The Four Spires Benefice of Raunds, Hargrave, Ringstead and Stanwick Profile. 2017
CONTENTS Introduction to the Deanery 2 The Benefice and its Surrounding Area 2 Vision and Mission 3 Our Buildings 4 Pattern of Services for a Typical Month 5 Benefice Services for 2016 6 Support Available 7 Youth and Children s Work 8 Organisation 9 Person Specification 9 St Peter s, Raunds 10 All Hallows, Hargrave 13 The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ringstead 16 St Laurence, Stanwick 19 1
Introduction to the Deanery. The Four Spires Benefice is part of Higham Deanery which is the smallest deanery in the diocese and is made up of fifteen parishes grouped into seven benefices. The deanery synod which meets three times per year has a varied programme of speakers and business and is open to all clergy and laity. The stipendiary clergy meet six times a year for breakfast, prayer and mutual support. There is a deanery mission plan to encourage and support mission in the parishes, which is revised annually. There is also a deanery evensong and twice annual deanery meetings for the support of both churchwardens and parish treasurers. Parishes within the deanery support each other by providing service cover when they able to do so at times of illness or vacancy; retired clergy and readers have been especially generous in this respect. The benefice and its surrounding area: This lively and expanding benefice comprises one town and three village parishes which have been together for twelve years. It is part of the deanery of Higham and fairly central within the Diocese of Peterborough. It forms part of East Northamptonshire and sits close to two major roads, the A14 and A45, giving good links to Peterborough, Northampton and Cambridge as well as other major towns although public transport, especially in the villages, is poor. There is a new Rushden Lakes shopping village currently being built close by. 2
The benefice as a whole encompasses about fifteen thousand people but is set to increase by around another two or three thousand over the next few years. The smallest parish, Hargrave, has two hundred people in it while the largest, Raunds, has around ten thousand. There is a very small ethnic minority representation but a good spread of socio-economic groups and ages. A food bank operates in the town of Raunds. Along with the planned growth of Raunds, Ringstead and Stanwick, there are plans for new warehousing, industrial estates and also extra park areas to enhance the existing facilities, which include a trout fishing lake, a country park, many pathways for cycling/walking and several tea shops and other eateries and fast food outlets. The benefice encompasses four primary schools (two are church affiliated and another has good links with the church) and one secondary school. There is also an Anglican secondary school in the nearby town of Kettering. There are a number of pre-school groups and nurseries. The town of Raunds has two doctor s surgeries, also a dentist, osteopath, podiatrist and pharmacies. The nearest major hospital is in Kettering. There are a number of care homes and homes for the elderly across the benefice. Strong links are in place between the Methodist and Anglican congregations of Raunds (sharing occasional services) and there is also a Roman Catholic congregation and a Praise Community congregation. All four of the Raunds churches join together for a march of witness on Good Friday and the annual Methodist Covenant Service is usually shared with St Peter s. Ringstead enjoys a good relationship with the Shared Church which is largely Baptist and also shares occasional services. The benefice is part of the East Northants Faith Group which is very active in areas of social responsibility and need and runs a weekly food bank and community café in Raunds. Vision and Mission. The four churches enjoy a diversity of worship between them, ranging from traditional Eucharist to informal All-Age worship, but each endeavours to be inclusive. Each parish church aims in its own way to reach out to the parish it serves and to meet the needs of that community. We are constantly trying to find new ways to be relevant to our changing society and review our targets annually. We also take our responsibility for the spiritual growth of our congregations seriously, encouraging prayer groups and study groups to flourish. The benefice has a web-site: www.4spires.org.uk and can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fourspires.benefice 3
