Parish Profile

Transcription

Parish Profile

Parish Profile
of
the Benefice of Shepton Mallet
with Doulting & Cranmore
in the Deanery of Shepton Mallet
Shepton Mallet, with Doulting and Cranmore
Contents
Our Vision
Key Priorities For Our Work
Developing Creativity in Worship
Involving Children and Young People
Using our buildings to serve God
Engaging with the community
Embracing change - the Local Ministry Group
Leadership
The Benefice
Description and geography of the Benefice
The Structures of the PCC
The Rectory
The Qualities Of Applicants
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APPENDICES
Appendix 1 - Buildings
Appendix 2 - Finances
Appendix 3 - Services
Appendix 4 - LMG
Appendix 5 - Children’s and Youth Work
Appendix 6 - Ministries and Outreach
Appendix 7 - Groups and Organisations
Young people taking part in the Easter Egg Hunt.
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OUR VISION
“Bringing the light of God into the heart of the community”
We are looking for a new Rector to support, challenge and lead us as a Christian community of
three churches comprising our Benefice, to serve the wider community. With Shepton Mallet,
an historic and expanding market town and two rural village churches nearby, the Benefice
offers a range of needs and opportunities. There are three distinct church communities with a
strong sense of collaboration, an established identity and a faith-based hope in God’s love and
the future.
We welcome the opportunity to work with our new Rector to revise and re-focus our vision.
We have identified some key areas for our work in the next 5 years:
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Embracing change - the Local Ministry Group
Shepton Mallet market square
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KEY PRIORITIES FOR OUR
WORK
We have very wide ranging and diverse opportunities for worship, from traditional prayer book
communion to informal Kids’ Praise. We explore a range of approaches, for example Celtic-style
family communions and monthly youth services where our young people (age 13 to 16 years old)
lead with singing and instruments. The monthly healing service has recently been re-energised
and provides a much-needed ministry.
As well as regular staff and Readers, we
are fortunate to have a strong core team of
worship leaders, including Elaine Brightwell,
our salaried part-time Youth Leader, Wendi
Davis, who leads the younger age group and
Matthew Dawkins who advises and assists
in music worship.
On the evidence of 550+ Shepton townsfolk
attending three Christmas Eve services,
there is clearly a link between church and
town but we feel there is a real opportunity
to make our forms of worship more relevant
and reach further into the community.
‘In Spirit’ rehearsal
Shepton Mallet is a youthful and expanding community. We see the children and young people of
the town and villages as their greatest asset and a key opportunity for outreach in our community.
A number of church initiatives are underway, including for example a strong mother and young
children’s group with weekly meetings led by very active church families.
A youth worker, funded jointly by our Benefice and the Deanery, has facilitated a range of youth
work for young people both from the church and also from the wider community.
Shepton has a large VC Church of England junior school, St Paul’s, and a medium sized VA
primary school, St Aldhelm’s in the village of Doulting. Both have recently been judged good
and outstanding in SIAS inspections and are well supported by committed foundation governors
drawn from the church families in the benefice. There are two county infant schools in Shepton
who also have strong links with the church.
Shepton Mallet’s secondary school is Whitstone Community School, an 11-16 school which has
recently welcomed a new head teacher and is embarking on the next stage of its development.
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The church has strong representation in the governing of a young people’s hostel in the town
through a local charity, “Youth with a Future”. The house is owned and managed by the English
Churches Housing Group.
There is an exciting opportunity to help us take this work forward, nurturing the spiritual
development of the children and young people in the church and the wider community. Church
leadership has great scope for ministry and mission at this stage in the town’s development.
In particular both Shepton schools will have new head teachers this year with the chance to
establish strong working relationships.
Shepton Parish Church is fortunate to have church rooms close to the church on Peter Street,
which are well maintained and very spacious. The two village churches share use of their village
halls, which similarly provide very agreeable facilities.
