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Transcript of THE WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHEScofeworcester.contentfiles.net/media/assets/file/... · A PRAYER...
THE WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Profile for the Benefice of Elmley Lovett with Hampton Lovett and Elmbridge with Rushock and Hartlebury and Ombersley with Doverdale
WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 2 of 19
A PRAYER FOR OUR PARISHES
Generous and faithful God,
you invite us and send us
to share the living water of Christ:
draw us ever deeper into your love
and into our common life as your holy people,
that your grace may flow through us
to bring joy, hope and peace
to the communities you call us to serve;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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KEY
Benefice Boundary -
Parish Boundary -
OUR BENEFICE
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OUR NEW PRIEST We know that our new Rector will inspire us through their spiritual leadership, as well as lead us in mission
and ministry as we reach out to serve our communities and as we seek to help our churches grow.
In particular we are praying for someone who;
Is passionate about sharing their love of Jesus Christ
Enjoys being with people, including during difficult times in their lives, and wants to be accessible and visible
Understands the joys, opportunities and challenges of rural life
Is enthusiastic about ministering to all age groups, from oldest to youngest
Is committed to developing people’s gifts and furthering lay involvement in ministry, especially in leadership and pastoral care
Is an engaging preacher and teacher, sensitive in leading worship and able to adapt to a variety of settings and contexts
Is approachable and empathetic, with excellent pastoral skills and a sense of humour
Appreciates the importance of caring for themselves as well as for others
We also hope that our new Rector might
Have positive previous experience of rural and/or multi-church ministry
Possess good organisational, communication and IT skills
Have the ability to play to their own strengths and help others play to theirs
Be creative and flexible about helping people respond to change
WHAT WE CAN OFFER
A commitment to serve our local communities
A desire to see congregations grow in depth as well as numbers
Supportive and dedicated churchwardens and colleagues in ministry
A willingness to explore more about clergy and laity working together
Enthusiastic lay people involved in many different aspects of ministry
Hard-working, resourceful PCCs
Prayerful and practical support and friendship
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OUR STORY The Worcestershire Severn Parishes are set in a glorious rural area north of Worcester between Droitwich
Spa and Kidderminster, close to excellent facilities and with easy access to the West Midlands motorway
network and regional centres such as Birmingham and Bristol. For the past few years the churches of three
former Benefices have been working together to form a new group of parishes, becoming a single Benefice
in 2016.
In each of our seven parishes the church has a central place in the community it serves. We all want to
continue to develop ways of reaching out to people with the love of God, whether through pastoral contacts,
baptisms, weddings and funerals,
community occasions or special events,
as well as by offering sacred space,
welcome and hospitality in our beautiful
church buildings. The population and
the congregations tend to reflect the
Worcestershire demographic, with a
larger number of older people than the
regional and national average, but it is
important to us that our ministry
encompasses all age groups. Amid the
delights and challenges of rural life
there is a wealth of goodwill towards the
church, even if people do not attend
services, and those who participate in
church life are often very involved in
other areas of village life. We see this
as a significant part of our outreach, but we also want to help ensure people are not overstretched.
This period has been a time of significant change for everyone, but a real sense of growing together as a
family of churches is emerging and we are looking ahead with optimism. We are considering new ways of
working together and supporting each other across the different parishes, as well as building on the links we
have from the different strands of our shared histories. We hope that our new priest will inspire, nurture and
encourage us as we move forward with this ministry in all its prayerful and practical aspects, as we engage
with the people around us and try to grow as followers of Christ.
LOOKING AHEAD We know that we are still discovering
how to grow as a group of parishes,
but we also believe we have made
much positive progress, characterised
by a greater openness to each other,
improved communication between
churches and a better understanding of
what we have in common, as well as of
how we are distinctive. We would
welcome help to continue with this in a
way that affirms the individuality of
each community and the different
church traditions, yet encourages us in
engaging more fully as people of God’s
kingdom by helping us explore new
possibilities locally and across the
Benefice.
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We are currently working with an Interim Rector who is helping us reflect on our experience of becoming a
Benefice and consolidate what we have been doing, as well as develop our life and ministry further. We held
vision days in 2016 and 2017 to take stock and think ahead: here are some of the observations made by the
churches in 2017, which together give a good picture of our collective prayers, hopes and aspirations;
“Our vision is to make the church the centre of the community, with community
support for each other.”