We would welcome a priest who is keen to actively lead and encourage the existing team along with the members of each congregation whilst also continuing to strengthen the links with schools, care homes and other church groups. There are opportunities for mission and outreach as well as to build up the spiritual life of the existing congregations. There is a programme of mission initiatives underway to reach out to the areas of new housing as well as activities to reach out to families who are existing residents. Our buildings. All four of the benefice churches are listed buildings. The modern rectory is in the town parish of Raunds, central to the benefice. There are no exclusively church halls although two of the parishes have a link with their community halls. St Peter s, Raunds is undertaking a major building programme including underpinning, re-glazing, drainage work, roof, masonry and plaster repairs etc. The ancient building boasts the second highest spire in the county, medieval wall paintings, a medieval 24 hour clock, stained glass, eight bells and a Conacher organ. The churchyard is closed except for the interment of cremated remains and is maintained by the town council. All Hallows, Hargrave has recently undergone a building programme and has no outstanding building needs. It has 4 bells, stained glass and very old pews. The churchyard is still in use and maintained by the PCC. St Mary s, Ringstead has recently been re-ordered to include modern facilities and a large open space for social use. Work is currently being undertaken to repair the bell-frame (6 bells) and there was no other urgent work identified in the 2014 Quinquennial report although it is hoped to re-lead some of the windows once the bell-frame work has been completed. The churchyard is closed and maintained by the parish council. St Laurence s, Stanwick is planning work to its roof. It has stained glass, six bells and one of the highest broach steeples around. The churchyard is closed except for the interment of cremated remains and is maintained by the parish council. 4
Pattern of services for a typical month. Date Hargrave 9.15 a.m. 1 st Sunday Holy Communion 2 nd Sunday Morning Worship 3 rd Sunday Holy Communion Raunds 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion 10.30 a.m. Baptism 12.30 Morning Worship Holy Communion Ringstead 9.30 a.m. All-Age Worship Holy Communion 9.30 a.m. Baptism 12.30 Big Sing Stanwick 11 a.m. Priceless 9.30 a.m.. Songs of Praise 11 a.m. Holy Communion with Baptism All-Age Worship 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion Evening 6 p.m. Raunds Raunds Raunds 4 th Sunday All-Age Worship All-Age Worship Holy Communion Raunds 5 th Sunday Benefice Service of Holy Communion Raunds COMPLINE is said on the first Friday of each month at 7.30 p.m. at St Mary s, Ringstead Midweek COMMUNION SERVICES are held as follows: 1 st Wednesday, Stanwick 10 a.m. 2 nd Wednesday Home Communion at The Forresters, Raunds 10.45 a.m. 3 rd Wednesday, Stanwick 10 a.m. 4 th Wednesday Visiting Ashfield House, Raunds. 5 th Wednesday Hargrave 10 a.m. The benefice worships together in celebration of individual patronal festivals, fifth Sundays and for services during Holy Week. For all of the major festivals, including Harvest, each parish celebrates individually in order to encourage local occasional worshippers. Remembrance services are tailored to the needs of the individual communities and extra Remembrance services are provided for the schools. Three primary schools use their local churches for end of term services and Ringstead School also uses the church once every week for assembly. The benefice provides at least two Services of Memory for the bereaved each year around All Souls Tide. Each parish provides a community carol service and a Christingle Service. 5
BENEFICE SERVICES FOR 2016 January 31st Candlemas Stanwick April 3rd Low Sunday Hargrave May 29th 5 th Sunday Stanwick June 26th St Peter s Patronal Festival Raunds July 31st 5 TH Sunday Ringstead August 7th Holy Communion Hargrave August 14 th St Laurence s Patronal F estival Stanwick August 21 st Holy Communion Ringstead August 28 th Holy Communion Raunds September 11 th St Mary s Patronal Festival Ringstead October 30 th All Hallows Patronal Festival Hargrave January 1 st 2017. Sunday after Christmas Raunds Average attendance at services: Location of Sunday 0-16 years Adults Average total service Raunds 5 for monthly 30 31 children s service Hargrave 3 16 19 Ringstead 10 20 30 Stanwick Approx. 6 family groups for family service 20 26 Other services Sunday evensong 0 8 8 Wednesday 0 7 7 communion Friday Compline 0 6 6 Baptisms, confirmations, marriages and funerals take place as requested with preparation for confirmation being undertaken at benefice level. Baptism preparation 6
is undertaken within each parish by laity while marriage and funeral preparation is covered by the minister responsible for the service. 