St Chad s Church Wood End Coventry PARISH PROFILE

St Chad s Church Wood End Coventry PARISH PROFILE Page 1 of 13

BISHOP S INTRODUCTION Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 I have always been impressed and personally challenged by the faith of the congregation of St Chad s Wood End. They have the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. With few resources they minister to a community of few resources, and made some really good progress. They believe God will work in their church community and in the parish as a whole, as they trust in God s resources the boundless riches of Christ (Ephesians 3.7). And the Lord has been faithful. The church has been growing, and there has been some impressive social action engagement in the community. The loss of their last vicar after his call to a similar parish in another diocese, has left them feeling a little vulnerable during the interregnum. A lot was happening during his ministry, and it was exciting and encouraging to see some of the results. But faith remains. There is an assurance of a thing hoped for. They believe someone will feel called by God to work with a resource-poor but faith-rich church, seeking to extend God s kingdom in this parish with its several indices of deprivation, convinced that Brother Lawrence was right, the poor are the true treasures of the Church. If you are a person of faith, not just Christian faith, but with the gift of faith that sees beyond what is, and passionately believes in what could be, with the conviction that the things not seen will happen by the grace and power of God, made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9), then I warmly encourage you to explore whether you are the person God is calling to lead St Chad s into the assurance of the good things for which, in faith and love, they hope. With my prayers, Page 2 of 13

DEANERY SUMMARY Coventry East is an exciting and varied place with an eclectic mix of people resident in the deanery and worshipping in our churches. The Deanery is not a particularly affluent area, and there are some areas of genuine deprivation including Wood End where this church is situated. Therefore, most of the churches in the Deanery find themselves involved in meeting not only spiritual hunger but practical, social and material needs, too. With few resources, we rely on God s grace to survive so we have become accustomed to things constantly changing, and relying on God to provide. It is humbling to see how much is being done in the name of Christ in this area, and how God blesses those who seek to bless others. This is not a deanery that sits inside their churches wondering where everyone is. It is a deanery that is out and about within the community showing and sharing the love of God in Christ, and many of the fifteen church congregations are growing as a result. There are six single parishes, a local ecumenical project based in the nearby village of Binley Woods, a team of three districts, a newly formed 'conventional district' on a hitherto unloved post-war estate, plus a recently re-opened church pioneering as a partnership church to resource the deanery and diocese. Both our chapter and our deanery synod meetings are characterised by a sense of warmth and informality with people genuinely enjoying each other's company, offering mutual encouragement and support, and there is a shared commitment to increase our levels of giving (despite the poverty around us) in order to reduce the extent to which we rely on the support of other deaneries to meet our costs of ministry. With Coventry being voted the City of Culture 2018 and the rapid expansion of Coventry University (voted best Modern University 2014 and 2015) many students are resident in Coventry East in halls of residence and rented housing, providing an energy and excitement as students come here from all over the world to study. With every blessing, Rev Pam Howell (Acting Area Dean) Page 3 of 13

BACKGROUND TO POST St Chad s, Wood End, (an outer estate to the North East of Coventry) 5 years ago was the most deprived parish in the Diocese of Coventry, with an average age of about 25 years! We were a small (15 people, only 5 of whom were under 70 years of age), neglected, hurt, and tired congregation after a 3-year interregnum. However, we were also passionate, totally dedicated to our church family and local community, loving, welcoming, supportive, and flexible. The last 5 years have seen 60,000 of Diocesan investment into the church, enabling it under the previous incumbent to begin a wide range of social action and evangelistic initiatives, as well as contributing to its Parish Share responsibilities. The parish also had a linked Pioneer Initiative (St Aidan s) on a missional community model, and some contribution also from a Diocesan parttime 20s-30s worker. With all of this investment and initiative things started to change. We were making good contact with many in our community (for example through breakfast church, Toddler groups, Boys Brigade, Kidz Club and ALPHA), and more people started joining the church. However, it came as a great surprise to us all when the incumbent announced that he was leaving for another post in August 2017, after 4 years with us. He had felt called to a town centre ministry and a rare and suitable opportunity arose. At the same time, the Pioneer Leaders moved to our neighbouring parish, where one of them has just been appointed vicar. To add to this, most of the funding received from the Diocese to help us has now been spent, though we are in a better position financially than 5 years ago. In the interregnum, we have realised that most of the new initiatives and growth have come through the gifts of different members of the congregation, enabled by the incumbent. We realise that without an incumbent, the passion we have to serve God through our activities can wane. We need help to remember that God works through us, and that we don t do it alone. Wood End has been one of the most deprived areas in Coventry. We are praying that some-one will sense God s call to help us continue to serve this community and build on our progress over the last 5 years. We are a church in need of a good leader. We are passionate in our faith, feel God s presence and His Spirit moving amongst us, and we all want to work for the glory of God. We feel that with love for God in our hearts, all things can be overcome. Page 4 of 13

