Parish Profile
The Ruskington Group, Leasingham and Cranwell Diocese of Lincoln in Archdeacondry of Lincoln
PARISH PROFILE
The Ruskington Group, Leasingham and Cranwell, Diocese of Lincoln in Archdeaconry of Lincoln.
PRIEST IN CHARGE
The Reverend Christine Pennock The Rectory 2 All Saints Close Ruskington Sleaford Lincolnshire NG349FP 01526832463 chrispennock@talktalk.net Rural Dean of Lafford and
Mental Health Chaplain Date of Ordination: Length of time in parishes:
Deacon July 2001 Priest July 2002 Licensed 1st March 2005 the Ruskington Group, 1st September 2009 Leasingham, 24th April 2011 Cranwell.
When I came to the Ruskington Group I was in a ministry team of one, myself, but thankfully over the years the group has grown. It now consists of two Readers, two Distinct Deacons, one of whom was ordained in 2011, an Associate Priest and from July 2012 an OLM Curate. The vision of the team is that of the coming together of people who have been called by God to share and learn from the various gifts he has given to each of us. Through its work ideas are turned into realities, and from it mission and ministry grows within the five parishes. As well as licensed ministers we have a group of five Authorised Lay Ministers and an Ordinand who is training for Ordained Local Ministry.
We are offering a Training Post for a Deacon who expects to be ordained Priest and especially someone who works well within group dynamics.
THE PARISHES
RUSKINGTON
The village of Ruskington is located in the County of Lincolnshire some four miles north of the market town of Sleaford and sixteen miles from Lincoln, Boston and Grantham. Ruskington is served by its own Railway Station (on the Lincoln to Peterborough Line) and a regular bus service provides connections to Lincoln and Sleaford. Ruskington is a large picturesque English village in the County of Lincolnshire. The village has a population in excess of 5,000 with over 2,100 dwellings. This thriving community boasts a variety of amenities including a modern medical centre, library, post office and a selection of quality retail outlets. Many visitors to the village also visit the very popular garden centre. The village has two primary and one secondary school. Winchelsea Primary School and Chestnut Street Primary School cater for younger students whilst
St George's Academy, provides education for older children. Sixth form education is provided in nearby Sleaford. Ruskington, while situated on flat fenland, has features of significant historical importance including an Anglo Saxon burial ground and Roman road within the western boundary of the village. The village is notable for its parish church called All Saints, as well as its 'beck', a stream which runs through the village including the high street. The Ruskington Beck splits the high street into High Street North, a two way road, and High Street South, a one-‐way service road.
Ruskington Parish Church of All Saints dates back to Saxon Times. The Domesday Book records a church and priest in Ruskington in 1087, but the arch at the west end of the nave suggests that the present building was started about 1150. Since then every generation has made its mark on the building concluding at the Millennium when the villages provided funds for the
development of the vestry, kitchen and toilet and the Millennium Stained glass window.
The Church is kept locked however a key is available at all times at the local Bakers for anyone seeking entry.
All Saints Church is fully aware of its place at the heart of the community. All are welcomed here for regular worship, for special services such as Remembrance Sunday and the Arnhem Memorial Service, to attend concerts and fairs and for those family occasions of weddings, baptisms and funerals. Children’s workshops are held three times a year, the Junior Flower Club meets quarterly, and School services are held at Christmas and Easter.
The service pattern is as follows. 1st Sunday in the month 11am Sung Eucharist 2nd Sunday in the month 8am Holy Communion, 11am Morning Prayer 3rd Sunday in the month 11am Sung Eucharist 4th Sunday in the month 8am Holy Communion, 11am Sung Eucharist
The Winchelsea Centre or church hall is a popular venue for coffee mornings, suppers and the Big Breakfast which is held once a year. It is hired by the villagers for meetings and social events on a regular basis, and is used by the Parish Council for its meetings.
5th Sunday 10am Benefice Service Sunday School takes place during the main service. Coffee is served after the service and often turns the building into a hub of noise and excitement.
For more information please visit: Ruskington Parish Council www.parishes.lincolnshire.gov.uk/r uskington/
Each Wednesday at 10am there is a Holy Communion Service followed by Choir Practice.
Ruskington Schools www.chestnutstreet.co.uk
Bible Study takes place on Monday Evenings.
www.winchelsea.lincs.sch.uk www.st-‐georges-‐academy.org
ANWICK Anwick is a small village of 300 residents yet it has within its boundary one of the largest employers within North Kesteven. May Park is a leading European Poultry Producer and is set on the edge of the village. Inmind Secure Mental Health Hospital is here also; once the new extension is finished it will accommodate 44 patients. The village is served by a Village Hall where carpet bowling is a popular pastime. Here the church holds its monthly coffee morning and annual Chine Supper. The Veggies, (Village Entertainment Group) meet here and through their shows and bingos provide a space for the villagers to meet.
The Parish Church of St Edith dates back to 1151, although the oldest part of the present building dates from the Thirteenth Century. In the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Century it underwent extensive renovations.
EVEDON This is the smallest parish with only 50 inhabitants. Many of the houses are large and attract commuters wanting to escape from the noise of the city. The church is the only public building.
St Mary’s Parish Church is a Grade II* listed building dating from the Thirteenth Century. It is lovingly cared for by a small congregation who worship here on the first Sunday in the month at 9am for BCP Holy Communion.