Peter Street Rooms are rented out regularly to church members for private functions and we
have a number of community clinics and gatherings using the rooms weekly, all at subsidised
rates. These also form a centre for social and church events including teaching for children and
young people. Activities include a very
active ‘Prams and Toddlers’ group; and the
Cave cellar is a meeting place for our young
people’s groups. A small team of people
in each church looks for opportunities
to expand the usage of the rooms for
church and community ventures, and the
upkeep of Peter Street Rooms is led by the
Churchwarden.
In the future, we hope to progress the reordering of the Parish Church to provide
greater flexibility and a range of improved
‘Prams and Toddlers’ in Peter Street Rooms
facilities, both for the church and town
communities. A development group exists
and is currently preparing options for discussion with the new Rector in order to formulate a
way forward.
Town
Shepton Mallet has a socially diverse population of some 10,000 people. Whilst there are various
employment opportunities locally, a significant number of residents also commute to Bath,
Bristol or Yeovil.
The impact of a large, edge-of-town Retail Park has had a negative effect on many of the shops in
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the High Street which was recently the subject of a BBC documentary series “Turn Back Time”.
However, the Church has good links with local traders and the Chamber of Commerce. There
has been significant population growth in recent years; our church is involved in a project to
support young people and families in Hillmead, which was developed as a housing area by the
local authority. There is also a large, new development known as Tadley Acres of mainly private
houses but which lacks social facilities and commercial infrastructure.
There are great opportunities for outreach to these and other residential areas with the potential
to establish new house groups or even a house church. Ss Peter & Paul is the only Anglican
parish church in the town and we see mission to the large population as a vital part of our
Christian service.
Villages
Doulting and Cranmore have a strong community spirit, with many incomers integrating well
into village life. Farms have become bigger with fewer workers and employment opportunities
are scarce. Schools, village halls and pubs are very important parts of community life and severe
weather conditions highlight the difficulties of a lack of a village shop.
The new Rector does not need any experience in village life, although it might be helpful, but
will quickly learn about the rural scene. There are great opportunities to become part of village
life and help take the church further into the community. The village church folk have had to
become self-sufficient over recent years but always welcome input and support from the clergy
and Readers. Both churches are looking at various ways of becoming more involved in the village
and would welcome some guidance in the right direction. Each church has a small but dedicated
core team.
Embracing change - the Local
Ministry Group
The Deanery Synod has recently approved a Deanery Plan, which envisages moving to the
creation of two team ministries within the next 3 years, one of which will be centred on Shepton
Mallet. There will be 3 full-time stipendiary clergy serving this team and currently three other
benefices, with a total of 13 churches. The precise responsibilities of the clergy will be agreed
through consultation with all parishes involved. The next step will be to create a local ministry
group (LMG) to further this development.
There are good relationships and ongoing active collaborations between the churches in the
benefice and the future LMG. There are opportunities to draw on the strengths of the different
church communities.
Our Rector will have a key role in developing and shaping the LMG and will be fully engaged in
forming the relationships and realising the potential of the new organisation.
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LEADERSHIP
We see the development of leadership and the skills and talents of our communities as a key area
for further growth. We have a good record in developing leadership skills and potential from
within:
Our curate, Revd Tom Handy joined us in 2009 and has recently been ordained priest.
Shepton currently has one Churchwarden, Nick Bennett, supported by two Deputies, Branden
Heselton, who is also Lay Chair of the PCC, and Mike Frecknall. Doulting’s Churchwardens are
Paul Vagg and John Lees (also PCC Lay Chair), whilst Cranmore’s Churchwardens are Adrian
Candy and Paul Treby (also PCC lay Chair).
There are eight Readers in the benefice, two of whom have PTO and one is Reader Emeritus.
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Betty Craig
David Dixon
Gill Goodall
Kirsteen Heselton
Rose Longman
Joyce Martin
Albert Owen
Julian Tucker
We are well served by four active retired clergy,
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Tony Birbeck – Rural Dean
Bob Coates (also Parish Administrator)
Ivor Hughes
Ted Longman
Two lay people assist leading services in Cranmore.
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Joan Dixon
Lesley Gilderthorp
Our part-time Youth Worker, Elaine Brightwell is currently training for the Ministry whilst
continuing with her youth work here in the parish and the Deanery.
