The Bicester Benefice

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Contents

The Bishop’s Statement 3

Introduction 4

About Bicester 4

About the Benefice 6

St. Edburg’s, Bicester 9

St. Peter’s, Bucknell 20

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Launton 21

Emmanuel Church 23

Deanery perspective 26

Role Description 27

Person Specification 28

Foreword by the Bishop of Dorchester2

From being somewhat in the doldrums twenty years ago the Bicester Team has

developed into something that is very exciting indeed. Several things have contributed to

that. The town itself has been going through a huge amount of change both through its

rapid expansion, the development of the Town Centre, and the creation of Bicester

Village.

Physically this has been matched by the work that has been going on at St Edburg’s and

by the founding and building of Emmanuel Church on the Bure Park Estate.

But the primary energy is spiritual and there is a glorious sense of common purpose both

amongst the Team members themselves and within the wider ecumenical group of

Church leaders (Pentecostal to Roman Catholic) who meet every Thursday morning.

The new Team Rector will need to be someone who can operate in an ‘episcopal’ role,

giving encouragement to their Team Vicar colleagues and allowing them to develop their

work with their different gifts, and working collaboratively with the wider lay and clergy

team in all kinds of ways. She or he will also need to focus on St Edburg’s itself, giving

fresh impetus to the more traditional 11am congregation whilst encouraging and

developing further the more informal, and growing, 9.30am one.

As Team Rector they will have a significant role to play in the town and there are all sorts

of civic and wider opportunities for ministry to be taken.

As you will gather I think this is a very exciting job and, for a person who is a good

listener, a natural team player, an enthusiast for a wide variety of worship styles and a

caring pastor – and, yes, who has a big vision – it will provide a very fulfilling ministry.

I look forward to hearing from you.

15th November 2013

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INTRODUCTION

The AppointmentWe are seeking an enthusiastic Team Rector for the Bicester Team Ministry. The team, which was formed in 1979, comprises the four parishes of Bicester St. Edburg’s with Caversfield St. Laurence; Bucknell St. Peter’s; Launton Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Bicester Emmanuel.

The position of Team Rector of Bicester provides an exciting opportunity to lead a well-established and vibrant church community in addressing its mission in a period of substantial change and challenge.

The closing date for applications is 15th January 2014 and candidates will be interviewed by a Patronage Board chaired by the Bishop of Dorchester on 4th February 2014.

ABOUT BICESTERBicester is in an exciting phase of development and presents many and varied opportunities both to build up the community of existing Christians and to reach out to those who do not know the Lord.

The town is situated in gentle countryside, with convenient links to London, Oxford, and the Midlands, places of natural beauty and historic interest, such as Blenheim Palace, the city of Oxford, and the Cotswolds, are close by, as are the towns of Banbury, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes which offer good shopping, entertainment and other facilities.

Bicester is the local centre for a wide rural area, which includes a number of villages. Bucknell, Caversfield and Launton are 3 of the villages closest to the town and are part of the Benefice. Each has an individual identity; Bucknell retains much of its historic rural character, while Caversfield and Launton have both expanded with recent housing developments.

Growth of the TownHistorically a small market town, Bicester has grown rapidly since the 1950s. Growth stemmed initially from the development of military bases in the area, and the town’s location on the railway and developing main road system has furthered this expansion. Many residents commute to London, Oxford and Milton Keynes.

The population was 12,000 in 1971, is now 35,000 and will expand to about 50,000 by 2030. The estate at Kingsmere to the South West is growing rapidly, while another major factor in planned future growth is an ‘eco-town’ of about 5,000 new homes in North West Bicester.

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Social Needs and ProvisionRapid expansion has led to a lack of social cohesion. Infrastructure and services have failed to keep pace, although recent major investment in new town centre shops and a cinema (Pioneer Square), sports centre modernisation, new roads and highway improvements and a replacement local hospital have begun to address this problem.

While social and leisure provision for children, families and young people has increased, further facilities are needed, particularly for teenagers.

There is good provision of residential care and sheltered housing for the elderly.

Although the unemployment figure is relatively low, this hides the number of people who have lost jobs. Many have had to accept lower-paid or part-time jobs, resulting in increased debt and financial hardship. The level of local poverty has been highlighted by the recent increase in the use of the Bicester Food Bank, and increasing financial strain has troubled and broken some families.

Education and ChildcareThere are 13 pre-schools and nurseries in and around Bicester. Some are linked to the intake of a particular primary school.

Bicester Primary Schools are each linked to a particular catchment area. Increasing birth rates have led to a greater competition for school places and less chance of gaining a place outside the catchment area. St. Edburg’s and Launton Schools are both Church of England Primary Schools.

