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PARISH PROFILE

The Parish of St. Margaret’s Iver Heath in the Archdeaconry of Buckingham, Diocese of Oxford, is vacant

following the appointment of the Reverend William Hazlewood as the Vicar of the United Benefice of

Dartmouth and Dittisham in August 2011.

Location and amenities

Iver Heath is a village of 5,000 people within a green belt conservation zone of South Buckinghamshire. Until

the 19th

century it was an area of heath land, which was crossed by the roads from Denham and Uxbridge

leading towards Upton and Burnham and the site of modern Slough.

After St. Margaret's Church was built in 1862,

housing development followed in the village. This

process has continued ever since. The best known

feature of Iver Heath is the world famous Pinewood

Studios, situated next to Black Park Country Park.

This park and the neighbouring Langley Park are

major amenities for the area. Many of the houses

built before the Second World War were for the

employees of Pinewood Studios. Some local people

continue to work there as well as in Slough and

West London, such as at Heathrow Airport.

Iver Heath is within easy access of the M4, M25 and

M40 motorways and the railway system. From Iver

station, in the neighbouring parish, London

(Paddington) can be reached in approximately 25

minutes and there is access to Wales and the West

of England via Slough. Denham is on the Chiltern

line from Birmingham to London. Uxbridge is

served by the London Underground trains on the Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines. There is also a local bus

service into Slough and Uxbridge which both have large shopping centres and entertainment facilities.

At present Pinewood Studios are seeking planning permission to build a living film set (Project Pinewood)

that would include 1,400 homes and would almost double the population of Iver Heath. This caused

controversy and was subject to public enquiry, the findings of which are due to be published in early 2012.

There are two Health Centres, a Library and two small parades of shops, as well as several public houses and

restaurants. There is a village hall which is widely used by the local community for local clubs etc. and the

Church has one room in the hall for its use. The recreational ground includes bowls, tennis, football and a

children’s playground. The village have uniformed youth groups, the Evreham Youth Centre and thriving

Scouts, Cubs and Beavers


The Good News about our Parish

In the past 8 years, we have seen some important developments in the mission and ministry of our church

which we want to build upon and take forward. We are committed to reaching out to the community of Iver

Heath and our relationships with local schools, uniformed and other local organisations are significant . The

church is central to key community events each year such as the Apple Day celebrations. Pinewood Studios

is within the parish and the strong relationships developed there have opened many opportunities for

mission as the incumbent took on an informal chaplaincy role.

We seek a priest who will wish to play a leading role in developing the involvement of the Church in the

community, someone who is personable and approachable and who has the ability to communicate and

interact informally with a variety of individuals from different backgrounds.

At this point it is important to note that the congregation has been affected by the Ordination of Women

Measures and is likely to be affected by the consecration of women as bishops. The last two incumbents

were opposed to this development on theological grounds. The PCC first passed resolutions A, B & C under

the Episcopal Ministry Act of Synod 1993 in 2003 during the previous interregnum. On 28th

September,

2011, the PCC voted to retain Resolutions A and B (8 voted For and 6 voted Against, there were two

absentees). This was after a congregation survey, the results of which mirrored the voting at the PCC. It

should be noted that this vote was much closer than the previous vote in 2003 and therefore in our new

priest we are looking for someone who is willing to work and engage with these differences of opinion. He

needs to be committed to the whole congregation, who are very faithful, and be able to help all ages travel

together, holding and managing these tensions. We do not wish this issue to become the focus of our

attention as a church; our calling is to our community

The Bishops of Oxford and Buckingham continue therefore to share Episcopal care with the Bishop of

Ebbsfleet. The appointment will be shared by the Bishops of Buckingham and Ebbsfleet.

We believe there is great potential for a new Priest with his own vision. Some of the ways forward that

might be pursued are listed below, but there is plenty of scope for different ideas.

