d1x8239b43517c.cloudfront.net · web viewin the 2011 census the population was 97,365 and is made...

PARISH PROFILE

St. Edmund’s, Dartford

Parish Profile, St Edmund’s Dartford 2019

Our Common Life Together…

Background…Parish Profile, St Edmund’s Dartford 2019 FINAL

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The Community and Mission Priest will serve two adjoining parishes: St Alban Church located in Dartford Newtown and St Edmund’s Living Well Church situated approximately 0.5 miles away in Temple Hill. Both parishes share similar demographic and socio-economic profiles with missions to large post-war estates which pose genuine challenges both in the needs presented to the churches and their capacity to meet them. This Parish Profile offers some information on the parish of St Edmunds and please refer to the separate parish profile of St Alban for further details on the church and its ministry and its wider socio-economic setting.

St Alban and St Edmund parishes have a Priest-in-Charge in post and the Community and Mission Priest will be part of a ministry team seeking to reshape the mission and ministry of the Church of England in east Dartford. It is something of a Kairos moment which offers both challenge, excitement and opportunity. Both churches share a commitment to inclusivity, prayerfulness and innovation and have an excellent record of working and worshipping together. The intention is to deepen these relationships further to bear more fruit for the future.

The Community and Mission Priest will have specific duties to develop relationships on the estates, deepen our community engagement and where possible build fresh expression of church, relevant to the lives and interests of parishioners. Is this you?

Parish Profile, St Edmund’s Dartford 2019 FINAL

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Who we are looking for… A “Kingdom Builder” and sensitive “Change Agent” committed to growing

and enabling mission and evangelism to those who reside in the parishes of St Alban and St Edmund.

A resilient Community and Mission Priest who can demonstrate and show God’s love to our local community through active social action projects (building links with local schools and other specific projects). The postholder will be required to work by themselves and as part of wider working groups and teams.

A passionate Community and Mission Priest committed to pursuing social justice.

An enthusiastic Community and Mission Priest that encourages and promotes evangelism working alongside other churches and community groups (e.g. YMCA, youth groups).

A Community and Mission Priest that has proven experience in building and sustaining partnerships. We are looking for an effective networker and communicator who can demonstrate, or else is willing to learn, the effective use of social media including Facebook and Twitter to churched and unchurched communities.

A prayerful Community and Mission Priest that will be part of our Eucharistic life. The postholder will participate on a regular basis in the leading of Sunday worship within Church and outside of church where opportunities develop and will also be expected to offer the full range of occasional offices. The postholder will deputise for the Priest-in-Charge when appropriate.

A Community and Mission Priest that will actively seek to enable the congregations to move onto a mission footing that shows the love of God to others.

A Community and Mission Priest that can engage proactively with Fleet Estate, The Phoenix Quarter, The Bridge and existing Newtown and Temple Hill Estates.

A Community and Mission Priest in agreement with our policy of Inclusiveness. St Edmunds and St Albans are both members of Inclusive Church (http://inclusive-church.org.uk), and OneBodyOneFaith – we welcome everyone


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http://inclusive-church.org.uk/


A Community and Mission Priest, with a good sense of humour, who has a friendly, empathetic and welcoming attitude towards all – believers and non-believers alike. The postholder will have a heart for families (of whatever shape), young people and children and older people within our community.

MIGHT THIS BE YOU?


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Something About Us…History of St Edmund’s Church and the Living Well Centre Temple Hill

With the building of a new post-war estate, the Parish church of St Edmund King and Martyr, Temple Hill was created in 1955 as a church plant from St Albans, Dartford.

The Church continues today to be part of a developing community. The original pre-fabricated green hut was replaced by a post-war concrete church, which was closed and demolished in 2002. While the new church was being built, we worshipped in Temple Hill School. In 2004, the new ‘St Edmund’s Living Well Church’ was opened.

With the Thames Gateway Regeneration Project at the turn of the century, an opportunity for social development was identified, and the Diocese of Rochester, St Edmund’s Parochial Church Council (PCC), along with various secular bodies, decided to find a way of working more effectively together to help address social needs evident in the local community. During the early 2000s the community witnessed the building of a new Church and Centre open to all members of the local community.

The Church and Centre are known as the Living Well Centre (LWC) which houses the Parish Church, the doctor’s surgery, Sure Start


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Children’s Centre and currently the Healthy Living Centre Dartford who run the Café.

We regularly see many hundreds of people coming through our doors every week.