ROLE SPECIFICATION The role of this post is to lead the churches in fulfilling the Diocesan Mission Purpose of: Worshipping God Making New Disciples Transforming Communities. This will be achieved by developing 8 essential qualities in the life of the church: Empowering Gift-oriented Passionate Inspiring Holistic Need-oriented Loving Functional Leadership Ministry Spirituality Worship Small Groups Outreach Relationships Structures PERSON SPECIFICATION We welcome applications from candidates who: Feel called to serve God in communities where people s lives are not easy. This will include the ability to mediate and bring healing in people s relationships in family and community contexts. Are robust and resilient, with a good sense of humour and ability to have fun even in difficult situations. Enjoy community development and associated community action groups. Can appropriately link social action initiatives with evangelistic and discipleship initiatives, helping people to become followers of Christ. Will not be intimidated by strong characters within and outside the church community. Page 5 of 13

ST CHAD s AND THE DIOCESAN MISSION PURPOSE AND 8 ESSENTIAL QUALITIES OF HEALTHY CHURCHES The Mission Purpose of the Diocese of Coventry is: Worshipping God Making New Disciples Transforming Communities. St Chads is fully committed to fulfilling these three aspects. We believe that we will achieve this Mission Purpose by developing 8 Essential Qualities in the life of the church. Empowering Leadership This is one of our weakest areas. There are a few, very busy lay leaders, but there are no processes that identify and train leaders, this is where the incumbent has room for growth. We are also in an area where people have low self-esteem, and do not naturally see themselves as leaders. Natural leaders have emerged through volunteering opportunities created by laity ideas. The laity currently run: Breakfast church, Cherubs Stay and Play, Boys Brigade and Girls Association, Youth Group, administration, the refurbishment project, ministry to the elderly, small groups, Friday Breakfast and the church maintenance. Gift-Oriented Ministry This is our strongest area. We are very good at using our passions, skills and gifts. The projects running run because of the people having the passion to run them. Our various different children s ministry is an example of this. E.g. Breakfast church, Cherubs Stay and Play, Boys Brigade and Girls Association and Youth Group. Passionate Spirituality This is another weak area that arose from our survey. We have been addressing this issue over the last year. We now have 2 bible study groups and morning prayer four times a week which are laity led. Although we treasure the sacraments, without spiritual guidance and direction, we are left feeling spiritually low. Page 6 of 13

Inspiring Worship We have a very fluid tradition which changes depending on the priest! One common feature has been the centrality of the Eucharist, but other than that we have been up and down the candle! Similarly, our vicars have had differing approaches to charismatic gifts. Essentially, we are pretty flexible, but hope that our next vicar may stay a bit longer to gives us an identity. There is a lot of potential to try new things here. Holistic Small Groups Small groups were our weakest area as we did not have any! We now however have 2 lay-led groups regularly meeting. About 60% of the church are now in a small group. There is potential for a greater level of engagement and a third group. They are bible based but need to work on being evangelistic and more outward looking. Need-Oriented Outreach This is our second strongest area, partly because we are a deprived parish and serving members of the community most in need. We are very good at identifying needs and trying to meet them any way we can. We provide food at the majority of projects and partner with the local food bank in both supply and staffing. We have food deliveries from Tescos to support people s needs. There are still massive needs not met in our community and we have the potential to make a difference. We are not so good however at linking our social action projects to evangelistic endeavours, and few people have explored Christian faith with us. Page 7 of 13

Loving Relationships We are a very forgiving church and we get over any issues quite quickly. However, we are a passionate people and we do have disagreements from time to time. We think we are welcoming but visitors don t seem to stay! Currently we are feeling low because of the interregnum and we would welcome an injection of fun and hope for the future. We are ethnically diverse and our age ranges from 1 to 80ish, from mainly lower/working class backgrounds. The cultural tradition of some of the congregation that have left us, is that a priest looks after them spiritually and that they will return when an incumbent is in place. Functional Structures We are one parish. The PCC is chaired by the vicar. This year we have had 6 PCCs and a few standing committees. We mainly make building/finance decisions. We need help in thinking about our vision and future planning. The atmosphere in PCC meetings is very positive and passionate for St Chad s to do well. THE PARISH History Wood End Parish comprises of Wood End, Henley Green and Manor House estates. St Chad s is over 60 years old and was designed by Basil Spence. It is in a group of churches designed by him, one in Willenhall and one in Tile Hill which practised the building techniques that were then used in the building of Coventry Cathedral. The surrounding estate was built in the 50 s and 60 s and is mainly social housing. It has undergone a massive regeneration over the years with bulldozing housing and rebuilding that still isn t finished. With this has come a transient population and a rise in the number of residents from ethnic minority backgrounds. There is a massive increase in owner occupier housing which brings a permanence and a fabulous new area of mission to explore. Interestingly, this has resulted in a decrease in serious crime, teenage pregnancy rate and poverty, with the result that we are no longer the most deprived parish in the Diocese. Page 8 of 13