Building on what already exists

In and for our community

1. Involvement in local schools

2. The Friends of St. Margaret’s

3. Links with local organisations – the British Legion, Scouts and Guides, Pinewood Studios etc

4. Supporting the elderly

Within the church

1. Working with children - ‘Living Stones’ Junior Church and the new Youth Group

2. Worship - the Family Service and BCP Evening Prayer and the Choir

3. Initiatives to encourage personal study, thought and prayer, including house groups

4. Activities and events which bring church members together

5. The link with Walsingham

6. Encouragement of the congregation to be more generous to the church and finding new ways to

raise funds

7. Links with other churches and within our own Deanery


Initiating new projects

In and for our community

1. Community use of the building

2. Finding space for what is uplifting – the arts in church life

3. Being a voice in the community – standing up for all that is good and wholesome in local life

4. If ‘Project Pinewood’ goes ahead, planning for the presence of the church among the newly arriving

population

5. Being a voice for Christianity against fashionable atheism

Within the church

1. Empowering and enabling church members to use their gifts more effectively

2. Exploring ways to nurture people and help them become full members of the church

3. Development of the space made available by the future removal of the redundant pipe organ

4. Part-time staff – what do we need?

5. Creating a children’s choir

6. Mothers’ Union – Young Wives Group – Young Families Group – ‘Toddlers’ service

7. Mission overseas

The New Parish Priest of St. Margaret’s, Iver Heath

The parish is looking for a traditional priest, who will give clear leadership and will work closely with the laity,

sharing responsibility for pastoral and parish community matters, and delegate secular and administrative

matters as much as possible.

The parish seeks a priest who:

1. Has his prayer life, the saying of The Office and the celebration of the Eucharist and the preaching of

the Gospel as the centre of his ministry.

2. Is community focussed, approachable, active and outgoing, who will maintain and grow relationships

with the people of Iver Heath.

3. Will promote and maintain excellence in music and liturgy and sound preaching.

4. Will encourage greater participation by all in the riches of traditional Anglican devotional life.

5. Is committed to expanding and developing work with children and young people both in the church

and the local community.

6. Is ecumenical in outlook, willing to encourage and participate in cooperation between other local

churches of whatever churchmanship or denomination.

The Rectory (see Appendix 3)

The Rectory is a lovely art deco detached 4-bedroom house built in the 1930's near Pinewood Studios. It is

situated in a quiet cul-de-sac about a mile from the church and has a garage and off-the-road parking. There

is a large sitting room with an open fireplace and patio door to the garden, a dining room, kitchen and utility

room as well as a downstairs toilet and a study. The bedrooms and bathroom are on the first floor. Outside,

the front garden is all lawn and the rear large garden has a substantial lawn, shrub borders, vegetable patch,

and trees. In the rear garden there is a green house, large shed, and a wood store and coal bunker. The

house is in good condition with double glazing throughout and gas central heating.


The Church building

St. Margaret's Church was completed in 1862 and is situated on the A412 road from Slough to Denham. The

architect was a local man, C.F Reeks. The building is of stone, faced with flint in the decorated style. It has a

wide nave, chancel and two short transepts and seats 180 people. A tower with clock and two bells is

situated above the south transept. It has a small chapel dedicated to St Martin in the north transept. The

east window, reredos and festival altar frontal are by the renowned 20th

century artist Martin Travers. The

choir vestry has been extended to make an attractive Parish Centre with access for the disabled and good

kitchen and toilet facilities. The church has a modern central heating system and has been equipped with a

loop hearing facility, radio microphones, and other amplification equipment including a CD player and

laptop/iplayer port. The main church entrance also has a disabled access.

There are no significant repairs outstanding from the 2010 quinquennial report and it is expected that the

cost of necessary repairs can be met by the fabric fund that has been built up over the past five years by the

brilliant efforts of the Fundraising Committee. The fabric is generally in very good order and during the past

seven years a number of projects have been completed:

• Parish centre extension (2002)

• Replacement of tower roof cladding and flashings, (2007)

• Restoration of stone floor (2009)

• Tower clock restoration (2010)

• Re decoration of priest’s vestry and Parish centre (2010)

• New digital organ installed at the West end (2011)

Plans are underway to remove the redundant pipe organ and make a parish office/meeting & Sunday School

room in the old organ loft above the priest’s vestry in the south transept/tower. Plans are also underway to

restore the pews and replace the main entrance doors.

