the north meols team ministry - diocese of liverpool · the north meols team ministry came into...

North Meols, Team Profile 1

The North Meols Team Ministry

Vacancy for the Team Rector

St Cuthbert, Churchtown

St Stephen, Banks

Church at the Centre

St John, Crossens


Our New Team Rector We are looking for a leader who will:

Work in close, prayerful and creative collaboration with the rest of the ministry team.

Be someone who can provide decisive leadership, pastoral care and support to help us meet the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Owing to the diverse nature of the Team, we are looking for a leader who is sensitive to the traditions of the different churches and yet who is committed to taking us forward to enable us to spread God’s Word to those in our neighbourhoods and beyond.

We would hope that the Team Rector will continue to promote and encourage strong ties with the other churches in the team and in the surrounding area; who would preach the Gospel and be a church builder, recognising, encouraging, using and developing the talents of the laity.

Has a burning desire to work with families, children and youth within the church and beyond.

Be able to connect with people of all ages, backgrounds and stages of their Christian faith and respond to their different needs.

The children in St Cuthbert’s Sunday Club are looking for someone who is friendly and chatty, has lots of energy and likes telling jokes, is good at joining in and someone who is patient and funny.

With the Team Vicar retiring in the next 18 months, the team will be yours to shape once you are settled in the role.


Parish Profile Overview

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our parish profile and for prayerfully considering whether the Lord may be calling you to lead the North Meols Team ministry of churches into our next season of exciting growth. It is our prayer, that as you read this profile, you will get a sense of the very heart of the team; who we are, where we are at, and where we believe the Lord is taking us, together with a new leader, as we seek first His Kingdom. We are looking for a spiritual and dynamic leader for our Team who is happy working across the diverse churches that make up our benefice (see following appendices for individual profiles of our Team churches). Our post would suit a person who has the gifts of preaching and teaching the Bible whilst comfortable in a sacramental environment. We value openness and transparency guided by humility and gentleness in a leader who will move us into the next era of change and growth in our Team life.

As Team Rector you will have a strong staff to support you: o 5 Readers o 1 Self Supporting Minister o 2 retired Clergy o At least 2 churchwardens at each of the churches

We are 3 distinct parishes of varying tradition and 1 Fresh Expression.

The Team Rector has prime responsibility for St Cuthbert’s and St Stephen’s whilst providing vision and direction for the independent Church at the Centre with the Team Vicar and its Leadership team.

As a worship leader in the Team the Team Rector has the opportunity to share in the various services conducted across our churches.

Missional opportunities are generated through our many groups that are led by members of the congregations.

The Team Vicar, Canon Phil Green will assist you through the first 18 months after which he will be retiring.

We hope you will be that leader who has the imagination to break new ground and bring fresh vision to advance the Kingdom in our Team. That you have energy and drive and a proven track record in gathering and building teams to turn vision into reality. Someone who has experience of growing an established church and/or church planting that will bring results in bringing God’s people old and new together.


The North Meols Team Ministry

St Cuthbert North Meols, St Stephen in the Banks, Church at the Centre, St John Crossens The North Meols Team Ministry came into effect on December 1st 2003. The Team is a United Benefice of three Parishes, St Stephen in the Banks, Crossens, St John and North Meols, St Cuthbert. Since the Teams inception a Fresh Expression, now an Independent Place of Worship – The Church at the Centre, has developed. The ‘Cure of Souls’, in the area of the Team Ministry, is shared by the Team Rector and the Team Vicar, who both have equal status to that of an Incumbent of a Benefice. Both are licensed under Common tenure. Under the provisions of the Pastoral Measure (1983) and the Team and Group Ministries Measure (1995), the PCCs of the Team were able to produce their own scheme, whereby each Council continues to take responsibility for its own Church and Parish, the Parishes ‘continuing distinct’. The Priest appointed will be given lead responsibility of the Parishes of St Stephen in the Banks and North Meols, St Cuthbert, but will be expected to work collaboratively with the Team Vicar on all aspects of mission within the Team and Deanery Partnership (See Deanery Statement within Bishop’s Statement). We have a Team Council which consists of members of the Team and three elected lay members from each Church. Its main function is to promote and encourage closer co-operation between the Parishes and to regularly review the common ministry and mission of the team. It has an advisory role for the PCCs on matters of common concern.

