Youth Chaplain A: JOB DESCRIPTION 1. The post is customarily held by a priest for 3 to 5 years, after serving their title. It is an excellent role for someone with an enthusiastic and creative vision for the place of children and young people in the life of the Church, working with one of the largest and most active cathedral congregations in the country. 2. The two minor canons (Youth Chaplain and Precentor) are supervised by the Sub Dean, and play an important part in shaping the mission and ministry of the Cathedral. The Chaplain has a unique opportunity to exercise a full priestly ministry, whilst leading the Cathedral's work with children and young people, encouraging and enabling them to find their place in the Cathedral Community. 3. He or she must be engaging, adventurous, flexible and discerning; an excellent communicator with a proven ability in working with and inspiring young people. 4. The successful candidate will be a champion for children and young people, resilient and able to prioritise the important place of youth work within the busy life of the Cathedral while also being able to relate well to people of all ages, and be committed to pastoral ministry across the parish and congregation. 5. In common with other clergy based at the Cathedral, the Youth Chaplain is expected to be at Morning and Evening Prayer. 6. Responsibilities fall into two main areas: 6.1 With Children & Young People The Youth Chaplain is a member of the Abbey Assembly and represents young people and those who volunteer to work with them to this body. He or she will make a priority of developing and nurturing a team of lay people to assist in the delivery of youth and children s work to ensure an integrated and sustainable vision for this important part of the Cathedral s ministry, with reference to the Cathedral s Mission Action Plan (see attached summary document). Particular responsibilities will include: Supporting the Sunday Club and its leaders in providing teaching materials, aiding with recruitment of new leaders and chairing their termly leaders meetings.
Leading the following youth groups: 1. Tea and Toast primary afterschool group 2. Xcite youth group 8-12 year olds 3. The Squad youth group 13-16 year olds 4. Abbey Youth youth group 16+ year olds The setting up of Abbey Tots, a baby and toddler group which was suspended during the building project Working closely with the Cathedral Safeguarding Officer and Sub Dean to ensure the highest standard of care for all young people attending groups events and services at the Cathedral Preparing young candidates for confirmation alongside other clergy colleagues Demonstrating a healthy approach to the use of social media with young people and having a clear understanding of boundaries Continuing to develop new ways of nurturing young people's spirituality and broadening their experience beyond the life of the Cathedral (e.g. Greenbelt, Taize, Walsingham) Preparing school leavers among the congregation for university and supporting them during their studies through term time contact, facilitating events and gatherings during holiday periods and sharing with the Precentor the work with the 20s-30s group Involvement with the Root Group (an annual placement for two gap year students exploring vocation), shared with the Sub Dean who has oversight of the scheme; Planning and leading residential activities, training and retreats for young people and youth leaders Managing the Children & Youth budget Involvement with planning and presenting specific children/youth events (e.g. Good Friday Children s Workshop) Sharing leadership of the monthly Teddy Bears pre-school service with the Sub Dean Pastoral care of the Cathedral s Rainbow group, two Brownie Packs, and the Guide Unit, and developing and sustaining links with the 17 th St Albans Scout Group, St Albans Sea Cadets and Royal Marines and other uniformed organisations Coordinating young people's involvement with the 9.30am Parish Eucharist on the Second Sunday of the month Coordinating the children and youth involvement with the Alban Pilgrimage (helping to promote the event in local schools; recruiting young participants; planning and leading children s worship)
Acting as chaplain to Townsend Secondary School, working with the RE department and student RE ambassadors in collaboration with the Vicar of St Michael s Church, St Albans Working in partnership with the Diocesan Youth Officer, and networking with other local youth initiatives (e.g. 2:67 Project and STEP St Albans & Harpenden Education Project) Involvement in the Diocesan Easter Monday Pilgrimage planning committee 6.2 As Minor Canon The Youth Chaplain, together with the Canon Chancellor and Precentor works with the Sub Dean (who acts as Parish Priest on behalf of the Dean) in the pastoral care of the cathedral congregations drawn from the parish, the city and beyond. The ability to work in a team is therefore crucial. Weekly Monday staff meetings form a vital part of this aspect of the work. Along with the other clergy, he or she will have responsibility for a geographical patch, and is first call for pastoral offices for those living within it. Support is available in this pastoral responsibility from a team of Lay Pastoral Assistants. Other responsibilities include: o a share with the other clergy in the leading of worship, preaching, and development of the Cathedral congregations; o involvement in the leading of worship for our Church Schools: Abbey Primary School and at Townsend Secondary worship in school and at the Cathedral; o o membership of the Abbey Assembly, and full involvement in the discussion and planning of the life of the Cathedral Community; membership of the Diary Planning, Abbey Liaison and Pilgrimage Committees; it is anticipated that the Youth Chaplain will also be involved with the Congregational Learning Team. B: BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1. St Albans Cathedral exists to glorify God and, inspired by the witness of Alban, proclaim Christ s message of love. Our Mission is to: be a community that reflects Jesus teaching; share the faith and grow in faith; deepen our unity with fellow Christians; stand with St Alban for truth and justice; offer a warm welcome to all;