There is an attractive and well-maintained churchyard still open for interment and burials in previously

reserved plots.

The Congregation

The Electoral Roll is at present 156 (2011). There is an average attendance of over 100 congregants each

Sunday. Over two thirds of those on the electoral roll are resident within the parish.

There is a wide age range, including a good number of young families.

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Electoral Roll 139 129 129 120 132 120 128 132 148

Normal Sunday Adult

attendance 86 75 75 61 80 84 93 98 90

Normal under 16 Sunday

attendance 7 6 10 13 14 18 14 15 19

Weekly Adult attendance

over 7 day period * * 110 141 148 140 155 153 153


Worship

St. Margaret’s is a traditional church. Vestments are worn and there is a team of robed servers. Training is

provided for both adults and children when appropriate. Sick communion is administered each month

(about five houses at present) and the Sacrament of confession is used by a few. Incense is not generally

used on Sundays, but is used occasionally on High Days and Holy Days.

The normal pattern of Sunday services is as follows:

8:00am Holy Communion

Traditional BCP. Average attendance is twelve, of whom a majority come only to this service.

10:00am Sung Parish Eucharist

1st

, 3rd

and 5th

Sundays Common Worship often with additions.

2nd

& 4th

Sunday BCP.

Average attendance is 50-70 communicants.

6.00pm Evening Prayer

(BCP) (Choral on festivals)

Average attendance 12.

‘Living Stones’ – our work with children

We feel it is vital to have vibrant and fulfilling work with children. It enhances the Church and is a good base

from which the children can grow in faith and love. We meet weekly during the 10am Sunday service, for

the Liturgy of the word except on the first Sunday of the month when the Family Eucharist is held. At this

Eucharist the children read and lead the intercessions and a number of them play instruments in the church

band. It is also traditionally the service where Holy Baptism is administered. There are currently between

ten and twenty frequent child attendees.

Our aim is to introduce children to God helping them to become familiar with the life of Jesus, to grow in

their faith and ultimately to assist each child’s family in bringing them to confirmation. We are rightly proud

of the work that goes on within ‘Living Stones’ and feel this is an area that needs continued nurturing and

encouragement to help the Sunday School to grow and to meet the spiritual needs of the children as they

progress through their various life stages.

As well as the weekly sessions, the Living Stones group usually perform a tableau of the Nativity at a packed

out Crib service on Christmas Eve. Epiphany is celebrated with a party, where the children put on a concert,

which show the talents of our Junior Church. We usually have a Christingle Service and are joined by the

uniformed organisations for Remembrance Sunday. We also run very successful annual Good Friday

workshops. The adult helpers and parents meet regularly to plan the sessions and also meet socially. We

have in the past had an annual parish BBQ where invitations are sent to all those we have met through

Baptism. The leaders of the Living Stones also run the children’s activities at our Apple Day event. We are

very proud of the growth we have achieved in reaching out to young people within the community.

Our young people are taught by a group of organised CRB checked volunteers who meet with the clergy,

emphasising the link for both children and teachers between Sunday school and the worship of the whole

congregation.


Youth Group

Just over a year ago, we set up a Youth Group for children aged 8 and over, as an adjunct to Sunday School.

It currently meets once a month on a Friday evening and is primarily a social evening, with activities such as

charity work, (red nose day/cake making), a firework party, karate/self defence, quiz/beetle drive, outdoor

activities/sports.

The children from the Youth Group also take an active part in the Family Services by doing the readings,

playing in the music group and by reading the Intercessions. The music group have also given small concerts

to enhance the self esteem of the younger members. This has been well received by both parents and

congregation.

The group is in its early stages; however, we would like to develop the children's understanding of their faith.

Our aim is to keep the children in this age group interested in the Community and Church life, as they are

the future of this congregation.

Music

There is a small regular choir, who sing at the 10am Eucharist and at weekday festivals and the occasional

choral evensong led by our choir director. Until recently we have had a resident organist and with the new

organ in place we hope that choir and musical repertoire will grow. Responsorial psalms are sung and we

currently use two sung settings of the Eucharist. The New English Hymnal and Celebration Hymnal for

Everyone are used on alternate Sundays. On the first Sunday of the month the newly formed music group

accompanies the recessional hymn.