Our Sunday Club and Children’s Leader, Wendi Davis is also a member of the staff team.
Another important member of the team is our Methodist Church and Community Worker,
Janet Day. Janet attends PCC meetings, leads monthly joint services and provides an important
link between St Peter and St Paul’s and the Methodist community in the town.
A new choir leader and organist, Peter Harle, joined us in Shepton on Jan 1st 2011.
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THE BENEFICE
Description and geography of the
Benefice of Shepton Mallet with
Doulting and West Cranmore
The Benefice is situated 19 miles south of Bath, 5 miles from Wells, and lies on the southern
side of the Mendip Hills. It has good road connections to Bristol and Yeovil as well as other
nearby towns. The nearest mainline railway station is 8 miles away at Castle Cary. Shepton
Mallet Church’s roll membership totals 197, with Doulting having 39 members, and Cranmore
44 members.
Shepton Mallet
Shepton Mallet is a small rural town and civil parish in the Mendip District of Somerset. The
town lies on the route of the Fosse Way, the principal Roman road into the south west of England.
Shepton’s reliance on the wool trade declined after the 18th Century but it continues to be a
major centre for the production of cider.
Current population is around 10,000 including distinct communities from Portugal and
Eastern Europe. There has been considerable recent investment in the town, both housing and
commercial. These have increased employment opportunities in recent years.
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The congregation covers a broad range of age and social groupings that mix well. There is good lay
participation in readings, intercession and administration of the sacrament. We have a thriving
ministry to young families, children and young people and a passion for developing our wider
outreach.
The church has a formal sharing agreement with a small group of Methodists, which involves
shared use of the building, resources, cooperative ministry, the Hillmead outreach project,
monthly joint services and other seasonal and special services.
The Royal Bath and West of England Showground is nearby. This regional exhibition facility hosts
New Wine, Soul Survivor and Momentum annually. There is every opportunity for individuals
or groups to become involved in these gatherings to mutual benefit. The Glastonbury Music
Festival at nearby Pilton brings visitors and international attention to our town. Collett Park
Day (June), the Mid-Somerset Show (August) and Carnival Night (November) are important
and well supported local events.
Shepton Mallet Prison is a category C institution close to the centre of the town. The prison has
a dedicated chaplain.
Doulting
With a population of around 600, the main village lies a mile and a half to the east of Shepton
Mallet on the A361. The parish includes the hamlets of Bodden, Prestleigh, Beard Hill and part
of Waterlip.
There is a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere throughout the congregation which mixes
well. Our services are wide and varying and we are enthusiastic about recent experiments with
alternative styles of worship. There is a thriving ‘Moving Forward’ group, which has instigated
several community-based activities including coffee mornings and light lunches. A flourishing
Singing for Fun group, which takes place in the church, now has about 40 members from Shepton
Mallet, Cranmore and the surrounding areas.
St Aldhelm’s Voluntary Aided Church School situated in the centre of the village has 180
pupils and very good links with the Church. Although this is mainly a farming community,
the world famous Doulting stone is still quarried here and most of the employment is with the
local aggregate quarries situated in the East Mendip area. There is also one large international
transport company.
The village holds quite a few community events annually in the Village Hall which are either
organized by the Church or the village social committee.
Cranmore
With a population of approx 450, West Cranmore village is situated high up on the east side of
the Mendips some four miles east of Shepton and eight miles from the town of Frome. The parish
includes the small communities of Dean, East Cranmore and part of Waterlip.
Cranmore Church attendance is of a mixed age range and this reflects in the differing styles of
worship. The spiritual growth of the members is nurtured through an active house group which
meets regularly with members of Doulting Church.
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Whilst the parish contains a large number of retired people, some younger families have settled
recently and eight affordable homes were recently built to house young families from the area.
Cranmore Community Group organises the village’s annual event on the afternoon of August
Bank Holiday.
All Hallows’ RC Preparatory (independent) School with 315 pupils is in East Cranmore.
A small preserved steam railway operates from what was once the local railway station, and The
Strode Arms in the centre of the village is renowned for its excellent food.