2015 Infant /child baptisms Confirmations Marriages Funerals Raunds 6 0 3 8 church & 8 crematorium Hargrave 2 0 4 church Ringstead 4 0 3 6 church Stanwick 11 0 1 (an unusually low number, there will be 11 in 2016) 5 church & 4 crematorium Support available. The benefice has an active ministry team. The incumbent is supported by a retired priest who regularly leads services, three Readers who also lead services, one of whom works solely within the benefice and has responsibility, recognised by the Bishop, for Ringstead. There is one licensed evangelist, one paid children and families worker, one paid youth and community worker, three accredited children s workers, several lay worship leaders, chalice assistants in each parish, members of the congregation to lead intercessions in three parishes and to read the lessons in all four. Each parish has its own organist and/or pianist and Raunds & Stanwick each have adult choirs. There is also a benefice treasurer and a part-time paid benefice administrator. Eucharistic and other sacramental services are taken by the priest (except in the case of communion by extension) but all other services are currently lay led. Youth and children s work. Children and young people are actively encouraged and are valued members of our congregations and are offered a range of social activities. Two of the parishes admit children to communion prior to confirmation, after a suitable course of preparation. The two paid children s and youth workers have a remit to engage with those who are not provided for within the current church family. Sunday school is provided in one parish; also a mid-week after school club. There are three carers and tots groups within the benefice. One parish has a Time to Talk pre-teen group which gives opportunities for young people to ask questions about faith and life in a safe environment. Toy bags and children s corners are provided in some parishes, although children 7
are encouraged to engage with the worshipping congregation wherever possible. The three larger parishes all welcome their local schools to use the church whenever they wish. There are events planned to take place during the holidays and also an event which will invite primary school leavers to revisit the church for a social event. The two church affiliated schools each have governors who are church members. Church groups and activities. Across the benefice there is a variety of groups dedicated to spiritual growth encompassing Bible study, prayer groups, a spiritual lunch group, a nurture group and also seasonal events such as Lent lunch groups. There is a Mothers Union group, a Friday club monthly fellowship group, a book group and two choirs as well as occasional social events. The benefice also supports an annual benefice outing to a cathedral town. There is a benefice prayer cycle and provision for requested prayers to be included in public worship. Home communions are taken as needed and some of the local residential care homes welcome communion visits by a team from the church. A weekly news sheet is available for each member of the congregations and both Hargrave and Ringstead provide a parish magazine for each household within their parish boundaries. Each of the parishes holds social events and fayres which welcome in their local community as well as coffee mornings, Tea with Friends social afternoons for the retired and other occasional events such as flower festivals, music festivals and band concerts. The running of these events is underpinned by a great deal of work by lay members of the ministry team, PCCs and general congregations. The buildings are kept looking their best by teams of volunteer cleaners, flower arrangers and gardeners. Organisation. Each parish within the benefice has its own PCC and the churchwardens of all parishes meet together with the incumbent quarterly to discuss benefice business. 8
Person specification. The right candidate would be a priest experienced in multi-parish work with drive and energy to develop the potential of the whole benefice, including the areas of planned building development. The candidate should have a deep regard for the sacraments and an ability to provide for the diverse spiritual needs of all ages. The ability to relate to all ages is important, as is flexibility in approach to worship. He/she must value shared ministry and be a team leader capable of encouraging and supporting the existing lay team, continuing its development and showing skills to effect any positive changes. A willingness to be a visible and pastoral presence in the communities of each parish is essential. Informal enquiries concerning this post can be made to the Rural Dean: The Revd Canon Steve Prior sprior@toucansurf.com tel: 01933 312554 An application form for this post can be obtained from the Archdeacon of Oakham: The Venerable Gordon Steele archdeacon.oakham@peterborough-diocese.org.uk tel: 01733 887017 9
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St Peter's, Raunds The small rural town of Raunds lies almost equidistant from the other three parishes in the benefice. With a population of around 10,000, a formerly thriving centre of the shoe manufacturing it tends now to be largely a dormitory town with a decline in commerce and very little industry. Despite this contraction in local employment Raunds is rapidly expanding with a number of small recent housing developments and two large estates currently under construction. Road and rail networks enable good commuting opportunities. There is a Post Office, library, four public houses, two supermarkets with a large Asda planned on the edge of town next to a very large warehouse complex. The shops in Raunds include