Our Team prayer

God our Father, In the name of Christ and in the power of the Spirit, we commit ourselves to you and to one another,

to live, work and pray as one body in Christ; to do apart nothing which we can do together, and to do together what we cannot do apart;

give us vision, give us courage, and give us joy,

that the world may believe that Jesus is Lord to your eternal glory.

Amen.


Where are we? The Victorian resort of Southport is located at the northernmost tip of Merseyside, with Preston 15 miles to the north-east and Liverpool approximately 20 miles to the south. The parishes of the North Meols team lie on the very edge of the

Liverpool Diocese straddling the boundary between Merseyside and the county of west Lancashire.

The above is a map of the parish boundaries of St Stephen’s, St John’s and St Cuthbert’s.

Southport Pier at sunset


Churchtown Churchtown is the original village from which the busy town of Southport developed in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The village is now a conservation area which has retained much of its character and attracts many visitors, particularly in the summer months. There are two local pubs, The Hesketh and the Bold. The Botanic Gardens are a popular attraction, along with a number of Grade II thatched cottages in the village and a variety of specialist shops restaurants and tea shops. The Churchtown Parish is mainly residential with a mixture of Victorian detached and semi-detached houses, purpose built flats, retirement properties, cottages and two residential care homes. There is a large, successful primary school within a short walk of the church. The population within the Parish boundary is around 3,500.

Banks Banks is situated on the very northern perimeter of Southport, surrounded by expanses of agricultural land and countryside providing a pleasant rural area. Banks borders on Martin Mere, an important wildfowl and wetlands area. The expanse of reclaimed Marshes along the natural coastline has increased the agricultural area by 500 acres, as well as providing a haven for wildlife, including several rare species of duck and wading birds.

Banks village was originally a farming community and whilst this community is still present it has become a commuter residential area. Banks is a thriving village with several new housing developments. Whist there is a considerable elderly population; the new developments have attracted young professional families along with many single people and couples. There are two caravan parks housing largely residential occupants and both sites are currently being developed to provide additional housing. The Parish population is approximately 4,146 including children. The Village is served well by a wide range of shops and facilities. There is a controlled school, known as St. Stephen's C of E School, with pupil numbers at 139; parishioners go into the school regularly to hear the children read. Banks is fortunate to have the services of a very talented brass band, with musicians drawn almost entirely from local people. During the summer months, a very popular car boot sale is held each Saturday in the village.

Crossens The village of Crossens has its own parade of shops, which provide for the everyday needs of the parish. These include along with the general shops expected, a pharmacy, a car dealership and a choice of take-away restaurants. The parish of Crossens can be considered to be of a general social mix, with a growing number of ethnic groups. There are a number of council estates within the parish, which give a good mix of both retired people and younger families with children. The parish is still growing with small new developments being expanded on a regular basis. The parish population as per the Diocesan figures is approximately 6,500. Although Southport is a seaside town, the parish is located far enough away from the centre as not to be affected by the influx of tourists. Crossens is still considered as a village on the edge of a larger town.


The Parish Church of St Cuthbert North Meols

Our Vision Statement

St Cuthbert’s welcomes all to share the good news of Jesus Christ The same yesterday, today and tomorrow

Growing closer to God through: Worshipping, praying and learning together

Loving and supporting one another Showing Gods love in reaching out to the wider community

The Church and Churchyard

St Cuthbert’s Churchtown is the ancient Parish Church of North Meols and the Mother Church of Southport. The Church was completely rebuilt between 1730 and 1739. Substantial alterations and enlargements were made in 1805, 1860 and 1909 when the present chancel and porch were added. As part of the Millennium Project, facilities for people with disabilities were added, along with the crèche, the heritage and display area and the side altar. There is a large churchyard and a Garden of Remembrance and although there is no longer space for new graves, there is limited space in the Garden of Remembrance for the burial of

ashes of those who lived in the parish or were on the Church Electoral Roll. Services The style of the main Services at St. Cuthbert’s Church would be described as traditional, with our congregation made up of a high proportion of older people, although many families are involved through the Uniformed Organisations, Sunday Club and Café Church. Our current range of Sunday Services includes both traditional (BCP) and contemporary (Common) worship with a well-attended Family Parade Service in church, once a month. Refreshments and fellowship are enjoyed in the Parochial Hall after the 11.00am service. During the interregnum, we have alternated the 6:30 evening services with St John’s Crossens.