Weekday services

At present, the Eucharist (Common Worship or BCP reflecting the Sunday service) is celebrated on

Wednesday mornings and followed by The Coffee Shop. This allows informal discussion with the clergy

about personal and religious matters. There is a regular congregation of fifteen. Morning and evening

prayers are said by the clergy daily and the Church is open for anyone to attend. There is a monthly healing

Eucharist with laying on of hands and anointing for those that wish.

At the same time as the Parish Eucharist, the Sunday School (Living Stones) meets in the Parish Centre. On

the first Sunday of each month, there is a Family Eucharist when the children attend the entire service and a

more relaxed approach, particularly to the liturgy of the word, is adopted.

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Sunday

Communicants

72 59 64 37 60 59 64 70 69 68 66

Easter

Communicants

113 93 83 84 73 92 129 127 102 123 110

Christmas

Communicants

87 99 87 77 87 104 104 139 109 138 93

Weekly

Communicants

over 7 day period

* * * * 69 85 91 93 91 94 104


The keeping of the Churches year

Traditional ceremonies, such as Candlemas, All Souls, ashing on Ash Wednesday, Corpus Christi, etc. are

encouraged. Lent and Holy Week are observed fully, using the Lent, Holy Week and Easter Services and by

walking the Stations of the Cross around the village and including a dawn Easter vigil. St. Margaret’s places a

high value on the quality of worship, in its music, in the public reading of the Scriptures, and in preaching.

However, it also realizes that it is a parish Church and not a cathedral so above all else it wants to be a

friendly and welcoming place for all ages where laughter as well as silence is encouraged. The congregation

sees a unity of word and sacrament in the Eucharist and desires to be fed in both aspects.

Occasional Offices

There are currently about six baptisms, six weddings and sixteen church and crematorium funerals per year.

It has been the policy until now that there should be no remarriages in church, but in such cases a service of

prayer and Dedication after civil marriage is encouraged. Preparation for baptism, marriage and

confirmations are undertaken currently by the parish priest, the Licensed Lay Minister and others are willing

to help.

The previous incumbent was the Chaplain for the St Frideswide Chapter of the Guild of Servants of the

Sanctuary. Some members of the serving team belong to that Guild and the Chapter visits the church for

their Guild Office and Mass several times during the year. The Chapter annual requiem Mass is usually held

at St. Margaret’s.

Other dimensions of our life at St Margaret’s

Parish Pilgrimage to Walsingham

During Lent we have traditionally spent a weekend on retreat in Walsingham. In 2011 we had 45 pilgrims

from the parish and over half of these were young families, including many members of The Youth Group &

Living Stones.

Outreach and Mission committee

We have recently formed a mission and outreach committee. It is primarily responsible for implementing

the diocesan structure of growth and nurture entitled ‘Living Faith’. As part of that initiative it has

organised:

• A monthly Healing Eucharist where refreshments are offered and lifts provided.

• A talent tent, local history exhibition and prayer walk at our Apple Day celebrations.

• Involvement in the Living Faith deanery event at Pinewood Studios.

• Candle light services where all those who have been bereaved in the past year are invited to attend.

These are in addition to our well attended requiem service where the departed are

remembered.

Study groups

There have been annual Lent course groups using material from the York courses over the past three years.

The Credo and Emmaus courses were run previously and we have also run successful film courses. It is also

hoped that a debating society will shortly get off the ground. Our Reader and his wife run a weekly Bible

Study group. Those who attend, read and discuss Scripture in the hope that they will deepen their

understanding of God's word and purpose for His people. Books of the Bible studied recently include The

Acts of the Apostles, St. John's and St Mark’s Gospel, the Epistle to the Hebrews, Revelation and a series of

studies of Old Testament figures: Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Deborah and David.


Stewardship The Financial Statement for 2010 is attached to this document. The former Rector's full expenses of approx £3,000

per annum were paid in full by the Parish.

