AMICA Benefice Profile 2017 ST PETER ADDERLEY ST MARGARET OF ANTIOCH MORETON SAY ST JOHN THE BAPTIST IGHTFIELD HOLY TRINITY CALVERHALL CHRISTCHURCH ASH A long heritage of Anglican worship within the AMICA parishes of Adderley, Moreton Say, Ightfield, Calverhall, and Ash in the beautiful rural heartland of North Shropshire.
1 Contents 1. Mission Statement and aims and goals of the Benefice 2. The Challenge within the AMICA Benefice 3. The Role and requirements for the position in AMICA 4. Church Leadership 5. Mission Action Plan 6. Church Finances 7. Worship 8. Church Buildings 9. Churchyards 10. Benefice Activities 11. Communication 12. The Parish and Surrounding Area 13. Conclusion 14. Parish Profiles 15. Appendices a. Contact details b. Mission Statistics c. The Addmore Federation d. Housing growth in the villages e. Photographs
2 1a Mission statement of the AMICA Benefice Worship relevant to the Communities needs. Support and development of the spiritual life. A witness to the love of God and the good news of his Son Jesus Christ. A source of care and support for all those in need. 1b Aim and Goals To expand upon the existing work of the Benefice Maintain the place of the Church at the centre of the communities served by the Benefice Invest in the future of the Benefice by continuing to encourage growth. To serve all people within the Parishes spiritually and pastorally, by continuing to: Build a welcoming, caring and prayerful Church Growing and deepening our faith Further strengthen the deep and strong links within the Benefice Continue to encourage lay members to take up positions of leadership within the church and communities within the Benefice 2. The Challenge Whilst the work within the Benefice can be challenging, it is highly rewarding with warm and supportive Benefice communities who are willing to take up new ideas and opportunities. We need to address changing circumstances of home life and work and would like to be more accessible to families, young people, and those who do not currently attend church. The Church must stay relevant in terms of being at the centre of community identity as well as being the focal point for the Christian faith. Our churches are valuable economic and social assets for faith based and secular activities. 3. The Rôle The challenges facing the AMICA Benefice underpins the rôle of The Rector: to increase church attendance particularly amongst the younger members of the communities, encourage a fully inclusive outlook, gathering in all sections of the community and to develop an appreciation within the communities for the valuable economic and social asset that our churches can provide for faith based and secular activities. This needs to be done whilst maintaining the loyalty of the existing congregation. In summary, the Benefice offers an exciting opportunity to play an important and visible rôle in a busy and beautiful rural setting.
3 4. Church Leadership The Benefice Rector chairs the different Church Council Meetings where specific issues regarding each Parish Church and congregation are discussed with actions agreed and financed. There are two Readers licensed to the Benefice and one other person is currently under training. 5. The Mission Action Plan Within the Benefice MAP, specific attention is paid to Outreach: Encouraging growth and activity outside the normal congregation. 6. Church Finances Finances are managed separately within each of the five parishes. 7. Worship The worship is Central, but some special services have a greater ceremonial content, e.g. Easter Vigil and Imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday. None of these special services could be described as High Church. A reasonable degree of flexibility pertains throughout the Benefice. Common Worship and the Book of Common Prayer are both used within the Benefice. An open- door policy on baptisms exists across the Benefice (infants and adults). It should be noted that there is also a Benefice service every fourth Sunday which rotates round the Benefice. In addition to the normal Church Festivals there are also special services and festivals many of which are pertinent to the rural community and the seasons of the year, ie Plough Sunday, Rogation, Lammas, Mothering Sunday, Harvest Festival. There are four Remembrance Day services and they are followed by an act of remembrance at the four war memorials within the Benefice - Adderley, Ash, Ightfield and Moreton Say. Vestments are worn at most services led by the clergy. Sunday Services are either Holy Communion or Morning Prayer. The occasional lack of an organist at some churches means that hymns may be accompanied by recorded music.
4 8. Church Buildings All churches have had a Quinquennial Report within the last couple of years. The main issues to address on a 3-7 years time frame, concern roof repairs. Applications have been made by some of the churches to funding organisations for the on-going work of repair and maintenance. Accommodation for the Rector is provided at The Rectory next to Moreton Say Church. The recently refurbished building has four bedrooms, two reception rooms and a study. It sits within its own grounds in a beautiful woodland setting. The Benefice Office is within the AMICA Centre, which was formerly the Ightfield Rectory. The office is a modern facility with computer and internet communications. It is Wi-fi and hearing loop enabled. The AMICA Centre is supported by the individual parishes and the Dioceses storage of Items arrangement. It can raise its own funds through short and long term lettings of rooms in the Centre to various charitable organisations. During 2016 The AMICA Centre hosted Germinate Enterprise training days, monthly Quiet Days and has also been a resource for communities outside the Benefice. It s long term financial viability was secured in 2016. 9. Churchyards All Benefice Churchyards have grounds of cut lawn, graves, and remembrance gardens. 10. Benefice Activities The Benefice was formed in 1998 and brought together the churches of: Adderley, Moreton Say, Ightfield, Calverhall and Ash (hence AMICA) and since then the friendships between individuals and the churches has grown. Members of the church communities are very supportive of each other, offering help when required, eg at lay led services, at the host church at Benefice services, playing the organ. Each Parish conducts its own outreach activities, please read the individual profiles for details. During the summer school holidays an activity week for children aged 6-12 is organised by the Benefice and held at the AMICA Centre. The leader is usually a teacher (paid) and helpers come from across the Benefice.
