The Benefice of Lowton and Golborne Lowton St Mary s Lowton St. Luke s Golborne St. Thomas s Parish Profile Lowton and Golborne Team Ministry
Contents Section 1: Summary of the Profile page 2 Section 2: The Rector we would like to have page 3 Section 3: About the Parish of St. Mary s page 4 Section 4: About St. Mary s Church page 5 The church and its people The church and the community The church and its buildings Section 5: About the wider context page 8 About St. Luke s Church page 9 About St. Thomas s Church page 11 Appendices i Area Dean s Statement ii Clergy Role Description iii Person Specification My church family means a lot to me. Our church is a happy and warm hearted family and welcoming to all. 1
Section One Our vision for St. Mary s is: For strong Christ filled leadership that builds upon the traditions of the past and embraces the ideas of the future. For the church of God in this place to be determined in the love and faith of Christ to break down barriers within and without, that cause division, so that the church united becomes the focal point of the community. All that we do at St. Mary s is underpinned by prayer. As we reach out into the community we will be reflecting the early church taking the Gospel message, of God s love for all people. St. Mary s has seen the Shared Ministry Team start its training in early 2014. Over the years there has been a collaborative ministry at St. Mary s with several groups working together to support the clergy in their ministry to the people. St Mary s is a well maintained church with many volunteers who undertake various aspects of church life. Ours is a blessed and happy church where the Rector is keen to delegate whilst ever watchful to support his flock. The Lowton and Golborne Team was formally licensed in September 2013. St. Mary s has a web site which is being developed. We know that we have not achieved everything...there is a lot to be done. The section about the wider context contains information about the parishes of St. Thomas and St. Luke s and the Area Dean s statement 2
Section Two The Rector we would like to have We see the new Rector as being someone who is, in St. Paul s words to Timothy, a workman approved by God. Do your best to present yourself to God, as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2: 15(NIV) To be a Spirit filled shepherd To be dedicated in the Lord s service To be committed to mission To be an innovative preacher and teacher and growth of the churches To be prayerful and sensitive to people s needs To be able to work collaboratively with clergy and laity To have a sense of discernment To be able to work in and embrace the diverse worship of the churches in the Team Ministry Able to initiate and manage change To develop vocations, both ordained and lay, across the three parishes To be able to organise and chair meetings To be a good communicator and a good listener To be able to develop a children s and youth ministry Able to delegate and devolve responsibility 3
Section Three The Parish of Lowton St. Mary s History of Lowton: Lowton dates back to the 13 th century. Originally it was an agricultural village being made up of Commons and Folds and surrounded by large estates. John Byrom, the writer of the well-known Christmas Carol: Christians awake, lived at Byrom Hall, which is situated in the Lowton area. Alongside agriculture, cottage industries, such as silk and cotton weaving, flourished and provided the villagers with employment. With the arrival of new industrial towns these cottage industries disappeared and people left Lowton to find work elsewhere. Agriculture remained the main employer, however, it is no longer the main source of employment in the area. New industries have moved into the village. There has been a marked increase in housing over the last 50 years, so that Lowton is now mainly a residential area. Lowton Today: Even though there has been an increase in housing, present day Lowton retains some village characteristics, although part of the parish of St. Mary s falls within the Leigh town boundary. It has become a desirable place to live in, with excellent road links, being close to the M6, M62, M61 and with the A580 running through it. The village is approximately 3 miles from west to east, and 2 miles from north to south this includes both the parish of St. Luke s as well as that of St. Mary s. The current population is approximately 5,000. Though Lowton is close to several towns and cities such as Liverpool (19 miles) and Manchester (13 miles), Leigh, Wigan and Warrington, the countryside is just a step away offering many lovely walks. The nearby country park, which is within the parish of St. Mary s offers water sports, golf, and fishing, and is home to a great variety of water birds. Horse riding is also a popular activity. There is a variety of housing within the parish, most of which is owner occupied. There are residential facilities for the elderly and a day care centre. Tucked away behind the facade of the houses are several small industrial estates providing some local employment. There are also still one or two farms in operation. St. Mary s is close to several large towns that have a good range of facilities, the closest of these is Leigh. The village itself has fewer facilities. 4
Section Four About St. Mary s Church The church and its people: At St. Mary s we have a very strong, vibrant and diverse spirit filled fellowship that engages well in collaborative ministry. I wish this church was close to where I live I ve always believed you couldn t laugh in church! The church family meets regularly for worship. We embrace a rich variety of materials to enhance the worship including power point presentations. The congregation is encouraged to take an active part during the Services. The worship is also enhanced by the support of the Music Group, the Praise Group and the choir which is led by an accomplished organist. The Worship is reviewed by the Worship Group which meets regularly. The Pattern of Worship: 1 st Sunday 10.30 am Morning Praise (youth uniformed organisations) or Family Communion 6.30 pm Holy Communion CW 1 2 nd Sunday 10.30 am Holy Communion CW 1 6.30 pm Taize 3 rd Saturday in the morning is Messy Church 3 rd Sunday 10.30 am Morning Worship 6.30 pm Holy Communion CW 1 (some months it is with a Service of Healing and Wholeness) 4 th Sunday 10.30 am Holy Communion CW1 6.30 pm Evening Worship 5 th Sunday 10.30 am Holy Communion CW 1 6.30 pm Sung Evensong BCP Thursdays 10.00 am Holy Communion CW 1 (attended by pupils from the primary school) Special Services are held several times a year to celebrate the major church festivals. Occasional Offices in 2013: 50 Baptisms; 8 Confirmation Candidates (3 adults, 5 children); 3 Weddings; 24 funerals (4 or which were conducted at the crematorium no service in the church) There is a good community feel to St. Mary s Church. It is a family friendly church and is very welcoming. 5
