The Ray Valley Benefice Profile
January 2015
Foreword by the Bishop of Dorchester and the Archdeacon of Dorchester
Unusually, this rural multi-parish benefice has two House for Duty posts arising simultaneously. The
benefice has taken the decision to run the appointments process for both posts at the same time. As
you will see from the following pages, they are looking for two people who can offer all the regular,
priestly ministry alongside others in the Ministry Team and in collaboration with committed lay
people in each community. The vision is for a benefice-wide team, working together for the mission
of God while at the same time having two priests with particular responsibility for a geographical
area of the benefice.
There is a delightfully diverse mixture of the traditional, the contemporary, the family-orientated,
the academically-minded and even military establishment, represented in the churches here. One
post is based in Charlton-on-Otmoor, the other in Islip - churches and communities with different
needs and approaches. If you'd like to hear more about each of these, and their particular
characteristics, please do be in touch directly with the Rector, Charles Masheder (01869-247813 or
chasmash@ic24.net) who will be very pleased to talk with you. He is away 23rd-27th February.
The Diocese of Oxford is encouraging all parishes to engage with the Living Faith vision
(http://www.oxford.anglican.org/mission-ministry/projects/living-faith/) and find their own
distinctive ways of living and sharing the love of God found in Jesus Christ. You will find elements of
that vision in this benefice too, and the potential to deepen and grow the life of faith.
You may find yourself drawn more to one post than the other, or to either, but whatever the case
you will find a warm welcome and the opportunity to offer ministry in a delightful part of rural
Oxfordshire. We are delighted to commend it to you, as you discern the path for your own ministry
and service in God's Church.
From the Area Dean: Rev’d Stephen Griffiths
The Deanery of Bicester & Islip is one of contrasts, comprising large tracts of rural Oxfordshire, the
fast-expanding town of Bicester, a number of large villages equipped with schools and shops, and
many smaller less well equipped communities. As in every place it is the people that make this area
come alive: a mixture of locals who value their deep roots and newcomers who have arrived for
work, or value the good transport links, or want to retire in pleasant surroundings. Community spirit
is alive and well in our Deanery. There is a surprising amount going on even in the smallest villages.
The Deanery it is made up of five sizeable Benefices: the Bicester Team, Akeman, Cherwell Valley,
Ray Valley and Shelswell Benefices and one single parish of Rousham. Clergy and lay people are
learning more and more about the value of team work as we seek together to meet the needs of a
growing population. Clergy coming to our Deanery will need to have a Benefice and Deanery wide
perspective. You will be joining a diverse clergy chapter which includes a prison chaplain, army
chaplains, and new communities minister. Our mission and ministry are also shared with ecumenical
colleagues.. This is a crucial time in the life of the Deanery. We look forward to welcoming a
colleague who can help shape the future of church in the Ray Valley Benefice and beyond.
http://www.oxford.anglican.org/who-we-are/dorchester/deaneries/bicester-islip/
The Ray Valley Benefice
Location
The Ray Valley Benefice lies along the course of the River Ray in the eastern part of
Oxfordshire. It starts at the border with Buckinghamshire and ends where the Ray joins the
River Cherwell at Islip. The Ray crosses the wetlands of Otmoor, an area of historical
significance and now the home of an RSPB reserve. It has the advantage of being in a rural
area but within a close proximity of Oxford.
Within the benefice are eight churches, serving twelve villages. The villages are quite varied
in character, although those that are situated on Otmoor have very strong ties going back
over the centuries.
The churches are, overall, in a good state of repair, with restoration projects completed in
several and others under way in other churches. To date, fund-raising for these projects has
been very successful, with excellent support from the parishioners.
In 2014 all parishes paid their parish share in full, with one exception where there was
relatively small shortfall.
The Ministry Team
The Benefice is served by, and the Rector supported by, a Ministry Team comprising of two
House for Duty Priests, a Curate under training, a Licensed Lay Minister and a part-time
Administrator.
The Rector is based at Ambrosden, where he occupies the Rectory adjacent to the parish
church.
Students from Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and Ripon College, Cuddesdon are welcomed as part of
their training.
The Ministry Team meets weekly for prayer, discussion and planning, with a business
meeting once a month, preceded by Holy Communion.
There is a Benefice Treasurer and each parish provides a representative at a regular
Benefice Treasurers’ Meeting.
From the Rector
It would be a real joy to meet you and to welcome you to our
recruitment process. The Ray Valley has been the home of
Felicity and me over 7 years and the focus of my ministry
through that time. The parishes are very varied, each with its
own culture and village life.