The Structures of the PCC (including
focus groups)
PCC
Each church has its own PCC. The village PCCs meet quarterly, with ad hoc meetings arranged
as required. Members of the PCC at Shepton Mallet meet on alternate months. Members are also
members of Focus Groups, which meet on intervening months. The PCC holds an annual away
day where members enjoy the opportunity to share thinking, insights and fellowship.
Focus Groups
We have established a process to develop the mission and service of the Church which comprises
PCC members, Readers and other members of the church, who develop initiatives and take
action in particular areas important to the life of the Church.
Currently the list of Focus Groups is as follows:
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Worship
Prayer
Children and Youth
Music
Outreach
International Development
The Rectory
The Rectory is a 4 bedroom, semi-detached property
some 10 minutes’ walk from the church and the
shops in a pleasant, quiet road on the southern side
of the town. There is off-road parking, a garage and
a medium-sized rear garden. The Church Primary
School is within walking distance and there is a good
choice of secondary schools in the locality. There is
also a nearby neighbourhood shop.
The Rectory
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THE QUALITIES OF
APPLICANTS
We seek a Rector who will help us articulate a vision for serving God in Shepton Mallet, Doulting
and Cranmore and will provide the leadership required in a changing environment.
The qualities we are looking for are:
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A passion for bringing men, women and children to a living faith in Jesus Christ.
An ability to challenge, equip and nurture discipleship through clear and relevant bible
teaching
Approachability, empathy and a love for all people both inside and outside our
congregations
Well-developed interpersonal qualities with good communication skills and an ability to
delegate
A strong desire to develop our work among children and young people
We are a diverse Benefice, conscious of the conflicting demands of ancient buildings, traditions
and the need to reach contemporary society, in a relevant way. The successful candidate will
inherit a committed and willing group of lay and ordained workers, who are eager and prepared
to listen, and commit to God’s call for the future.
Crib service
Christingle
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Appendix 1 - Buildings
St Peter & St Paul, Shepton Mallet
The parish church of Shepton Mallet has
existed on its present site for more than a
thousand years, developing from simple
origins to the present fine building. Originally
Saxon it has been enhanced with Medieval
and Victorian changes. Of particular note
are the wagon roof dating back to 1450 and
the pulpit, dated 1550, carved out of one
piece of Doulting stone. Ten years ago, a
fine stained glass window commemorating
the Millennium was installed. A five-year
restoration programme, completed in 1996,
has left the church in good condition and the
2007 quinquennial inspection has confirmed
this.
The church is a light and airy building, with a large stained glass window on its west front. It can
seat more than 450 people mainly in solid oak pews, some of which have been removed in recent
years to allow easier access to the children’s and prayer corners.
A project to restore the eight bells, clock and tower chambers was completed in 2008 following a
very successful fundraising campaign supported by Church and local businesses. More recently
a personal donation has enabled nave floodlighting to be installed and illuminate the famous
carvings of the wagon roof.
A development group exists to explore the feasibility of reordering the church building to
incorporate modern seating, an updated AV system and improved catering facilities. A positive
feeling exists within the congregation towards this mid-to long-term project for which the church
is eager to start fundraising, following the appointment of our new priest.
The church stands in a closed churchyard; however, on the east side is a recently extended and
refurbished garden of remembrance for the interment of cremated remains.
The church is recorded in Simon Jenkins’ book England’s Thousand Best Churches.
Parish Rooms
One hundred metres to the north west of the church lie our parish rooms - Peter Street Rooms.
They can be approached from the church or directly from Peter Street itself.
These rooms have recently been refurbished and cater for meetings of up to 80 people on each
floor. There is a large kitchen, storage rooms and a ground floor disabled toilet. The rooms are
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made available at subsidised rates for community use and currently used for meetings and clinics
by a range of organisations as well as the Church.
The parish office is situated in Peter Street Rooms and our part-time, salaried parish administrator
is on hand to offer support to the groups that use the facilities.
