Training Curacy Lincoln Cathedral & St John the Baptist, Ermine
APPOINTMENT OF CURATE COLLEAGUE AT LINCOLN CATHEDRAL AND ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, ERMINE
INTRODUCTION The Bishop of Lincoln is looking to create a new training post on the north side of Lincoln city which will combine the experiences of working in a cathedral setting with the day to day life of parish ministry. This is an exciting post offered for the first time to someone who might benefit from and contribute to the church in Lincoln by working jointly in the Cathedral and the nearby Parish of St John the Baptist on Lincoln’s Ermine Estate. WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR Lincoln Cathedral and St John’s, Ermine are together looking for a person who will benefit from the diversity and richness that this post offers. It requires a person of intellectual and emotional maturity who will be able to observe, take part in and contribute to the life of these neighbouring but complimentary Christian communities. We are looking for a person who will be able to view this appointment as one of constructive priestly formation but be able to maintain their own integrity and not be diverted by the distractions and diversions that such a position could offer. This is a unique and challenging post that will combine the experience of Cathedral ministry with a rooting and grounding in the everyday life of a council estate and its parish church.
SUPERVISION This post will be overseen by Canon John Patrick of Lincoln Cathedral who has previous experience in the training curacy situation. The Revd Stephen Hoy who is the parish priest at St John, Ermine will have responsibility for providing the kind of pastoral ministry that would be required in formation following ordination and will work closely with Canon Patrick in delivering that.
THE REVD CANON JOHN PATRICK
John is Subdean of Lincoln, Canon Pastor and has oversight of the work of repairing, conserving and developing the fabric of the Cathedral, and has responsibility for the Architect and the Works Department and of the Estates Management and Close properties. John is Chair of the House of Clergy of the Lincoln Diocesan Synod, Chairman of the Diocesan Links with Brugge (Belgium), Nottingham and Harnosand (Sweden) and served for ten years on General Synod. John was formerly Vicar of Sleaford and Rural Dean of Lafford Deanery. He has significant experience as a Training Incumbent, working collaboratively with lay and ordained colleagues. He is married to Jo (who is a partner in a local Veterinary Hospital) and they have two teenage children. The Subdeanery 18 Minster Yard Lincoln LN2 1PX Tel: 01522 561626 Mobile: 07702 268125 Email: subdean@lincolncathedral.com
THE REVD STEPHEN HOY
Stephen has been parish priest on the Ermine estate for 15 years and has extensive experience of parish life. In 2009, he was appointed spirituality adviser to the Bishop of Grantham and spirituality commentator for the suffragan area. In 2010, he undertook a period of study leave to do some research into spiritual direction, which has been very influential in shaping the way in which spiritual direction has developed in the Diocese of Lincoln. He is one of the spiritual direction co-‐ ordinators in the diocese. His vocation was nurtured within the Anglo-‐Catholic tradition, and he is a priest who is strongly sacramental in every aspect of his ministry. He has a lot of experience of leading worship within other traditions and is always keen to explore different styles of worship. Stephen is a member of the Tertiary Order of the Holy Paraclete. He is married to Sheila (also an OHP tertiary) and they have one daughter. St John’s Vicarage, Sudbrooke Drive, Lincoln LN2 2EF Tel: 01522 525621 Mobile 0794 371 5279 Email: fr-‐stephen@stjohnthebaptistparishchurch.org.uk
THE ERMINE ESTATE St John’s serves Lincoln’s Ermine estate; the local population is approximately 5600. The Ermine is a major 1950s council estate in north Lincoln, comprising extensive social housing. It falls within the third most deprived ward in the city and 64th most deprived in the Midlands; the index of deprivation shows that there are only three schools with a lower rating in the county than the local primary academy; the ward has the highest proportion of retired people in Lincoln; and a third of households are in fuel poverty. It is an area that has never had ready access to major funding for community projects and where community initiatives have been attempted, they have usually closed after only a short period. Although the estate appears generally well cared for, there is a continuing drugs problem and we have a high percentage of disabled people and of single parent families. There are plenty of green areas on the estate and we are well provided with small shops with good access to larger supermarkets. Both the primary and secondary academies achieved a “Good” rating in their latest OFSTED inspections. However, the churches on the estate have been very active in supporting community development over the years and St John’s is heavily involved in all aspects of community life. These include: Chair of governors at Ermine Primary Academy Executive director of the Academy of Lincoln Trust Joint chair of the Sure Start advisory board Represented on the Neighbourhood Police Panel The parish Deacon is a member of the Women’s Refuge management committee Independent visitor at St Francis Special School Chair of Ermine estate website committee http://www.ermine-‐estate.org.uk/