Vision and Mission

Our Vision is of an estate community where everyone benefits from the opportunities the future holds and where no one is ignored, excluded or forgotten.

Our Mission is to offer all we do in church and the health-related services within the Centre to help people reach their full potential and contribute towards making a cohesive, vibrant, successful community that becomes a beacon for others.

The Partnership

St Edmund’s Church Living Well and Parochial Church Council has partnered with two secular bodies in creating the Living Well Centre; namely

Temple Hill NHS Surgery (NHS England) Sure Start Children’s Centre (Kent County Council)

Along with the Partners, the Living Well Centre currently houses the Healthy Living Centre Dartford who run the Café.

The partners meet on a regular basis, to agree the budget and review the LWC.


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The Church

Alongside the Partners, the Church manages its own budget and addresses the spiritual and pastoral concerns of its parishioners and everyone who lives within its parish boundaries. This is managed by the Priest-in-Charge and the Parochial Church Council (PCC). The PCC elects, among the parishioners, two Church Wardens, a Secretary and a Church Treasurer. They together address strategic oversight of the Church, while the day to day running of the parish is left to the staff team which includes among others the Clergy.

On behalf of the Partners, the Church employ the Centre Co-Ordinator and Duty Caretakers. The Centre Co-Ordinator is appointed in consultation with the Partners, and line managed, by the Priest-in-Charge. The Duty Caretakers are appointed by the Priest-in-Charge, and line managed by the Centre Co-Ordinator.

Our Worshipping Life

The Church is housed within an attractive, light and airy octagonal worship space that is flexible and which encourages creativity. To reflect the liturgical season, and to refresh our worship, we can change the position of the altar and seating, and can use visual aids including for example, a barren tree for Advent, a Jesse tree for Christmas, and the removal of all images and symbols for Maundy Thursday.

The worship space includes two modern artworks of Jesus by the Japanese artist Tomoya Yamaguchi, and a recently installed fabric screen, in church season colours, behind the usual position of the altar.


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The worship space has a modern sound system and projection screen, and is furnished with wooden, cushioned and comfortable seating, and is fully carpeted and under-floor heated.

Formerly a chapel, the recently refreshed prayer space contains chairs, a branch for prayer requests, a remembrance book, a candlestand and artwork.

People from within the congregation and from the Temple Hill community regularly use this space for prayer and to light candles. A prayer chain, via email and telephone, provides regular updates of current prayer requests.

The Chapel opens onto a small remembrance garden, used for the internment of ashes. There is a small vestry/quiet room suitable for meetings, which also includes a newly-installed shower room, mainly for use by Winter Shelter guests.

Sunday Worship is Eucharistic and alternates between 9.30am (weeks 2 and 4) and 11am (weeks 1 and 3) and a joint service with St Alban on the fifth Sunday. We use Common Worship. This service is occasionally all-age and depending on service times there is an average attendance of between 18 to 25 people. We are keen to reconnect with a group from Shore Lodge Care Home (Leonard Cheshire Disability) to our Sunday worship. We have a music group of three singers (on a rota) who lead worship at the Sunday service, usually using Songs of Fellowship, with a mixture of choruses and traditional hymns. Music is on an I-Pad wiith words projected onto the screen.

We draw on a number of traditions, worship styles and are open to insights and renewal from across a broad range of Christian experience. Generally liberal in theology, our worship is Eucharistic, and our clergy always wear vestments. As an Inclusive Church, we readily welcome female celebrants. We value collaborative ministry and always seek to develop and support individuals as they explore vocational calling. We have been a teaching parish and hope to continue this tradition with homegroups and Bible classes.

There is a 9.30am Eucharist and healing service every Thursday with a regular attendance of 10.


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There have been three discipleship groups which have tended not to meet as frequently as intended, and it is planned to review how we can re-energise house groups over the next few months as personal discipleship is essential to maintain the life and the vibrancy of the church outside of Sunday worship.

The Church is keen to re-engage with families, children and young people and we are planning to review “Little Edz” which was a popular feature of our Sunday Worship but over the years has declined. The Priest-in-Charge is keen to involve young people in worship and wishes to involve children in the preparation of the Eucharistic table. Over the coming months, there will be a workstream on how the Church can engage with children and young families, including “Messy Church”, and this will be a key feature of the work of the Community and Mission Priest.

There are currently 66 people on the electoral roll thus the Parochial Church Council has nine elected members from the congregation.