There are currently two secondary schools in Bicester, Bicester Community College and The Cooper School, both of which have a sixth form.

View of Sheep Street, Bicester

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ABOUT THE BENEFICEThe Benefice of Bicester with Bucknell, Caversfield and Launton was established in 1979. It now comprises 4 parishes and 5 churches, after the creation of the Parish of Emmanuel Bicester and the opening of their new church building in 2012. All the parishes welcome the ministry of women and men.

The existing organisation recognises the divergent needs of the 4 parishes within the benefice. A wise leader is needed to value, nurture, and encourage the team to meet the challenges each parish faces. It is envisaged that the ministry team will continue to encompass different styles of churchmanship within Anglican teaching and to have discrete areas of ministry. Leadership which encourages and supports individual development and initiative, as well as team work, is required.

The team is led by the Team Rector who has primary responsibility for St. Edburg’s, while two stipendiary Team Vicars have a high level of autonomy looking after the two village churches and Emmanuel. Each church operates independently with each minister working primarily in their own zone of responsibility, but within the overall unity of the team, and sharing workload across the churches whenever needed. The New Communities Minister works across the team and our SSM Team Curate primarily supports St. Edburg’s Church. Another SSM has taken the lead in supporting the Caversfield community and three LLMs provide support across the churches in many ways.

Team meetings, chaired by the Team Rector, are usually held weekly and provide an opportunity for mutual help and support, under the leadership of the Team Rector. The diversity within the team is seen as a strength, with the leaders positively embracing the breadth of the Anglican church.

The Parish office in the church hall is staffed by an administrator who works 25 hours a week, spread over 5 days. One hour of this time is devoted to work for Churches in Bicester.

Each parish has its own PCC and there is a JPCC which currently exists only to administer finance in relation to the joint costs of the Team. Otherwise the four PCCs are self-governing in all respects.

Team Members

The members of the Team are:

Team Vicar, Bucknell and Launton: Rev Becky Mathew (on maternity leave since July 2013), temporarily replaced by Rev Robert Jackson

Team Vicar, Emmanuel Church: Rev Ian Biscoe

New Communities Minister: Captain John Bentley CA

Team Curate: Rev Peter Wright (SSM)

Caversfield: Rev Fr Bob Atkins (SSM)

LLMs: Elizabeth Taylor, Mary Roe, and Colin Cockshaw

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Support for the Team Rector

The Benefice will support the Team Rector by expecting them to take

the full entitlement to annual leave

one full day off each week, which should be regarded as fixed and only modified in the case of extreme emergency. The Team Rector is encouraged to do what is necessary to be unobtainable by ordinary means on that day.

four days off immediately following the major festivals, Christmas and Easter

an annual retreat, the expenses of which will be met by the JPCC

appropriate courses for further development, the expenses of which will be met by the JPCC.

Ecumenical work‘Churches in Bicester’ is a very strong organisation which is supported by ministers and the laity. The ministers of the major denominations enjoy a warm relationship and hold weekly meetings for breakfast and prayer, hosted at ministers’ homes in turn. This provides mutual help and support, and furthers the ecumenical work in the town.

The churches have a good working relationship, and have together contributed to various initiatives such as the Street Pastors, children’s “Fun Days” and the Good Friday Walk of Witness which has been happening for over 30 years.

Churches in Bicester Family Fun day 2011

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A sense of shared purpose exists and many barriers to cooperation have been negotiated. There are regular prayer services for Bicester held in different venues, including St. Edburg’s, and a newsletter is produced twice a year.

Between May 23rd and June 1st, an ecumenical mission, ‘Love Bicester 2014’, is planned. An immediate task will be to support what has been planned and to build on what will be achieved in that mission.

It is to be hoped that the scope and effectiveness of the ‘Churches in Bicester’ group will continue to expand and develop, drawing more active Christians into involvement. We feel encouraged and supported by working with our brothers and sisters in Christ in this way. However, as several church leaders have recently left Bicester, there is a threat to continuity.

The Bicester Food Bank is an independent charitable trust, originally established by Emmanuel church; it is now supported by the entire benefice and other local churches as well as many schools and businesses. Use of this facility is increasing in the current economic climate.

Bicester Food Bank manager Janet Ray (front right) with volunteers

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ST EDBURG’S, BICESTER

“St. Edburg’s Church seeks to be a welcoming and caring family, living in Christ’s love through worship and service to one another and the wider community” (Mission statement adopted June 2011). The last few years have been a time of profound change in both the Benefice as a whole and St. Edburg’s in particular. For St. Edburg’s, the on-going process of the physical reordering of the church has run in parallel with a spiritual reordering of ourselves as part of the people of God in this developing town, and a reappraisal of our mission.