Rushock
“We are proud of the growth of the monthly family service, our friendly welcome,
pastoral care among whole church community, appreciation of biblical teaching,
an active PCC and good social events.”
Elmbridge
“We should like to broaden our appeal for people to use the building other than
for services, to be connected to the community, to share God’s love, to reach
out as well as inviting in, and to cherish, celebrate and promote our BCP
tradition.”
Elmley Lovett
“We are proud of the continued success of lay-led services with support from
the congregation, Open the Book and strong links with school, and informal
events and services in the narthex.”
Ombersley
“We would like to encourage more people to come to our church, from our own
parish and the Benefice, and complete the building programme so the church
can be an omni-purpose building for the wider community.”
Hampton Lovett
“We would like to maintain links with our local school, try to encourage younger
people, which would mean a greater variety of services, and build on links with
families, newly married couples and those baptised.”
Doverdale
“We are proud of having vibrant, dedicated members of the church community
and a home group, open to all across the Benefice, and still developing.”
Hartlebury
OUR TOP PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE
To grow closer together as a Benefice, spiritually and practically
To continue to develop pastoral care for the whole community in each place
To minister effectively to people in all age groups, older as well as younger
To deepen the faith of our congregations
To reach out to people who are not connected with church.
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MINISTRY LEADERSHIP Ministry is led by the Rector working closely with two Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) and a large number
of lay people, two of whom are Authorised Lay Ministers, having trained in pastoral work on the diocesan
course. One Reader is authorised to take funeral services
and the other is training for this role. Currently, we have
regular assistance from one retired priest as part of the
ministry team. In addition, a number of other retired or
self-supporting clergy and other Readers, from the
deanery and beyond, can be called on for assistance
when required.
A significant proportion of Sunday services are led by
teams of dedicated lay people, supported wherever
possible by the Readers and the Rector, and a number of
people act as Eucharistic Ministers or intercessors, as well
as supporting worship and community life in many other
practical ways. The churchwardens of all the parishes
meet regularly with the Rector and the Benefice
administrator for discussion, planning and reflection.
There is potential for a half-time House for Duty post
based in Elmley Lovett, made possible by funding from the
Elmley Lovett Church, School and Community Trust. The
new Rector would be closely involved in continuing
discussions about the shape and focus of this role.
PASTORAL CARE
The gifts and commitment of everyone who contributes to ministry are greatly valued and we want to foster
and expand this involvement. We are looking at the different ways in which we can work together more
collaboratively in the parishes and also in sharing ministry between lay and ordained people. Our aim is to
support the individual churches in what is best done locally as part of their involvement in each community,
but also see where we can best share resources or encourage each other by pooling our experience or
expertise.
A cross-benefice pastoral team is being developed to help provide a clear point of church contact in each
community, as well as to provide support for the many people who offer pastoral care informally to friends
and neighbours. As part of this, each congregation is being encouraged to nominate ‘baptism buddies’ to
support families who come for christenings. We have been inspired by the ‘Baptism Matters’ initiative and are
thinking about ways to extend our baptism welcome. From amongst our Eucharistic Ministers we are
identifying a group of people to take out home communions in any of the parishes as required. We offer
baptism and marriage preparation on a central basis, led by the Rector and supported by members of the
churches, and we are applying for a Bishop’s Order to allow marriages to take place in any of the seven
churches regardless of a couple’s parish of residence or connection.
SCHOOLS, FAMILIES AND CHILDREN We have excellent relationships with all four of the maintained schools in the Benefice and are actively
looking for further ways to strengthen and enhance these links. At Cutnall Green CofE (VA) Primary School,
Ombersley Endowed First School and Hartlebury CofE (VC) Primary School teams from the churches take
Open the Book into school on a regular basis. At Sytchampton Endowed Primary School one of the Readers
is involved in leading collective worship. Clergy, Readers and other church members are also involved in
governing bodies, leading worship and informal pastoral care in each of the schools. All the schools also visit
the parish churches for special occasions such as Christmas, Harvest and end of term services.