St Aldhelm’s, Doulting
There has probably been a church building on this site since
before St Aldhelm first came in 700AD. There was major
restoration in 1869 when the incumbent took most of the
church down, rebuilt and extended it. The two transepts
pre-date this time and there are fine carved wooden angels
in the roofs. The oldest part of the present church is the
Norman arch of the north porch door.
The church seats about 120 in the nave and, when required,
a further 80 in the transepts. Kitchen and toilet facilities
have been installed in recent years. The bells were retuned and the bell frame renewed in 2002. Preservation
work on the spire was carried out in 2010. The adjoining
churchyard is open for the interment of cremated remains
and burials.
St Bartholomew’s,
Cranmore
The church was built in 1470 with the chancel
being rebuilt in the 19th century and restored
in the Early English style. The windows are
particularly fine examples and were restored in
1986. The funeral bier was constructed in 1597.
The bell frame was renewed in 1999 and the tower
now has a peal of six bells which are rung for 10:00
services. The church has recently completed its reordering programme. The adjoining churchyard
is open for the interment of cremated remains
and the churchyard extension is open for burials.
Other Churches
There is a Baptist Church, Roman Catholic Church and Salvation Army Citadel in Shepton
Mallet; the Methodist Church shares the building of St Peter and St Paul. There is also a ‘Just
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Church’ congregation. A healthy ecumenical spirit is enjoyed in the town with close and
respectful working relationships amongst the ministers. Members of the congregations regularly
come together as part of the Christians Together initiative as well as 24/7 prayer vigils based at
the Baptist church’s prayer room, and the Gathering, a monthly informal service of prayer and
discussion held at the Salvation Army citadel. A number of our older young people join with
others at Oakhill Methodist Church where there is a particularly active youth fellowship. They
also meet regularly for a Saturday Night Club at Peter Street Rooms.
Each year an enthusiastic group of parishioners camps at New Wine, Shepton Mallet for a week
of worship, Bible teaching and seminars. Those who prefer not to camp are regular day delegates.
Many of our younger members also enjoy their sessions at Momentum and Soul Survivor which
follow later in the summer.
Peter Harle taking choir practice
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Appendix 2 - Finances
Shepton Mallet
General Income
Bells Appeal Income
General Expenditure
Bells Appeal Expenditure
The Parish Share
Net Assets
2010
£126,000
nil
£138,000
nil
£53,099
£51,000
2009
£123,441
£2,732
£117,798
£4,573
£54,036
£64,231
£45,000
£6,000
£51,000
£58,301
£6,020
£64,321
2008
£126,680
£13,022
£120,234
£7,614
Funds
Unrestricted
Restricted Bells
Total Funds
2010 figures are estimated prior to audit, with most of the deficit relating to repairs carried out
on church rooms. The majority of the bells appeal was collected in 2007.
Doulting
The accounts to December 2010:
Income
Expenditure
Money in the bank
£26,830
£24,258 (including parish share of £11,435 and maintenance
of £4,322 which includes £1,098 builders’/architects’ fees)
£17,540
Cranmore
The accounts to December 2010:
Estimated Income
Estimated Expenditure
Money in Nat West bank
CCLA Deposit Estimated
Total Assets
£15,300
£18,827, including discounted parish share of Gross
£10,035
£13,388 (at 31/12/2010)
£18,782
£32,170
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Appendix 3 - Services
The churches are broad-based and embrace worshippers from different traditions of the Church
of England. There is a wide range of services across the benefice.
Shepton Mallet
Morning Prayer is said each weekday at 08:30.
Sunday mornings
08:00
Holy Communion (BCP)
09:25
Parish Communion (Common Worship)
A family service using a range of musical settings, liturgy and prayer ministry supported by
clergy and readers, lay people and choir. The service is age inclusive; the children have separate
teaching in age-related groups and join the service at communion time.
3rd Sunday
10:00
Morning Praise
An all age informal joint service with The Methodists. The service is full of variety, with drama,
audio visual presentations and music from our own band, followed afterwards with chat, drinks
and cakes
5th Sunday
9.25
Celtic style service
A more meditative service, shared with the Methodists, embracing the ethos of Iona worship.
