we also have a licensed Reader. There are currently weekday masses on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and a vigil mass on Saturday evenings. There is also an innovative Evening Prayer service on the first Sunday of each month that is collaboratively (curate and lay) planned and led. Good liturgy, preaching and music are all important at Carrington, but probably just as significant is the way in which a distinctively Catholic approach to theology informs wider church life here. The intention is to be inclusive and affirming in 4
our ministry to congregation, to parish and to the communities beyond the narrow confines of parish boundaries. A small group of children and young people makes up part of the regular congregation, and wherever possible every effort is made to ensure that their spiritual needs are met. Children who have been baptised are welcome to receive Holy Communion once they have undertaken a short learning package. On the first Sunday of the month the Parish Mass has an all age format; on the third Sunday children and young people leave the main body of the church for their own Liturgy of the Word, returning for the distribution of Holy Communion. On the remaining weeks they take part in the regular mass, often as members of the serving team. Both this year and last a few of our young people joined a neighbouring group to attend the Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage. Our journey to inclusive ministry When St John s was first built, the liturgical style was unexceptional. However, during the 20th century, the church began to develop a gentle Catholic ethos, and by the end of WWII this had become identifiably Anglo- Catholic. Some of the congregation identify strongly with this, others sit to it more lightly in part reflecting the changing personalities of recent clergy who have influenced the church community. The previous-but-one incumbent became Bishop of Ebbsfleet after moving from the parish, and at one point during his incumbency the PCC passed (and then promptly rescinded) Resolution C under the Ordination of Women legislation. The next vicar was from a liberal/radical background and his ministry was marked by a great flair for pastoral care, as many will testify. Sadly, this was cut short by his untimely death at the age of just 51. Under the most recent incumbent, the Rev. Jonathan MacGillivray, the church moved on significantly, spending considerable time and energy in developing a distinctive ethos of inclusive Catholicism. There is a strong commitment to both elements of that description, and as part of our commitment to inclusion we try to find creative ways of celebrating and rejoicing in our diversity. Two years ago we were joined by the Rev. Margaret Gallagher as assistant curate. Margaret s ministry has been warmly embraced by the people of St John s and has enriched the life of the parish pastorally, liturgically and spiritually. The long journey of discussion, reflection, learning and prayer that took us from passing Resolution C to being served by members of the Society of Catholic Priests has, combined with the huge effort of the reordering project, inevitably involved a degree of inward focus. Now, armed with our confident sense of identity and wonderful facilities, we need to find ways to move forward and outward in our mission. Where we want to go We are at a fascinating moment in our development as a church. Not only are we looking forward to welcoming a new incumbent, but there are also major initiatives coming forward at diocesan and deanery level to which we must respond. 5
Our mission goals will reflect the three strands of the Diocesan vision: Living Worship, Growing Disciples and Seeking Justice. These strands were discussed at length during a whole-church Away Day held in March 2013 and the PCC has now set up three action groups to explore how they can be translated into practice. The process is still in its early stages, and it is anticipated that the new priest will play an active role in it. The vision for 2020 The Diocesan response to the diminishing number of available clergy has been to ask each deanery to prepare a plan that imagines how ordained ministry, personnel and buildings might be used more effectively and resources shared. The Nottingham South Deanery would like to commit to a challenging but exciting strategy based on a model of collaborative working where groups of parishes form hubs similar to the historical minster structure. St John s, along with our neighbouring parishes of St Stephen with St Paul, Hyson Green, and St Peter with All Souls, Radford, would be in the City North hub. The Hyson Green and Radford churches are of a more evangelical tradition and are situated in multicultural areas of Nottingham. These churches, together with the inclusive Catholic, liturgically focused St John s, could create a hub with a strong local identity and healthy theological and cultural diversity; where there are many opportunities for sharing, learning and celebration. A community project just beginning Much time, energy and money was directed to the reordering project; which grew out of our thinking and praying about our role in the life of the local area and of the diocese. The church is an established performance venue and is used by a range of non-church groups ranging from language classes to line dancing. However, we are exploring ways of developing its use further, for instance by booking a touring theatre company to mark World Mental Health Day. Church activities currently held in the community rooms include spiritual development groups, the parish branch of the Mothers Union, and the East Midlands branch of Changing Attitude. There is a strong sense of belonging amongst the congregation and a desire for organised social activities we have regular Parish Lunches and our annual Big Lunch draws in many people from the local community. Relationships St John s has excellent working relationships with the local Methodist church, the URC church, and the neighbouring Anglican parish of St Martin s, Sherwood. Joint ventures include carol singing in local pubs at Christmas, outdoor Stations of the Cross along the High Street on Good Friday, a stall at the local summer festival, and a united service during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. We are also evolving a relationship with the Nottingham Inter-Faith Forum. The PCC At the last APCM, so many people were interested in standing for the 6
PCC that elections were held for the first time in a number of years. The profile of the membership became younger and there is a renewed sense of vibrancy and energy. The vicarage The vicarage is located about 200 metres from the church building and is part of a development of houses dating from the 1920s and 30s. On the ground floor there is a porch over the front door; a large entrance hall with visitors toilet off; a study; a living room with a modern encased gas fire and patio doors to the rear garden; a dining room; a kitchen with space for a breakfast table; a glass-roofed utility room. Upstairs there are four good-sized bedrooms (three with large built-in wardrobes); a bathroom with an over-bath pumped shower; a separate toilet. The house has modern double-glazed upvc windows throughout and a new gas combiboiler provides hot water and heating. In the small, mature landscaped gardens there is a large double garage (complete with car inspection pit!) 2. In summary We are: a diverse and welcoming church community in a residential area; dedicated to a distinctive style of Eucharistically-centred Catholic worship; highly committed to inclusion; a church that prioritises people and relationships; sociable, generous and fun. We have: a wonderful church, community centre and garden; potential for growth and development; ideas and skills; inclusion at the heart of all we do; a commitment to both corporate and individual spiritual growth. We want: to be a place of worship, spirituality, inspiration, friendship, support, learning and recreation for our community; to take the gospel of Christ into the world; to create a special place for children and young people. 7
3. Financial outline Actual Actual Actual Budget 2010 2011 2012 2013 Income 57258 60872 64878 63440 Expenses 45993 46903 56500 60500 Surplus 11265 13969 8378 2940 Unrestricted reserves at Y/E 5480 19449 27827 30767 Rents received 10154 17755 20516 20000 Parish Share paid 17000 18000 26000 28101 Notes: Completion of the reordering work in 2009 saw the church s reserves severely depleted. Since then rental income has risen from zero to c. 20000. Parish Share payment has, crudely, tracked rental income. Our 2013 Parish Share, 28101, will be paid in full. After receipt of an unbudgeted legacy, unrestricted reserves are c. 40000 at 15th Sept 2013. 4. Person specification We are praying for a priest who: will be pastoral to all, both inside and outside our church community; will be community minded, helping us to perceive our roles in God s work in Carrington and beyond, enabling and inspiring us, individually and corporately, to realise and use our gifts; has a concern for those marginalised by society; has a positive theological attitude to contemporary issues: remarriage after divorce; variations in human sexuality; women s ordained ministry; has a prayerful spiritual life and encourages people in their prayer life and approach to spiritual growth; is enthusiastic about work with children and young people; has a sense of humour. 8
5. St John s in pictures
The new entrance to the church
The liturgical space, ready for Parish Mass
The huge south windows that light the nave
Stained glass dedicated to Ichabod Wright, one of the founders of St John s
One of our new community rooms
The church s extensive gardens
The vicarage, a short walk from the church