Additionally, there are two independent schools: The Cambian New Elizabethan School in Hartlebury and
King’s Hawford in the parish of Ombersley. We do not currently have any specific links with the Cambian
New Elizabethan school, which serves children with special educational needs, but King’s Hawford, the pre-
prep department for The King’s School, Worcester, visit Ombersley parish church for their Christmas carol
service. We would welcome the opportunity to extend links with these schools further.
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A particular partnership has grown up between the school in Cutnall Green, which takes pupils from several
of the parishes, and Elmbridge church where children from the school participate in the monthly family
service in church when breakfast is provided beforehand. Other examples of ministry with families in mind
include a new Sunday activity session being planned in the village hall at Rushock, a café-style Breakfast
Church held once a term at Ombersley, the ‘Sunday First’ service at Hartlebury and plans for a pet service at
Doverdale. All the churches endeavour to be ‘family-friendly’ and occasions such as Rogation, the Palm
Sunday procession with a donkey and Christingle services are always well-attended.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Each church seeks to relate to its local
community in different ways: examples
from different parishes include a ‘Big Paint’
Saturday morning which attracted people
of all ages to create a mega-masterpiece,
many of whom came to the family service
the following day to see it unveiled; a
Saturday ‘Tea @ Three’ in a village hall to
offer hospitality and friendship to the local
community; church people being
instrumental in organising a bi-annual
Bank Holiday Produce Show using both
church and village hall, resulting in a great
community event; and a ‘Joy and
Thanksgiving Service’ to celebrate and
thank people for their contribution to their local community .
Harvest meals and other church social
events are popular and attract a wide
range of people from the parishes.
Some churches support the food banks
in Droitwich and Kidderminster, the
Maggs Day Centre for homeless people
in Worcester or the Worcestershire
women’s refuge service. Some are also
involved in dementia awareness, with
the village of Ombersley being one of
Worcestershire’s first recognised
dementia-friendly communities. We
should like to continue to think
creatively about these varied connections and also consider how we might be more connected as a Benefice
with the world-wide church.
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WORSHIP Worship in all the churches is central in style, with the priest usually wearing alb and stole for the Eucharist.
The Book of Common Prayer and Common Worship are both in use, with two churches always using BCP,
and there is a mixture of Eucharistic and non-Eucharistic services each month. The latter includes a variety
of informal ‘family-friendly’ occasions as well as more structured services. Musical traditions are similarly
varied, including the use of piano and instruments as well as the organ, and there are always opportunities to
try new possibilities. Every church has the services of an organist, with two people playing regularly at more
than one church in the Benefice which is in itself a helpful contribution to our shared life and communication
between parishes. Two churches have regular choirs and a ‘scratch’ choir can often be gathered for special
occasions. One church has a ‘plumbed-in’ data projector and screen, used particularly in all-age worship.
On 5th Sundays the congregations meet for a united service and some festivals and special occasions are
also celebrated jointly or shared between churches. We hold special services for occasions such as Palm
Sunday, Rogation, Harvest, Remembrance and All Souls, when people who have been bereaved are
especially invited to remember their loved ones. We offer a variety of formal and informal opportunities
across the parishes for worship during Holy Week, Easter and at Christmas. Morning Prayer is said on
Wednesdays at 9.15am in each church in turn and supported by a small congregation every week, when as
well as joining with the daily worship of the whole Church we pray especially for the host parish and for the
Benefice.
We would welcome our new priest helping us review the pattern of Sunday services, to ensure that we are
both serving the needs of existing congregations and making our worship as accessible as possible for
people in the community, including those who come for baptisms, weddings and funerals. We want our
worship to reflect our varied and rich traditions and be sustainable, but we also want to be open to new ideas
and possibilities.
CURRENT PATTERN OF SERVICES
SUNDAY TIME ELMBRIDGE ELMLEY LOVETT
HAMPTON LOVETT
RUSHOCK DOVERDALE HARTLEBURY OMBERSLEY
1st
9.00 am
9.30 am HC-CW MP-BCP FS
10.30 am FS
11.00 am HC-CW
2nd
9.00 am HC-CW
9.30 am FS
10.30 am MP-BCP
11.00 am MP-BCP HC-CW
3rd
9.00 am HC-CW
9.30 am MP-CW MP-CW
10.30 am
11.00 am HC-BCP
6.30 pm ES-BCP
4th
9.00 am HC-BCP
9.30 am
10.30 am HC-CW
11.00 am HC-CW (joint, in turn)
Key
HC - Holy Communion BCP - Book of Common Prayer
MP - Morning Prayer CW - Common Worship
ES – Evensong
FS – Family Service
A service is also held once a quarter at St Mary’s, Bishop’s Wood, a Victorian mission church in the parish of
Hartlebury.
