These two lively urban parishes in central Burnley provide an outstanding opportunity for a priest who wants to make a difference across the town.

St Peter’s is the historic town centre church and offers the chance to minister to central Burnley and build partnerships with the Borough Council and community groups.

St Stephen’s serves the recently regenerated Burnley Wood area and has a more settled, residential community.

Both congregations bring creativity, enthusiasm, able lay leaders and a love for the young. Each Parish has a good church school where links are warm and strong.

The churches are both in the central tradition with worship rooted in the Eucharist and an established choral tradition at St Peter’s.

The ideal candidate will:

• Enjoy the contrasting opportunities for mission and ministry provided by the two parishes and establish a ministry of presence within each
• Seek to develop a ministry across central Burnley, using the location of St Peter’s to develop civic and community links.
• Maintain and further develop the strong relationships with two church primary schools and delight in ministry to the young
• Be at home in the liturgical, choral and eucharistic traditions of the Parishes whilst finding new ways to develop their worshipping life
• Exploit to the full the possibilities for service provided by two recently restored and renewed buildings.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have a strong and disciplined pattern of prayer and be committed to their own growth in holiness
• Be an able and clear preacher and communicator who can share the Gospel with all ages
• Bring creativity and freshness of thought to two congregations with a track record for innovation
• Be able to articulate a vision for growth and be skilful in developing the gifts of lay leaders in implementing it
• Be a team player who will take a full part in the life of the Deanery and Diocese
• Enjoy building relationships, delight in the company of a wide range of people and know they’re not perfect!

For information about Blackburn diocese please follow this link

https://jobs.churchofengland.org/blackburn/vision-2026/

For information on making an application through Pathways please follow this link

https://jobs.churchofengland.org/clergycandidatesfaq/

St Peter's church website - https://stpetersburnley.com

St Stephen's church website - https://ststephenschurchburnley.org.uk/

For an informal conversation about the post please contact The Area Dean of Burnley, Revd Chris Casey by email kcvicar@gmail.com or by telephone 01282 788176

Closing date: Monday 8th November
Interviews will be held in person on Tuesday 7th December