Our accepted practice is for churchwardens to be in office for four years, but they are (re-) elected annually at the APCM each April. The PCC meets 6 times a year and aims to complete all agenda business within 90 minutes. Meetings begin with a short act of worship/prayer.

Lent Courses

In recent years, clergy have hosted and run Lent Courses, based upon those published by York Courses. Members of St Albans have attended and participated. In 2019, members from both churches have gathered to consider “Who Is the Christ?”

Church Finances

The key feature of the 2018 accounts was that we achieved a surplus of over £3,300.


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Parish & Local Information: Transport, Shopping, Schools and Housing

Transport

There are excellent transport links to London and elsewhere; Temple Hill is close to major road (M25/M2/M23) and rail networks: South Eastern Trains from Dartford Station (www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/your-journey/station-information/DFD) and from Ebbsfleet International (18 mins to Kings Cross St Pancras - ebbsfleetintl.co.uk/) and for trains, via the Channel Tunnel, to the Continent. Gatwick and Heathrow airports are 37 and 57 mile drives away respectively from the church building via the M25 South. There are also regular and reliable bus services to and from Temple Hill.

Shopping

Both Tesco and the Co-op have shops near to the church, and there are a range of shops on Temple Hill Square – all walking distance. Dartford Town Centre is about a mile away. Bluewater retail park is some 5 miles away from the church building by car, whilst Lakeside retail park, is some 7 miles away via the Dartford Tunnel/Queen Elizabeth II Toll Bridge.

Schools

The community is well served by schools. The nearest to the church is Temple Hill Primary Academy and Nursery School (www.temple-hill.kent.sch.uk). We have, in the past, worked closely with it in delivering the National Curriculum RE units of work on Christianity as well as assemblies and events marking the Christian calendar and links are being reestablished. In the past it has welcomed members of the clergy onto its governing body. There is a local Church of England Primary School outside of the parish and a Catholic primary school within the parish. Kent remains selective at Key Stage 3 and Dartford and Wilmington have four single sex Grammar schools between them. The selective education system remains a key-contributing factor for many families in the area. There are also several non-selective secondary schools and academies.


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http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/your-journey/station-information/DFD/

http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/your-journey/station-information/DFD/


Housing

Since 1990, there have been a significant number of new homes built in the community, including over 1,500 new homes at ‘The Bridge’ in 2007 and the ongoing construction on Temple Hill itself of many family homes. Developments are planned for the coming years.


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Accommodation available for the Community and Mission Priest

Accommodation is available in a 3-storey end of terrace house built in 2005 and located next to St Edmund’s Living Well Church and The Vicarage.

Second floor: Landing; bedroom 1; bedroom 2; bathroom.

First floor: Landing; bedroom 1; bedroom 2; shower room with WC.

Ground floor: Entrance hall; upstairs cupboard; WC (off hall); lounge; dining room and kitchen.

External: Off road parking Garden shed.

This house has central heating.


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Parish & Local Information:Other ActivitiesThe Winter Shelter @ St Edmund’s

Between the beginning of January through to the end of March, we open our doors to (as one of five Winter Shelters in Dartford) the homeless who receive a welcoming place to sleep, an evening meal, a cooked breakfast, a shower and the opportunity (if they want) to talk/chat/play board games.

Memory Café

The Church holds a monthly Memory Café which it is seeking to develop and sustain further.

Our Twin Parish: Kikore, Kondoa Diocese, Tanzania

We enjoy a link with Kikore in the Kondoa Diocese and in September 2018 Bishop Given visited our congregation to preach. We undertake to:

Pray for one another in our individual and corporate prayer; Encourage one another with regular communication; Welcome one another when circumstances permit; and Grow towards mutual understanding and appreciation.

The Diocese of Rochester

We are part of the Diocese of Rochester, and the Lord Bishop James of Rochester is our Diocesan Bishop. Information on the Diocese of Rochester is accessible via the following link:

https://www.rochester.anglican.org/


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https://www.rochester.anglican.org/


Parish Overview – 2011 Census Data on DARTFORD

http://localstats.co.uk/census-demographics/england/south-east/dartford

In the 2011 census the population was 97,365 and is made up of approximately 51% females and 49% males. The average age is 38, while the median age is lower at 37.