There has been a certain sense of cohesion within the Benefice
within more recent years but I have always encouraged each
church community to pursue their own life. Our range of
services covers Holy Communion, Family Services, Evensong
(with BCP) and more informal worship. We are hoping and praying for two new priests to fill our
vacancies. A love of rural life and parish ministry is essential, as well as a good sense of humour!
The Pattern of Sunday Services in the Benefice
Throughout the Benefice there is a diversity of worship offered. The Ministry Team, with its
range of talents, has been instrumental in delivering these services. The parishes combine
for some benefice services and parishioners regularly visit other parishes for services.
Church
Ambrosden
1st
10.30
Holy Communion
18.30
The Xtra One
2nd
10.30
Family Service
3rd
4th
5th
10.30
10.30
Holy Communion Holy Communion United Benefice
Service (UBS)
Merton
09.00
Holy Communion
18.00
Evening Prayer
09.00
Holy Communion
UBS
09.00
Holy Communion
UBS
Piddington
10.30
Family Service
Islip
10.30
08.00
10.30
Family Communion Holy Communion
Family Communion
10.30
Family Communion
Noke
17.00
Family Service
Woodeaton
Charlton
10.30
Family Service
08.00
18.00
Holy Communion Evening Prayer
10.30
Family Service
08.00
UBS
Holy Communion
10.30
Family Service
& Shortened
Communion
09.15
Holy Communion
alternate with
Woodeaton
UBS
09.15
Family Service
09.15
Holy Communion
alternate with
Noke
UBS
09.00
Holy Communion
18.00
Evening Prayer
10.30
09.00
UBS
Family Communion Holy Communion
Oddington
10.30
Holy Communion
18.00
Evening Prayer
Murcott
All Age Worship
(Methodists)
10.30
Holy Communion
UBS
The Eastern part of the Benefice
St Mary the Virgin, Ambrosden
Ambrosden lies 3 miles south west of Bicester and borders on Buckinghamshire. Two
major roads pass through the parish. but away from the village centre. These are the A41
Bicester to Aylesbury road and the B4011 Bicester to Thame road.
Historically most of the houses were on either side of the road to Merton. However, after
the Second World War the Ministry of Defence built a large number of houses for the army
personnel based at St. George’s Barracks in the nearby village of Arncott. A new phase is
being entered following the departure of the resident regiment in 2014 from the military
bases in Bicester area. A new regiment will be taking up residence. There are also
developments under way for new private houses in the village, as well as plans for housing
on military sites. The current population of the whole parish is around 3,500 but this is
expected to increase substantially in the medium term.
Local children attend Five Acres Primary School in the village www.five-acres.oxon.sch.uk
There are two general stores, a ladies hairdressers and a public house. The village is well
served by buses, going to Bicester, Oxford and Aylesbury. The railway station at Bicester
affords a regular service to London Marylebone and Birmingham.
The earliest part of the Grade 2* Church of the Virgin Mary is 12th century, with additions
having been made in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Canon Gregory Page-Turner is the
patron. There is a splendid organ, built by William Hill Ltd in 1909 and rebuilt in 1973.
Originally hamlets of Ambrosden, the nearby villages of Blackthorn and Arncott are served
by St Mary’s. Both formerly had non-conformist chapels.
Arncott is a small village, with houses mainly around the green. It is surrounded by
military installations and is also home to H.M. Prison, Bullingdon, which lies outside the
main village.
St Swithun, Merton
The village of Merton lies on either side of the Islip to Ambrosden road. It is 4 miles south
of Bicester and 11 miles north west of Oxford. The parish has an acreage of 1,932, bordering
on Fencott, Murcott and Charlton-on-Otmoor on one side and Ambrosden and Wendlebury
on the other. It has a population of around 430.
Children of primary school age attend either Charlton-on-Otmoor Church of England School
or Five Acres School, Ambrosden.
The village hall is the centre of all activities, hosting meetings and various village groups.
The Grade 1 listed Church of St. Swithun was built in the 13 th and 14th century, with a
major refurbishment carried out between 1865 and 1872. The Patron is Exeter College,
Oxford.
The ladies of the parish are renowned for their flower arranging skills, with stunning
displays in the church on special occasions.
The former Manor House within the village is now a nursing home.