butcher, baker, hardware, hairdressers, newsagents, restaurants, takeaways, and charity shops. Raunds is served with a half hourly bus service to Northampton, via Stanwick, Rushden and Wellingborough. There is also a bus service to Kettering. There is an infants school, a primary school, a C of E junior school (St Peter's Academy) and a secondary school (Manor Sports Academy) which encompasses St Peter s junior school. There are two foundation governors from St Peter's Church on the governing body of St Peter s junior school. The church has recently started a new initiative with communion services at St Peter's Academy and all schools are visited by the Youth and Children's worker and others. The schools, especially St Peter's, hold services in church. We are a traditional church with a leaning towards catholic but accepting and looking to develop other forms of worship, keeping the Eucharist as the main form of worship. St Peter's has a long standing musical tradition. Unfortunately a past safeguarding issue has affected this and there is a need for recovery. St Peter's is grade 1 listed, currently in the throes of major works funded by Heritage Lottery, with plans for extensive reordering. The churchyard is closed and maintained by Raunds Town Council. St Peter's Community Enterprise Centre, adjacent to the vicarage, although owned by St Peter's, is managed by a Management Committee, as a result of funding for its build being provided from public funds, with about 17 years lease to run. There are two PCC members on the management committee. A coffee morning, on Friday, town market day, is held in the centre. There is also a weekly community café and food bank, run in conjunction with the East Northants Faith Group which members of St Peter s are involved with. We have regular monthly meetings of a prayer group, spiritual lunch group (weekly during Lent), Mothers Union, the Friday Club, and Friends Afternoon Tea. There is a support group, the Friends of St Peter's, which operates separately from the PCC. A small lending library of religious books is located in church. St Peter s hosts the Little Sunbeams pre-school group. There is a St Peter's Brownie pack and we have links with other such organisations - Brownies, Beavers and Cubs. Raunds is home to four care homes and two sheltered housing complexes, one of which hosts a monthly service of Holy Communion. Home Communion is taken to various individuals in the town. The paid children s worker ran a weekly breakfast club 11
throughout the school summer holidays and an inspirational Experience Harvest event for the local schools. There are three other churches in Raunds - Methodist, Catholic and Community Church. The ministers of all four churches meet together three or four times a year. We have an especially good relationship with the Methodists with shared services from time to time, and we join with their annual covenant service. All four come together in a Good Friday march of witness through the town. St Peter's, the Methodists and Catholics work together for the Women's World Day of Prayer. Regarding finance, St Peter's has a treasurer and a planned giving secretary. In 2015 the Parish Share was paid in full, however, due to lack of funds it is highly unlikely that it will be paid in 2016. We would expect to hold 8,000-10,000 in the general fund, in addition to which we hold a number of Restricted Funds, two endowment funds and there is a designated Benefice Account. Clergy expenses are paid in full from the Benefice Account. The electoral roll presently numbers 68. 12
All Hallows, Hargrave Outreach children s games Beetles and burgers Street party celebrations for the Queen s 90 th birthday, June 2016 13
Hargrave is a small but lively and friendly parish of 100 houses with 37 people on the electoral roll. The congregation described themselves as friendly, welcoming and enthusiastic, a community who take their worship seriously but with a relaxed atmosphere, non-judgemental and open to all. There is a service every week and we are very happy to have a highly regarded retired priest in our community to help support our worship. We are a warm, caring, supportive congregation with a deep faith. The small church at the centre of the community (in both senses) has an attractive, well managed, well maintained building having benefited from a range of capital projects which have upgraded and updated church facilities. It has been recently re-ordered with the addition of a disabled toilet and servery area. Our future plans are to renovate the vestry and paint the interior. The church is surrounded by a well maintained churchyard and is accessible and wheelchair friendly. We are in the fortunate position, due to a recent legacy, of being financially very sound which has enabled us to support projects that benefit the benefice as a whole. Our recent mission project has required a substantial financial commitment and is supported by the Diocese. Two workers focussed on engaging children, young people and their families have been appointed and they are full of enthusiasm and ideas