5 The contribution of the AMICA Choir is an essential element in Benefice worship. The Choir strives for musical excellence at special services - Candlemas, Palm Sunday meditation, choral evensongs and the Benefice Carol Service. The AMICA Choir has broadcast twice and has sung within the liturgy and gradual, two Haydn masses and a Mozart mass accompanied by a professional chamber orchestra and soloists. The churches have come together to organise flower and Christmas tree festivals, take part in quizzes and to enjoy hot pot suppers. The time after united Benefice services is invariably when people from across the Benefice socialise usually with wine and nibbles. Members of the Benefice also join for meetings of Churchwardens, the Pastoral Care Group, coffee mornings, Lent lunches and Bible Study. 11. Communication The main communication medium within the Benefice and surrounding communities is a monthly printed magazine - The Village Crier. The internet has proved helpful in circulating information to the congregations when possible. 12. The Benefice and Surrounding Area The AMICA Benefice is situated in North Shropshire, in one of the most rural areas one could expect to find in modern Britain, with many of its roots being in farming. The Benefice is located between the market towns of Whitchurch and Market Drayton and the medieval towns of Chester and Shrewsbury are within 20 miles of Whitchurch. The Benefice benefits from several sporting and recreational facilities, with tennis courts, cricket pitches, bowling greens, social clubs/village halls and two excellent pubs The Olde Jack in Calverhall and The White Lion in Ash. Whitchurch has a railway station. The line passes through Crewe and Shrewsbury from where connections can be made to all parts of the country. The M6 Motorway is approximately 30 minutes drive from the Benefice and is only a few miles from the A49, A41, A53 and A525 trunk roads. It is within 1.5 hours drive of Manchester, Birmingham International and East Midlands Airports History This is Marcher country, the Welsh border and its history is never far away. Farming and food supply has played a major part in the physical and social development of the
6 Benefice villages. Some of the villages can trace their roots to the Domesday Book, with records of Christian worship going back over 1,000 years. Employment Traditionally agriculture has been the main source of employment, however in recent times some employment out of the area has contributed to the economy of the villages. A significant portion of the population now commutes to Crewe, Shrewsbury, Telford and further afield. The rural peaceful settings within the Benefice has attracted several retired couples to the villages. Education Primary school children are transported to one of the two remaining C of E primary schools in the Benefice: Moreton Say C of E Primary School which has approximately 80 pupils in Nursery, Infant and Junior Classes. Adderley also has a primary school with approximately 40 pupils. See appendix c about the Addmore Schools Older children are taken by bus to Sir John Talbot s Technology College in Whitchurch. Sir John Talbot s Technology College has a school population of over 1000 in an age range of 11 to 18. http://www.sirjohntalbots.co.uk/. Alternatively, there is The Grove School in Market Drayton. http://www.grove-school.co.uk/. Further Education Colleges are in Shrewsbury and Crewe. 13. Conclusion It is envisaged that a suitable candidate for the post of Benefice Rector will be an experienced yet energetic priest who will be able to carry out their ministry with diplomacy and enthusiasm. The post would suit a priest with either a growing family or grown up family who would enjoy living in a rural community.
7 14. Parish Profiles Adderley St Peter St. Peter s is situated in the village of Adderley and is at the north-eastern tip of the Benefice. Adderley has a population of 373 which is expected to grow as planning permissions have been granted for development in the area. The demographics closely reflect the national averages. During the last year, average attendance at church has increased by 20% and on major feast days the church is full to overflowing. The electoral roll stands at 32. The church can seat 84 people. There has been Christian worship on the site of St Peter s Church for over 1,000 years; Saxon burials have been discovered within the church grounds. The church is jointly occupied by the Church and the Churches Conservation Trust (TCCT). It is hoped that the partition separating the two parts of the church will be removed; this will enable us to hold concerts and other events for fund raising purposes. (The acoustics within the Church are very special). The church takes part in the Lichfield churchyard award scheme and in the last 4 years has been awarded two silver and two bronze awards and in 2016 also won a conservation certificate. The church repairs and quinquenial are all up to date. Adderley has a thriving village hall complete with a snooker room and a licensed bar with an adjacent bowling green bowling and children s play area. These facilities are utilised for a variety of community and church events.