Celebrations and achievements

We celebrate: the success of the lay-led 9.30 Sunday family service; the success of the 10.00 Wednesday Communion service; the progress with the re-ordering of the church and the success of the fundraising; the increased sense of welcome and community in church; our ecumenical involvement with Churches in Bicester; our involvement with the community in general; our links with St. Edburg’s School; our work with the elderly in residential homes.

Opportunities and our hopes for the future

In the next five years we want to: strengthen the two main Sunday congregations as one community; revitalise elements of traditional worship at the 11.00 service; provide more opportunities for personal Christian growth; develop the work with the younger members of the church; increase links with local schools; reach out to the growing population of the town; develop pastoral care; continue re-ordering St. Edburg’s Church building.

LIFE OF THE CHURCH

Worship

The establishment of an additional weekly Sunday service at 9.30am, Eucharistic twice a month, has brought a new dimension to our worship. The congregation, many of whom are families new to church, has grown to an average of 60 (adults and children) in the space of 4 years. This lay-led, less formal service is enlivened by the music group. Children are actively involved during the service.

The growth of the midweek Eucharist, held on Wednesday morning, is another cause for celebration. About 20 regularly attend this service, followed by coffee and fellowship. There is scope to expand weekday congregations beyond the Wednesday service.

The traditional 11am Parish Eucharist has seen a recent fall in numbers. There are many possible reasons for this. The congregation is largely made up of older people. Long-term

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illness and deaths are reasons for the drop in numbers; the loss of the choir is a source of sadness to many. There is a desire to strengthen the 11am service and restore it to a more traditional Sung Eucharist, recognising that Sacramental worship is important to many in the church whilst simultaneously maintaining and developing the Family Service.

Although the two main congregations share coffee time between services, it is felt that the unity of the church has been diluted. There needs to be better communication between groups and a greater understanding of the need for diversity of worship, if we are to address the present and future needs of the town.

There are continuing challenges: to find ways to increase access to teaching at all levels of faith, from the new Christian to the mature worshipper, to foster respect for others and their gifts and to encourage the valuing of diversity of worship.

St. Edburg’s Church offers a variety of different worship formats. We are affiliated to the RSCM. There are 125 on the electoral roll of St. Edburg’s at present.

DAY AND TIME TYPE OF SERVICE

CONTEXT AVERAGE ATTENDANCE

Sunday 8am Holy Communion BCP 15

Sunday 9.30 1st, 3rd & 5th

Non Eucharistic Family Worship with full music group. Lay-led, informal.

Services are based on the Church’s Lectionary, planned and led by the leadership team with a priest leading the Eucharistic part of the service.

Modern songs are used, mostly from Songs for Worship and Mission Praise. Song choices are made according to the type and theme of the service based on the Lectionary.

50-65

Sunday 9.30 2nd & 4th

Family Eucharist with small music group

50-65

COFFEE IS SERVED BETWEEN THE SERVICES

Sunday 11am Parish Communion

Common Worship Order 1. Hymns are chosen from Hymns Old and New by the organist.

45-70

Tues, Weds, Fri Morning Prayer Common Worship 3

Wednesday 10am Said Eucharist Service is followed by coffee and chat. During Lent and Advent, a group Bible study usually follows.

20-25

Saturday 9.30am, monthly

Walsingham Eucharist

Led by SSM who is Associate Priest of the Walsingham Shrine

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2nd Sunday 9.30, St Laurence Caversfield

Sung Eucharist Common Worship, led by SSM 20-30

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Leadership and Stewardship

Whilst the Team Rector is ultimately responsible for the work of the church, the day to day leadership of many aspects has been delegated to lay-led teams as follows:

9.30 family service leadership team

Baptismal visiting team

Funeral follow-up team

Pastoral Team

Administration of Sunday rotas

The laity has been empowered both by leading the 9.30 service and also by leading key committees and working groups. The mix of ideas and approaches has enriched the life of the church. Good communication is essential for the incumbent to keep abreast of all developments. The scope for developing new lay leaders is considerable; there are many talented people in the church who need to be inspired and nurtured.

The churchwardens are heavily involved in every aspect of running the church, including maintenance.

The St. Edburg’s PCC meets ten times per year, and has sub-committees as follows:

Standing Committee

Major Works Committee (including reordering)

Events Committee

Stewardship Committee

Hall Committee

It is good that we can report that the St. Edburg’s Parish Share has been paid in full in recent years, although we will struggle to pay it in full in 2013. In 2012 we had a total income of £210,956 and total expenditure of £200,815; these figures included substantial restricted grants for re-ordering work carried out in 2012.