for working with the community and bringing them into the life and worship of the church. They also support youth and family work across the benefice. Their appointment has been driven by Hargrave and the Management Committee which oversees their work includes the Hargrave Churchwarden and PCC secretary. The church is inclusive and welcoming, we encourage families and the Children and Families Worker has forged a connection with the vibrant local nursery. The PCC recently put on a street party to celebrate the Queens 90 th birthday. The whole village was involved; it engendered community spirit and enabled all to take part at no cost to themselves. We have recently established a house group (Feb 16) following the Pilgrim Course where we are seeking to develop discipleship and offer support to one another on our spiritual journeys. The lovely Church is used for all sorts of activities which engage the community whether church members or not. For example, a highly prestigious Music Festival is held annually featuring international classical artistes. www.hargravemusicfestival.com The growing congregation welcomes visitors, especially at special services such as Remembrance Sunday which concludes at the War Memorial and the Nine Lessons and 14
Carols at Christmas. The village choir enhances our worship on special occasions and we have welcomed high quality choirs and musicians at various services such as Choral Evensong. Children are warmly encouraged and take an active part in services, for example at Christmas and Mothering Sunday and next year the local farm is lending us a donkey for Palm Sunday. We admit children to communion when they are ready after course of instruction. The church is supportive of the parish priest & East Northants faith group. We have successfully managed vacancies in the past and look forward with excitement and anticipation to working with the new incumbent and taking the church forward into the future. 15
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ringstead. The Sunday School nativity play Thy Kingdom Come family prayer event Getting ready for the Palm Sunday procession. Tea with Friends social afternoon. 16
Within this small rural parish with a population of around 1,500 over 70% of the housing is owner occupied with some rented and social housing. The village has its own Primary School which is voluntary controlled, and a pre-school. Secondary schools are close by. There is a care home for the elderly and one for younger people with learning disabilities. There are two recreational fields, one for sport and one holding a recently built play area, a pocket park with lake, a trout fishery and a marina. The village enjoys the use of a public house, a social club and a village hall as well as several small shops and two takeaway food outlets. Until recently farming provided local employment but now the main local employers are an animal feed producer and a small business centre. Health care can be accessed in the nearby towns. Apart from the Anglican Church there is also Ringstead Shared Church which is largely Baptist and with which there are close links, sharing two or three ecumenical services throughout the year. Our church is very family orientated and inclusive. We try, during the course of each month, to provide for the spiritual needs of each of our congregation from youngest to oldest through a variety of worship. We enjoy the contribution to church family life of around a dozen regularly attending children and young people, a couple of whom are training to be young leaders. After a suitable course of preparation our youngsters are admitted to communion as soon as they feel ready. The parish is overseen by a Reader who has responsibility for that role, given by the Bishop. Our vision for the future is to increase the numbers of people sharing worship with us whilst also being active in taking our faith out into the community, showing our Christian values in action. The twelfth/thirteenth century building of St Mary s has recently been re-ordered to include a toilet, servery and large social area which has made a positive impact on the life of the church community and also enabled the provision of regular social events to provide for the needs of the community we serve. The building still seats around 120 people. There is no urgent work outstanding from the last quinquennial report. The closed churchyard is the responsibility of the parish council who maintain it in good order. The primary school use the church building for assembly once each week. Our Patronal Festival is shared with the other benefice congregations and the annual Remembrance Service is for the whole village community. Christingle on Christmas Eve is extremely well attended by all ages and the village carols with nativity play has become an annual favourite which draws in many occasional visitors. Harvest Thanksgiving followed by lunch raises money for charity as do our Lent lunches. Events in Holy Week are shared around the benefice churches but usually culminate in the Service of Light in Ringstead on Easter Eve, followed by a benefice party. Baptisms are often held after the main Sunday service and families are always made welcome if they are able to join in with any of our services. 17