8 Moreton Say St Margaret of Antioch About 480 people live in the Parish which includes the small hamlets of Longford and Longslow, Bletchley and Moreton Say. Moreton Say C of E Primary School is situated together with the church in the heart of the village famed as the birthplace of Clive of India. The school was built in 1871 and has been sympathetically modernised over subsequent years. The church underwent a quinquennial inspection in 2016 and was found basically sound with some remedial work to be considered within the next five-year period. The building has a sound system and a loop system in place, is heated economically and has a good lighting system. The electoral roll stands at 73 and the church can seat 180. The Clive Memorial House (village hall) is situated in the centre of Moreton Say village and has been renovated to a high standard. The Millennium Pool and picnic area provides amenities for village events such as fêtes and picnics. Lay led services are an important part of our worship. Each service is led by a different person monthly who co-ordinates with others for readings, prayers and music. The morning lay service is a café Church style which enables young families to meet with older regular worshippers. This is a new venture entitled Face to Face. We are aiming to attract more people to attend of all age groups. The adult evening service is similarly organised under a leader but has a more formal structure. Over the last four years our Harvest celebrations have been taken out into the community and held in a barn on a farm. This has worked very well as our Harvest Supper is incorporated into the same event.
9 Ightfield St John the Baptist Christian Worship has been held at St John the Baptist Church for over one thousand years. The name Ightfield could be derived from Old English 'Ihtfeld' collocated from 'iht'= creature + 'feld'= field. This would be plausible considering the area's long agricultural history. Over the years, the number of those employed in farming has declined. Ightfield was mentioned as ISTEFELT in the Doomsday Book and it had its own priest which implies an established community with its own church. Much of the older properties in the village date from the early 1800 s. In the twentieth century, a small number of houses were added to the village to supply local needs. The village population is approximately 270. Whilst there are older houses much of the older properties date from the early 1800 s. In the twentieth century, a small number of houses were added to the village to supply local needs. The Ightfield Parish PC has been working specifically Outreach by encouraging growth and activity outside the normal congregation with the organisation and presentation of an annual Christmas Tree Festival and the quarterly Tales on the Hill story telling activity. In January 2017, the Church held a jazz concert in the Church. The last Quinquennial Report was in October 2015 which highlighted several church repair and restoration works to be arranged over the following five years. The main issues to address are the roof and tower. Applications to funding organisations for this work are on-going and vital to the long-term security and stability of the church. The church can seat 150 and the electoral roll stands at 42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtlclzhcyek. A large part of the Church s annual fund raising is generated from the Calverhall Family Day activity. These funds are used for various church expenditure as well as being available for the Community Fund.
10 Calverhall - Holy Trinity Calverhall, located centrally within the Benefice, is a vibrant village with an excellent platform for an enthusiastic and motivated candidate to engage with a proactive and welcoming community. The community actively supports a wide range of fundraising initiatives which include: The annual Family Day, which begins with a service on the village green, raises funds for Calverhall and Ightfield churches and attracts up to 4,000 visitors from across Shropshire and neighbouring counties. Part of the profits from the Family Day go into Community Fund, grants from which can be made to charitable or voluntary organisations or individuals residing in the Parish for any purpose and which will benefit either the community at large, or in the case of need, individuals. The Big Breakfast held in February attracts up to 200 people to the Village Hall. The Flower and Vegetable Produce Show held in September. There is a well-equipped Village Hall hosting the WI and Over 50 s Club, a Social Club, a children s play area as well as active tennis, bowling and cricket clubs. There is a thriving pub, The Olde Jack, which each Christmas hosts carol singing and a nativity - complete with live animals. The village has a growing population of 240 and is surrounded by a busy farming community predominantly of dairy and arable enterprises. The present church was built in the 1870 s to replace the Chapel of ease built in 1726 and which was attached to the alms houses and a school. The Church is a wellmaintained with a selection of outstanding 19 th century stained glass windows and one modern window installed in 2015. The church bells were retuned and re-hung on iron frames in 2000 and are in regular use. The team also rings at Ightfield. The last quinquennial was in July 2015 and the report included a summary of work and maintenance issues, the most urgent of which are concerned with gullies, drains, gutters and downpipes. The church can seat 120 and the current electoral roll stands at 32.