The following are some of the areas of church life that are well supported by the gifts and talents of the church family and the wider community. Shared Ministry Team in training Three licensed Readers (one retired with Permission to Officiate) Team of intercessors People who read the lesson Pastoral Visiting Team Baptism Preparation Team Confirmation Preparation Team Prayer Clusters and Prayer Circles Healing and Wholeness Team PCC Sidespeople Worship Group who help to review the worship Volunteers who maintain the graveyard Coffee and Chat meet on a Thursday morning Tea and Coffee on a Sunday morning after the service Annual Parish Weekend Street Link Scheme which delivers seasonal leaflets round the parish Flower arrangers FROGS the Social Committee who plan a wide range of activities Volunteers who sit in church each morning allowing the church to be open to anyone who wants to come in. Vestry hour Vergers Sacristan Messy Church leaders and volunteers House Groups Bible Study Men s Dinners Mothers Union Choir; Music Group; Praise Group Magazine; seasonal leaflets; Sunday Notice Sheets Team Link person We consider St. Mary s our family church because we ve been coming all our lives. Our parents attended as did our grandparents. For the future we recognise that there areas of church life that need to be developed such as: a Youth Ministry; Marriage Preparation; encouraging 25 40 year olds to join the church family. These are areas which could be developed collaboratively in the Lowton and Golborne Team. 6
The church and the community: There are other places of worship in the parish of St. Mary s. Ecumenical links have been fostered over the years and we meet regularly for Ecumenical services and meetings. There are a variety of meeting places in the village of Lowton including a Day Centre, a Social Club, the Rose Centre, FX Leisure Centre and a youth club run by Wigan borough council. What used to be the parish hall has now become The Lowton St. Mary s Community Hall with charitable status. Youth organisations (Scouts, Guides etc.) meet weekly in the hall. The church also uses the hall for its events. The parish accommodates three primary schools, one of which is St. Mary s C of E (VA) primary school. This school is housed in new buildings which were completed in 2008 with the building of a Foundation Stage Unit. St. Mary s church has established close links with the school and has been awarded a certificate by the diocese in their Church/School Partnership scheme. The church will also be supporting the school in their work to achieve the next level in the Partnership scheme. A class of children from the primary school attend the Holy Communion Service in church on a Thursday morning. There is also a Church of England High School in the parish, which holds some services in the parish church. There are also pre-school groups, day nurseries and a private primary school. The church and its buildings: The church was built in 1861 and has recently celebrated its 150 th anniversary. It has been well maintained over the years both inside and outside. The PCC ensures that any repair work is done efficiently. In the last Quinquennial Inspection the wardens were praised for the way in which the church had been maintained. Adjacent to St. Mary s church is the current Rectory, which is a modern house with an appropriate office. St. Mary s church has a graveyard which is presently administered by the Churchwardens. The graveyard itself is well maintained by a team of volunteers. What friendly people what a warm welcome. 7
Section Five The Wider Context Lowton St. Mary s church does not work in isolation. It is part of the newly formed Team Ministry of Lowton and Golborne. Good links between the three churches have been made over the past few years and it is hoped to develop these much further over the coming years. We see St. Mary s playing a pro-active and supportive part in these developments, helping the Team to develop to its full potential. Thus reaching out into the wider community of Lowton and Golborne, taking out the Gospel message of God s love for all people. We hope to work together sharing resources, expertise and personnel. Developing a Team wide Youth Ministry; sharing the existing expertise for Marriage Preparation; finding ways of encouraging 25 40 year olds to join our church families. to encourage vocations across the three parishes including Reader ministry. Currently two members of the St. Mary s PCC act as parish representatives at Liverpool Cathedral. St. Mary s has a Team Link person who liaises with the other two parishes. St. Mary s plays its part in the Deanery and has three Deanery Synod Representatives who attend Synod meetings regularly. The PCC has produced a Mission Plan as part of the Deanery Mission Plans. The PCC has also undertaken work in relation to the Liverpool Diocesan Growth Agenda and has used the diocesan documents to aid it in its annual reviews. The church is used for a variety of special events, such as Carols Round the Tree, a Christmas Tree Festival, Carol Services and a Flower Festival to celebrate St. Mary s 150 th Anniversary. 8