Location St Chad s church is in the North of Coventry. It is very close to the M6 and Coventry is on the mainline between Birmingham and London. The area has sports facilities in a leisure centre and there is swimming pool 2 miles away. There is a bus service running 4 times an hour, daily. The church is next door to Wood End Community Centre. Population. In the 3 estates there are approx. 3,000 4,000 people. This number is changing all the time with people moving into the newly built areas. The resident population is very young (80% under 50 years) and ethnically diverse with African, Afro-Caribbean and Polish in the mix. There are no pubs in the parish but there is one close by and there is a working men s club in Bell Green. There is a medium sized industrial estate to the most northern point of the parish. There was a fledgling Chaplaincy to the estate started at the church but it stopped due to the interregnum. We have a good relationship with the local police and Moat House Community Trust. The resident associations are Wood End Residents and Friends Association (WERAF) and Deedmore Road Residents Association (which covers Deedmore Road and Petitor crescent). Henley Green Resident s association isn't meeting at the moment but hopes to start up again soon. WERAF meet in our hall. The area has had a bad reputation over the years but this has significantly reduced due to the regeneration of the area. Page 9 of 13

Buildings St Chad s church is a grade 2 listed building. The hall and link are not listed. The hall and its facilities are undergoing rejuvenation. We received a grant from WREN and the work will begin in April for a few months. There are no other works needed from the Quinquennial report. Page 10 of 13

The buildings are used by the church groups and a few rentals but there is more scope for rentals once the work is completed. There is no graveyard. We have a paid gardener and a sponsored cleaner. We are looking for funding from the City of Culture bid, with the other 2 Basil Spence churches, to create a Basil Spence Trail and use any funds to make repairs to the towers. Vicarage The vicarage is a very short walk from the church and has received recent renovation. It is a 4- bedroom house with lounge/diner and a large family kitchen. It has a separated study and toilet downstairs as well as a garage. It has front and back gardens. It has an alarm system and is in generally a very good state of repair. Services An example of an average monthly service rota is shown below. We are willing to consider changes to this. St Chad s 1 st Sunday 2 nd Sunday 3 rd Sunday 4 th Sunday 5 th Sunday Holy communion 10:30am Holy communion 10:30am (or Healing Service) Holy communion 10:30am Holy communion 10:30am Holy communion 10:30am Messy church 3pm There are usually between 20 and 25 baptisms a year. Usually people wait for their family to be complete and then baptise the whole family together. There are usually about 10 funerals a year. There have never been more than 3 weddings a year. Page 11 of 13

School Links There are no C of E schools in the parish. There is a primary school (Moat House Primary School) which the previous incumbent was on the governors of (and a current church member). The previous incumbent ran an art lunch time club with a church member which is now closed, and he did assemblies at least once a month. The school visits St Chad s for seasonal celebrations and RE lessons. Dandelion kids is a new small nursery in Bell Green that are creating links with us for visits and RE. There is a special school (Castle Wood) that visits the church as part of their RE celebrations. This link needs developing. There is also a catholic primary school in the parish but we don t currently have links with that school. Ecumenical Links The church has links with the Bell Green Leaders Group, within which the incumbent may find peer support. The churches meet together to do a Good Friday walk of Witness. Coventry City Mission is based on the edge of the parish, The Director has been in to preach here during the interregnum and we support the work there through donations and attendance of their projects. Administration There is no administrative support. There is an office in the church hall used by the treasurer. We have internet access, phone line and photocopier in the vestry. There is a website administered by a friend of the church. There is a Facebook page, but it is little used. There is a church newsletter written by the chair of the PCC. Page 12 of 13

Finance and Stewardship The table below summarises our financial situation in 2016. Full sets of accounts for the last three years are available on request. St Chad s General Income 13,062.00 Planned Giving 1,098.00 Gift-Aid 0 Fundraising (e.g. fetes) 550.00 Grants 11,923.00 General Expenditure 13,062.00 Parish Share 9,500.00 Contribution Unrestricted Reserves 20,629.00 Restricted Reserves 14,955.00 Any special none considerations, future expenditure etc? Clergy expenses are met in full. Parishes are expected to fund the costs of their own ordained ministry. This in effect means paying the full cost of all clergy. Currently the contribution for a vicar with all ancillary costs is approximately 57,500/annum so St Chad s recognises there is a large shortfall between current contributions and the full costs. St Chad s is grateful to those churches elsewhere in the Deanery and Diocese who help to support our ministry. It is our every intention to contribute more ourselves towards these costs as the congregation grows. FURTHER DETAILS Further details and application form are available from www.dioceseofcoventry.org/vacancies/current_vacancies Informal expressions of interest and conversations welcome: Archdeacon Missioner, Ven Morris Rodham, 07506 731892 (Morris.Rodham@CovCofE.org) Acting Area Dean, Rev Pam Howell, 02476 303266 (E-mail: revpamhowell@gmail.com) Closing date for applications: Noon, Friday 1 st June Interviews: Monday 18 th and Tuesday 19 th June Enhanced DBS disclosure is required for this post This is a Lord Chancellor s Patronage Appointment Page 13 of 13