11 Ash - Christchurch The Parish of Ash was created in 1836 from part of the Parish of Whitchurch. It is made up of the village of Ash and the hamlets of Old and New Woodhouses. Christchurch stands, at the centre of the ecclesiastical parish, approximately three quarters of a mile from the centre of Ash Magna, on land donated by the Bennion family of Ash hall. It was built by George Jenkins in red brick with grey sandstone ashlar and some red sandstone ashlar dressings and has a slate roof. A one bay chancel was added in 1901. The nave will accommodate approximately 120 people and there is a west gallery. The electoral roll stands at 27. The last Quinquennial Inspection was carried out in 2011 and the Architect s general summary states that the church remains in good condition but draws attention to the chancel roof which he reports is showing signs of wear and may need re-roofing in the next 7-10 years. There is a service at Christchurch each Sunday except on those days when there is a United Service scheduled for one of the other four churches in the Benefice. The Parish has a population of around 600 of whom about half live in the village of Ash which is divided into Ash Magna and Ash Parva. The Village school closed in 1968 and has had no shop or Post Office for the last 25 years. The social life of the community, today, revolves, mainly, around the White Lion public house and the Village Hall. The latter is in weekly use and well supported. To the rear of the Hall there is a car park which also serves a hard tennis court, children s play area, a bowling green and pavilion. The settlements of Old and new Woodhouses lie to the north of the Church, straddle the A525 Whitchurch to Nantwich Road and are made up of farms and private houses.
12 14. Appendices a Contact Details: The contact details for any enquiries are as follows: Address: The AMICA Centre, Church Street, Ightfield, Whitchurch, SY13 4NT Telephone: 01948 890610 E-mail: Website: admin@amica.org.uk www.amica.org.uk
13 b Mission Statistics 2014-16 MISSION STATISTICS 2016 Average Attendance Occasional Offices Sundays Funerals Adults Children Christmas Easter Baptisms Weddings Church Crematoria Adderley 13 1 67 28 0 0 3 2 Ash 9 0 19 16 2 0 2 0 Calverhall 12 1 12 25 2 1 3 0 Ightfield 19 1 117 17 2 1 2 0 Moreton Say 21 3 34 32 6 0 1 0 TOTALS 74 6 249 118 12 2 11 2 2015 Average Attendance Occasional Offices Sundays Funerals Adults Children Christmas Easter Baptisms Weddings Church Crematoria Adderley 14 1 101 29 2 0 4 1 Ash 9 0 22 10 0 1 4 0 Calverhall 14 1 0 20 0 0 0 0 Ightfield 20 0 114 42 0 2 4 0 Moreton Say 22 2 44 36 1 1 4 0 TOTALS 79 4 281 137 3 4 16 1 2014 Average Attendance Occasional Offices Sundays Funerals Adults Children Christmas Easter Baptisms Weddings Church Crematoria Adderley 14 1 85 32 0 1 5 0 Ash 10 0 28 17 0 1 1 2 Calverhall 11 1 0 26 3 0 4 0 Ightfield 20 0 151 28 1 1 1 0 Moreton Say 23 2 33 107 3 1 3 1 TOTALS 78 4 297 210 7 4 14 3
14 c The Addmore Federation The Addmore Federation was established in February 2016 as a means of formalising the close working relationship between Adderley C of E Primary School and Moreton Say C.E Primary School. The two schools share a Governing Body, Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team. The advent of the Addmore Federation has been an exciting time for both schools. A new headteacher has recently been appointed and is due to take post after Easter. The last Rector was chair of the federated governing body with two foundation governors representing both parishes. The collaborative nature of the relationship means that as a Federation they have increased resources, greater opportunities to provide enhanced learning experiences, shared staff expertise and good practice across both schools. Although still in its infancy the Federation has already made a big impact. The children have benefited from cross school visits and specific learning expertise. Both schools at their last Ofsted and SIAMS inspections achieved a Good and this is being built on, with the aim of raising standards further, by being part of the first Aspire programme being run with small schools, in collaboration with two other local schools. The Rector and one of the Readers between them undertake weekly worship/assembles at both school and the pupils also come into church for festivals such as Christmas and Easter. Moreton Say School has held its own Remembrance Day and Harvest services at St Margaret s. Both schools celebrate Christingle Services in the respective churches.
15 d Site Allocations and Management of Development (SAMDev) Plan Shropshire Council Adderley is a Community Hub and Ash, Ightfield, Calverhall and Moreton Say are part of Community Clusters. To 2026 the housing growth (new dwellings and/or conversions) within the development boundaries of each village is: Adderley 14 Ash 15 Ightfield and Calverhall 25 Moreton Say 20
16 PEOPLE AND PLACES The Ightfield Cross Activity Week Calverhall Cricket Team Wedding at St John the Baptist
17 Adderley School s flower arrangement The AMICA Centre Bowl at the Bishop Family Day 2016