1
PERSHORE DEANERY REFLECTIONS
CONVERSATIONS WITH BISHOP GRAHAM DURING HIS AUGUST 2014 PRAYER WALK
Introduction
It was a pleasure to spend the weekend of 16th/17th August in Pershore Deanery and to be involved
in conversations with approximately 200 people. I met with groups in each of the benefices where
there is currently a clergy vacancy. In Pershore I had additional meetings with the Town Council and
residents, including ecumenical colleagues. This short report draws out some of the key themes
from these conversations and asks questions that need to be discussed further by the PCC’s of the
Pershore, Bowland, Flyford and Five Alive benefices, as well as the Deanery Pastoral Committee and
the Diocesan Mission, Pastoral and Resources Committee.
Pershore
The analysis around the questions ‘What is your vision for Pershore Abbey and its congregation’ and
‘What three attributes do you think we should look for in the next Vicar’ surprised me. The answers
from the town meeting were markedly more spiritual than that of the congregation! That may be
because the congregation take these as read, though it may be picking up a perception held by a
number of people whom I met, both within the congregation and the wider town, that the ‘Abbey’ is
primarily interested in maintaining its building, holding concerts, and doing things grandly.
Having said that, I found the Sunday Eucharist prayerful and, with the laying on of hands during the
prayers for healing and wholeness, to be deeply moving. I met good and faithful parishioners, very
dedicated churchwardens, and a congregation who seemed to be eager for change and to be of
service to others. There are some really good things happening and so it is a shame that these are
set within a wider context of some significant concerns and an over-arching negative story.
The historic wounds around the pews and organ run deep and I received a number of letters about
these. I picked up a strong vision about how important it was that the next Vicar engaged with
people and there were some serious questions about the image portrayed by her/him living in the
current Vicarage. In some quarters there is a perception that the Friends, whilst contributing
enormously to various projects, is a controlling and autocratic body. Having testing that perception
with key officers of the PCC and Friends, I don’t believe that this is true and it is clear that the PCC
sets the strategic direction and requests funds from the Friends to enable projects to happen.
However, both groups will wish to review communication to ensure clear future messages. The new
Archdeacon of Worcester and the Diocesan Secretary are available, if required, to help guide this.
One theme that kept emerging from conversations was for the Abbey to be a place of generous
welcome after a period of time when it has not been perceived as such. This will take much thought
but the PCC shouldn’t underestimate the powerful message that will be conveyed through working
hard round being permission giving to the Town and, indeed, its own internal groups.
2
The congregation’s vision for the future focussed on being at the centre of the town’s life and being
more inclusive. The town meeting shared this vision but also wanted the Abbey and its congregation
to hold a vision of the presence of Christ. One person spoke of it ‘radiating Abbeyness beyond its
walls’.
There was some support for a greater variety of types of services and a yearning for music with
which more people could connect. It was good to see that many in the congregation wanted to see
more young people attending. However, I did detect that there was individual resistance if any of
this impacted negatively on what people are used to having. This sense of ‘my church’ and ‘my way’
will be one of the major challenges for the next incumbent.
It was good to note the encouragement from within the town for a greater ecumenical working
together. I appreciated the fact that both the Roman Catholic priest and Baptist minister took part
in the town meeting. The food bank has been a positive project and it is recognised that there is
scope for further joint outreach and service.
There are some wonderfully talented people in Pershore included gifted lay ministers, an NSM and
retired clergy. I see great potential in these people working closely together, and with the wider
congregation, under a common vision for the sharing of the Gospel and the pastoral care of all.
There is also great scope for the growth of the congregation and wider outreach. The next challenge
will be implementing the proposals contained in the PCC’s ‘5-year Intentions’ document and drawing
everyone into the opportunity to fulfil their baptismal promises in fully living their faith. It is
excellent that the Churchwardens and PCC have had the courage to be bold in their approach.
Speaking with people from the villages of Pinvin, Wick and Birlingham I was conscious that ministry
is largely sustained in these villages by the PTO clergy. I have questions about the long term
sustainability of this model and, whilst the parishes have a self-sufficiency about them, I wasn’t
present for long enough to discern their sense of vision for the future.