Services at Anwick are held on the first and third Sundays in the month at 9am and are either Morning Prayer or Holy Communion. A Bible Study Group meets once a week. Service at Evedon is on the first Sunday in the month at 9am for BCP Holy Communion.
LEASINGHAM Leasingham is a village and civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England and is situated less than 2 miles north from Sleaford, just off the A15. The village has 713 households. Buildings in the village include the church of St Andrew’s, a Wesleyan chapel, manor house, village hall and a row of alms houses. The local school is St Andrew's primary school. The playing fields include a bowls club and cricket pitch. Businesses are the Duke of Wellington public house, a post office, corner shop, farm shop, and two hairdressers. A recent development was Highwayman's Haunt which was built in the 1990s on the east side of the village.
Leasingham Parish Church, St Andrew’s is visible from most parts of the parish and the oldest part of the church is the tower which dates from 1175-‐1200. The church and especially the chancel were renovated and restored by the Ven. Edward Trollope who was Rector for fifty years before becoming
Archdeacon of Stowe and then Bishop of Nottingham. For more information please visit: St Andrew’s School www.st-‐andrews.lincs.sch.uk
The building is open each day from 9am until 5pm. The main service on Sunday is at 9.30am and is either Sung Eucharist or Morning Prayer. On the first Sunday in the month there is a BCP Holy Communion at 8am. Coffee is served after the 9.30am service and is a time for chatter and laughter amongst those gathered there. St Andrew’s Church of England Primary School attend worship on the afternoon of the first Friday in the month, and also hold Easter and Christmas Services, and their Leavers’ Service, all of which are well attended by children, staff, parents and the congregation. A Bible Study Group meets weekly.
CRANWELL
Cranwell (the name means the spring where cranes are found) is a village situated in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire.
It is part of the Civil Parish of Cranwell, Brauncewell and Byard's Leap about four miles north-‐north-‐ west of Sleaford, having a population of about 3,000 souls. The village centres on the remains of the Village Cross. The cross is a 14th century market cross from which important matters of public moment were announced. The base, which is original, and the undisturbed ground beneath are listed as a national monument. Just over one mile (2 kilometres) to the west of the village is RAF College Cranwell and its two associated airfields. Cranwell’s Parish Church, St Andrew’s is surrounded by its beautiful, historic and thousand year old churchyard, the ancient Parish Church of Saint Andrew lies in the centre of Cranwell Village.
The Grade One listed church is one of the oldest in Lincolnshire. Cranwell was in existence when King Canute invaded through the Humber and became a "war prize" granted to Ulf, one of King Canute's generals. Little remains of the early Saxon church, but the Norse Viking gravestones now displayed in the church stem from that time and there is a beautiful arcade of Norman arches. St Andrew's parish church exists for everyone, not just those who worship in the church on a regular basis. Of course, it is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at the parish church and to become part of the church community, but there is more to being a parish church than that. In particular, we try to help all those who live in the village, whatever their faith. St Andrew’s Church www.lincoln.ourchurchweb.org.uk/ cranwell/ Cranwell and Byard's Leap Parish Council www.parishes.lincolnshire.gov.uk/cr anwellandbyardsleap RAF Cranwell and the RAF College go to www.raf.mod.uk/rafcranwell Cranwell Primary School go to www.cranwell.lincs.sch.uk
Cranwell Parish Church is open Monday to Saturday from 0900 to 1600 and on Sundays from 1030 to 1600 The main service on Sunday is at 1100 and is either Holy Communion or Morning Prayer. Week day services are: Tuesday 0900 Morning Prayer.Thursday 0900 either Morning Prayer or Holy Communion. The House Bible Fellowship meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. For information please contact the Churchwardens. A Prayer Group meets in Church at 1900 on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month and begins with a Service of Compline. Teenagers are invited to "Drop in" on Wednesday evenings from 1900 to 2100 for somewhere warm to listen to (your) CDs, and for free hot drinks and toast. Please come and go as you wish; this is just somewhere warmer than the bus stop to meet your friends!
THE BENEFICE
On the fifth Sunday in the month a Benefice Service is held in one of the parishes and four times a year the Benefice Council meets to share ideas, offer support and discuss the issues which effect mission and ministry. Weekly pew sheets carry information from each parish and help to keep all the congregations up to date with events. All parishes follow the same service booklets drawn up from Common Worship or BCP; these reflect the seasons within the Churches year. Services of Wholeness and Healing and of Celtic Worship are held quarterly and these move around the parishes. The Ministry Team meets monthly to look at the rota, discuss issues, share ideas and to simply enjoy being together. There is always a great deal of laughter as we all share the same sense of fun.
The benefice is fully supportive of the ordination of women, is committed to inclusive ministry in its corporate life and would welcome interest from men or women looking to share this vision at the start of their ordained ministry.
POSSIBLE AREAS OF RESPONSIBILTY Development of work with children and young people Communications Faith Development Community Development Mission and Outreach Ministry to Residential and Nursing Homes Ministry with Secure Unit
‘Whoever is appointed as Assistant Curate in the Ruskington Group, Leasingham and Cranwell will be joining a committed group of Christians who take their faith and ministry seriously but do so within an atmosphere of joy and good humour. This person will come with his or her own gifts and particular experience and these we will try to develop and also learn from......’
THE PURPOSE OF A 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 ICME 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