Diocese of Hereford
Vacancy Consultation for the Parishes in the
Wenlock Team Ministry
The Vacancy Consultation took place on Saturday 14th June 2014 at Cressage School
and began with a short act of worship. There were 57 people present for all, or some of
the meeting, the parishes were represented as follows :
Berrington with Betton Strange: 2; Bourton: 2; Church Preen: 1; Cound: 5; Cressage: 5; Easthope: 3;
Harley: 4; Hughley and Kenley: 4; Much Wenlock: 27; Sheinton: 2; Shipton: 1; Stanton Long: 1
The Consultation was facilitated by The Revd Sylvia Turner and Wendy Coombey.
Session 1 : Setting the Scene
Prior to the meeting the Churchwardens had filled in a questionnaire giving the details
of each Parish, these were checked out with those present.
The Local Community
1. A description of the villages:
> How many people live in the Parish (approximately)?
Bourton
100
Cound
300 distributed in several small communities
Easthope
55
Harley
170
Kenley
120
Much Wenlock
3,000
Stanton Long
220
> What sort of age range?
Bourton
mixed
Cound
mixed and retired
Easthope
mainly 55-80 years
Harley
4-11=4; 12-18=4; 20-60=40; 61-80=110; 81+=12
Kenley
70+
Much Wenlock
mixed
Stanton Long
mixed
> What local facilities?
Bourton
Cound
Easthope
Harley
Kenley
Much Wenlock
Stanton Long
school: 1 mile; VH / playgroup: 2 miles; bus once a week
VH; shop, post office, pub, fuel: 2 miles
VH shared with two other parishes: 3 miles
pub; VH
VH
all facilities available
shared VH; Playgroup, Buzzard bus
> Distance to other services?
Bourton
Much Wenlock: 3 miles
Cound
Shrewsbury: 7 miles; Doctors: 3 miles; mobile library
Easthope
Much Wenlock: 4.5 miles
Harley
Much Wenlock: 2 miles; Cressage: 2 miles: mobile library
Kenley
5 miles
Much Wenlock
all within Much Wenlock
Stanton Long
Much Wenlock: 8 miles; Ditton Priors: 4 miles; mobile library
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> What sort of Leisure activities?
Bourton
WI: 2 miles; YFC: 3 miles
Cound
Cricket Club; Tennis Club; WI; Flicks in the Sticks
Easthope
VH activities; WI; playgroup; local community charity events
Harley
activities in Cressage and Much Wenlock
Kenley
none
Much Wenlock
large selection in the town
Stanton Long
WI; local YFC; community organised activities
The Parish groups were asked what they felt the positive aspects of their
village and communities were:
Bourton, Easthope, Shipton and Stanton Long
 Peaceful
 Awareness of neighbours
 School, village hall, WI - groups and activities
Church Preen, Hughley and Kenley
 The view!
 Lack of crime
 Old Church
Cound, Harley and Sheinton
 Peaceful and beautiful countryside
 Village life - friendly
 Peace and safety
Berrington, Betton Strange, Cressage
 Sense of community, lots of activities, friendship
 Doctors surgery and pharmacy
 Facilities: shops
Much Wenlock
 Inclusive welcome for incomers - love and support
 People make an effort to support the towns businesses and facilities
 Good variety of cultural and sporting facilities and events
The Parish groups were also asked ‘what are the issues which give most
concern / anxiety to local people’, the things mentioned were:
Bourton, Easthope, Shipton and Stanton Long
 Isolation of some people - no transport
 House prices, lack of affordable housing
 No pubs and shops
Church Preen, Hughley and Kenley
 Access to village
 Mobile population
 Lack of community spirit among incomers
Cound, Harley and Sheinton
 Planning concerns - may have a new housing estate, but lack of affordable housing
 Lack of amenities: schools
 Ageing community, lack of health services
Berrington, Betton Strange, Cressage
 Loss of that community spirit
 Additional development: housing / dormitory
 Main road, more traffic
Much Wenlock
 Do not like excessive expansion / lack of affordable housing
 Roads and pavements in a poor condition
 Lack of employment for young people
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2. A description of the local Churches:
a) The building
Bourton
Ancient in a reasonable state of repair, welcoming and
warm with oil heating
Cound
Ancient 13th Century with additions up to 19th Century, in good
repair, welcoming but costly to heat
Easthope
13th Century in a good state of repair, kept in a good state of
repair by the community who have raised £150,000 for new roof,
situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty
Harley
this warm and welcoming Church dates back to mid 14th Century,
the tower is the only original structure, the nave, north aisle and
chancel were rebuilt in 1845/6, with a Norman font inside the
Church and a Victorian font outside, the oak wainscot box pews
date back to 18th Century, the 1740 clock has recently been
restored, the three bells were recast in 1878, expensive to run
with annual costs £11,000+
Kenley
Ancient, warm and welcoming but in need of a new roof
Much Wenlock
Ancient Grade I listed - very lively in many ways!