Apart from the incumbent and Reader the work of the parish relies heavily on three volunteer children s ministers who lead Sunday school and a mid-week Christian after-school club (Shine Club). There is a carers and tots group (Little Angels) and we also enjoy input from the benefice Children and Families worker and Youth and Community worker. There are two regular organists/pianists and members of the congregation read the lessons, lead intercessions and serve as chalice assistants. The life of the church and the community it serves is enhanced by a variety of regular events throughout each month. The Book club is a Bible study group which seeks to learn about one different book of the Bible each month. Prayer groups meet in homes around the village, Tea with Friends provides a social time with tea and cakes for the retired members of the village and monthly coffee mornings raise funds alternately for charity and church maintenance as well as providing a chance for those on the fringe of the church to enjoy a social time. Throughout the year we work to present a variety of events which raise money and bring different people into the building. We hold a flower festival, open gardens, seasonal fairs and band concerts. All of these provide a chance for us to welcome different people, provide ample refreshment and hospitality and show our beloved church building to be a place of love and warmth. 18
Paddington Bear Picnic Fathers Day Breakfast All Age Worship Work Party St Laurence, Stanwick Pancake PRICELESS Little Treasures 19
St Laurence, Stanwick. The rural parish of St Laurence, Stanwick is home to about 2,000 people and so is the largest village in the area. There are very few ethnic minority residents. It is a welcoming and active place although there is a lack of public transport and not very much to engage teenagers, although this is an issue which the church has engaged with. Within the village there are a variety of shops, including a post office and a public house. There is a dementia care home, private pre-school nursery, community preschool group, football club, Brownie group, bowls club, bellringers, church choir, drama group, an active Village Hall committee, allotments and a hotel which is a popular venue for weddings. Stanwick also holds a well-regarded 10km road race annually. The village school, although not affiliated to the church, enjoys strong links with it. Members of the church visit fortnightly to lead assemblies and the whole school uses the church building several times each year for services. Local employment is provided by farming, engineering and home working. St Laurence has a forward thinking congregation with a core of traditional worshippers as well as an increasing number of younger members. We are an inclusive church and extend a welcome to all regardless of age, marital status or gender. We aim to build up our contact with young families whilst being mindful of the needs of the established members. There is a newly formed youth project. Our vision is to develop firm intergenerational links. The church building of St Laurence is Grade 1 listed and due for its next quinquennial in 2017. Fundraising is currently being undertaken for roof repairs and plans are in place to further develop the re-ordered areas inside the building which have created a flexible space. The building is in generally good order. There are 61 local residents on the electoral roll with a regular core of about 20 worshippers for Holy Communion services and an almost totally different congregation of about the same number for family services. The service tailored for the needs of the under 5 s attracts up to 6 families. Festival services attract much larger congregations. The work of the priest in Stanwick is supported by a volunteer parish evangelist and members of the congregation who assist with administration of the chalice, read lessons and welcome worshippers. There is a regular choir. There are dedicated toddler group leaders, a group of fundraising Friends and a working party. The young of the parish are provided for by the provision of toy bags during the services, a weekly pre-school group, a monthly under 5 s service and a service of All-Age worship. The Brownie group is linked with the church and there are plans for an outreach youth group to begin as soon as possible. 20
A variety of activities take place throughout the year to enrich the life of the church and community: Lent lunches, bell-ringing, a book club, regular coffee and cake mornings, a Summer Fete which includes a teddy bear parachute jump and a harvest lunch. Finances are kept in order by a parish treasurer. Almost the entire parish share was paid last year, along with all of the ministry expenses. A review of planned giving is held annually. Charitable giving within the church supported the EMBRACE charity. 21