Following a review of the pattern of worship, we are developing a different style of service with St Cuthbert’s Café Church, which meets in the Parochial Hall on Sunday at 10.00am. This informal service has already attracted a number of baptism families and wedding couples and is something we would wish to build on in the future. The pattern of Services varies on special occasions such as Mothering Sunday, Rose Queen Festival, Harvest and Christingle. A special

Service is held in the evening of the last Sunday in October to remember all those who have died in the previous year.

There is also a BCP Service of Holy Communion at 10.30am every Wednesday morning and every month, communion is taken to the residents of the two nursing homes in the Parish and also to people’s homes. Groups and Organisations There are many dedicated volunteers who offer a great deal of service in many different ways. The parish has numerous groups and activities to suit all ages

including thriving Guiding and Scouting Units, Sunday Club, Bible Study, Mothers Union, Supper Club, Prayer Group and Handbell Ringers. The church has been awarded the Child Friendly Church Award and is now working towards re accreditation. Links with other churches The Nexus Group is an ecumenical discussion group which meets once a month led by people from the different churches involved. The local churches in the Nexus Group are St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Marshside

Methodist Church, Churchtown United Reformed Church, Crossens Methodist Church, St John Crossens and St Stephen in the Banks. The Rectory The Rectory is a 1930s detached house comprising four bedrooms, two bathrooms two reception rooms, office, kitchen, utility room, downstairs toilet, garage and workshop. There is also a full height loft on the third floor. The house is centrally heated and double glazed. It is located on a local road away from the main routes that go through the parish and is about ten minutes’ walk away from the church. Website http://www.stcuthbert.org.uk/

http://www.stcuthbert.org.uk/


The Parish Church of St Stephen in the Banks Church Road, Banks, Southport, PR9 8ET

The Parish Church The Church was consecrated in 1868 and is considered by the Heritage and Environmental Unit as a Church with local and historical interest. Externally the building is in an excellent state of repair, visually pleasant and in keeping with a village setting. Internally, the Church is approaching time for redecoration but is non-the-less a pleasing environment, and has been re-lit recently. As our 150th Anniversary is approaching we will focus on having a church building which is accessible for all and is suitable for use seven days a week. This will enable the building to be the spiritual centre for village which it was always intended to be. The Parish has its’ own Churchyard which is full and also has a Garden of Remembrance. We do not have a Vicarage or a Church Hall.

General Information

We have links with the other churches in the North Meols Team, which are strengthening and developing with the passage of time. We have one licensed Reader. There are currently 114 entries on the electoral roll. The PCC Committee is a dedicated team of members who strive to serve the Church and the Parish. Also, St. Stephen's Social Committee is actively involved in organising and promoting fundraising to supplement income. A Coffee Morning is held on the last Wednesday of

the month, at the home of one of our Churchwardens, which is attended by not only Church people but people from the village and other organisations in the Village. There have been four successful

Flower Festivals over the years. The Harvest Festival is undoubtedly the highlight of the year and defines us as a Parish with the event focusing on tradition and respect for the farming communities in our area. The church regularly supports Christian charities. Churchmanship The style of our worship is developed from the evangelical side of ‘middle of the road’ embracing BCP and Common Worship. The main Sunday service is held at 10.30am, and varies between Common Worship Morning Prayer, and Holy Communion; coffee is served after the morning service. At 4.00 p.m. we have BCP Evening Prayer or Holy Communion. Every Thursday at 10.30 pm there a Service of Holy Communion with coffee and fellowship after the service. We have a Sunday school called St. Stephen’s Young Adventurers, who meet at 10.30am every Sunday in St. Stephen’s Primary School. We also have a team of people who take Communion to anyone who is sick or housebound.


Ecumenical Links We are now forging stronger links with the local Methodist Church joining together for our annual Walk of Witness and several joint services. The Parish has a wide variety of organisations including Brownies, Rainbows, Guides, Beavers and Cubs. We have a strong Mothers' Union. Many Church members have an active role in other local organizations the Women's Institute and the Village Luncheon Club. Church members are also active in the Bowling teams, which have a popular local following. Other annual events organized by the church are the very popular Parish Meal, and the 3 Churches Croquet Match. The school runs a breakfast club and after school club.