Parish Profile Contribution on behalf of the PCC of St Luke s Church Lowton. Church and Congregation The Church of St Luke Lowton is over 270 years old, being the parish church for a small village for most of that time. During the last 20 years house building in the Parish has increased significantly, bringing the population to about 10,000. However the church and its congregation still reflect the original village character. The church is a Grade II Listed building and has just had a favourable Quinquennial Report. Although St Luke s does not have its own community rooms, hall or car park, there is car parking available nearby. The church also makes use of a nearby local community hall for the Sunday School. There is also a conveniently positioned Rectory. The church itself is a flexible building, with moveable seating, making it adaptable to a variety of uses. The current clergy are supported by Readers and retired clergy. The church has a strong choral tradition. A significant number of young people have retained their links with the church, in Lowton and elsewhere, as a result of their involvement in the choir. Our church social life includes coach trips to walk, talk and explore places of interest. When the choir are invited to sing at cathedrals, members of local churches often join the coach parties. Many of our congregation are involved in local voluntary services such as the Hospice, its shop, Oxfam shops, Christian Aid and the Mothers Union is involved with the Ashworth House Project. Our outreach includes a weekly Parent and Toddler Group in church, Sunday school, distribution of Baptism Cards, taking communion to the sick and a Visiting Group to care for our neighbours. The Pattern of Worship There are three Services on Sunday. 8-30am - Holy Communion: Common Worship Order 1, except Last Sunday in the month: BCP. 10-00am - Family Communion: Common Worship Order 1, where we are joined at 10-45am by the Sunday School. Followed by tea, coffee and biscuits served in the North Transept, providing the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends and make new ones. On the Second Sunday of the month, the Service is that of Morning Worship. A Family Praise Service takes place four times a year. 6-30pm There is Sung Evensong BCP, except Fourth Sunday of the month when there is no Evening Service. In months with a Fifth Sunday, there is Choral Evensong BCP. 9
Weekday Services Each Wednesday at 10-00am Holy Communion: Common Worship Order 1, followed by tea, coffee, cake and a chat, which provides a vital link with those attending. We hold Services for the main Week Day Festivals. Additionally, we hold Ecumenical Services with other Lowton Churches and Joint Services with the two other churches in our Team. Baptism Special Baptism Services take place on the First Sunday each month, at a suitable time following Holy Communion. In 2013 there were 39 Baptisms. Weddings The church is available to those who seek to take the opportunity to come to St Luke s to celebrate this special occasion. In 2013 there were four weddings. Funerals The Church offers support to those whose loved ones have passed on. We carry out a Funeral Service to give thanks and celebrate the lives of their loved ones. In 2013 there were 18 Funerals. Other Community Links There are strong links with St Luke s C of E Voluntary Aided Primary School, which have recently been recognised by the Diocese in the Church and School Partnership Award. The school is involved in a number of Sunday Morning Services through the year. The church also has good links with Lowton West Primary School, which is located closest to the church. There are good links into the community, some formal and some less formal. Improvements are always being considered. For example, the church is open to visitors each year over the weekend of our patronal festival, and for other specific events, such as Mothering Sunday weekend. On these occasions people are simply invited to come in and look around, have tea and a biscuit, or just absorb the atmosphere. Another example has been the invitation to families of children baptised during the previous year to a special Sunday Morning Service. Also, in the last couple of years, All Souls Services have been held which have been well received and well attended. Looking to the future, the church s current links are probably better with the more established community. Creating links with newer parishioners is a greater challenge. Much of the increase in population stems from Lowton becoming a dormitory area for commuters. There is no distinct village centre and therefore less community feel amongst the increased population; hence the greater challenge. When considering links beyond the church, we need to compensate for the fact that there is no longer a traditional face of the church, i.e. a single dedicated Rector of St Luke s, within the community. We recognise that new and better ways of communicating are vital. 10
Deanery Statement re The Lowton and Golborne Team Ministry. In the Winwick Deanery Synod we have been working to formulate our Deanery Mission Plan over the last few years. As a result we are now operating at our agreed allocated number of 8 stipendiary posts, covering our 14 parishes. It was agreed at this stage that the three parishes of Lowton and Golborne become a Team Ministry with two stipendiary clergy serving the three parishes. The new Team was legally established in 2013. As this is such a new team there will clearly need to be some very sensitive management of change by the Team Rector as the three parishes learn to share their resources and work together as a team in the most appropriate way for their new situation. Stage two of our Plan is to discover if our parish churches are healthy and viable and where we may need to think differently about the shape and style of future mission and ministry. To this end, information and statistics about each of the parishes which had been collated by the Mission/Standing Committee were presented to the Deanery Synod. Members of Synod were then tasked with taking that information back to their parishes and with a small group (we suggested PCC members) to explore some of the questions that the statistics raise. A progress report served to ensure Synod that all is proceeding in a helpful way and highlight any areas of concern. The completed Action/Mission Plans were presented to Deanery Synod. Copies of these plans are held by each of the parishes and are available upon request. These are very much working documents and are regularly reviewed and reworked by parishes and synod ensuring that we are always aiming to be mission shaped and embracing the Diocesan Growth Agenda. Rev. Canon Joan Matthews - Area Dean April 2014.