The Friends of St. Margaret’s

The Friends of St Margaret’s was established three years ago. This is an organisation which exists to help

preserve the church as a local amenity and is a secular group. Primarily by donations, it has raised funds and

pays for various projects which enhance the appearance, the fabric and contents of the building.

Mothers Union

The St. Margaret’s branch of the Mothers’ Union is currently suspended but members from the church still

attend the Deanery meetings and the Deanery festival and women’s Day of Prayer have been observed at

the Church.

The Eastern grouping

Iver Heath falls within the Burnham & Slough Deanery [see Appendix for details of the Deanery] and the

Eastern grouping of parishes which consist of Iver Heath, Iver & Wexham. The clergy have traditionally met

once a month for Prayer and fellowship. Whilst the three parishes represent the wide spectrum of the

Anglican Communion the clergy have a really good working relationship and much enjoy working together in

this informal grouping. Among other things they jointly run a yearly 4 session marriage preparation course.

Ecumenical contacts

Other than St. Margaret's there are no other church buildings in the parish. However, an ecumenical group

'Churches Together in the Ivers' includes St. Margaret's and, in the adjoining parish of Iver, St. Peter’s Parish

Church with St. Leonard's Richings Park, the King's Church and St. Andrew's United Reformed Church,

Richings Park.

Serving the Parish of Iver Heath and Beyond

Parish magazine

A monthly magazine, 'Contact', is produced by St. Margaret's. This is distributed by a team of volunteers to

every household in the Parish free of charge. Thanks to advertising revenue and a grant from Pinewood

Studios towards production, 'Contact' has covered its costs until this year. The present shortfall is directly

related to the recession. It is much appreciated by the community and is a great way of reaching out to

those outside our Church community.

Local schools

We have a very good relationship with the two county primary schools within the parish. The former Rector

took regular assemblies and was a governor of the Infant School. In addition the Schools regularly come to

look round the church as part of their National Curriculum programme and to broaden their knowledge of

the Christian faith and their parish Church. They are particularly welcomed for the Carol and Christingle

services at Christmas.

Local senior schools are reached by specially provided school transport. Senior schools in Buckinghamshire

have selection at age 11 and include Grammar schools.

Uniformed organisations

We have increasingly good relationships with the thriving Uniformed Organisations of Iver Heath. They

always march to church on Remembrance Sunday and come to Church at other times during the year. They

are also involved with many of the community events that the church organises.


Fun community events

During the past five years St Margaret’s has re-established itself as the primary provider of community

events within the village. A fundraising committee has organised annual events that include an Open Air

Picnic Music Concert in the grounds of Pinewood Studios (average attendance 600), Scrap Metal Day where

we ‘harvest’ scrap from the community and raise money for the fabric of the building and the running and

organising of local Apple Day Celebrations on a farm in the parish (average attendance 3,000 - 4,000). These

events raise our profile in the community, have built up our fabric fund (we have raised well over £40,000 in

the past 5 years) and have helped us raise money for charities as well as raising the profile of other local

organisations and charities.

Pinewood Studios

The previous Rector built up our links with the studios and was their Chaplain. He periodically visited staff

and productions in Pinewood as well as leading annual Remembrance Day and Carol services in the studios.

The studios have been very supportive of St Margaret’s and have helped us host our yearly Open Air Music

Concert, and other fundraising community events, in addition to their contribution to the production costs

of the Church magazine ‘Contact’.

Sheltered accommodation

There are two purpose-built buildings for sheltered accommodation in the village, namely Mead House and

Bodley House. Those residents who are able to do so attend services and social functions. Normally a

monthly communion service has been held at each house but this arrangement is in abeyance during the

vacancy.


Appendix 1 - The Financial Statement for 2010


Appendix 2 - The Diocese & Deanery

The Diocese of Oxford

The Diocese of Oxford serves the mission of the Church in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. The

Diocese has more than 600 parishes, with over 800 churches, serving a diverse population of more than 2

million people located in all types of settings led by our Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Revd. John Pritchard. The

Diocese, because of its size and complexity, has three Area Bishops who exercise considerable strategic

oversight for their Episcopal areas. The Bishop of Buckingham is the Rt. Revd. Dr. Alan Wilson who has been

the Area Bishop since 2004.