87.3% of people were born in England. Other top answers for country of birth include: 1.4% India, 0.9% Nigeria, 0.7% Scotland, 0.7% Ireland, 0.5% Sri Lanka, 0.5% Wales, 0.4% South Africa, 0.3% Philippines

94.3% of people speak English. Other top languages spoken include: 1.1% Polish, 0.5% Panjabi, 0.4% Tamil, 0.3% Tagalog/Filipino

The religious make up is 60.6% Christian, 26.7% No religion, 1.6% Muslim, 1.6% Hindu, 1.6% Sikh, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.1% Jewish, 0.1% Agnostic. 6,391 people did not state a religion. 355 people identified as a Jedi Knight and 9 people said they believe in Heavy Metal.

46.0% of people are married, 13.1% cohabit with a member of the opposite sex, 0.7% live with a partner of the same sex, 24.8% are single and have never married or been in a registered same sex partnership, 8.5% are separated or divorced. There are 4,746 widowed people.

Top occupations: Administrative and secretarial 14.7%, Professional 14.6%, Skilled trades 12.6%, Associate professional and technical 12.4%, Administrative 10.6%, Managers, directors and senior officials 10.3%, Elementary 10.0%, Sales/customer service 9.1%, Caring, leisure 8.9%, Elementary administration/ service 8.9%.

In the Referendum on EU Membership, Dartford voted Leave – 35,878 for, and Remain – 19,985 for. Turnout was 75.5%.


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Information on the Parish is also available on the Church Urban Fund website http://www2.cuf.org.uk/parish/310094

Dartford Borough Councilhttp://www.dartford.gov.uk/

Member of Parliamentfor Dartford

Gareth Johnson MP (Conservative)http://www.garethjohnsondartford.co.uk/

Kent County Councilhttp://www.kent.gov.uk/


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http://www.garethjohnsondartford.co.uk/

http://www.dartford.gov.uk/

http://www2.cuf.org.uk/parish/310094


Parish Overview – 2011 Census Data on Dartford

Wards covered by the Parish of St Edmund’s

Joyce Green is a ward in Dartford and includes areas of Temple Hill. In the 2011 census the population was 4,646 and is made up of approximately 52% females and 48% males. The average age of people is 34, while the median age is lower at 31. 85.9% of people were born in England. Other top answer for country of birth was 2.4% Nigeria. 93.4% of people speak English. The other top language spoken was 1.6% Polish. 35.0% of people are married, 15.8% cohabit with a member of the opposite sex, 0.6% live with a partner of the same sex, 28.2% are single and have never married or been in a registered same sex partnership, 11.5% are separated or divorced. There are 299 widowed people. The religious make up is 55.7% Christian, 32.4% No religion/Atheist, 1.9% Muslim, 1.5% Hindu, 0.5% Sikh and 0.5% Buddhist.

Joyce Green Ward – CouncillorsDr Bachchu Kaini & Mark Maddison (Both Labour Party)

Littlebrook is a ward in Dartford and includes areas of Temple Hill. In the 2011 census the population was 4,416 and is made up of approximately 51% females and 49% males. The average age of people is 36, while the median age is lower at 34. 84.4% of people were born in England. Other top answers for country of birth were 1.6% Nigeria, 1.2% India and 1.0% Philippines. 93.1% of people speak English. The other top language spoken was 1.0% Polish. 38.6% of people are married, 13.7% cohabit with a member of the opposite sex, 0.8% live with a partner of the same sex, 28.9% are single and have never married or been in a registered same sex partnership, 10.6% are separated or divorced. There are 267 widowed people. The religious make up is 59.8% Christian, 28.8% No religion, 1.8% Muslim, 1.5% Hindu, 0.8% Buddhist, and 0.7% Sikh.

Littlebrook Ward – CouncillorsTom Maddison & Daisy Page (Both Labour Party)


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From May elections 2019, there will only be 1 Ward for the whole of Temple Hill

Directory

Churchwardens & TreasurerLorraine Bathgate (Churchwarden)

Arthur Saldanha (Churchwarden)

Ian Anderson (Treasurer)

Laity

Margaret Drury (Reader PTO)

Andrew Carr (Reader)

The PCC

(Elected AT THE 2018 APCM)

Lorraine Bathgate Joan Marr

Arthur Saldanha Roger Shuff

Ian Anderson Margaret Drury(Ex-Officio)

Sharon Earl(Deanery Synod Representative

PCC Secretary)

Andrew Carr(Deanery Synod Representative)

(Ex-Officio)

Patricia Fisk

Rev Mark Ham (Priest-In-ChargeLicensed 9th May 2018)


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YOUR PARISH?

St. Edmund’s Living WellSt. Edmund’s Road

Temple Hill, DartfordKent DA1 5ND

01322 311201


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