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FINANCE, PLANNED GIVING AND STEWARDSHIP Each parish is responsible for its own finances and more information can be found in the individual parish
sections. There is a Benefice fund to which all the churches contribute and out of which the office and other
shared costs are paid. Clergy expenses, which are met in full, are also paid from this fund.
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT Our part-time, paid administrator, who works from an office in Ombersley church, is a valued and vital
member of the Benefice team. The office is open for two mornings each week for personal callers and
available via email or mobile at other times. Administration for baptisms, weddings and funerals is all
managed centrally through the office. Both centrally and via the local churches we work hard to keep in
touch with people in each community by email, individual parish websites and in print, including Sunday
newsletters and parish magazines. Some churches are engaging with social media and we are exploring a
benefice website.
SOME FACTS AND FIGURES
FACTS & FIGURES ELMBRIDGE ELMLEY LOVETT
HAMPTON LOVETT
RUSHOCK DOVERDALE HARTLEBURY OMBERSLEY
Population 502 310 306 119 65 2612 2282
Electoral Roll ( 2017) 35 21 76 25 37 64 83
ASA (2016) FS 30 / HC 14 18 14 20 15 25-30 30-35
Usual Liturgy CW BCP CW + BCP CW BCP CW CW
Baptisms (2016) 3 1 3 2 2 15 4
Weddings (2016) 0 0 1 0 2 3 7
Funerals (2016) 2 4 3 3 4 6 7
Burial of Ashes (2016) 1 0 1 1 0 10 17
Seating Capacity 75 180 150 85 80 300 450
Sound System Planned
Change Ringing
Regular Choir
Church Listing Grade II* Grade II* Grade I Grade II Grade II Grade II* Grade II*
Toilet Planned
Kitchen
Parking In lane In drive,
field + lane In lane
Small car park+lane
Small car park In chuchyard
and road In chuchyard
Church Open Daily Daily By
arrangement Daily
By arrangement
Daily Daily
Churchyard Open
Other local facilities Village hall
nearby
Village hall in Cutnall
Green
Village hall nearby
Village hall nearby
Village hall at
Sytchampton
First floor meeting room
Meeting room in narthex
Several churches are able to arrange additional parking for special occasions
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ELMLEY LOVETT St Michael’s Church Although the majority of the parish comprises farmland, Hartlebury Industrial estate forms the north-western
boundary.
The church of St Michael itself is isolated, the original settlement having been destroyed in a medieval
plague. The tower dates back to around 1200 with the rest of the church being rebuilt in 1840. There is a fine
Bird organ and a ring of 8 bells restored in 1990, the 6 originals having been cast in 1696. The church is in
good repair and can comfortably seat 180. We plan to add toilet facilities in 2018.
We value our rich cultural heritage and enjoy the traditional liturgy of the BCP, the King James Bible and the
music from Hymns Ancient and Modern, all of which we embrace without undue formality, aiming to provide
a welcoming traditional resource, adding diversity to the Benefice.
Our services are well attended, considering the population, and are drawn from the neighbouring villages.
Our regular epistle readers come from several of these local parishes. The bells are rung before each
service and there are refreshments
afterwards.
The church hosts several group services,
in particular the Nine Lessons and
Carols at Christmas (2016 congregation:
180) and both the Remembrance (2016
congregation: 60) and All Souls’ (2016
congregation: 80) services in November.
Our Harvest Festival is also a highlight of
the year with a barbecue following the
service. The Carol service musters an
enthusiastic informal choir from around
the parishes and we aim to include
children in special services where
possible, in particular reading lessons.
St Michael’s is fortunate to be one of the beneficiaries of the Elmley Lovett Church, School and Community
Trust. The Parish Share is being paid in full and a planned giving scheme exists.
The PCC are loyal and supportive both of the church and to each other. It has a camaraderie which spills
over into our services. There are also two strong and enthusiastic churchwardens. In the future we wish to
maintain and broaden the appeal of our traditional approach, to encourage a wider awareness and
understanding of the Book of Common Prayer, and to increase the number of events to be held in the church,
such as concerts, recitals and special services.