Sunday evenings
1st Sunday
18:00
At the Salvation Army Citadel
The Gathering
2nd Sunday
18:00
Youth Praise
Organised and run by the young people with music group, presentations and testimonials
3rd Sunday
18:00
With prayer ministry for healing
Parish Communion (Common Worship)
4th Sunday
18:00
Praise Service
5th Sunday
18:00
Praise Service
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Other Services
Monthly
Pullen Court Service
A Reader-led service for the residents of this sheltered housing community
Thursday
10:00
Holy Communion (Common Worship)
Occasional Offices
At Shepton there are about three baptisms per month with afternoon services on the 3rd and 4th
Sundays. There are about seven weddings per year (including the remarriage of divorcees) and
around 100 funerals. Average figures for the village churches are in the table below. The Mendip
Crematorium, on the outskirts of Shepton Mallet, is about to open.
Shepton Mallet
Doulting
Cranmore
Baptisms
36
2
2-3
Weddings
7
1
3-4
Funerals
100
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4-5
St Aldhelm’s Doulting
1st Sunday
11:00
2nd Sunday
11:00
Family Service
3rd Sunday
11:00
4th Sunday
11:00
Family Service (with Sunday School participation)
5th Sunday
11:00
Alternate joint service with Cranmore
St Bartholomew’s Cranmore
Evening prayer is said each Tuesday at 18:00.
1st Sunday
10:00
Family Service
2nd Sunday
10:00
3rd Sunday
10:00
Morning Worship
4th Sunday
08:00
5th Sunday
10:00
Alternate joint service with Doulting
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Appendix 4 - LMG
The person appointed to the Shepton Mallet Benefice will need to be suited to collaborative
ministry within the benefice and to support the development of teamwork in the wider local
ministry group. The benefice is part of the Shepton Mallet deanery, comprising this and seven
other benefices.
The Deanery Plan has been under review and included consultation with all PCCs. We are moving
towards two team ministries in the deanery, one of which will be centred on Shepton Mallet and
include other surrounding parishes. In each of these team ministries individual clergy will be
appointed to have primary responsibility for specific named parishes in which they will work as
well as wider responsibilities within the whole team.
The next step now will be to form a local ministry group with the parishes involved, in order to
develop the relationships and begin sharing and developing the resources of the clergy, Readers
and other laity.
Some of the young people in ‘The Cave’
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Appendix 5 - Children’s
and Youth Work
In the Benefice we believe that children should be given the opportunity to worship, praise and
listen to Jesus in a way that is appropriate to their age and maturity. We seek to develop their
spiritual gifts and to help them be a part of morning services in a meaningful way.
All leaders complete a CRB check and are authorised by our appointed Child Protection Officer.
There are always two leaders / helpers at any of the children’s session. The leaders follow planned
activities which uphold and support the Christian teachings followed by our church.
Sunday Morning Children’s Groups
Kids’ Praise
10:00 on the 1st Sunday of the month – a relaxed, creative and interactive worship service for
under 9s.
Scramblers & Climbers
2nd and 4th Sundays - Scramblers (0 to 4 years) and Climbers (5 to 9) - meet in the Children’s
Room in Peter Street Rooms. Sessions include music, craft and creative prayer time. Youngsters
are regularly encouraged to take part in main church services.
Sunday school at St Aldhelms for age group 4 – 11 is on the 2nd and 4th Sundays at church from
10:00 to 10:50.
Mid-Week Groups
Prams & Toddlers
10:30 to 12:00 noon weekly on Tuesdays. Expectant mums, babies, toddlers and pre-school
children come together for activities and interactive Bible teaching.
Munch Bunch
16:15 to 17:30 on the 1st Thursday of the month – after-school activities for 3s to 7s and their
parents, with refreshments.
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Followers Group (St Aldhelms)
An after school club is held every Tuesday at 15:30 in term time at St Aldhelms School led by
church lay people.