Effective stewardship, of time, talents, and treasure, is vital to the future mission of St. Edburg’s church. The lack of this has been an historical problem which adversely affects all aspects of church life. The Stewardship group has come up with innovative ideas to raise awareness of the financial responsibility which every Christian should feel for the needs of the Parish Church.

The response has been underwhelming; in recent months the level of regular giving has been decreasing, particularly as some committed givers have left the parish. The level of stewardship is poor with the bulk of the giving from a small number of responsible members. Much work needs to be done to encourage responsible stewardship in money as well as time and talents.

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Mission and OutreachThe continuing growth of Bicester and its pace present many opportunities in various forms both to encourage the community of existing Christians and to reach out to those who do not know the Lord.

There is a developing culture of encouragement and welcome for groups coming into the church for worship, such as Guides, Scouts, and local schools. There are good links with civic and military organisations.

Large baptismal congregations, up to 150 people, are a regular occurrence and frequency of baptisms is also high, with an average of 90 per year. Unfortunately attempts to capitalise on these first steps are rarely successful. There is a need to find ways of reaching baptism families beyond the sacrament itself.

The church would like to be able to offer more support to those in need, and to be seen as a resource for the community. This strategy has yet to be developed fully and it will be a major challenge both to plan and resource the building as a place where Christ’s love is shown in action. The church itself is open most weekday mornings and staffed by volunteers.

The appointment of the New Communities Minister has enabled outreach to begin on the growing Kingsmere development on the outskirts of the town. Every new resident has been welcomed with a card and a cake, and social events have been held. This work has not only given ‘Churches in Bicester’ an opportunity to work together, but has enabled residents, developers, and other agencies to focus on the complete picture of living on site.

This new community, together with the move of St. Edburg’s school to Kingsmere, will provide much scope for outreach work, as will the development of the Eco Town (North West Bicester). There is current discussion on the potential for St Laurence Caversfield to be linked with the adjacent Eco Town.

St. Edburg's is a Fairtrade church, as are several others in the town. We provide strong financial support for Christian Aid. The PCC allocates a proportion of its annual budget to local, national and international charities. Through the year (e.g. Lent,  Harvest, Advent), special collections are arranged for other charities, often encouraged by a visiting speaker or a sermon.  At all times we offer intercessions for the world church and for those caught up in conflict and other tragic situations.

Celebrating Bicester becoming the 500th Fair Trade Town

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Events During the course of the year, apart from the usual events around major festivals, we hold the Civic Remembrance service, the Town Mayor’s Civic Service, Christmas bazaar, Summer Fete, Art Festival and jazz concerts. In 2012 we introduced a Christmas Tree Festival in church, run by the St. Edburg’s Foundation, which was very successful and is being run again in 2013. Monthly coffee mornings provide a focus for fellowship and fund-raising. A group of 7-8 charity knitters meets on Monday mornings. The church is also hired out for other events, notably three classical concerts per year given by Trinity Camerata who also hire the church for rehearsals.

Once the toilets and the servery are installed in 2014, the building will be much more accommodating as a venue for diverse events.

Children & Youth

A toddlers group, begun Sept 2013, meets in the church hall one morning per week. The core of this is a group of mothers from Kingsmere.

The church does not have a formal Sunday School, preferring to cater for the children attending the 9.30 service (currently approximately 10 under 5s, and 6 primary aged) within the service.

Vibrant is the church’s youth group for children aged 11 – 16. This group is lay-led and meets fortnightly on early Saturday evenings. There are potentially 15 members, although the group usually consists of 10-12. Some members of Vibrant meet fortnightly for Bible study and associated craft activity. This is a relatively new group, (started January 2013), and at present usually only numbers 4 or 5 children. A termly ecumenical Youth Service is held in the Methodist Church.

All of the Children and Youth work is lay-led.

St Edburg’s Youth group Vibrant

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St. Edburg’s School

Strong links exist between the church and St. Edburg’s C of E school, with a Team member leading a weekly service in school (once per month in church). The school serves a diverse catchment area; a high proportion of pupils have Special Needs or are vulnerable in some way. The school will re-locate to Kingsmere around Easter 2015 and the dynamic of the catchment area will alter significantly.

All of these changes will bring challenges. It will be the only community building on the development for some time and, as a church school, this gives a wonderful opportunity. The school wants to be known not only for academic achievements but, more importantly, as a place where Christian values are known and celebrated, and are at the heart of everything. A new school is exciting – and a new building for a Church of England school is especially so! Help will be needed to develop spiritual and reflective spaces for the school community. The vision is to be a welcoming school that reflects God’s love.

For the last 4 years, the school has held Easter Prayer Spaces in church. The congregation have provided much practical help, and the installation has been integral to Palm Sunday services and evening meditations. Prayer Spaces for Advent, in school, have also been supported by the Church. The school would like to find ways of encouraging parents to visit these events, as well as opening them to local churches and church groups.

In the future, it is hoped to include church leaders in planning worship at school and church. There is a need to strengthen the Pastoral support for parents and families.

Up to 6 other schools hold Christmas Carol services in church or visit the church as part of the curriculum. Such tentative links await development.

Pastoral Care

The pastoral team, of 2 LLMs and 3 others, regularly take the sacrament to the sick and housebound. This work has recently expanded to include more of the care homes and sheltered housing in Bicester.

A committed team of baptismal visitors has been set up who visit baptism families before the baptism and are then at the service to greet the family. Another small team follows up funerals with an offer of help or further visits if needed. Recruits are needed to expand these areas of work to other sections of the community.

There is need for a Rector with a heart for pastoral care to encourage and build on what we have, whilst recognising that the demands are too great to be met by the incumbent alone.

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Personal Development and Spirituality

One of the joys of the 9.30 service is seeing so many young children attending but, at present, there is no provision for nurturing them beyond the worship and to grow them and their parents in faith.

Regular house groups, whether study groups or prayer groups, have not flourished, in spite of efforts to establish them on the back of the better attended study groups for Advent and Lent. The church does have three house groups which meet fortnightly. Two of the groups look at parts of the Bible in some depth while the third group, led by the New Communities Minister, is aimed at new or lapsed Christians.

Confirmation groups are run annually. Over the last few years there has been an adult course for 2-4 adults as well as a children/youth course for 2–8 people.

An awareness of the need for personal spiritual growth is limited. There is scope for developing further Bible study, teaching and prayer throughout the congregation, and providing opportunities for this at times other than services.

St. Edburg’s Foundation

St. Edburg’s Foundation (www.stedburgsfoundation.co.uk) was established as a separate charity 3 years ago to engage with the people of Bicester and encourage them to value this ancient building and appreciate its importance to Bicester, to protect its heritage and use it as a community asset. Its primary purpose is not fundraising. A highly successful venture is the Christmas Tree Festival, held in church, and now in its second year.

The PCC does not hold a majority on the trustees and so the Foundation is not controlled by the Church; nevertheless, it has close links with the church and works with the PCC to promote events.

St Edburg’s Foundation Christmas tree Festival 2012

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The Church Building and Other Properties

St. Edburg’s Church Bicester

St. Edburg's is a beautiful Grade 1 listed building, of good size, much loved and well maintained. It has been Bicester's parish church for over 900 years but its roots go back even further. The present church is believed to have been founded about 1104 on the site of a Saxon minster and was subsequently subsumed into the control of the Augustinian Priory.

In 2009, the church underwent the first phase of on-going reordering work to rewire the church, install new lighting, redecorate and install an up-to-date AV system. The 2012 Quinquennial highlighted some urgent repairs needed to the exterior stonework and the porch. We are hoping to address this, pending the outcome of a bid for grant aid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The next phase of reordering is planned for early 2014. This will include the installation of toilets and a servery, a new floor in the west end, a new boiler and the re-siting of the font. As the largest covered venue in Bicester, with a seating capacity of 400, this work will not only allow the church to be used for a wider variety of events, but increase our involvement in the town life and cement St. Edburg’s as a true facility for the local community. The re-ordering will be completed when the Nave is re-floored after further fundraising.

Our fundraising consultant, Rev Maggie Durran, has been very successful in submitting high quality bids to grant-making bodies on our behalf.

The churchyard was closed in the 19th Century and most burials are performed in the nearby cemetery run by the council.

The church is proud to have 10 bells which are rung every week and also by other groups of ringers on occasion.

The history of St Edburg's is woven throughout with the love of God and the prayers of the people who have worshipped here for many years.

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St. Edburg’s Church HallSt. Edburg’s church hall was constructed in the 1990s by converting a barn. It is situated on the south side of the churchyard and lacks designated parking.

At ground level there is a main hall with a high beamed ceiling and wooden floor, a fully equipped kitchen, and ladies, gents and disabled toilets, plus storage areas. Upstairs there are two offices currently in use by the church administrator and the New Communities Minister. In addition there is a large meeting room.

The main hall and upper room are hired on a fairly regular basis and the Hall usually makes a small surplus each year.

St Laurence’s Church, CaversfieldThe Grade II listed church of St Laurence dates from Saxon times; it is secluded and some distance from the village of Caversfield. It is in quite good condition but has few facilities and no parking. The church has a single monthly service and a small but dedicated congregation which has been largely left to itself, although legally the church is the responsibility of St Edburg’s PCC.

