Part time Priest in Charge

Job content

The Bishop of Chester is seeking a Part time (0.6 stipend 4 days plus Sunday) Priest in Charge for St Martin Ashton upon Mersey. The patron is The Society for the Maintenance of the Faith but the patronage is currently suspended.

The successful applicant will need to be an inspirational leader of worship, committed teacher of the faith, flexible in approach and ready to be a visible presence in Church and community.

Ashton upon Mersey is thriving community within easy reach of Manchester. There are excellent communication links close the M60, Manchester Airport, national rail network and the Manchester Tram network. There are excellent schools and a well-equipped Vicarage.

the parish want their new priest to be forward thinking, outward looking, community focused and to be able to communicate easily with children and young families. For that you will need a warm personality and be able to lead by example in making St Martin’s a welcoming place for all.

Good admin and technology skills will be assumed.

The Church has a broadly liberal catholic approach which needs to be delivered with warmth.

Applications should by preference be made to the Archdeacon of Maclcesfield USING THE DIOCESAN APPLICATION FORM available on the website.

Applications should also be sent to this e mail address.

Ashton-upon-Mersey is a distinct community within the Sale area. It has a thriving village and excellent schools. It is within easy reach of Manchester City centre and open countryside. The parish is mainly of white ethnicity. Approximately 60% of the housing is owner-occupied.

There are two services on a Sunday – 9am B.C.P. and 10.15am Choral Eucharist (Common Worship). Wednesday morning has a 10am B.C.P. service. On the second Sunday the 10.15 service is a more relaxed all age Eucharist.

The previous incumbent held prayers in various locations round the village during the Archbishops’

“Thy Kingdom Come” initiative. Along with the incumbent of St. Paul’s the imposition of Ashes and washing of feet took place in the local shopping area. Joint Services are held with All Saints R.C. Church.

Growing the congregation.

Be aware of opportunities to connect through social media and video communication.

Forge links with local community groups eg. Schools, care homes and baptism, wedding and funeral families.

Make worship uplifting so the congregation leave feeling renewed and ready to re- engage with the world.

Establish periodic Bible/study groups.

Inspirational and flexible approach to worship.

Be a visible and known presence in the community.

Work with local schools and develop established links.

Have mature and enthusiastic outlook on life with a good sense of humour.

Have a love for the Gospel and mission, is forward thinking and can make the Gospel relevant.

Excellent organisational, time-management and communication skills

The Diocese covers an area of 1025 square miles, approximately the old Victorian County of Chester, including parts which subsequently became absorbed into Merseyside and Greater Manchester. The Rivers Mersey and Tame approximately delineate the boundary with Liverpool and Manchester. There are areas of dense urban population, mainly in the north, stretching from Birkenhead to East Manchester. There are prosperous suburban regions of West and South Wirral, Chester and south of Manchester, with a mainly rural heartland, bounded by the Derbyshire Pennines and the Welsh Border. The overall population is around 1.6 million.

The Diocesan Bishop is Mark Tanner and the Bishop of Birkenhead is Keith Sinclair, the position of Bishop of Stockport is currently vacant.

The Cathedral for the Diocese is in Chester.

The Diocese is divided into two archdeaconries: Chester covering the western half and Macclesfield the eastern, each with nine deaneries. There are 273 parishes, about 100 of which can be described as rural. Compared with many dioceses, there are few teams, and few multi-parish benefices. There are approximately 231 stipendiary clergy. The ministry of Readers and Pastoral Workers is important, with over 400 licensed. The role of self-supporting ministers is increasing, with over 80 in post at present.

Roughly speaking, the Archdeaconry of Macclesfield covers that part of the diocese to the east of the M6, plus the area around Crewe and Nantwich. The Archdeaconry of Chester covers the rest of the diocese to the west of the M6. Each archdeaconry has a broad mix of urban and rural parishes. The Archdeacon of Chester lives in Chester, and the Archdeacon of Macclesfield lives in Congleton. Both now work from Church House, Daresbury.