serve the Bishop and Diocese of St Albans as their Cathedral Church; and enhance, conserve and develop this holy place. 2. The Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban is the mother church of the Diocese of St Albans which serves the people of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, the Borough of Luton and parts of the London Borough of Barnet, Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire. St Albans is an ancient city and the cathedral is built on the site of the martyrdom of St Alban, Britain s first Christian martyr. It still houses the shrine of St Alban and continues to be a major site of Christian pilgrimage. The city of St Albans is today a thriving market town. It is very close to London but has kept a separate identity, and its sense of local community is still very strong. Its close proximity to the M1, A1(M) and M25 motorways, airports at Luton, Heathrow and Stansted and a fast train link into London St Pancras (20 minutes) have made it a very desirable place to live. The Cathedral has strong links with the local authority and with other churches. Sumpter Yard is close to the main shopping centre and Verulamium Park. Schools are of a very high standard with the Abbey Primary School being ranked as 10 th in the country in 2016 and several of the state and private secondary schools consistently score in the top 100 of their category. 3. The Benedictine monastery (founded in 793) was dissolved in 1539 and became the parish church, which it remains today. It became a cathedral in 1877 and it is in this dual role of parish and cathedral church that it is a centre of worship and mission with a high local and national profile. There is a large and active congregation. 4. Its musical tradition is renowned throughout the world, especially through the biennial St Albans International Organ Festival. There is also an award-winning Education Centre and a trail blazing adult learning department. Ecumenical links are strong with honorary chaplains from the Roman Catholic, Free Church, Lutheran and Russian Orthodox traditions regularly conducting services at the Cathedral for their congregations. The annual Albantide Pilgrimage attracts thousands of pilgrims, and the shrine attracts increasing numbers of pilgrims through the year. 5. The work of the Cathedral is sustained by over 50 full and part-time staff and some 1,000 volunteers. The Cathedral is also supported by a number of independent trusts and bodies. Some are concerned only with raising funds for a particular aspect of the cathedral s life; others finance and manage functions in support of the cathedral s mission. Cathedral Development Project 6. This is an exciting time of significant change and development at St Albans Cathedral. The Cathedral is embarking upon a 7m, Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) supported project, Alban, Britain s First Saint: Telling the Whole Story (ABFS), which will reveal the importance of Alban, and fill a major gap in our national awareness of the origins and evolution of Christian Britain. 7. The project aims to increase visitor numbers by 35% and to offer visitors a greatly enhanced experience through improved facilities and interpretation, including a new Welcome Centre, new learning facilities and a busy events programme to appeal to new and existing audiences. Working with St Albans City s own HLF-funded museum project and visitor strategy, our joint aim is to make St Albans a top destination for tourists and pilgrims alike. One of the key objectives of the project is to reach Millennials in all parts of its life and there is much scope here for the new Youth Chaplain to have input into future strategy.
8. The Abbey, as the Cathedral and parish is known locally, is an active parish church and cathedral community. It is a place of prayer and pilgrimage, an important centre for visitors and a significant gathering point for people who work and live in the area. Although about one third of English cathedrals are also parish churches, the unique feature of St Albans is its large electoral roll (1400 adults, plus 375 under-18s) and the attending congregation is also large, as well as skilled and committed. There are choirs and musical ensembles for all ages and at all levels in the parish, as well as those who sing the daily choral services. The Abbey is a happy place to live and work. 9. In September 2018, The Revd Sally Jones is leaving to be Priest in Charge of St Mary Magdalene s Church, Munster Square, Regents Park in the Diocese of London after 4 years as Minor Canon. The Dean & Chapter wish to make a new appointment to the clergy team as soon as possible. C: PERSON SPECIFICATION Please use the application form to provide evidence to illustrate how you meet the person specification We are seeking a priest: who is willing to try new things, who is engaging, adventurous, flexible and discerning with a proven ability of working with young people and children who is a team player, but with the discipline to work alone who has excellent organisational and communication skills who is able to work with, encourage and grow a diverse team of volunteers who is approachable and hospitable who has the ability to work efficiently under pressure with a disciplined and mature life of daily prayer with a varied experience of Christian spirituality with an openness to the liturgical and spiritual tradition of St Albans Cathedral who is a good preacher, with the ability to lead worship and preach for a large congregation with high expectations with a proven ability to lead, teach and inspire young people with a breadth of pastoral experience and good pastoral skills with excellent computer literacy with an enthusiastic vision for the place of young people in the life of the Church The Revd Canon Abi Thompson Sub Dean September 2018