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HAMPTON LOVETT St Mary and All Saints Church We are a small semi-rural parish with a history dating back to at least 817, including a reference in the
Domesday Book, and a long association with the Pakington family. The parish comprises a residential home
park, scattered individual or small groups of houses and farms, and a large industrial estate, all located close
to the main Droitwich to Kidderminster road (A442). Most residents are aged over 55.
The church building, which is Grade 1
listed, dates from the 12th century, with
significant later additions and alterations.
It is at the end of a residential lane and is
on the route of the long distance footpath,
the Monarch’s Way. The late Victorian
parish rooms, which are separately
managed, are located nearby.
Our church is friendly and welcoming.
Every month we have a morning
Communion service and an Evensong
service. We use old and new traditions
and lay leadership plays an important
part in our worship. Special services at
Christmas, harvest and 5th Sundays are
well attended.
We offer hospitality, ranging from coffee and biscuits after morning services to more elaborate catering at
special events. We encourage music such as the hand bell ringers and members of the congregation are
part of a scratch Christmas choir.
We are proud of the support we offer to members of the community who are facing difficulties. Some
parishioners receive home communion, and a member of the PCC supports families preparing for baptism.
We value our many links with the school in Cutnall Green, including hosting their services at Christmas and
some leavers’ services.
There is a small hardworking PCC.
We aim to pay our Parish Share in
full and promote planned giving,
including Gift Aid. The PCC has
access to funds from a bequest
through the Hampton Lovett Trust,
without which we would struggle to
meet our financial commitments.
We want to attract more people to
come to the church to worship and
to enjoy its history and unique
features. We are embarking on a
significant building and development
programme to preserve the building
and extend its use. This includes
repairing the 14th century tower,
including a priest’s room, and opening up part of the nave to create a more social space. We are installing
sound systems, a hearing loop and interpretative materials to bring worship and the church’s heritage more
alive to all. The PCC is applying for Heritage Lottery Funding for some of this and other work.
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ELMBRIDGE St Mary’s Church St Mary’s Church is a happy, positive, welcoming, inclusive church dedicated to spreading the good news of
Jesus. The church has been a place of worship since the 12th century. Always open, people can be seen
sitting on its benches, taking in the peacefulness of the surrounding farmland and hills.
This contrasts with how active a church
we are. The church and village hall are
the centre of the community. We have
three services a month, including a
successful Family Service for 20-40
children and from the local primary
school at which breakfast is served
beforehand. Special services at
Christmas, Easter, Mothering Sunday
and Harvest are packed; a sit down hot
Harvest luncheon for 100 is served in
village hall which is close by, followed by
a produce auction in aid of charities. The
new AV system enhances our hymn
singing accompanied by our organist,
and handbell ringers provide music for
special events. The church has fresh
flowers each week, provided by 28 people on a rota and every ‘mum’ receives a bouquet of fresh flowers on
Mothering Sunday.
In 2016 Elmbridge paid its Parish Share in full, though with some difficulty.
In addition, an incredibly active PCC raised over £40,000 to pay for a new boiler and cupboards, to
sand/varnish wooden floors, buy
new chairs, repair chimney and
build a much needed WC. Our
vestry was fitted with kitchen
facilities so drinks and light food
can be served with services. The
church building is in excellent
repair.
The church community is also
extremely energetic. Among other
things, they deliver the Christmas
post around the village with
donations in lieu of stamps being
to charity. They serve mulled
wine and mince pies before
leading parishioners Christmas
Caroling to the elderly and housebound. They provide pastoral visits to the sick and newcomers along with
‘Friends of Elmbridge’. Currently they are cleaning up the churchyard and plan to beautify it by planting
flowers and bulbs.
The main goal of the PCC is to attract young families to church. This began with the Family Service and its
breakfast. Following that we launched a website and a Facebook page is planned.
More information about the church is at, stmaryselmbridge.org
WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 14 of 19
RUSHOCK St Michael and All Angels Church Rushock is a small parish, located between the A448 (Kidderminster to Bromsgrove) and A442 (Droitwich to
Kidderminster). Visitors tell us they are ‘blown away by the warmth of the welcome at Rushock’.