Stanton Long
Ancient, informative and welcoming with refreshments always
available and an attractive churchyard
b) The people who worship there regularly (congregation average):
Bourton
size: 8-9; age: 68; mixed group
Cound
size: 15; age: 60; mostly retired
Easthope
size: 6; age: 55
Harley
size: 10; age: 65
Kenley
size: 10; age: 60; mostly one group
Much Wenlock
size: 85-95; age: 60-ish; good cross section of the community
Stanton Long
size: 12; age: 60; two groups
e) The Services:
Bourton
Cound
Easthope
Harley
Kenley
Much Wenlock
Stanton Long
1st Sunday: Morning Service; 3rd Sunday: Eucharist
weekly services which include: CW, BCP, Eucharist, Morning Prayer,
Family Services
currently one per month
monthly: one Family Breakfast Service; one Eucharist; one Evensong
plus special services
monthly Eucharist
daily / weekly: CW / BCP; Eucharist; full choral services, monthly
Family Service
two per month: Family Service and Eucharist
e) Mid-Week activities:
Bourton
none
Cound
lay leadership course; bell ringing
Easthope
none
Harley
none
Kenley
none
Much Wenlock
midweek services; strong choral tradition, robed choir; bell ringers;
two Sunday School groups
Stanton Long
bi-annual Christmas Choir
e) Church people as leaders of local community activities:
Bourton
School Governors; Ladies Lunch Club; Team Council; WI Committee
Cound
members of: PCC; Parish Council; VH Committee
Easthope
members of: Parish Council; WI
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Harley
Kenley
Much Wenlock
Stanton Long
School Governor; Open the Book; Agricultural Chaplaincy;
Methodist Circuit Officer; members of: VH Committee; local
Choir; Board of Church and Society; Evangelism Committee
The Only Leaders
include: School Governors; Town Councillors; Festival Committee;
Wenlock Olympian Society
WI; Parish Council; VH Committee; Parish Children’s Christmas Party
In discussion, groups were asked what it was about their current worship and witness which
might attract people to join them, what might put people off and what were the greatest
challenges facing their Church:
What might attract worshippers:
Bourton, Easthope, Shipton and Stanton Long
 High quality incumbent
Church Preen, Hughley and Kenley
 Welcoming, informal, friendly
 Only organisation providing social and community activities
 Good sharing eg: Open the Book
Cound, Harley and Sheinton
 Warmth of welcome and open Church
 Variety of services - willingness to change
 Open the Book
 Share services and work well together
 Good social life, open to young people
 Website
Berrington, Betton Strange, Cressage
 Friendly and welcoming
 Open the Book
 Inclusion of school - building good relationships
Much Wenlock
 Welcoming Church community
 Broad choice of services and activities: house groups, Alpha, prayer groups
 Youth Choir and café for youngsters
 Website!
What might put people off:
Bourton, Easthope, Shipton and Stanton Long
 Low quality incumbent
 Do not connect with people in the street, need more outreach and to seek people out
Church Preen, Hughley and Kenley
 Sermon slot needs to be more helpful, more teaching at the right level
 Alien place to unchurched
Cound, Harley and Sheinton
 Lack of younger people: missing 20’s - 40’s
 Cold and problems with access
 Is the Church relevant?
 Pressure to do too much! Trying to get new people to get involved
 Financial pressure
Berrington, Betton Strange, Cressage
 Lack of accessibility - road and single pavement
 Lack of families and youngsters
 Elderly congregation
Much Wenlock
 More diversity of service
 Still not reaching all people - freer worship?