Amongst the attributes that the congregation wanted to see in the next Vicar was an overwhelming
sense that she/he needed to be a people person. Other key attributes included forward looking,
being visible to the whole community, and community minded. From the town meeting the notion
of a people person was to the fore, but significant numbers said that they wanted someone who was
pastoral, a teacher, Godly, and outward facing. The Town Council members saw having love and
compassion, open mindedness for change, and leadership within the church and community as
being key.
I received a number of individual comments that spoke of people being needed to be ‘set free’ as
disciples and to serve. This will involve plenty of encouragement and the affirmation of their gifts. It
was a joy to see this already emerging and the retired clergy and lay leaders will have a particular
role in enabling people to talk and to imagine a new future.
From the various conversations I would recommend the following questions (obviously some
questions will be ones that whilst asked now, also need to be part of an on-going conversation):
Some questions before an appointment
3
1. Now that daily Morning Prayer in Pershore Abbey has been resumed since the
interregnum began, will more members of the congregation give a commitment to attend
so as to foster a daily worshipping community?
2. How can the Abbey community lose any sense of ‘conditional’ welcome or ‘preciousness’
and become known as a people who generally say ‘yes’?
3. Could the PCC and the Friends of Pershore Abbey work together on a joint communication
strategy that celebrates their working together, including making it known that the PCC
sets the strategic direction for mission and fabric priorities with the Friends generously
funding as many things requested by the PCC as possible?
4. The joint parishes’ office is situated in the Vicarage which must have an impact on family
life. There must be no expectation on the next vicar that this arrangement will continue.
Can serious consideration be given to finding a new location for the office?
5. The current vicarage is very large, expensive to heat, and in need of costly repair. Should
the vicarage be replaced with something that is more manageable and economical?
Some questions in making a new appointment
6. Whilst there may be ways to further strengthen the ministry team, what steps might also
be taken to release the ministries of a much wider circle of people?
7. How can ecumenical links be prioritised and the Abbey congregation do everything it can
to serve the town and work closely with the Town Council and local organisations?
Some questions with a new priest
8. A major development of 450 homes is planned in the next five years, with a further 450
homes in the following ten years. This will see a huge population increase from the
current 7,500 people with many people being ‘incomers’. This will link Pershore with
Pinvin. Can the parish begin to explore, perhaps in partnership with the developers so as
to discuss community spaces, how it might reach out to this emerging community? Could
this be done ecumenically so as to offer perhaps a fresh expression of church or pioneer
form of ministry? Whilst noting that in recent memory they separated, would it aid God’s
mission for the whole area if Pinvin and Pershore become one parish again?
9. With the large population growth expected in Pershore, together with the extensive work
needed by the next Vicar around leading the vision and re-engagement with the town,
should St James the Great Birlingham be included in the same benefice as Eckington and St
Mary Wick with Elmley Castle? The Deanery Pastoral Committee will know that this will
involve the Incumbents of these benefices in additional work, though they would continue
to be well supported by retired clergy and Readers. Could this change support the mission
of the whole area?
4
Bowland Group
At the benefice meeting at Peopleton I heard about how God’s blessing is seen in the ministry of the
retired clergy, the strong sense of community, the engagement of the Friends with the wider village,
the sense of service and people offering to be involved, friendships, how the church is part of the
village, the well cared for churches, Open the Book in schools, and people leading and sharing
worship.
There was a concern about the number of church buildings and whether they all needed to be kept
open (though no one offered to close their own one). There was a realisation that the benefice
would need to grow in size so as to balance the number of churches with the previous arrangement
in the Flyfords and Five Alive groups. Questions were also asked about what a new incumbent could
realistically be expected to do and about their purpose.
Amongst the attributes of the next Vicar the priorities are a community minded, prayerful pastor
with a flexible approach and good people skills.
Flyford Group
At the benefice meeting at Bishampton I heard about how God’s blessing is seen in peoples’
commitment and ability to work together, a prayer group, the Friends group, pastoral support, and
how the church draws the community closer together.
