The Fountains Benefice lies to the west of the cathedral city of Ripon, sitting in beautiful Yorkshire Dales countryside and encompassing the World Heritage Site of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. In addition to the main villages there are a number of smaller settlements and farms across the area. We are looking forward to welcoming an Associate Priest (House for Duty) to serve with the Priest in Charge and two Readers in leading worship, service and pastoral care. Our mission strongly echoes that of the diocese: to “enable confident Christians to live and tell the Good News of Jesus Christ”. We hope very much that our new house-for-duty priest will be able to help us strengthen ties between different parts of the benefice and contribute to developing the discipleship of those coming from, and wanting to explore, different Christian traditions.

Time commitment: Two days per week plus Sundays

The closing date is Sunday 11th June 2023

The shortlisting date is Monday 19th June 2023

The interview day is Thursday 29th June 2023

For an informal conversation please contact the Revd Ian Kitchen Email: ian.kitchen@leeds.anglican.org Tel: 01765 650369

Role Purpose:

In collaboration with the Rector and the Lay leadership, and the Methodist Minister in Grewelthorpe.

• To provide pastoral care
• To lead worship and provide spiritual support in discipleship
• To play a part in the churches’ links with the schools, according to gifts and time available To move forward the Diocesan strategy in the context of these parishes

Desired Skills:

• An ability to lead different styles of worship
• An ability to enthuse people with God through his word in preaching and study
• An ability to encourage others in discipleship and ministry
• Pastoral sensitivity
• Full driving licence with access to a car (expenses will be paid in full)
• Good computer and IT skills
• We will be very open to the particular skills and strengths which you will bring to the benefice

The Diocese of Leeds

The Diocese of Leeds was formed at Easter 2014. It is one of the largest dioceses in the country covering an area of around 2,425 square miles, and a growing population of around 2,642,400 people. The diocese comprises five Episcopal areas, each served by a suffragan (area) bishop. Each Episcopal Area is coterminous with an Archdeaconry.

The Diocesan Vision, informed by the values of ‘loving, living, learning’ is: ‘confident Christians, growing churches, transforming communities and so helping share the Good News of Jesus Christ across our Diocese’. This Vision is embedded into the Diocesan Strategy and Goals and expressed in meaningful ways across the episcopal areas.

The Diocese is a blend of urban and rural in all their diversity. This includes the major cities of Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield; the large industrial and post-industrial towns of Halifax, Huddersfield and Dewsbury; the market towns of Harrogate, Skipton, Ripon (classed as a small city), Richmond and Wetherby; and the deeply rural area of the Yorkshire Dales. It covers several civic and parliamentary boundaries.

The Diocese is unique in having three cathedrals; Bradford, Ripon and Wakefield. The Deans of the Cathedrals work together and continue to look to fresh ways of sharing ideas and engaging in projects of mutual interest.