Youth Work
We strive to offer something for all young people Year 7 and above. We seek to celebrate
individuality, nurture spirituality and encourage everyone to reach his or her full potential in
God. We value them, not only as a resource in our church, but for who they are, with all the
freshness and energy their personalities bring to our church family.
Breakfast Club
For year 5s and above on the first Sunday of the month before Kids’ Praise, a service in which the
young people are encouraged to participate.
Sunday Night Fever!
This arose from Youth Alpha and meets most Sunday evenings in ‘The Cave’ to explore the
Christian faith, discipleship and to socialise.
Youth Praise
An innovative and lively worship service aimed at and led by our talented young people.
InSpirit
InSpirit is a worship group for young people, meeting weekly on a Wednesday after school.
The group of twelve members aged between 12 and 15 contributes to services by leading sung
worship at the Family Service, occasionally with dance and drama. The group’s ethos is to develop
young people so they might have greater confidence in their gifts and a deeper understanding
of worship.
Baptism for Teenagers
For young people who were not christened as babies or children we offer the choice of a traditional
style of baptism at the font or baptism by immersion.
Confirmation Preparation
An opportunity is offered to young people who have already been baptised to affirm their faith for
themselves through Confirmation. We run a four-week preparation course exploring Christian
Belief and how it relates to life in the 21st century.
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Community Involvement
We strongly encourage our young people to be involved in local community events such as the
carnival and the turning on of the Christmas lights. This summer they joined teams from Youth
With A Mission and Soul Survivor for two fun days in the local park. Our young people attend
New Wine and Soul Survivor, with several being on teams for at least one week each year.
Some of the young people in ‘The Cave’
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Appendix 6 - Ministries
and Outreach
YWAF (Youth With A Future)
In the late 1980s Shepton Housing Association was a joint response by the local authority
(Mendip District Council) and the parishioners of St Peter and Paul’s Church to the problem
of 16 to 25 year old homelessness in the Mendip Area. It resulted in the purchase, by English
Churches Housing Group, of Grace Harris House which became a supported housing unit in
Shepton Mallet. It was managed by a voluntary committee.
Seven years ago management of the House was transferred to English Churches Housing Group
and a new charity, Youth With A Future, was born. Whilst maintaining specific support for
homeless young people in the area, YWAF aimed to offer a wider group of young people in
Mendip the monetary support and encouragement to reach their potential. It now works in
partnership with Grace Harris House in Shepton Mallet, Spencer House in Wells, Frome Foyer
and Mendip YMCA.
Parishioners continue to support the charity, although the Committee now has a broader
ecumenical base, with support from Glastonbury Festivals and Mrs Angela Yeoman as
President.
Hillmead Project
Hillmead was originally a local authority housing area within Shepton Mallet. In Autumn 2006
an enthusiastic and committed group of Anglicans and Methodists met to pray and share ideas
about how the children of this socially deprived area of our town could benefit from a choice of
activities to be held in the Hillmead Hall during the school holidays.
Activities include arts and crafts, outdoor play, and a cosy story corner helping children explore
Christian living. Up to 50 children take part in the sessions. Local police commend it as an
initiative which has helped to foster better community relations.
Hospital
Shepton Mallet has a small community hospital which comprises a 13-bed ward, several
individual rooms and a specialist stroke unit. There is also a minor injuries unit and a separate
NHS Treatment Centre that carries out a variety of routine operations.
Church relationships with the hospital and its staff are very good. Visiting with bedside
communion takes place weekly in the wards and stroke unit. The Rector or Curate generally
undertakes this, although Readers and retired clergy also help. The Rector has been appointed
~ 22 ~
by the NHS as a chaplain with duties of two hours per week.
Ministers of other Church groups are also regular visitors and there are ecumenical services at
Easter and Christmas. Reader-and clergy-led services also take place at nursing homes in the
town.
Healing & Prayer Ministry
We have a strong and dedicated prayer and healing team with regular services where anyone can
receive prayer for healing in utmost confidentiality. Team members are also available at the end
of each service for prayer.
The team meets monthly for prayer and to discuss and arrange any specific support that may be
required. In addition many visits are made to homes and hospitals and to those unable to get to
the church to befriend, pray or administer home communions.