St Nicholas, Piddington
Piddington, a pretty village nestling under Muswell Hill, lies 4.5 miles south east of
Bicester. The parish, consisting of 2,354 acres, borders Ambrosden and Arncott on one side
and the Buckinghamshire parishes of Brill and Ludgershall on the other. It has a population
of around 370. There is a village hall, which hosts a range of activities.
The Grade 2* Church of St. Nicholas dates from the 13th century. It has a 14th century wall
painting of St. Christopher, which was restored in 1935, and an elaborate 14th century
double sedilia. The patrons are the members of the Parochial Church Council.
The Central part of the Benefice
St Mary the Virgin, Charlton-on-Otmoor
St Mary’s House
The residence of the House for Duty priest is a 5-bedroomed detached house, built in the
1970’s, in the main street of Charlton-on-Otmoor. The rear garden has a splendid view of
Otmoor.
May Day at Charlton-on-Otmoor
Charlton-on-Otmoor is the largest of the Seven Towns of Otmoor, i.e. the villages situated
on the moor. Together with its former hamlets of Fencott and Murcott it is renowned for
the continued presence of families who have been there for centuries. There remains great
pride that their ancestors took part in the riots in the 1830’s, when the moor was enclosed.
In recent years a number of people employed at Oxford University and the Oxford hospitals
have come to live in the villages. The population of Charlton is around 430 and the civil
parish of Fencott and Murcott has a population of around 250. There is a public house at
Charlton and the Nut Tree at Murcott is a Michelin starred restaurant.
The Grade 1 listed Church of St. Mary the Virgin dates from the 13th century and is listed as
being in the best thousand churches in the UK. It has a splendid rood screen, dating from
the 16th century. The patron is Queen’s College, Oxford.
May Day at Charlton is nationally famous, with children from the village school processing
to the church with a garland of flowers, which is then hung on the rood screen. A service is
followed by dancing around the maypole.
The Church of England Primary School in the village enjoys a good reputation, pupils
coming from all of the nearby villages www.charltononotmoor.co.uk.
Murcott Mission Room
The Murcott Mission Room was commissioned by the Rector of Charlton in the late 19th
century to provide a place of worship for members of the Church of England, in an area then
dominated by non-conformists.
Holy Communion services are held on one Sunday each month, with an additional
morning service for Methodist worship, reflecting the non-conformist tradition of many of
the inhabitants.
St. Andrew’s, Oddington
Oddington, with a population of about 100, enjoys a peaceful location away from through
traffic. Up until the 1960’s it was populated almost entirely by people engaged in
agriculture. Now there are a number of professional people, working in Oxford and beyond.
The Church of St. Andrew is Grade 2* listed and dates from the 13 th century. It enjoys a
stunning location, overlooking Otmoor. The eminent Maori princess, Maggie Papakura, lived
in the village in the 1920’s and is buried in the churchyard. Her grave is a pilgrimage for
Maoris from all over the world. During her time at Oddington she commissioned a memorial
to the Maoris killed in the First World War, which is unique in the world. The patron is
Walsingham. www.churchofstandrewoddington.org
Good Friday at Oddington
The Western part of the Benefice
St Nicholas, Islip
The village of Islip is 5 miles north of Oxford. The B4027, which passes through the centre
of the village, was originally the main route between London and Worcester. In the 18 th
century it became an important staging post for coaches and a number of inns catered for
the travellers.
Edward the Confessor was born at Islip in 1005 and his presence there remains a
significant historical event.
During the English Civil War, Islip was a strategic outpost for the Royalist capital at Oxford.
It was the site of battles, resulting in both sides, in turn, occupying the village.
The writer and poet Robert Graves lived in the village after the First World War. His former
home has recently been marked by a “Blue plaque”, and there is a strong link with the
Robert Graves Society.
The Grade 1 listed Church of St. Nicholas dates from c.1200. The chancel was rebuilt in
1780 and the church was restored in 1861. Patronage is held by the Dean and Chapter of
Westminster. Local clergy have been serving as duty chaplains at Westminster Abbey.
Islip has a thriving community shop and there are two public houses. The village hall
provides a meeting point for a number of village organisations. There is a frequent bus
service to Oxford and Bicester. There is a rail station, within easy walking distance of all
houses in the village. In 2015 a new line will be open linking Oxford to Bicester and on to
London Marylebone, with a journey time of about an hour. The M40 linking Birmingham and
London is close by, as is the A34 to Winchester and onwards to the Southampton area.