St Laurence’s Church, Caversfield

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The Rectory

6 Tinkers’ Lane, Bicester OX26 6ESThe Rectory is an attractive executive-style house built 6 years ago when it was purchased by the diocese; it is situated 250 yards from the church, down a private road with 8 similar houses built at the same time, all reflecting the local Cotswold style.

The large entrance hall gives access to:

A large well-fitted kitchen with space for a table

A utility room with a door to the garden

Another room off the kitchen giving access to the rear garden which is suitable as a study or children’s play room

A dining room with views of the rear garden

A large lounge stretching from the front to the back of the house, with French doors to the garden and double aspect windows to the front and back.

A downstairs cloakroom

Stairs which lead up to 4 double bedrooms (two with fitted wardrobes and en-suite) and a large family bathroom, all well-fitted.

Outside there is a double garage. This adjoins a converted barn with two rooms which have been used as a meeting room and an office. There is also a small cloakroom.

The front of the house is laid with shingle and will accommodate 3 – 4 cars. There is a secluded lawned garden to the rear and right of the property, and a small attached garden to the left of the garage.

The Rectory from the front (L), and from the rear showing separate meeting room/office (R)

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Curate’s House

75 Ravencroft, Bicester OX26 6YEThe Curate’s house is a good size and is situated on a modern housing estate on the outskirts of Bicester. The house is owned between St Edburg’s Church (74%) and by the Diocese of Oxford (26%). It is currently occupied by the New Communities Minister.

The Curate’s House at Ravencroft (L), and picking apples in the back garden (R)

SummaryFrom the above it can be seen that St Edburg’s is a vibrant, exciting, forward-looking community. It is characterised by a commitment to the centrality of Eucharistic worship, but not to the exclusion of other forms. We are an open and friendly community, which welcomes newcomers and helps them assimilate. However, with all this busyness, it is sometimes hard to hold all the threads together and to keep our focus on the Lord and there are many challenges ahead as well as successes on which to build.

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ST PETER’S, BUCKNELL

Bucknell is a small village of approximately 100 houses with a population of 260. There is a pub and a village hall.

St. Peter’s is a Norman / Early English church in generally good repair. A modern screen divides the church making the chancel, with seating for 40, the main worship area for Sundays. When the screen is opened the church can seat 170 people.

The village is a close knit community with a range of social events run by different organisations. The church holds a hot pot supper, a barn dance and a Christmas raffle as its main fundraising events.

The church has a 9.15 am service every Sunday which once a month is a Family Service with a Sunday school. Vestments are worn and special services are held each year to celebrate festivals, including Ascension Day followed by breakfast in the church. A Lent course is also run. The average Sunday attendance is 16, and the congregation recognises the need to engage with families in the village. A warm welcome is extended to all visitors and several of the regular congregation come from outside the village.

There are regular organists and a committed group of lay helpers who assist with church services and general duties around the church. The PCC meets approximately six times a year.

Bucknell has always paid their portion of the team parish share. The fabric of the church is assured of remaining in good condition as it is the fortunate beneficiary of a trust fund set up in the United States of America for this purpose.

The parish of Bucknell borders the proposed eco town to the North of Bicester and some of the land to be used is owned by the farming community of Bucknell. As such, the church will be there to welcome new residents who wish to worship in the village church.

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THE CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE

BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, LAUNTON

The village of Launton dates back to Saxon times and the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (generally referred to as St. Mary’s) dates in part from the thirteenth century with various later additions. The church building (Grade 1 listed) is generally in good repair but, in common with many village churches, future work needs to include serious consideration of kitchen and WC facilities. The churchyard is open and both the churchyard and church are well cared for. The modern vicarage in Launton is home to the team vicar with responsibility for Launton and Bucknell.

The village itself has a lively community with various clubs and groups meeting regularly including an environmental group, historical society, the WI, various football teams, art classes and an annual pantomime. There are also several toddler groups run in the village. An ecumenical prayer group, Christians in Launton, was instigated by the team vicar in 2013 to bring together Christians from all denominations and this group is now meeting regularly. The Church of England (VC) Primary School has 125 pupils and links with the church are now good, having been carefully fostered by the team vicar since her arrival in July 2011. There is potential for growth, particularly as there is currently no Sunday school at St. Mary’s.

The ChurchSt. Mary’s holds a larger than might be expected number of weddings and marriage blessings due to the close proximity of a good wedding venue. However, relatively few of those marrying at St. Mary’s are local couples. The number of baptisms has remained constant, averaging two or three per month. The church holds an annual summer fete which has become a large community event as well as raising much-needed funds each year. St. Mary’s PCC, the majority of whom live in Bicester, meets regularly. Launton was not able to pay a full parish share in 2012 but was subsidised by the town churches. The portion of the team share allocated to Launton has been reduced and the PCC anticipate paying this in full in 2013, albeit with some difficulty.