Growing out of the previous Diocesan vision and values statement called ‘Sharing Life’ Bishop John launched

the revised Diocesan vision in 2009 entitled ‘Living Faith for the Future’, aimed at putting holistic mission and

spirituality at the heart of daily life. It contains five key values, which inform our strategic directions:

• sustaining the sacred centre;

• creating vibrant Christian communities;

• making disciples;

• making a difference in society;

• shaping confident collaborative leaders;

These values are built on the principles of not neglecting the past but building on it; not so much about

strategy but culture; not top down but liberating the local; not targets but directions; not about structures

but about relationships; not one size fits all but flexibility and not about complexity but elegance. Making

Disciples is the focus for 2011. Full information on Living Faith for the future can be found at

http://www.oxford.anglican.org/living-faith-for-the-future. It is expected that all clergy appointed into the

Archdeaconry of Buckingham will want to commit themselves to this Diocesan vision and its strategic

directions.

Burnham & Slough Deanery

Since the implementation of synodical Government the Deanery has developed a strong sense of team

working. Church tradition across the deanery is diverse and, like other deaneries of a similar size, we are

enriched by the variety of worship that takes place daily and weekly within our thirty places of worship. The

deanery is a mixture of rural, semi-rural and urban parishes with two formal LEP's working together to build

up the life of the church locally.

The Burnham & Slough Deanery recognises the importance of outreach to the wider community and many

of our parishes are actively engaged in mission activity that brings them into regular contact with the people

of God in the wider community. For example, we have strong links to school activity. We have a number of

Church of England schools within parishes, some of which are unique in terms of their student population.

We have strong links with our statutory and community service providers, both at the local level, and

through our sector ministry team, Kingsway Connections. Being part of a diverse community has given rise to

some important inter-faith work, alongside some important community development work resulting from

engagement with the Local Strategic Partnerships in Slough and South Bucks.

Like all deaneries we to respond to the changes that the National Church is facing at this time. Our recent

deanery re-organisation has brought us into four groupings of churches - three formal group ministries and

one informal group of churches working together in the East of the Deanery. Our total ministerial resources

serve to lead these groups in their ministry and mission activity. This structure requires flexibility and for


people to work much more collaboratively together. Needless to say, anyone new to the Deanery would be

expected to work within this new structure and be part of this way of working.

Below shows numerically how our current ordained ministerial resources are deployed across the deanery.

Jubilee River Group Ministry Southern Group Ministry

5 Stipendiary Priests 7 Stipendiary Priests

2 Curates in Training 2 Curates in Training

3 Retired Priests (with PTO)

Northern Group Ministry Eastern Group of Churches

5 Stipendiary Priests 2 Stipendiary Priests (2 Vacancies)

1 Associate Priest 1 House for Duty Priest

2 Curates in Training 1 Associate Priest

2 Retired Priest (with PTO) 1 Curate in Training

Deanery Post(s) (Equivalent to 1 full-time post from our deanery compliment)

0.5 Community Chaplain + 0.5 Area Dean (the latter being an archdeaconry half-time-post until 2012)

0.5 Faith & Work Development Officer + 0.5 being ecumenically funded until March 2012

(The above work through our sector ministry team, Kingsway Connections)

1 Retired Priest with PTO

Ecumenical/Inter-Faith Hospital Chaplaincy Team

Appointed chaplains working out of our two main Hospitals of Wexham Park and Heatherwood (not part of

the Deanery stipendiary allocation)

Note: Our Licensed Lay Ministers (8 in number) work in our parishes/benefices/teams with one licensed to

work across the whole of the deanery.

Final Comments

This Deanery is a good place to exercise ministry and mission. Those who work here tend to stay for a

number of years. The area covered by the Deanery has a very diverse population. It has places of affluence

as well as having wards that are some of the most deprived in the Country. Because of this the Deanery is

one that throws up many challenges. Our local churches rise to these challenges, showing that they can

respond to most things that come their way.

Are you being called to serve with the people of God here in this deanery?


Appendix 3 - The Rectory

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