There was a concern about clergy needing support and there was an awareness of the demands of
multi-parish benefices on clergy health. There was also a desire to reduce the number of PCCs and
therefore officers. The group recognised the need to plan a better pattern of services. They realised
also that the benefice probably needed to be shared between two new Incumbents but wanted to
find a way to continue to be able to work together collaboratively across the whole area.
Amongst the attributes of the next Vicar the priorities are for someone with energy who will be a
team playing, prayerful pastor.
Five Alive Group
At the benefice meeting at Cropthorne I heard about how God’s blessing is seen in peoples’
friendship, warmth and love, Open the Book and the Women’s World Day of Prayer, the peace found
in the churches, the benefice choir, bell ringing and prayer groups, the retired clergy, all ages
intermingling, the community beyond the church, the beauty of God’s creation, weddings, the
experimental Sunday School in the Eucharist, opportunity to go to different churches, well-kept
church buildings, and pastoral visiting.
People raised the need to have a simplified, regular and well-advertised programme of services;
asked whether the parish system was outdated; delighted in having one PCC for Five Alive; urged
that we need to root decisions in prayer; wanted to focus on mission and outreach, and how we
develop leadership in our congregations to grow disciples who will make disciples, moving the
church beyond fostering community to living the Gospel.
5
Amongst the attributes of the next Vicar the priorities are a prayerful person with a sense of
humanity in all its fullness, a forward looking, community minded pastor, who can teach the faith,
delegate, evangelise, and encourage young people.
From the various conversations in the Bowland, Flyford and Five Alive Groups I would recommend
the following questions (obviously some questions will be ones that whilst asked now, also need to
be part of an on-going conversation):
Some questions before an appointment
1. Should we create two new benefices out of the existing three? Recognising that this is not
easy, the general consensus was that (i) The Flyfords and Naunton Beauchamp join
Peopleton, White Ladies Aston with Churchill and Spetchley, Upton Snodsbury and
Broughton Hackett, and (ii) Bishampton, Throckmorton and Abberton join with Five Alive.
2. Can we advertise the two clergy posts together with some work at interview around teamworking with the NSM, PTO clergy, Readers and ALMs so that we create a strong working
team? Can we look for two people with complementary gifts, for them to be licensed to
each others’ benefices, and to collaborate together?
Some questions in making a new appointment
3. Can both new benefices become a Group Ministry and explore what they might best do
across the whole area such as children and youth work and a Christian basics course? A
Group Council would help create a strategic oversight for the whole area.
4. Can further prayer and reflection be undertaken to explore how the ministry of all God’s
people might be further encouraged across a possible Group Ministry so that people not
only contribute to their own village but to the mission of God on a wider scale?
Some questions with a new priest
5. Should Bishampton, Throckmorton and Abberton become one parish?
6. Should the Flyfords, Naunton Beauchamp, Peopleton, White Ladies Aston with Churchill
and Spetchley, Upton Snodsbury and Broughton Hackett explore their natural linkages so
as to reduce from 6 parishes to 2 or 3?
7. When the incumbent of Drakes Broughton et al retires can serious consideration be given
to these parishes and any future vicar being part of a wider northern Pershore Deanery
grouping? This could be included as a condition in the development of a new Group
Ministry. Consideration will need to be given to Norton and whether, following new
residential development, it looks more to Worcester and Kempsey.
8. Does the Deanery need to be bold about some of the churches in the Deanery with some
becoming the main missional church for an area and others becoming chapels of ease,
6
thus releasing them from the need to have churchwardens and statutory numbers of
services? Their upkeep should be undertaken in partnership with a Friend’s Group.
9. Can the Deanery explore how Pershore Abbey might become an informal minster for the
whole Deanery. This may, for example, be around the clergy meeting weekly to say the
office, or sharing a deanery office or key equipment or other resources. The Abbey is a
spiritual and physical resource that might just find a natural heart in serving the wider
Deanery and helping to equip all God’s people as Kingdom people.