Parish Magazine and Website

Two hundred copies of the magazine are produced each month by a parishioner. Additionally, the Church has its own website (http://ststephenwp6.webplus.net/) which is very comprehensive in content and is regularly updated.

http://ststephenwp6.webplus.net/


The Church at the Centre

We are a fresh expressions church planted 11 years ago and based at a Leisure Centre in Banks, Lancashire. We maintain a positive relationship with the established village church supporting and sharing events. We at CATC believe that by focusing on God at the centre of all we do, seek to be a church that is actively pursuing its vision of whole life discipleship. This emphasis on whole-life evangelism in the workplace, the playground and home makes the CATC distinctly different to traditional church. We focus Sunday as a place of nurture, celebration, prayer, learning, support, recharging and sharing fellowship. We are a cohesive leadership team who are using their skills to lead worship, plan and deliver church through a range of activities. For example:

Messy Church – Leisure Centre

Café Church – Leisure Centre

Food Bank – Community Centre

Fund- Raisers – Various

Story in the Stable – Youth Drama club– Performance at St Stephens Institute

Sunday Kids Club and 7Up teen club – Leisure Centre

TGI Friday Kids Club at St Stephens School

Links with Guides, Brownies and Rainbows Our Vicar would provide support and guidance and a further reaching vision as we minister to the settled neighbourhood and the new residential developments following the imagery of ‘lake and river’. About the church The CATC has links with the Parish Church in Banks and continues to celebrate community events by attending St Stephen’s Church for the following: Remembrance Service, Easter Day, Walking Day, and Harvest Festival. We meet every Sunday at our local Leisure Centre for a range of different styles of service as follows: Café Church, Messy Church, Guest Speakers, Special Celebrations, Agape/Communion services. We offer Sunday school each week. The children have opportunities to attend drama club. We hold a weekly Wednesday night house meeting with a variety of themes as follows: Bible study, Prayer meetings, Leadership meetings, Social gatherings. Throughout the year other events include: Stable Story/Christmas Drama, Bonfire party, Fundraisers, Breakfast with Santa, BBQs. We are small congregation of 20-30 adults and 10-12 children. Our Services are very informal and we are a child friendly church, our children make a positive contribution to services with appropriate songs, drama and discussions about their Sunday Club activities. Although we actively encourage families we do have a mixed age range congregation who are welcomed and we ensure everyone who attends is given every opportunity to take part in all our activities. Most of our congregation is local or from a nearby village. We leaflet drop our local housing estates, the school and have a regularly updated email newsletter service. We have a strong leadership team with a range of skills and life experiences. We truly work as a team and during this interregnum period, we have risen to the huge challenge of continuing to offer a variety of services and other events. We are


keen to promote the Church and our family as a place that welcomes everyone, developing friendships which will encourage an interest in learning, prayer, celebration and fellowship. We support baptisms and recently celebrated 5 of our young peoples’ confirmation. We have sponsored a boy in Ecuador for the last 10 years, through Compassion. We work with the local food bank. We serve at the local annual Village Carnival. We support various charities such as Derian House Children’s Hospice and Forum Housing. We also look to support various speakers that have visited our church such as the Bible Society and Street Preachers collecting and giving whenever we are able. Since we meet on Sunday mornings at a Leisure Centre we use a local community room and a local Institute for other activities. We are currently supported by a retired minister from our congregation who kindly preaches twice a month and assists the leadership team. About the Wider Context In the future we would like to have more links to other churches, joining up for events and taking our drama group out to perform at other churches wherever possible, as well as to continue to try and build more links with the local school. We strive to continue to spread the word in Banks and make positive links with the people and families who live here, we are dedicated and determined to grow and look forward to the future with a positive attitude.


The Parish Church of St John the Evangelist

Rufford Road, Crossens, Southport

The Church Crossens became a parish in 1860. The current building was based on a Mock-Gothic style, and is the second church on this site. It was consecrated in 1885 and celebrated its centenary in 1985. It is now a Grade II listed building. The church in the main is in good repair, was re-roofed in 1991 and redecorated internally in 1993. The bells are in full working order having been re-hung and the bell tower was restored in 1997. This included the re-tying in of the bell frame. The tower was re-roofed in 2008. The church underwent a major refit in 2008, when a community room, complete with toilet and kitchen, was installed. The church has its own yard where burials and the internment of ashes still take place. The recently renovated Scarisbrick Mausoleum stands in the south frontage of the churchyard and is a Grade II listed building. At the front of the churchyard is a war memorial dedicated to the fallen of the parish.