Of the almost 120 people living in the village, approximately one in 6 are on our Electoral Roll. The
congregation for our monthly communion service averages over 20, drawn from Rushock and some of the
surrounding villages as well – Rushock parishioners also travel for services, principally to Elmbridge, Elmley
Lovett and Hampton Lovett. The church attracts a lot of visitors because the musician John Bonham (of Led
Zepplin) is buried in the churchyard, though not many of them participate in our services.
As with many small villages,
our PCC depends on the
services of people who have
many other commitments to
village life – for example,
through membership of the
Parish Council or involvement
in the running of our Village
Hall committee. Many of them
have been playing these
multiple roles for many years
so the church is very much
part of the DNA of village life
– we should like to engage
more of our neighbours in the
life of the church, and have
an interest in doing this in different ways, encouraging families and young people while still serving those
who might prefer a more established way of engaging with the church. We are looking for leadership and
support from our new priest in doing this.
As a small church in a small
hamlet, we have had to be
innovative in seeking ways to
raise funds to support the work
of the church and maintain our
Grade 2 building. We run a
biennial Produce Show, have
used the church building for
concerts and lectures and
organise special services such
as an extremely well attended
Crib service and a Harvest
Lunch. Our PCC is committed
to seeking to support our
community with the limited
resources, in particular of time,
that we have and will look to
our new priest for help in this
area. Over recent years, we
have invested in the fabric of the building to deal with issues raised at the Quinquennial Review and to make
the building a more attractive place for worshippers. This year, we will be replacing the church tower roof.
We make the best contribution we can to the Parish Share, but have not been able to pay in full for some
years.
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HARTLEBURY St James’ Church Our parish church provides an opportunity for spiritual growth and the coming together of our community.
The parish is made up of Hartlebury village and several hamlets. A new housing development will provide an
additional 92 houses. It is a mainly agricultural area, with a brick works and a trading estate. The village is
served chiefly by the A449, and has a limited bus service and small railway station approximately half a mile
from the village centre. Hartlebury Castle (Grade 1 listed) is also close: this was the official residence of the
bishops of Worcester, from the 13th Century until 2007, when the then bishop moved to Worcester. The
castle is now owned by a Trust, and open to the public, along with the adjacent County Museum. Nearby is
Hartlebury Common, an area of Special Scientific Interest.
There are two schools in the village,
a CofE primary school and an
independent school, The Cambian
Elizabethan School. Other facilities
include a combined post office and
general store, and a village pub.
The Parish Hall provides a venue for
the many societies, classes and
functions in the village, including a
Community Cafe, which is open
weekly and is well supported by
many villagers and the church
community.
The church building, although mostly Victorian Gothic, dates back to at least 1269 and is Grade II* listed.
The Friends of St. James was formed in
2012 to raise funds for on-going repairs,
which has recently enabled the roof to be
replaced. Located in the centre of the village,
the churchyard holds five bishops' tombs,
whilst the small mission church of St. Mary's
at Bishop's Wood, has the grave of Bishop
Philpott who commissioned the building in
1882.
The church community comprises a loyal, committed, and somewhat mature (!) congregation who still feel
strongly about our church, worship, and living our Christian faith. Our church is open daily (9am-5pm) and
our members are very much involved with the day-to-day running of the church.
We have bellringers, a choir, and a music group. Members of our congregation are actively involved as
Eucharistic Ministers, reading the lessons, leading worship and preparing intercessions. We produce a
monthly parish magazine, and have organised door-to-door collections for Christian Aid for almost forty years.
We have strong links with the primary school, where two of our members are Foundation Governors and a
team of 11 take part in Open the Book there. We hold special services with the school community at the end
of each term, and also on Mothering Sunday, Harvest and Remembrance Day. A Christingle service, in
support of the Children's Society, is held annually on Christmas Eve. We have a home group which meets
regularly for Bible study, and we have identified Pastoral Care as an area of our Christian witness which
needs to be more ‘visible’. We organise well-supported fairs at Advent and in the Spring. We have a small
kitchen which enables us to provide light refreshments, and, on occasion, we hold BBQs in the churchyard
and concerts in the church. In the past we have always paid our Parish Share in full, but found this difficult in
2016. We hope to pay our full share in 2017.
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OMBERSLEY St Andrew’s Church The church plays a major role in the life of the village – for example, our involvement in Open the Book at the
local school is said by the staff to be 'a lovely link with the village and church.' There is considerable goodwill
in the local community towards the church. This means that significant services in the year are well attended
and that fundraising for building projects is usually well supported. The summer Church Fête is a highlight of
the village year, involving many of the wider community. Links between the church and other groups in the
village – particularly the Memorial Hall, Parish Council and the Ombersley Endowed First School - are strong.
