Priest in Charge St Chad, Toller Lane & Interim Priest in Charge, St Saviour Fairweather Green

The Diocese of Leeds state:

Our Diocesan vision is about confident clergy equipping confident Christians to live and tell the good news of Jesus Christ so that churches grow and communities are transformed.  For this shared post across two adjacent parishes, we are seeking a priest with a joyful and confident faith which can inspire church growth, both spiritually and numerically.  Both parishes have recently had periods of Interim Ministry, each served by a different priest.  We are now able to offer a full-time role serving in both parishes, and the two PCCs have both agreed to move their Sunday morning service times by 30 minutes to make this workable.  Recognising that St Chad’s PCC is one of two parishes in the Bradford Episcopal Area that has passed a resolution under the Bishops and Priest (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure of 2014, we are seeking a Society priest who can also work fruitfully with St Saviour’s, which has enjoyed the ministry of women priests for many years.  He will be someone who can guide these congregations with love and sensitivity through challenging times, lead a wide range of Anglican worship well, enable both churches to flourish in their respective integrities and manage required changes well.

St Chad’s is an inner city parish and in the top 1% most deprived in England (according the Church Urban fund statistics).  The population can be characterised as young, Asian and Muslim, but that is not the full story.  Of the 6,616 people living in the parish at the 2021 census, 80% were Muslim, 37% were under the age of 20 (and more than half were under 30).  However, 10% were of white British heritage and there is also a sizable presence of Eastern European people.  St Saviour’s is located slightly further out from the city centre, but still in the top 4% most deprived parishes.  Around half of its population of 8336 (at 2021 census) is of Muslim background, but c40% are of white British heritage.

The Diocese of Leeds is committed to retaining an engaged presence in such challenging contexts.  We are also committed to ensuring that a flourishing, viable and welcoming ecclesial presence in the Catholic tradition of the Anglican church continues in the Bradford Episcopal Area. St Chad’s, with its strong traditional Anglican Catholic heritage, is a spiritual home to many people from outside the parish.  St Saviour’s congregation is also very committed to eucharistic worship, as well as wanting to experiment with breaking new ground by offering worship which will be attractive to children and young families.

For an informal chat, contact:

• Bishop Stephen Race, Bishop of Beverley, via his PA Yaneth Infante-Blanco at office@seeofbeverley.org.uk;
• Archdeacon Andy Jolley on 07973 458403

Closing date of 21st June and interviews set for 9th July.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure.