THE PARISH OF STAVELEY AND BARROW HILLA Forward in Faith parish under the care of the Bishop of Ebbsfleet

Awaiting the priest God has called to be our Team Vicar

St John the Baptist, Staveley

St Andrew, Barrow Hill

St Columba, Inkersall

Where we areStaveley is a small market town, which in the nineteenth century became a centre for coal mining and the production of iron, steel and chemicals. Heavy industry has very largely closed during the last 25 years, and employment is now much more varied. We have our own motorway junction on the M1 (29a), around which a thriving trading estate has grown up on old colliery sites. The town offers a full range of local services. The area is well-served by G.P. surgeries and clinics and the Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire Royal Hospital is less than four miles away. A state of the art Healthy Living centre has recently been built in the centre of Staveley. There are a number of both council and private nursing homes in the parish and eight elderly citizens' rest rooms.

The Parish serves the town ofStaveley and the neighbouring communities (or 'villages') ofBarrow HillInkersallPoolsbrookMastin MoorWoodthorpe andHollingwood.

There are two church primary schools, seven community primary schools, and two large secondary schools.

Woodthorpe Primary School is a C.of E. (V.C.) School with a key aim to uphold a Christian ethos throughout; and St Joseph’s is a joint Catholic and C. of E. (V.A.) Primary School, where there is new ecumenical ground being broken in collaboration with the local Catholic priest.

We are very pleased with the response to our School Masses in the Church schools. This picture show the children helping to offer the Holy Sacrifice for St John the Baptist's day last year.

Springwell Community College is a mixed, non-denominational secondary school for pupils aged 11-16 housed in a brand new purpose-built complex. Netherthorpe School was founded in 1572 and caters for pupils aged 11-18. It has Science and Mathematics College status.(See http://www.staveleytowncouncil.gov.uk for more information)

The Parish Community centre (formerly Staveley Church school) adjoins the Churchof St John the Baptist. Half of the centre is leased to Derbyshire County Council for use as a Sure Start children’s centre. The other large room is used regularly the church and by community groups.

Introducing the ChurchesStaveley

There has been a church on the site of St John's, Staveley, since Saxon times; Saxon gravestones survive as window-sills. The post-Conquest church survives in the south aisle and the base of the tower; a 15 th century chantry chapel holds rare 17th century heraldic glass; and in the middle of the 19th century Scott transformed the church into the building we see today. Other treasures include tombs of the Musard and Frecheville families; mediaeval brasses; a niche thought to be an Easter sepulchre; wonderful 20 th century statues in wood, carved by Ludwig Kuzniarz; and a mediaeval stone altar mensa, one of the largest to survive the Reformation intact.

Sunday Mass is usually attended by 60-65 worshippers, with choir, full team of servers, and Sunday School.. Sung Evensong is attended by about 25 people, and there are three midweek said masses. The Catholic tradition of the Church of England has been firmly established here for generations.

Coffee mornings, garden parties and bazaars, a Victorian Christmas market, harvest and mid-lent teas are well established as part of our social scene; and fresh ideas are always welcome, such as our murder mystery evenings!

Barrow Hill

Barrow Hill is a very distinct part of our parish. The village was built by a Victorian entrepreneur, Richard Barrow, to provide housing for his colliery and ironworks. The church and school initially occupied the same building, which is still the village school. The organ now in the church was originally in the school hall. This is a regeneration priority area, and a large housing development is planned.

In 1895 the congregation moved to a purpose built church. St Andrews is a simple little Victorian building with furnishings in the arts and crafts style. It was the first architectural commission of Sir Raymond Unwin and his first collaboration with Richard Barry Parker who designed the fixtures and fittings. It contains stained glass windows by Shrigley and Hunt and a fully restored 1856 Holt pipe organ. St Andrews became a Parish Church in its own right in 1928, when the village of Hollingwood was built, before becoming one of the two Parish Churches in the Staveley and Barrow Hill team ministry in 1973. The church has suffered, in the past, from corrosive pollution, mining subsidence and some neglect. During the past few years, the small congregation have worked hard to carry out extensive repairs and ensure that the building is safe, dry and watertight. Access has been improved, a car park provided and toilet/baby changing facilities installed. Gas heaters and electrical systems have been updated and further restoration is in hand, supported by a fabric fund.

There is much social need in the village, and we must address the need for Christian outreach and evangelism if the church is to grow. The present congregation numbers around a dozen on a Sunday morning.

Community Use has included Heritage Open Days , the Christmas Tree festival (seen in the picture above), community sing-a-longs, coffee mornings, Harvest teas, and concerts. For more information:http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Andrews-Parish-Church-Barrow-Hill-and-Hollingwood/162440053784001or twitter @unwinchurch

Inkersall

“We are all one family in God, trying to bring people into Christian fellowship to help find agreater understanding of the good news of Jesus Christ.”

Built 30 years ago as a multi-purpose building, the church is of a modern, triangular design and is equipped with good kitchen facilities, a disabled toilet and ramps to the doors. The main church is used daily as a community hall by groups such as the Mothers' Union, Pensioners’ bingo, art group, childrens’ karate, whist group, slimming classes, a baby sensory group and Knit and Natter. The room is used by the local community for birthday parties, funeral teas and other events. The church is a collection point for the local food bank.

We have a lively social life within the church and hold regular coffee mornings to raise funds for a variety of charities. Other events include a Summer Fair, Harvest supper, beetle drive, BBQ, Candlemas supper, Carols on the Green (jointly with the Methodists), and the Christingle service.

Sunday Mass attracts around 30 people. There is also a Wednesday morning Mass with around 15-20 communicants.

Who we areWe are a Team Ministry which was established in 1973 and which is formed of two parish churches, St John the Baptist, Staveley and St Andrew’s, Barrow Hill; with a daughter church, St Columba’s, Inkersall. There are 126 parishioners on the combined electoral roll. A Forward in Faith register parish, we are under the extended episcopal care of Jonathan, Bishop of Ebbsfleet. The average Sunday attendance across the team is 114; last year there were around fifteen baptisms, six weddings, and twelve funerals.

We have good relations with another nearby petitioning parish, Hasland and Temple Normanton in the neighbouring Chesterfield Deanery. The Staveley and Barrow Hill Team Ministry is actively involved in the life of Staveley and Bolsover Deanery, and the Diocese of Derby. The Team comprises of the Team Rector and Team Vicar, currently assisted by a very active retired priest. Team-wide activities include stalls at the Canal Festival and the local Armed Forces Day.

Fr Stephen Jones was appointed as Team Rector is April 2013. After reading Law at Oxford, and working in public administration for five years, he studied at Lincoln Theological College and was ordained in 1984. After a curacy in the Black Country, he was a Minor Canon at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle for seven years. After three years in a country team ministry in the East Riding, while studying for an MA in Mediaeval Studies at Leeds, he served for five years as Chaplain at St Elphin's School, Darley Dale. He was for a short while an associate priest at Worksop Priory, and then for ten years Rector of St James', Longton, in Stoke on Trent. He is interested in cathedral music, and enjoys singing and country walking. In recent years he has progressed to mountain walking, is a qualified Mountain Leader, and has recently taken up rock climbing.

What we doOur WorshipOur roots lie within the Catholic tradition of the Church of England. There is a full set of vestments in every church, and the sacrament is reserved in all three churches along with the holy oils. The Sunday Sung Mass has the same pattern across the team, usually with incense, using the ACS booklet following the pattern of Common Worship Order 1. Propers are those of the western rite, and our worship is enriched from the wider Catholic tradition throughout the world.

The laity is actively involved within the liturgy; reading the lessons and, more recently, leading the intercessions. There is a committed team of dedicated robed servers, and licensed chalice assistants to assist the Priest. There are extra masses provided for great festivals. Confession is available on request. Choral evensong is sung every Sunday evening in St John’s. The sacrament is taken to the sick and housebound on a regular basis by the clergy, and there are good relations with the local hospital chaplain.