The church supports the Alzheimer’s Society (the regional HQ is based in the village) and is working towards
creating a ‘Dementia Friendly’ environment.
The website documents the history of this ‘Estate’ church, ombersleyparishchurch.org.uk
The building dates from 1829 and is generally in good repair, but the sandstone from which it is constructed
results in ongoing maintenance needs. The beautiful and architecturally significant East Window is in need of
quite urgent repair for which a grant is being sought. Being of a considerable size the building lends itself to
events, such as concerts, debates etc. To improve the facilities, including ensuring all windows are in good
repair, the PCC is launching the ‘Towards 200’ project to make the building fit for purpose for its next 100
years. We aim to involve the wider community in this project.
The congregation (mostly older people who include a number of retired professionals) has been stable
during the last few years. The PCC aims to pay the Parish Share in full, although this is increasingly difficult.
Planned giving is in place, including Gift Aid. There is a commitment to supporting charities, particularly local
ones, including donating 10% of regular church income.
All services have a high degree of lay involvement with parishioners leading
intercessions and reading the lessons. Family Services and Morning Prayer
are lay-led and there is much sharing of thoughts, ideas and reflections in
these two services. Family services are relaxed and make use of a variety
of instruments, music and styles of worship, including ‘Breakfast Church’.
The village first school celebrates Harvest, Christmas and Easter in the
church and uses the building as a historical and geographical resource. The
older children visit the church before Easter to experience the Easter story
through drama and activities and also to climb the tower on Ascension Day
WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 17 of 19
DOVERDALE St Mary’s Church Doverdale is an ancient settlement, mentioned in the Domesday Book, and is geographically the smallest in
the Benefice. This delightful district, popular with walkers and others who enjoy outdoor pursuits, lies in a
network of country lanes and whilst the parish itself has no local facilities, good transport links and services
can be found in nearby towns and villages. Agriculture still provides some employment, but a significant
proportion of the working population are commuters.
The church of St Mary has Norman origins, but was totally rebuilt in 1860. We maintain the building in good
order and have invested heavily over the past years, financed through active fund-raising and with the help
of a generous benefactor. This has involved a new roof, heating and electricity, the provision of an outside
toilet and the stabilisation and repair of the east wall and windows. We plan to bring water to the building
when we can. We have won the best kept small churchyard award for several years.
The Friends of St Mary’s has a very active committee and organises an annual outing as well as a number of
fund raising events. Our special services are well supported – we organise posies on Mothering Sunday, and
host a Christingle service with Sytchampton School. Christmas, Easter and Remembrance Sunday are well
attended. We have 11 flower arrangers and 12 ‘holy dusters’ (cleaners). Following our well received pet
service, we plan to organise another. We make coffee after the services and use Sytchampton Hall for larger
events.
Our use of the Book of Common Prayer attracts a committed congregation weekly who come from all around,
though we are open to the use of other hymn books and style for special services. We intend to be more pro-
active with those who are married, baptised or hold funerals in our beautiful church.
We give donations to Christian Aid, St John’s Eye Hospital in Jerusalem and St Luke’s Hospital for the clergy
though we regret we have not been able to pay our Parish Share in full.
WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 18 of 19
THE RECTORY Main Road, Ombersley WR9 0EW The Rectory is a modern,
centrally heated two storey
house set back from the road in
the centre of Ombersley village.
The ground floor comprises a
study and visitors’ cloakroom just
inside the front door, a large
kitchen with separate utility room,
a dining room and a lounge.
Upstairs there are four bedrooms
and two bathrooms. There is an
attached, generously-sized
garage and additional parking for
two cars. There is garden to the
front and rear of the house.
Ombersley is a beautiful village
with a long history. Today it has a
mixed housing stock, which
includes a small housing estate
with middle-range and affordable
homes, together with a small block
of flats. There is also sheltered
accommodation for the elderly.
