Chartham and Upper Hardres with Stelling is a rural benefice of two parishes and three churches not far from Canterbury. It's a benefice with a lot of potential and the parishes are working hard to realise all that potential and need the right priest to work with them. A joint PCC meeting identified these values for the benefice going forward:

• Connecting with people
• Openness to learning
• Passion for seeking God’s vision
• Worship with wonder, awe, imagination and joy

Chartham is a large village which, although rural, has some small to medium enterprises within the village, There has been significant development within the village, increasing the population to over 5,000. The parish of Upper Hardres with Stelling is made up of three small villages and a number of hamlets with a total population of 1,000. Both parishes are involved in their communities.

Closing date: 17 June 2022

Shortlisting: 20 June 2022

Parish Visit and Interviews: 15 July 2022

Any queries to the Archdeacon of Ashford’s PA, Louise Mills: louise.mills@archdeacashford.org or 01233 712649.

We asked our church families to find what sort of characteristics people would like to see in an incoming vicar. The results clearly showed that apart from the usual preference for a super-vicar with boundless energy, able to be all things to all people, our congregations would particularly welcome a person:

• who is approachable and open to the Holy Spirit and with a heart for pastoral ministry.
• who knows and loves the Lord, loves the Bible, believes in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and lives out their Christian faith.
• with a desire to support the strong tradition of music in the church.
• who will develop a greater diversity of morning & evening services, including services with a more modern style.
• with a desire to build up the church’s spiritual and prayer life, encourage development of people’s gifts and maintain our tradition of inclusivity.
• who will foster young people’s ministry.
• who can reach out to our village communities and schools, and draw in both those who are already Christians, and those who are seeking.

Our Diocesan Vision

Changed Lives, Changing Lives

By God’s grace we want to be a people who are...

…confident & creative disciples of Jesus Christ

...rooted in scripture & drenched in prayer

…living gratefully, giving generously, caring for creation & sharing the gospel

...growing in number & expectations – of God & ourselves

...motivated by justice & love, open to the Spirit & ready for adventure!

Therefore we will …

'Therefore we will...' is a recognition that words without actions are empty. It is a commitment to taking real steps now to make this vision a reality soon. The current actions that flow from this vision - both at a diocesan level and in our deaneries - are outlined in detail over the rest of this document. Of course, these actions will change and develop over time - and we would encourage our parishes to consider this vision carefully for themselves, to explore together what actions they will commit to take, what their local 'Therefore we will...' might look like.