 Lack of 20’s - 30’s age group
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The main challenges:
Bourton, Easthope, Shipton and Stanton Long
 Low population - getting people to come
Church Preen, Hughley and Kenley
 Numbers - high percentage who do come, need help with more outreach
Cound, Harley and Sheinton
 Numbers, money, fabric - all connected
Berrington, Betton Strange, Cressage
 Fundraising for building
 Getting people to attend
 Team changes, developing closer links, more working together
Much Wenlock
 Appeal to all and attract everybody
Session 2 : What is God’s future for us?
The Five Marks of Mission were circulated and discussed. Groups were asked to think of
things which the Churches are already doing with respect to those five marks, as well as
things which could be done better or in addition. The feedback from the groups was as
follows:
1. “To Tell” - to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
Now:
- Open the Book
- Alpha meetings (team activity)
- publicity: Newsletters, websites, posters
- getting involved in activities outside of own village
- festivals and services etc
- leaders of Worship Development Programme
Future:
- equip ordinary people to engage with others - not just Clergy
- team Churches to share resources and be less parochial
- build on what is already happening
2. “To Teach” - to teach, Baptise and nurture new believers
Now:
- Kids Church
- Jam and Xtra Jam
- Alpha
- Junior Choristers
- Open the Book
- House Groups
Future:
- ways of encouraging prayer life
- more open discussions along side sermons, explore the meaning of them
- Local Ministry development
3. “To Tend” - to respond to human need by loving service
Now:
- support from the Church community - genuinely care about people
- bereavement group
- Happy Bus - takes people shopping - Church involvement
- soup lunches, community lunches and coffee mornings
- prayer boards
- summer prom - invite all people
- Community Larder / Food Bank
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Future:
- support for people prior to the death of a loved one - pastoral care, some
joint work with Doctors
- pastoral care could be extended - lack of confidence within congregation
- more support for disabled and elderly
- single parent support - respite for Mums!
- Samaritans - male support group - breakfasts or pub meetings
- stewards available for people coming into Church
4. “To Transform” - to seek to transform unjust structures of society
Now:
- funds and prayers for justice issues
- Christmas boxes prepared and donated by the whole community
- Christian Aid
- mission giving, here and work overseas
Future:
- tackle social injustice and loneliness
- need to work with parish and town councils, influencing them on issues
- involve schools to transform
- encourage more giving in the future
5. “To Treasure” - to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and
sustain and renew the life of the earth
Now:
- buildings
- natural environment - lots of resource and energy put into the community
- traditional crafts and building materials
- natural spaces - peace
- wildlife - bats!
- children encouraged to appreciate surroundings
- we give thanks in our services
- we tithe to support this
Future:
- maximise energy efficiency, but constrained - more advice needed
- some Churchyards too ‘neat’, should be left wild
- encourage people to help with maintenance
Facilitators’ Reflections
This was a very comfortable and harmonious meeting, which 57 people attended and in
which differing views were expressed without acrimony. In particular there was an
appreciation for the current style of worship, but also a recognition of diversity across the
team and an understanding that there were sections of the community that were not being
reached at the moment.
There was the familiar sadness at the absence of people in the 20 - 50 years age range, but
also a large amount of work being directed towards youth. A group of lay people are
committed and organising themselves to look at this area of work.
There was a commitment to the individual parishes but also a feeling that working together,
which was already fruitful in some cases, might be explored beneficially. It was noticeable
that some people attending did not know others.
People were self-critical recognising, for example, the absence of action on the
”Transforming” agenda.
There was considerable energy and enthusiasm from those attending.
The Consultation concluded at 12.30pm.
The Revd Sylvia Turner
Wendy Coombey
June 2014
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Document prepared prior to the consultation and passed to the facilitators during the
morning session, to be included as an addendum
“Young People In Church” Working Party
May 2014
Proposed statements for Wenlock Team Profile
1) Youth work is being developed in a number of Churches across the Team.
This ranges from a Breakfast Family service, through Kids Church, the
Trinity Youth Café and Jam Club
2) Each week between 12 and 20 local people, who have an interest in
promoting Bible stories to young people, deliver Open the Book to
approximately 250 children in 4 primary schools. These assemblies are in
addition to the special school services held for the major Church festivals
and the Easter Experience that takes place at Cressage
3) The developing youth work within the Wenlock Team is supported by
approximately 20 Leaders of Worship, half a dozen lay adults and 3 youth
leaders
4) The Wenlock Team is keen to encourage and further develop the work that
has already begun, to include work with the secondary education sector
and to grow family orientated services in interested parishes
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