Missionary and Charity Support
The Church supports missionary work both at home and overseas:
Dr Francesca Elloway has been based in Aru, in the northeastern tip of the Democratic Republic
of Congo since 1993, where she supervises a network of rural health centres. She also has a
growing teaching programme in nursing schools in the region.
The Bath and Wells Diocese has been linked with the Anglican Church in Zambia for nearly 25
years. The Shepton Mallet Benefice’s own link is with Chipili in Zambia’s Northern Province
and its church building is the Cathedral of Luapula diocese. Our church supports the people
of Chipili with prayer, and over the past twenty years ministers and lay members of all three
churches have visited Zambia and provided valued support and feedback on the various projects
undertaken by the local people.
International Development
An International Development Focus Group exists to explore ways in which the church can
support, and better understand, the work of individuals and NGOs in other countries.
Two important funds were set up last year. The Overseas Disaster Fund supports emergencies
which occur during the year and enables us to act promptly following a major incident.
The Field Worker Support Fund gives financial support to local people preparing to undertake
missionary work during the coming year.
~ 23 ~
Appendix 7 - Groups
and Organisations
House Groups
Around 60 to 70 people meet in house groups across the benefice for Bible study, discussion and
fellowship. There is one group which meets in the daytime, one specifically a men’s group and a
further six.
During Lent groups come together in Peter Street Rooms to undertake a course of study. In recent
years we have used material by Paula Gooder, looking at Living Faith in the Community, and
this year used the Diocesan Course Love for the Future which explored environmental issues.
Music
The diversity of our church is evident in the music we enjoy, both in worship services and the
various concerts we host throughout the year. Visiting performers make use of our grand piano,
and the church’s natural acoustic makes it popular with choirs, small ensembles and soloists of
all musical traditions.
Our traditional services make effective use of our two-manual pipe organ, which is played by
local and visiting organists. The choir also frequently leads our worship, and we have an active
and enthusiastic hand bell-ringing group.
The more contemporary services are usually led musically by a worship band, often including
piano, guitar, bass, drums and vocals, with a significant inclusion of young people. Other
instrumentalists are involved from time to time, particularly for the larger celebrations. We have
a ‘worship’ sound system and a projector and screen which is used for some services.
The Choir
There has been a choir at St Peter and
St Paul’s Church for many years and at
present there are about fifteen members.
The choir leads the 09:25 Parish
Communion and sings a wide variety of
music including Margaret Rizza, items
from Mission Praise, Taizé, Iona and
Church anthems.
It’s been a year of change, with the Choir
Director retiring last summer. However,
Choir practice
~ 24 ~
we have recently appointed an organist/choirmaster Peter Harle, who took up the role in early
January 2011 and has initially joined us on a six-month contract.
Wives’ Group
The Wives’ Group is an active group that welcomes anyone, married or not, to their meetings.
Talks and entertainment activities take part throughout the year and help to raise awareness of
each other’s differing roles in the community.
Men’s Breakfast
The men’s breakfast meetings have been running for nearly twenty years and currently take
place monthly on Saturday mornings at The Shrubbery hotel in Shepton Mallet. The meetings
comprise a healthy English breakfast followed by a talk from a visiting speaker which may or
may not have a Christian theme.
Bell Ringers
In October 2006 we launched a major project at Ss Peter & Paul to refurbish our bells. The project
came to a conclusion in September 2008 when the Bishop of Taunton, The Right Revd Peter
Maurice, presided over the rededication service.
Shepton Mallet Parish Church Ringing Members are now listed and fully paid up members of
Bath and Wells Diocesan Association of Change Ringers, under the Frome Branch Section of
their Annual Report 2008.
St Aldhelm’s has an enthusiastic and experienced bell ringing team.
Flower Guild
The work of the flower guild is long established and widely recognised there are always flowers
in the church except during Lent and Advent. Members of the Guild ensure that there are
arrangements at the altar and the two cross-aisle pillars and many more arrangements during
Church festivals.
~ 25 ~

Parish Profile

Transcription

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