The village benefits from its close
connections with the Ombersley
Conservation Trust (formerly the
Sandys Estate).
As well as the central core of the
village, there are numerous
outlying hamlets, country lanes
and surrounding farmland.
Ombersley is well-served as regards amenities. Unlike many comparable villages, it still possesses a popular
and well-used shop; this contains a delicatessen, newsagent, off-licence and butcher (the last of which has a
national reputation). The Medical Centre, in the heart of the village, is rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC; there
are also facilities for physiotherapy and a local dentist, chiropractor, hairdressers and garage. There are a
number of sports facilities, including for tennis, cricket and golf; village clubs and similar activities including
Pilates, handbell ringing, amateur dramatics, crafts and book groups. Ombersley is famous in the
neighbourhood for its wealth of pubs and restaurants; one being listed in the Good Food Guide.
There is more information about the village of Ombersley at;
ombersleyparishchurch.org.uk/ombersley-village
WORCESTERSHIRE SEVERN PARISHES Benefice Profile 2018 Page 19 of 19
THE DIOCESE OF WORCESTER The vacancy is within Droitwich Deanery in the Archdeaconry of Dudley in the diocese of Worcester. The
Bishop looks to appoint applicants who will work collaboratively with clergy and lay people in the deanery to
encourage and sustain the wider mission and ministry of the church.
The Diocese of Worcester covers an area of 671 square miles and includes parishes in Worcestershire, the
Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, and a few parishes in northern Gloucestershire, south-east Wolverhampton
and Sandwell. It has around 170 parishes, 280 churches, around 120 stipendiary and 30 non-stipendiary
clergy and 170 Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers). There are 100 church schools, 97 primary and 3
secondary. The diocese is divided into the Archdeaconry of Worcester, with six deaneries, and the
Archdeaconry of Dudley, with seven deaneries.
Kingdom People We are committed to mission, seeking to bring the good news of God’s love in Jesus to all who live in our
cities, towns and villages and to show how the gospel is relevant today. We are developing new patterns of
ministry for changing times. Growing numbers of people from across traditions are offering themselves for
ordination or for licensed and authorised lay ministry, and the diocese has a genuine ‘family feel’.
Our Diocesan Synod has adopted an imaginative ‘Kingdom People’ vision. This is a vision for a Church
which enables its people to be:
Deeply rooted in prayer and study of the scriptures
Renewed and transformed by regular worship
Equipped to witness to the gospel of love, compassion, justice and freedom
Dedicated to helping children, young people and young adults to belong and be nurtured in faith
Devoted to growing deeply in discipleship, offering our time and talents and money to God
Resourced and released to minister to others
Ready to engage with and serve our community
Committed to making our buildings fit for purpose as a spiritual and community resource.
Kingdom People aims to be a gift to the parishes and not an additional burden. It aims to provide a
framework in which churches might flourish and grow, rather than impose a blueprint of how every church
should look.
Within our Kingdom People vision, we have identified four main priority areas which shape our strategic plan
to engage with children and young people, strengthen stewardship, deepen discipleship and develop
buildings for mission.
Droitwich Deanery The deanery covers an attractive area set between Worcester, Bromsgrove, Stourport and Redditch. Largely
rural in character, it comprises small village communities and the ancient salt town of Droitwich Spa, which
has a population of about 28,000 and is at the geographical centre of the diocese. It offers a range of
facilities for shopping, banking and recreation. There is a station on the Hereford – Worcester – Birmingham
line and good road connections via the motorway network.
There are four groups of parishes in the deanery, with six full time stipendiary clergy in the deanery, one of
whom currently serves as full time rural dean with a brief for developing collaborative ministry and enabling
mission through the nurture of training and vocations. There are two stipendiary curates, seven Licensed Lay
Ministers (Readers), plus one in training, and a large number of lay people involved in ministry of many kinds.
These include several who have trained on the diocesan Authorised Lay Ministry (ALM) scheme. We greatly
value the support of retired clergy in many of the parishes.
The deanery clergy meet together regularly and also once a term with lay colleagues in ministry for mutual
support, reflection and planning. Deanery Synod meets three times a year and is an important forum for
matters to do with mission and ministry and for sharing good practice. There is an annual service of
Celebration of Lay Ministry and an annual confirmation in the deanery.