Currently this is clergy orientated but the laity have expressed an interest in leading this too. We have begun a policy of vigorously encouraging families in the community to bring their children for Baptism, and have piloted various ideas for preparation. St John’s and St Andrew’s are technically Parish Churches, and can solemnise weddings. We hope to develop this ministry as part of a Mission Action Plan.

We are working in local care homes as part of our ministry to the sick. Schools form a central part of our ministry to young people, with school Masses in the two church schools, and regular Assemblies are held in most of the Junior Schools. A number of the schools visit the churches for RE and for Harvest, Christmas, Easter and Leavers' services.

Church MusicThe Sunday mass is accompanied by our team of organists. The organist and choir master at St John’s is paid, whereas the organist at St Andrew’s is a volunteer. The 1865 Holt pipe organ at Barrow Hill was fully restored during the centenary year in 1995. CDs accompany the singing at St Columba’s. Common Praise is used at St John’s and St Andrew’s and Ancient and Modern New Standard is used at St Columba’s.

The Choir: St John's Church, Staveley, has a strong choral musical tradition. Affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music, the choir comprises 18 members, (children and adults) of which 6 adults hold the Royal School of Church Music Dean’s Music Award, a nationally recognised singing award. The choir’s main duty is to lead the worship at the Morning and Evening services on a Sunday. This is complemented by extra services which are sung during midweek and Holy Week. The choir is also available to sing at weddings throughout the year and meet on a weekly basis in church for rehearsal. At each service, anthems, motets are sung and, of course, the choir also lead the congregation in Hymn singing (of various styles) and in the singing of the psalms. Arranged canticles and responses are also sung at Solemn Evensong, which are held on high days and special occasions. Holy Week and Easter, as well as Christmas, are a highlight in the musical and worshipping life of the church. As well as the regular pattern of music, St John the Baptist has hosted monthly organ recitals since 2006, when the new three-manual Phoenix digital organ was installed. These recitals attract an audience from the surrounding area, and as far afield as Sheffield.

The Bells: There are eight bells housed in the tower at St Johns. The back six bells being cast in 1782 by Edward Arnold of Neots, with two trebles being added in 1897 by John Taylor and Co, to make a peal of eight. The bells are rung by eight members of the church who are also members of the Derby Diocesan Association of Church Bellringers. The bells are rung for Sunday service as well as midweek services and weddings when required. A practice night is held each Tuesday which attracts ringers from other towers as well as an advanced practice, which is held once a month. The bells are made available to associations for their ringing meetings, which can include a service and tea prior to the meeting. The bells are also made available to visiting ringers,peals and quarter peals. The bells had a major overhaul in December 2011, by Nicholson Engineering as well as the ringing room and staircase being decorated. Many ringers have commented on how well the bells ring and the tower is renowned for its cleanliness.

Publications and CommunicationWe use the Redemptorist pew sheets for propers and the notices, and a magazine for internal consumption is produced monthly. Each of the three churches have both internal and external noticeboards and events are published at all of the churches.We also need to consider the possibility of setting up a Parish website and other ways of publicising our work. Details of services and clergy contacts are available on www.achurchnearyou.com but this needs updating. Perhaps the new Team Vicar might have the computer literacy!

Our FinancesGood stewardship and sound financial management are fundamental to the operation of this Parish. The parish share is generally met in full. We are committed to supporting mission outside the church and have supported the Bishop of Derby's Harvest Appeal, the Additional Curates Society Lent Appeal, The ChildrensSociety, Christian Aid Week, Air Ambulance Appeal, Breast Cancer Charities, Alzheimers Society, Support our Troops and the British Legion. The clergy expenses are met in full.

Our New Team VicarWe need a priest who will support the Catholic tradition of our parish, who is comfortable working in a Forward in Faith parish under extended episcopal oversight. He will work closely and collaboratively with our new Rector, Fr Stephen Jones, and be confident enough to bring his own initiative and vision to the tasks.

