St John’s
with
St Mary’s
Mansfield
Parish Profile
September 2016
Person Specification
We spoke to our congregation, asking what they were looking for in a new vicar.
What we would like a new vicar to do…
· Talk to people, listen to people, be relational, pastor and nurture people, teach, encourage and enable people.
· Make sure people socialise and interact
· Be a voice in, and for, the local community
· Identify with and relate to all ages, making the effort to involve and be involved with all ages.
· Support and develop worship and preaching, both traditional and more contemporary.
· Bring congregations together in terms of breaking down barriers, deepening understanding while still maintaining the distinctiveness of different service styles.
· Preach with passion, clarity and substance.
· Develop and support lay leadership through effective structures, systems and relationships.
· Be evangelical in outlook, encouraging the use of spiritual gifts.
How we would describe our new vicar…
· A leader, a good communicator, who relates well to others regardless of age and enjoys being with people
· A person, who has a sense of humour, who is fun, friendly and happy
· A person of God who stands on ‘The Word’, reverent, intelligent and wise
· Determined, focused, forward-looking and up for a challenge
· Faithful, prayerful, caring and humble, approachable and accessible
· A person who is sincere and has integrity and is able to share vision that inspires and motivates others
Role Description
At St John’s with St Mary’s we are looking for the right person who will work alongside us and lead us with God’s vision. Therefore we would expect our next leader:
• To help us become a growing parish in line with our desire to be a diocese that is Growing Disciples, Wider, Younger and Deeper.
• To lead church members and congregations into growth, in depth of discipleship and service to the community in keeping with the diocese Growing Disciples vision
• To lead ministry and mission into the wider community so that the churches are recognised as a sign of God's love, working for the 'common good'
• To lead in pastoral care and teaching, and nurture faith in the planning of worship and preaching, including occasional offices.
• To lead ministry for all ages, from the eldest to the young; in particular to continue and develop a productive partnership with local primary and secondary schools including some active involvement in the Queen Elizabeth Academy
• To respectfully lead traditional and more contemporary worship when appropriate
• To encourage lay ministry in all areas of church life, including the participation of church members in leading worship.
• To lead the stewardship and organization of the parish.
• To support the future development of the church buildings for multi-functional use and support the continuing mission and outreach of the St John’s Centre.
• To demonstrate a life of prayer, faith, servanthood, and rest
Parish and Community
Mansfield is a town with a population of 80,000 in the town itself, and another 25,000 forming the district council area. It is 15 miles north of Nottingham and is within easy reach of the Derbyshire Peak District. There are good local transport networks (bus and train) and easy access to both the M1 and A1 roads.
Mansfield is in the former Nottinghamshire coal mining area and has seen huge changes in patterns of employment within the last four decades. The parish is ranked 1091 out of 12,599 (where 1 is the most deprived) on the Church Urban Fund’s list.
The parish of St John’s with St Mary’s, Mansfield was formed 6 years ago in 2010 when the parish of St John the Evangelist and the parish of St Mary the Virgin became one, with a joint electoral role of 195, and a combined Parochial Church Council comprising of 18 members. St John’s is a town centre parish. St Mary’s was geographically much larger with the majority of its parish comprised of the Ladybrook estate. This estate was originally council housing but there are now a large proportion of owner-occupied properties, some private rental and social housing. There are also a number of more recently built private housing estates. There is a small shopping precinct near to the church with a public library, post office/ newsagent, small supermarket, hairdressing salon, bakery, pharmacist and a public house nearby. There is also a community centre near to the church, which is well used.
The combined parish has a population of 16,400. Within the parish there are several primary schools, a church-linked secondary school, town centre shops and businesses. 20% of residents are aged under 18, and 20% are over 60.
St John’s church is a grade 2 listed sandstone building dating from 1856 and sits within the town centre conservation area. St Mary’s is newer, built in 1957 and lies less than a mile away from St John’s in the centre of community housing. Neither church has a graveyard. We employ a part time verger. Cleaning is done by a part time employee and volunteers
Adjacent to St John’s church is St John’s Centre. This building was formerly St John’s Middle School but now operates as a community centre providing a home for many church groups and events. It is also used by a wide range of community groups which provides revenue to run the Centre. The rental of car parking spaces provides another revenue stream and means that the centre can be financially independent of the church. The Centre employs a part time Centre Manager, who is assisted by an administrative assistant, both of whom also run the church office which is housed in the Centre.
A third building on the St John’s site is the former church hall, and is now called the Beacon Centre. This is a project which offers support to local homeless and vulnerably housed individuals. This project employs a part time manager, whose role includes fundraising for the work.
There is a five-bedroom detached vicarage which sits in its own grounds, adjacent to St John’s church.
St John’s with St Mary’s has a team of 5 Licensed Readers who preach and lead services on a regular basis. There is also a retired priest and several other lay people who take part in leading and preaching. There are 4 Churchwardens (two based at St John’s and two at St Mary’s) with a single PCC. The wardens are assisted by assistant wardens.
The parish of St John’s with St Mary’s has been through a period of gentle decline, and during this vacancy we are working hard to strengthen relationships within the churches, and find new ways to serve the community. We are aiming to grow disciples through mission, social action and nurture, with each congregation having something special and unique to offer. Many people are actively involved in the ministry of the parish, and desire to see the kingdom of God grow in Mansfield.
