Rector – Benefice of Hanborough and Freeland
We are a vibrant and active benefice, situated 8 miles from Oxford on the edge of the Cotswolds. We are looking for a Rector to join us at a key time, as we reach out with the gospel to our growing villages. Will you join us on our walk as disciples of Jesus in Hanborough and Freeland?
Our benefice comprises of 2 parishes, 3 churches and 4 congregations in a beautiful rural part of West Oxfordshire. The villages of Long Hanborough, Church Hanborough and Freeland are thriving communities, with good transport links, including a direct rail connection into Oxford and London. Our congregations have their own distinctive styles of worship from traditional Anglican to informal Evangelical. We value this rich diversity within our benefice, and we are seeking a Rector who is genuinely comfortable with both traditional and contemporary worship.
We have strong links with the two Church of England Primary Schools in our benefice. Our Rector is a governor at both schools, and our clergy team work collaboratively to deliver weekly collective worship, termly services and prayer spaces. We are looking for a Rector who shares our passion for working with children and young people, and will help us reach out further to the families in our communities.
In common with many communities in this area, our villages are experiencing rapid growth through significant new housing developments. We want to continue reaching out to new and existing residents with the good news of Jesus Christ. We would like to see growth in all the congregations across our benefice. This is a key area in which we look for the support, guidance, and leadership of our Rector.
During the Covid19 lockdown our clergy team and congregations have worked closely together, as a benefice, to develop on-line worship, prayer, youth work and fellowship. We look to our Rector to help us define a “new normal” post lockdown, including how we can build on the use of technology.
We would like our Rector to be:
The Diocese of Oxford broadly covers the counties of Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. As a diocese, we are working to become a more Christ-like Church for the sake of God’s world, through being contemplative, compassionate and courageous. We want to make a difference in the world, including tackling the climate emergency. We want to grow disciples and to teach the Christian faith. We have an ambitious plan to grow 750 new congregations across the diocese, to grow a Christian presence on the many (some huge) areas of new housing across our three counties. We want to develop and grow ministry among children, young people and schools. We want to bless our largest and fastest growing city in the Diocese, Milton Keynes. This is an emerging and evolving vision, with which all clergy and parishes are warmly encouraged to engage, both in their own contexts and parishes and more widely, as we continue to dwell in God’s Word and discern his purpose for us.
For an informal discussion please contact the Archdeacon of Dorchester on 01865 208245 or email her at archdeacon.dorchester@oxford.anglican.org.
Further information about the Diocese is available at https://www.oxford.anglican.org/
Closing date: 9th August
Interviews: 11th September
DBS Enhanced Disclosure is required.