St Stephen’s on the Cliffs is a vibrant and joyful parish and a flagship of Anglo-Catholic life in Lancashire with a strong history of ministry to Blackpool and especially to its theatre community. Its worship is of a high standard – colourful, traditional and rich but also confidently Anglican. The congregation is diverse in every way and young people play an important part in its life. The Parish ministers generously to its local community but also draws in people from across the Fylde coast who seek excellence in the Catholic tradition.

The Parish plays a full part in the life of the Deanery and Diocese and is committed to growth in line with Vision 2026.

St Stephen’s is a Parish of the Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda and the PCC has passed resolutions under the House of Bishop’s Declaration. Pastoral and sacramental care is therefore delegated to the Bishop of Burnley.

The candidate will:

• Delight in and develop the worshipping life of St Stephen’s and challenge the congregation about ways to engage new people in the Mass
• Bring ideas for outreach and evangelism in the context of the Catholic tradition
• Help people to grow in the depth and quality of their faith so that they are more confident in living it out in their daily lives
• Work collaboratively to develop lay ministry in the parish and enjoy discerning the gifts of laypeople
• Reach out into the community and develop the profile of St Stephen’s across the region
• Be intentional in developing ministry to children, young people and their families

The Ideal Candidate will:

• Have the Sacraments, the Scriptures and prayer at the heart of their life and be keen for others to discover them
• Be a faithful and gifted pastor, preacher and teacher of the faith
• Be committed to ministering to people of all ages and enjoy ministry amongst the young
• Be able to articulate a strategy for spiritual and numerical growth and take a personal delight in bringing people to Jesus Christ in the Eucharist
• Have a strong commitment to a ministry of presence and to the Parish church as a core unit of mission
• Bring a generous and engaging personality and a deep love for their people

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/HELP/candidate-faq/

For an informal conversation about the role please contact The Revd Peter Lillicrap, Area Dean of Blackpool - vicar@thetrinityparish.co.uk / Tel 01253 392895

Closing date for applications: Thursday 11^th August 12noon
Interviews to be held on Wednesday 7^th September