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Vision

In 2011 parishioners met in advance of the process to appoint a new team vicar; they considered what they are being called to do in their communities and their vision for the future. The discussion centred on where St Mary’s would like to be within the next five years. Approximately two and a half years on, this vision is still pertinent to the parish and is a work in progress. A summary of the visions and priorities that emerged are as follows:

St. Mary’s is central and caring and all-embracing while being watchful and mindful of the groups around. The church holds with tradition but has new visions. It is bright, vibrant and visible. The church is a central and caring place appealing to all ages to bring together hopes and offering warmth and light, all to the glory of God. St. Mary’s is inclusive and embraces everyone without bitterness or division; a vision of brightness, hope and vibrancy which is welcoming to all whilst preserving traditions and our Christian heritage. The church is a place of warmth with a sense of community. It is going in one direction in harmony, positively determined to go forward together.

Worship

Worship in St Mary’s is varied and there is strong opinion that the variety is needed to cater for the needs of the communities. Vestments are usually worn. Due to the team vicar’s maternity leave the number of services is currently reduced, but until recently the usual pattern of Sunday services has been:

8am 1st Sunday BCP Holy Communion 11am Every Sunday: 1st Sunday Family Service and all other Sundays Common Worship Holy Communion 6pm 2nd and 4th Sundays BCP Evensong 6pm 3rd Sunday Common Worship Holy Communion

Sunday attendance is variable, with a committed core of 8-15 weekly attenders. We also have a number of visitors, including couples preparing for marriage and baptism families.

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EMMANUEL CHURCH

Emmanuel Church, Bicester (ECB) was formed in December 2002 as a plant from St. Aldate’s and St. Ebbe’s Churches in Oxford. Our parish lies within the Bicester Benefice. We are a Bible-believing Charismatic Evangelical church. The Church values we have adopted are represented by the columns in the diagram below.

We seek to be a worshipping fellowship that is open to all, planted firmly in the midst of our local community. We value our diversity. We long to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ and fulfil the Mission that He has entrusted to us of bringing the Gospel of his Kingdom to all who will receive it.

Sunday ServicesWe meet every Sunday for a time of corporate worship and fellowship, with monthly evening services. Our team minister has increasingly encouraged members of the congregation to try out their gifts including leading services and preaching. We are blessed with a worship band.

As a Fresh Expressions church we do not hold closely to any particular liturgy, but, within an informal worship style, we seek both to be led by the Spirit and to give space to hear the Word of God preached each Sunday. There is always opportunity for members to give and receive prayer ministry after worship. Some within the congregation have taken responsibility for TWIST, a version of Messy Church aimed at introducing young families to God held monthly at the Methodist Church on a Saturday afternoon.

Midweek ActivitiesEveryone is encouraged to join in a midweek activity. For some, this will be in the form of home groups with prayer, discussion and Bible study. Other groups meet to provide a ministry for the community or whole fellowship. These include, for example, the café ministry, building and finance teams, the leadership of our youth-work, and the musical worship group and prayer ministry for individuals on a Sunday. As we move from being a

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small to a medium-sized church, we are developing the groups and teams needed to welcome newcomers and strengthen believers in Christ.

MembershipOver the last 10 years, ECB has grown from an initial congregation of 25 people to an electoral roll of 94. Regular Sunday morning attendance is approximately 100 adults and 40 children. We estimate there are 150 involved adults and 90 children and young people. PCC membership is 12.

Sunday Club provides age-appropriate groups for children and young people during term time and informal craft activities for younger children in the school holidays. A supervised crèche runs during Sunday morning services in term time.

Mid-week Youth Ministry supports two groups (years 7-9 and years 10-13) meeting on a Thursday evening at the Church. This has grown rapidly in recent months and includes young people from the church and from the community.

Mission and EvangelismAlpha courses are run periodically for those who want to know more about Christianity. We also run a marriage course and have trialled a parenting course. We run CAP Money courses sponsored by Christians Against Poverty and help, or refer on, those in need of debt counselling.

Kings Revival Church, Sri-Lanka. ECB has made links with a church of around 30 people in Negombo, on the west coast of Sri Lanka just north of Colombo, offering our support to its full time leader, Sriyamal Fernando, and his growing congregation.

Building Emmanuel Church holds up to 230 people downstairs and has additional rooms upstairs. The building (shown below) was completed in December 2012 at a cost of £1.4M. All this has been paid for except for one loan the Church has with the Oxford Diocese of £250,000. This loan is repayable over a ten year period starting in October 2013.

FinanceThe parish share has been paid in full.

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Areas of StrengthWe are far from perfect but believe that, at our best, we are a welcoming, caring church with a generous heart as shown in our love for the community and in our stewardship.