Church and community

We are beginning to rebuild links into the surrounding communities; this picture shows the Rector at the 2013 Remembrance Parade, next to the Salvation Army representative. We need a Team Vicar who will be at ease with a down-to-earth north midlands working class community; who will bring calm good-humour to share the joys and sorrows of ordinary people; and who can seek out and exploit opportunities to show Christ's love in a place where there is much need, as well as a great deal of basic human goodness.

Mission

How do we bring new generations of Christians into our congregations? In common with many parishes, numbers have been in slow decline. We are looking for a priest who will bring fresh thinking and real energy to the evangelisation of Staveley, someone who will help shape and deliver a Mission Action Plan. The past year has seen a great deal of success in this area, particularly in school work, and the new Team Vicar will be keen to take mission forward.

Worship

We need a priest for whom the Mass is the beating heart of his life and spirituality, and who can communicate the richness of the Eucharist with our people. He will share in celebrating Mass in the churches and the schools, and in teaching established worshippers and new enquirers, adults and school-children, how to play their part in offering the Holy Sacrifice. Sung Evensong is also a central part of our Sunday worship, and the principal time in the week when the team clergy lead worship together. The new priest will be someone who values the Divine Office. If he can sing, that will be even better!

Leadership

Leadership in the parish is shared between the Team Rector and the Team Vicar. The new priest will not be treated as a curate, but will take joint responsibility under the Rector's oversight for every aspect of all three churches. He will take a part in pastoral care, in mission, in the administrative tasks, and in strategic planning. It is likely that he will take the prime responsibility in Inkersall and Barrow Hill, but will be at all times strongly supported by the Rector. The Rector will take prime responsibility in Staveley, but again will be strongly supported by the Team Vicar.

The fine detail ...

... will be worked out in consultation among the clergy and lay leaders. We know that different candidates will bring different gifts to the task, and we will be happy to use different strengths in the best ways. Are you fresh from a title parish, full of energy and bubbling over with new ideas for mission? Are you a more senior priest, looking for a ministry building on your wealth of pastoral experience? Are you someone in sector ministry, or self-supporting ministry, who can bring experience of the world outside the church's walls? We can shape the work here to any of these, and many more types of candidate. Come and tell us about your enthusiasms!

The VicarageSt Francis' Vicarage in Hollingwood is the home of the Team Vicar. It is a generous four-bedroomed detached house with a secure enclosed rear garden and a garage with driveway parking for two to three cars. It is fully double glazed. The study opens off the outer hall, and the main residential part of the house is accessed through the inner hall door. The sitting room boasts a hearth for an open fire. All the recent Quinquennial works have been completed; it has been thoroughly refurbished and provided with a new kitchen. It is located in a quiet residential location.

The Last Word ...... comes from the laity of our churches. During the vacancy for the post of Rector, they asked for these qualities in their priests. It has been adapted for the Team Vicar role.

As a Forward in Faith Parish, we are seeking a male priest who: can work well in a team, with t he challenges and opportunities that this provides; will develop good Christian, harmonious working relationships with immediate colleagues, ministers of

other denominations and with others within the Diocese and Deanery; will uphold Catholic and Apostolic teaching within the benefice and ensure worship of a high standard in

all three churches of the parish; is approachable and friendly with a kind and generous spirit in all their dealings and communications

with both the laity and the local community; will work collaboratively across the team and encourage the involvement of the laity; who is able to reconcile differing views on many topics and be prepared to carry through decisions once

determined.

Contacts and Useful Links

If you want to ask us anything, explore ideas or arrange an informal visit, just get in touch.

Fr Stephen Jones (Team Rector) 01246 498603sfjones53@googlemail.com

Mrs Kathleen Crofts (Churchwarden, Staveley) 01246 475771Mrs Margaret Wells (Churchwarden, Barrow Hill) 01246 453193Mrs Ruth Sedgwick (Churchwarden, Inkersall) 01246 474981

The Venerable Christine Wilson (Archdeacon of Chesterfield) 01246 583023archchesterfield@derby.anglican.org

Derby Diocese website: www.derby.anglican.orgLocal news: www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk

The Altar of Repose, Maundy Thursday 2014