The Bicester
Benefice
1
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
2
Foreword by the Bishop of Dorchester
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
3
INTRODUCTION
The Appointment
We 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 wellestablished 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 BICESTER
Bicester 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 Town
Historically 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.
4
Social Needs and Provision
Rapid 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 Childcare
There 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
5
ABOUT THE BENEFICE
The 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
6
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
7
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
8
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
9
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
Sunday 8am
TYPE OF
SERVICE
Holy Communion
Sunday 9.30 1st, Non Eucharistic
3rd & 5th
Family Worship
with full music
group. Lay-led,
informal.
CONTEXT
BCP
AVERAGE
ATTENDANCE
15
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.
50-65
Sunday 9.30 2nd & Family Eucharist Modern songs are used, mostly
4th
with small music from Songs for Worship and
Mission Praise. Song choices
group
are made according to the type
and theme of the service based
on the Lectionary.
50-65
COFFEE IS SERVED BETWEEN THE SERVICES
Sunday 11am
Parish
Communion
Common Worship Order 1. 45-70
Hymns are chosen from Hymns
Old and New by the organist.
Tues, Weds, Fri
Morning Prayer
Common Worship
Wednesday 10am
Said Eucharist
Service is followed by coffee 20-25
and chat. During Lent and
Advent, a group Bible study
usually follows.
Saturday 9.30am,
monthly
Walsingham
Eucharist
Led by SSM who is Associate 10
Priest of the Walsingham Shrine
2nd Sunday 9.30,
St Laurence
Caversfield
Sung Eucharist
Common Worship, led by SSM
3
20-30
10
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 Outreach
The 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 fundraising. 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.
14
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 Hall
St. 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, Caversfield
The 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 6ES
The 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)
18
Curate’s House
75 Ravencroft, Bicester OX26 6YE
The 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)
Summary
From 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 Church
St. 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 Services
We 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 Activities
Everyone 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.
Membership
Over 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 Evangelism
Alpha 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.
Finance
The parish share has been paid in full.
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Areas of Strength
We 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 Growth
We 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 Service
o To strengthen the traditional Parish Eucharist
o To enable the development of church music in diverse styles
o To develop collaborative working of the team of preachers
 Mission and Outreach
o To identify and develop opportunities for mission
o To prioritise work with children and young people
o To expand the use of the church by the wider community
o To support the New Communities Minister
o To support St. Edburg’s school staff and pupils
 Leadership and working collaboratively
o To lead a team of differing ministry styles
o To encourage team members to develop their skills and autonomy
o To be line manager for the ministry team
o To foster, encourage and respect lay leaders in their roles
o 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 care
o To encourage and develop the lay pastoral care teams
 Stewardship
o To encourage effective and meaningful stewardship of time, talents, and
money
o To care for the church building, supporting, encouraging and guiding the
reordering plans
 Personal development and spirituality
o To encourage and enable individual spiritual growth
o 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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