LINCOLN AND ITS CATHEDRAL Lincoln Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Lincoln and a centre of worship and mission. Dominating the City skyline, the Cathedral is a powerful religious symbol and a focal point for Christian aspiration and witness in the Diocese, as well as a source of local pride and distinction in a wider world. Like other cathedrals, Lincoln must stand out as a workshop of creativity and a working space for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Its worship demands the highest standards in language and music, with both regular and sensibly ordered liturgy and the opportunity for the arts to find both purposeful and dignified expression. All great churches come alive when people in their search for truth, beauty and goodness find welcome and encouragement to explore them. The Cathedral as a place of pilgrimage will be vigilant to renew its hospitality and its teaching and learning as essential elements in its community life. With its high profile the Cathedral is also a place where strong challenges to contemporary values can be made plain, not only by word but also by practical action and social concern. Equally important in our divided world is the Cathedral’s example of how a mixed body of Christians can work together in harmony, as part of the wider church, in spite of differences in outlook and personality. Each member of the Cathedral community brings particular gifts and experiences to the Foundation, and though the Residentiary Canons have the responsibility to ensure that the full priestly ministry and mission of the church is expressed through the life and work of the Cathedral, the contribution of the laity and congregation is equally important, and is made in an even greater number of different ways. The Cathedral is governed by its Constitution and Statutes under the Cathedrals Measure 1999. The Cathedral Chapter is the governing body of the Cathedral directing and overseeing the administration of its affairs. The lay staff consists of up to one hundred paid employees, assisted by approximately four hundred unpaid volunteers who are involved in every aspect of the Cathedral’s life and work. The Cathedral has a lively and committed congregation of Sunday and weekday worshippers. The normal services on a Sunday are: 07.45 The Litany 08.00 Holy Communion (Order Two) 09.30 Sung Eucharist (Order One) 11.15 Choral Matins 12.30 Holy Communion (Order Two) 15.45 Choral Evensong On weekdays Morning Prayer is said at 07.30 and Evensong is sung at 17.30 every day except Wednesday. At least two celebrations of Holy Communion take place each day. The Daily Pattern of Prayer and Worship is prioritized by the Residential Canons and a Curate would also be expected to make this pattern a priority.
The Cathedral has a strong choral tradition with both a boys’ choir and a girls’ choir singing alongside the professional adult singers. The fabric of the Cathedral and its properties is maintained and cared for by a Works Department of some 30 highly skilled people. The Cathedral also has an extensive library housed in the Wren Library, Canons’ Library and Exchequergate. Among the Library’s considerable manuscript treasures is one of the four remaining Exemplars of Magna Carta. THE CITY OF LINCOLN Lincoln has a long and fascinating history, which is evident from the sites of interest and beautiful architecture in the city. Alongside the Cathedral there is the Castle, Bailgate and neighbouring cobbled streets, which can be accessed by walking up -‐ the appropriately named – Steep Hill; which has just been named Britain's "Great Street 2012" by the Academy of Urbanism. Craft fairs, farmers’ markets and Lincoln’s world-‐famous Christmas Market offer local foods, handmade crafts and unique gifts. There is a nine-‐screen Odeon cinema; the Theatre Royal and Lincoln Drill Hall offer a programme of national and local drama throughout the year. Lincoln offers a rich and diverse arts scene with public art, galleries and studios across the city. These include the Usher Art Gallery and the Sam Scorer Gallery. The city also has a number of museums, including the Museum of Lincolnshire Life and The Collection: Art and Archaeology in Lincolnshire. The city caters to all your sporting needs with various fitness and leisure centres, swimming pools, parks and local sporting clubs. Lincoln is within easy access of cities including London, Nottingham, Sheffield and Leeds, with good rail and road links. London Kings Cross station is two hours away by train. The city’s central location allows for easy access to a number of airports such as East Midlands, Doncaster and Sheffield for domestic, European and international flights. Lincoln is home to two (Lincoln and Bishop Grosseteste) universities that are both well recognized.