Areas for GrowthWe see ourselves as no longer a church in its infancy but in its adolescent years! Our good ideas and enthusiasm sometimes exceed our ability to implement them. Since completing the building, numbers attending worship have increased by 50%. We must continue to grow further by expanding our membership and maximizing the impact of the new church building as a visible Christian centre in North-West Bicester. Above all, however, our task is a spiritual one focused on Our Lord, His Gospel, and the call to live a life pleasing to Him.

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DEANERY PERSPECTIVE

The Bicester and Islip Deanery is essentially rural with the exception of the two main Bicester Churches and consists of five Benefices/Teams. The Deanery Plan was last reviewed in May 2013 and the Rector of Bicester would be expected to take a key role in its annual revision. Its purpose is to find new ways to grow a Christian presence in all communities and to provide additional leadership and outreach in the town and new communities.

Some discussion has taken place to look at how ministers (lay and ordained) might better use their skills across the Deanery but no specific action has yet been taken. However, the Chapter meets regularly and the five Rectors meet monthly for mutual support and to transact informal business.

A new Area Dean was appointed in October 2013 and a new Lay Chair is due to be appointed in early 2014. Deanery Synod meets quarterly and meeting agendas are linked closely to the work of the Deanery Plan.

A warm welcome awaits the successful candidate, and the Deanery is looking forward to welcoming the new Rector of Bicester.

(The Deanery plan can be found in Appendix 2)

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THE ROLE DESCRIPTION (details of the wider context can be found in Appendix 1)

Key responsibilities in the context of both St Edburg’s and the Benefice Worship and preaching

o To continue the development of the Family Serviceo To strengthen the traditional Parish Eucharisto To enable the development of church music in diverse styleso To develop collaborative working of the team of preachers

Mission and Outreach o To identify and develop opportunities for missiono To prioritise work with children and young people o To expand the use of the church by the wider communityo To support the New Communities Ministero To support St. Edburg’s school staff and pupils

Leadership and working collaboratively o To lead a team of differing ministry styleso To encourage team members to develop their skills and autonomyo To be line manager for the ministry teamo To foster, encourage and respect lay leaders in their roleso To participate fully in ‘Churches in Bicester’ and any other ecumenical

initiatives as may be appropriate Pastoral Care

o To develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for pastoral careo To encourage and develop the lay pastoral care teams

Stewardship o To encourage effective and meaningful stewardship of time, talents, and

moneyo To care for the church building, supporting, encouraging and guiding the

reordering plans Personal development and spirituality

o To encourage and enable individual spiritual growtho To develop and implement a plan to encourage house groups

Benefice o To maintain and strengthen the present form of benefice organisation o To develop a Benefice plan and prioritise areas of team work

The key responsibilities listed above may be supported by long and short term objectives to be agreed between the post holder, the Archdeacon and Churchwardens

Other responsibilities Participate in the Bishop’s Ministerial Development Review scheme and engage in

Continuing Ministerial Development Carry out any other duties and responsibilities as required in line with the benefice

needs. Take care for their wellbeing including health and safety and building a good

repertoire of spiritual and psychological strategies

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PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications/Training

Essential Ordained priest within the Church of England, or a Church in communion with it, or

a church whose orders it recognises

Desirable Willingness to engage in further training of relevance to this post.

Experience

Essential Priestly ministry in a leadership role, involving vision setting and team development Experience of working with new or rapidly expanding communities Experience of different worship traditions and churchmanship Engagement with and pastoral support for people of all ages Responsibility for managing a complex organisation with substantial resources (for

example people and buildings)

Desirable Leading imaginative and engaging all-age worship The care, maintenance and reordering of buildings Working with church schools

Knowledge/Skills and Competencies

Essential Ability to preach in a variety of styles and formats to congregations with varying

expectations, ages and understanding Ability to lead worship in three different styles on the same Sunday in the same

church Ability to inspire responsible stewardship Ability to organise resources effectively to meet a large number of demands Ability to identify and respond to opportunities for mission Leadership skills including the ability to motivate, inspire and effectively coordinate

colleagues and volunteers Understanding the value of and need for delegation

Desirable Ability to make and build on links with individuals and community organisations

whose involvement with the Church is limited Knowledge of the resources available to develop spirituality within the congregation Commitment to the wider mission of the Church

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General Attributes

Essential A Kingdom-focused and prayerful person An ecumenical outlook and willingness to work with local churches and faith groups At ease with exercising authority whilst recognising the servant-hood of the priest Ability to discern the skills and gifts of others and to help them to develop them

further

Desirable An appreciation of the variety of church music and its contribution to worship Ability to value the heritage of St Edburg’s Church and its place in the history of

Bicester

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