Dr South’s Church of England Primary School enjoys a good reputation and achieved high
marks in the most recent Ofsted inspection www.dr-souths.org
The altar at St Nicholas
St. Edwards House, Islip
The residence of the House for Duty priest is a 4-bedroomed detached house in a quiet lane,
adjacent to the village playing fields. It has a delightful, secluded, rear garden.
In 2011 there was installed in the west wing a glass screen, designed by Nicholas Mynheer and
made by Davia Walmsley. It depicts the life of St. Nicholas and Edward the Confessor. It was blessed
by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury at that time.
St Giles, Noke
Noke is a quiet village, lying off of the B4027 Islip to Forest Hill road. It is blessed with
having no through road. The population is around 120, with a number of residents working
in Oxford. Close to the village is the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Otmoor
reserve.
The 13th century church was originally a chapel of Islip and the two villages have been
closely linked over the centuries. Both enjoy the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of
Westminster. The church is a small but beautifully proportioned stone building and is Grade
2*listed. The Friends of St Giles was set up by past and present residents of the village to
assist in funding any work needed to preserve this important centre of the community. Each
year a spring service is held on one of the farms.
Noke tea party
Church of the Holy Rood, Woodeaton
Woodeaton, the smallest village in the Benefice, has a population of around 75. It is
situated 4 miles north east of Oxford, just off of the B4027 Islip to Forest Hill road. The name
comes from the time of the Saxon occupation. Earlier, the area was occupied by the Celts
and later by the Romans.
The church is Grade 1 listed and has some outstanding features, including a medieval wall
painting depicting St Christopher carrying the Christ Child across a stream, and a minstrel’s
gallery. The advowson is held by the Bishop of Oxford. The church enjoys the support of the
community as a whole. The annual rogation walk and carol service are major community
events.
Restored 1930
The former manor house was built in 1775. It is a splendid three-storey building in large
grounds. It is now Woodeaton Manor School, a residential Foundation School for 60 pupils
with emotional and social difficulties.
HOUSE FOR DUTY POSTS FOR THE PARISHES OF ISLIP, NOKE AND
WOODEATON; CHARLTON-ON-OTMOOR AND ODDINGTON
PERSON PROFILE
GENERAL SKILLS AND EXPERTISE
The right person will:
Be an active and participating member of the Benefice Ministry Team led by the Rector, who
devolves certain responsibilities, primarily liturgical and pastoral to the Associate Priest.
Be a person who values both the sacramental and traditional while being able to explore
new and creative ideas of faith and worship
Have the ability to understand and cooperate with, and prayerfully guide, the individual
parishes in the benefice with their own desires and needs
SKILLS LINKED TO DEVELOPMENT NEEDS AND MISSION
The right person will be able to demonstrate:
Experience in developing a ministry among children, teenagers and families. This is not to
diminish the importance of work among the elderly, but to recognise a vital need for the
future of the benefice.
An ability to inspire, guide, instruct, and prepare people for lay ministry in pastoral and
liturgical roles.
SKILLS LINKED TO IDENTIFYING CONGREGATION NEEDS
The right person will be able to demonstrate:
A flexible response to meet the needs of those attending church and the wider village
community.
An appreciation of the importance of pastoral visiting and taking Holy Communion to the
sick and elderly.
An interest in rural affairs, at the same time recognising the diverse professions and
occupations of all members of the community.
A willingness to give support to the primary school which serves the parishes by becoming a
known person in the school .
A willingness to support the PCC’s within his/her area in all aspects of mission, including the
raising of funds to maintain the churches.
PARTICULAR SKILLS
The right person:
Will show a willingness to engage with all sections of the community.
Will be prepared to work ecumenically and with people of all faiths.
Will hold a current driving licence.
Be computer literate.
HOURS OF WORK AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
Two days a week (or the equivalent) plus Sunday – to be negotiated with the Rector
Attendance at weekly Team Meetings.
Regular Holidays to be arranged with the Rector.
Some attendance at Deanery Chapter meetings.
You will be provided with:Full expenses of office
A house in Islip/Charlton-on-Otmoor
A prayerful context for ministry
Warm and supportive working relationships
Administrative support through the benefice office
A flexible working pattern and realistic expectations
TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS BUT ONE TEAM
Each set of villages (Charlton/Oddington and Islip/ Noke/ Woodeaton) has its own culture
and traditions, its own vision and aspirations. Some of that will be clear as you read the
Profile. We suggest if you want to know more, you contact the Rector, Charles Masheder,
on 01869-247813 or chasmash@ic24.net He is looking forward to hearing from you!