Thank you for your interest in the post of House for Duty Priest in Charge for this group of rural parishes. We are seeking to appoint a House for Duty Priest-in-Charge for this group of rural parishes. The benefice of Topcliffe, Baldersby with Dishforth, Dalton and Skipton on Swale is situated between Thirsk and Ripon. It is on the western boundary of this part of the Diocese of York, and adjoins the Diocese of Leeds.

Presentation to the Benefice of Topcliffe, Baldersby with Dishforth, Dalton and Skipton on Swale is currently suspended to enable a deanery review of church life and ministry. The deanery is coterminous with the Methodist Circuit and there is a particluarly strong ecumenical relationship.

Because the provision of housing constitutes remuneration in kind, this appointment is made under Common Tenure. It is subject to satisfactory enhanced DBS Disclosure and episcopal reference, and eligibility to work in the UK.

You will find more information in the attached benefice profile and role description, though should you require more details please contact:

• The Area Dean, the Revd FIona Mayer-Hones, vicar@cofe-northallerton.org.uk
• The Archdeacon of Cleveland, the Ven Dr Amanda Bloor, adcl@yorkdiocese.org / 01642 706 095
• The Bishop of Whitby, the Rt Revd Paul Ferguson, bishopofwhitby@yorkdiocese.org / 01642 593 273

• To help the benefice to deal with a period of change and enable it to equip itself more effectively for mission.
• To help shape implementation of the Deanery plan, including the sharing of ministerial gifts and responsibilities across parish boundaries.
• To build and maintain good relationships between the church and the schools and young people in the benefice, with particular focus on rebuilding relationships with the Church School in Topcliffe.
• To be closely involved in community events and in ongoing ecumenical work. TO keep contact with the Welfare Officers and Chaplains of Dishforth Air base and Alanbrooke Barracks.
• To provide pastoral care to the people of the parishes in the benefice and encourage the parishes to work more closely together.
• To develop lay vocations and ministries.
• To support and develop plans to grow the church spiritually and numerically, and to grow regular giving and other sources of income so that the church is able to continue donating appropriately to the diocesan Common Fund through Freewill Offer and be generous in missional outreach.
• To continue to discover how alternative approaches to worship and sustaining community during Covid restrictions can carry forward into the future.
• To be mindful of locally-valued choral tradition and strong lay leadership in Topcliffe.

We are seeking someone who:

• Is a first-rate preacher who can bring theological insight to congregations of all ages, teaching using appropriate methods and language to enable all to engage.
• Has an authentic, lived faith, prayerful with good pastoral care.
• Has a respect for history and tradition, faithful in the ministry of word and sacrament in its various forms.
• Is community orientated and sympathetic to rural life
• Someone who will strengthen links with our local schools.
• A strong collaborative leader who will guide and encourage us with vision, empathy and a good sense of humour.
• Is ecumenically minded.

The Diocese of York takes in much of North and East Yorkshire, including the cities of York, Hull and Middlesbrough, and two National Parks. Extending from the River Tees to the River Humber, and from around the A1 road to the incomparable Yorkshire coast, the area is home to around 1.4 million people.

Welcome to the Diocese of York in the Church of England;

· a family of 579 churches and 125 schools in 442 parishes
· committed to the praise of God through Jesus Christ and service to others
· led and guided in their faith and work by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell.

The appointment of a new Archbishop of York has encouraged the reshaping of the Diocesan vision and examination of our priorities. We are determined to become a simpler, bolder, humbler and more diverse church of missionary disciples which is Christ-centred and Jesus shaped, ensuring in partnership with other churches that there is a Christian witness in every community. We wish to be a people who are ‘Living Christ’s Story.’

Visit our website here: Diocese of York