Both churches have teams of people who act as welcomers to worshippers, stewards, and assistant wardens. During this vacancy we are looking at ways to enhance hospitality and fellowship across the congregations and churches through worship and social events.
Ministry and Activities
Preachers and Leaders
A regular meeting of preachers and leaders who are involved in th e delivery of ministry on Sundays and occasional other events takes place, which during this vacancy is developing into an active group forming and shaping teaching themes and styles of worship in both churches.
Prayer Groups
The church community is supported by prayer in a number of ways. There are many prayer events to encourage the church to join together in prayer. These include prayer evenings, prayer lunches, prayer walks, and prayer meetings at various times over several weekdays. An intercessory prayer group is just being re-established, with a view to meet regularly to pray and listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the church.
Prayer ministry is offered at church services, with training sessions for team members. The team meets beforehand to pray and listen to God. Prayer ministry team members are available for prayer either during or at the end of some of the services.
Mother’s Union
There has been a branch of the Mothers’ Union for many years in St John’s and its 40 members are actively involved in many aspects of church life, supporting our own church family and leaders both practically and prayerfully. There are monthly branch meetings and other social events, where the aims of the Mother’s Union are shared with others.
Network Hubs
Much of the ministry grows out of the Network Hub structure. During 2003, in order to change from the church being ‘Core Leadership’ led to one of ‘Missional Community’ led, the Cell Group structure was changed into five Missional Networks, comprising Pastoral & Mission, Youth & Children, Homeless, Families and Community. A Leadership Hub, accountable to the PCC, was formed from the leaders of these Networks, along with the Clergy and Churchwardens. Within this Leadership Hub the Clergy has particular responsibility for the Worship and Teaching Group and the Wardens for the operational side of our church life.
Each of these networks has a network leader, and these leaders form a hub which (until the vacancy) met together regularly. Each network comprises one or more small groups which offer nurture and support to church members. We recognise that this structure works better in some areas of church life than others; there are a significant number of people within the church who are not part of a small group and see themselves as outside the networks. We are therefore open to this structure being reviewed and revised to be more inclusive.
Beacon network
The Beacon is a project which offers support to homeless and vulnerably housed people in Mansfield. The former church hall has been adapted to provide facilities comprising a full kitchen, a shower room, utility room, medical room and office, in addition to the large central space. The project employs a part time manager, but relies heavily on volunteers who come from a number of local churches.
The Beacon opens across lunchtime 3 days a week to offer meals, snacks, showers, laundry, medical support, food parcels, support with addiction and finding housing. The work is rooted and grounded in prayer. A small group meets regularly for prayer and Bible study.
Community Network
This is led by a volunteer community worker who has established good community relationships, particularly on the Ladybrook estate. Links have been forged with three primary and one special school where she regularly takes assemblies.
Twice a year (Christmas and Easter) ‘Experience’ workshops are run in St Mary’s over 4 or 5 days to teach the Easter/Christmas stories, where school groups visit for half-day workshops. These are now embedded and enhance the good links with the schools.
Messy Church has been running at St Mary’s once a month. This is now developing into a fortnightly event in order that better relationships can be built with children and parents.
Free to Be is a group which meets weekly in a community centre on the Ladybrook estate as a safe place for those who are older, and/or lonely to gather. Relationships are being built up with a number of these. An Afternoon Tea is held in St Mary’s on a Sunday afternoon several times a year to provide a social opportunity and also a gentle way to invite people into church. A very short service is held.
Twice a year a small team take cakes to business and community groups within our combined parish. We have many contacts with those in our community, and seek to increase the opportunities for sharing the Christian message and for deepening relationships.
Families Network
This network oversees our Sunday school groups (Light Groups) which meet during the 10.30am service at St John’s most weeks. This group became very small but is beginning to grow again. There is also a small Sunday school at St Mary’s twice a month; this is an emerging group as a few children are beginning to attend St Mary’s.
Mini Messy Church meets in St John’s Centre weekly during term time. This is a distinctly Christian group for parents/ carers and pre-school children. They also offer a ‘Tuesday Talk Time’ which provides an opportunity for prayer and Bible Study. These groups are slowly growing, and have a small and very committed team of volunteers.
The network has a weekly small group, and also organise social outings from time to time. This network also oversees Baptism preparation, inviting those wishing to have a child baptised to attend an evening to find out more and discuss their child’s baptism. These are offered monthly.
Pastoral Network
This oversees pastoral needs within the parish, and organises home/hospital visits and home communion where required. They offer follow up support to bereaved families. There are annual services held in each church to which families of those for whom we have taken a funeral are invited.
Youth and children
Groups for young people over 11 ended earlier in 2016 due to a lack of leadership for those groups. This was regrettable, and we recognise that this area needs a lot of development. The families network is planning to start a group for 11-13 year olds to run alongside the Sunday Light Groups in Autumn 2016, and a Light Party is planned for October 2016.
Church Buildings and Worship Patterns
St Mary’s Church building
St Mary’s Church is situated in the centre of the Ladybrook Estate approximately one mile from the town centre. It is a substantial brick building constructed in 1957 with a small car park and surrounded by grassy areas. The church inside is welcoming and well-kept and, and since the addition of CCTV, there is little antisocial behaviour in the church grounds. The quinquennial report (2015) has identified some minor works (replacement of slipped tiles and rainwater goods) to be carried out within the five year period. There is a small kitchen area but no separate hall and all activities are carried out in the church, which would benefit from extra space adding on to the church in due course.