Church School

The school is adjacent to the vicarage and close to the church, so all together form a focal point for the village. The school was renamed in 1997 from Crossens Church of England School to St John’s Church of England Primary School. This was to emphasise its closer links to the Church in general and St John’s in particular. The current Head teacher is keen to promote the Church links by involvement of the clergy in the school and by special services being held in the church for the school children. The school hall is used for social events. The Vicar of St

John’s is traditionally the Chair of the Governing body of the school. General Information The PCC is a dynamic working group committed to the church and the parish of Crossens. The income of the parish is supplemented by fundraising events such as the Summer Gala, Christmas Fair and smaller events such as coffee mornings, Summer Barbecue and Ice Cream Sunday. The electoral roll as at the last General Meeting is 121, of which about 80% reside within the parish. The parish has the services of two extremely dedicated licensed lay readers (one of whom is training to become an SSM), along with the assistance of a number of retired clergy who live and worship in the parish. Although the larger body of the congregation is retired, there is a steady influx of younger families with children. We have seen an increase in the number of young families as links with the church school have improved. We are always looking for ways to encourage more people into the church community. The parish has one member on the Diocesan Synod House of Laity and three members on the Deanery Synod. A Shared Ministry Team has recently been commissioned at St John’s to support our soon to be ordained SSM and to encourage, support and develop every member of the parish so that they may take their full part in God’s mission in the community.


Services In terms of churchmanship, currently we are the high side of middle of the road. The main Sunday services are Eucharist based and are taken from the Common Worship. We welcome families and adopt a “nearest adult is responsible” policy, allowing children to roam freely during the service. Evensong is held alternate Sunday evenings and there is a Eucharist service every Wednesday morning. Experimental worship takes place regularly using Celtic, Taize and other forms. Our services are enriched by the involvement of intercessors and readers from the congregation. We have a number of people licensed to administer communion both in church and in people’s houses. We have held several very well attended and popular Messy Church meetings, and hope to start them up again soon. Service Times Sunday 10:00 Parish Eucharist and Sunday Club 18:30 Evensong (Taize and Celtic styles as announced) During the interregnum, the evening service has alternated between St John’s and St Cuthbert’s. Wednesday 10:00 Holy Communion and Coffee Morning Ecumenical Links We have a strong link with the local Methodist church, which is the only other church in the parish. Services are shared during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Harvest and Remembrance Sunday. We share the running of the Luncheon Club that meets twice a week during school term and meets at the Methodist Church. We also have strong links with the other churches in the area through our ecumenical Nexus group.

Organisations The parish has Rainbows, a Brownie pack and Guide Company, and we have recently reformed the Beaver, Cub and Scout groups. We also have a thriving Sunday Club. For older members of the congregation there is a craft club that meets every other week. We have an active bell-ringing group, who are always looking for new members.

Every Friday morning during school term-time, we hold coffee mornings that have proved popular with parents with pre-school children.

Charity Work We have close ties with the local food bank, and make annual collections for WaterAid, the Children’s Society, Cancer Research and Christian Aid.

Website http://stjohncrossens.co.uk/

http://stjohncrossens.co.uk/


Other Information Electoral Rolls 2016 St Cuthbert, Churchtown 139 St Stephen, Banks 116 St John, Crossens 115 Occasional Offices 2016

St Cuthbert St Stephen CatC St John

Baptisms 34 10 -- 19

Weddings 21 1 -- 3

Funeral Services in Church 19 11 -- 18

Average Attendance at Services 2016

St Cuthbert St Stephen CatC St John

16+ attendance on normal Sunday – main service

74 43 25 55

Attendance at early Sunday Service

14 -- -- --

Child attendance on normal Sunday

9 11 10 12

Attendance at midweek service 18 -- -- 21

Attendance at Café Church 18 35 --

Attendance on Christmas Eve & Day

181 57 -- 283

Attendance on Easter Sunday 168 111 -- 113

the north meols team ministry - diocese of liverpool · the north meols team ministry came into...

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