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, ERMINE The parish church of St John the Baptist was opened in 1963 and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2013. With its iconic hyperbolic paraboloid roof, it is known locally, particularly by the local children, as the “Pringle” church. It is grade 2* listed and has a wall of stained glass above the altar which gives the church a distinctive and colourful feel. St John’s has an Anglo-‐Catholic tradition of worship, one that emphasises both the nearness of God and the otherness of his presence but within which the work of the Holy Spirit is recognised and celebrated. It is sacramentally based with the Eucharist as the heart of our worship, but we are welcoming of new experiences and influences and we hold an annual Holocaust Memorial Service which in 2014 will be planned jointly with the local Jewish community. We have an active healing ministry and are currently developing a Celtic pattern of evening worship. We offer a full Holy Week with a daily mass, footwashing and watch for Maundy Thursday, Veneration of the Cross on Good Friday and a full Vigil service on Holy Saturday. We have a small but enthusiastic choir. Services: Sunday 10.00 Sung Eucharist (2nd Sunday Family Eucharist with welcome of the newly baptised, attended by the uniformed organisations) First Sunday of month: 12:00 noon Baptisms 18.00 Songs of Praise, Celtic Eucharist OR Prayer for healing Occasional Sundays at 6:00pm: Benediction preceded by the rosary Wednesdays 09.15 Said Eucharist (4th Wednesday with prayer for healing) First Wednesday of the month, the morning Eucharist is followed by services at two residential homes. Saints days and festivals not occurring on a Sunday Eucharist at 9:30am or 7:30pm Occasional Offices 2012 Baptisms 21 Weddings 5 Funerals 18 Confirmation candidates 1 (4 in 2013)
The Fiftieth Anniversary Year Celebrations We have had a whole range of activities for our 50th anniversary year. These include: An eighteen-‐month oral history and heritage project in partnership with Bishop Grosseteste University, which will include a major exhibition of local archive material, which we hope to start early in 2014. The development of a community choir project, in partnership with Bishop Grosseteste University College and three local schools (you can find out more about this project on the Ermine Voices Facebook page) A community family fun day and estate celebration service in June during which a time capsule was buried (to be opened in 2063) A concert given by internationally acclaimed soprano Elizabeth Watts Lay involvement The laity have a strong involvement in all aspects of our community life. Liturgically, we have a large group of people who read, and a smaller intercessions group. 11 lay assistants administer the chalice of whom 5 assist with house communions. There is a very active and skilled group of servers, and a developing choir and informal music group. There is an ageing but active Mothers’ Union group. We have a very active social and fundraising group and there is always something going on, whether it’s a quiz night, harvest event, concerts, coffee morning, car boot sale – it is an extensive (and exhaustive!) programme! Work with young people is a continuing challenge. We have active links with our parent and toddler group and uniformed organizations, but a youth group closed last year and we have not been able to maintain a Sunday school. We also tape our main Sunday services and the tapes and weekly sheets are delivered each week to 20 people who are housebound or in residential care. Through our church hall, we have members of the congregation running or supporting the monthly Lunch Club, Brownies and a monthly Bingo and Coffee afternoon. The lunch club meets twice a month, and in a joint initiative with St Francis Special School, three post-‐16 students spend a year supporting one of the clubs, preparing food, serving and clearing up. A regular staff meeting (readers and clergy) meets to discuss ministry in the parish and to think theologically about how we develop together.
We are currently in the middle of our 50th anniversary celebrations which have been carefully planned over a number of years and which have involved 5 members of the congregation in the development and implementation of new ideas and initiatives. PURPOSE OF THE CURACY To share in the mission and ministry of the People of God in a particular place and to establish patterns of prayer which will shape and sustain ministry, in order to acquire the knowledge, skills and expertise in ministerial, representative and sacramental leadership in the local church and the Church of England; to reflect, in supervision, upon a wide range of experiences, in order to develop ministry in the curacy and for the future. Participating fully in IME will also be part of this; to encourage personal development through integrating past experience, spirituality, and theology with the practice and understanding of ministry. Bishop’s Notes for Training Incumbents and Curates IME 4-‐7 This is a requirement under Common Tenure and it is expected to be treated as a priority in the training and formation of all newly ordained curates in the Diocese of Lincoln. The partnership between Lincoln Cathedral and the Ermine parish acknowledge this and are committed to it. ALLOCATION OF TIME (BETWEEN CATHEDRAL AND ERMINE) This post will be shared between the Cathedral and St John’s, with the post holder working flexibly between the two sites. ACCOMMODATION The Diocese is committed to acquiring a suitable property in the Parish for whoever is appointed. The Cathedral and St John’s are aware that this is an issue of major importance to prospective candidates and will do its very best not only to ensure that the house provided is suitable in every respect, but also that it is located within easy reach of both the Cathedral and the Ermine estate. WEBSITES St John the Baptist, Ermine: www.stjohnthebaptistparishchurch.org.uk Lincoln Cathedral: www.lincolncathedral.com The Diocese of Lincoln: www.lincoln.anglican.org