The communities of Staincliffe and Carlinghow are situated near Batley and Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, within easy reach of the cities of Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield and the larger towns of Halifax and Huddersfield. There are excellent links further afield via the M62/M1 motorways and the rail network with good train services to London, Manchester and Leeds.

Episcopal Oversight is provided to these parishes by Rt Revd Tony Robinson, Bishop of Wakefield.

We are looking for a priest of the Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda, who is committed to helping our churches to grow in numbers, in spiritual commitment to God and in service to the local community. In return we will offer you our support, prayers and practical help from the multi-talented people in our congregations who are, in true Yorkshire style, welcoming and friendly.

Closing Date: Please speak to the Archdeacon of Halifax

Interviews: Please speak to the Archdeacon of Halifax

If you require further information including copies of the accounts or would like a conversation about this post please do not hesitate to contact The Ven Bill Braviner, Archdeacon of Halifax by email initially on archdeacon.halifax@leeds.anglican.org . He will then arrange to have a telephone or Zoom conversation with you.

The two churches of Christ Church Staincliffe and St John the Evangelist Carlinghow formed a united benefice some years ago. Following the resignation of the previous parish priest, we are now seeking to appoint an Interim Priest in Charge for an initial three-year period, to help the parishes move on and grow.

We are looking for a new priest who will:

• Develop the spiritual life of these two parishes through prayer and devotion, intelligent preaching and the development of good Anglo-Catholic liturgy and music, teaching and growing the Christian faith both in the congregations and the community at large;
• Make a priority of sick visiting - both home and hospital (if possible) - and in particular, to offer Home Communion;
• Be seen as a presence in the Parish and be approachable, forging community links and outreach for young and old alike;

• Be committed to growth, renewal and mission and offer leadership in developing credible strategies for development and sustainability of these two parishes into the future, including an emphasis on the importance of planned giving and the importance of increasing donations.;
• Show strong leadership vision and drive, fostering good relationships, encouraging harmony and cooperation but able also to challenge when required;
• Relate strategically and pastorally to all sections of the congregation and wider community including other faith groups;
• Engage fully with local schools and with their senior management teams and governing bodies, to re-establish and strengthen our school links and seek to develop the churches’ engagement with children and young people;
• Be committed to positive relationships within the Deanery and Diocese both spiritually and practically.

Please see the Person Specification attached for further details of the essential and desirable qualities we are seeking in relation to this post.

The Anglican Diocese of Leeds comprises five episcopal areas, each coterminous with an archdeaconry. This is now one of the largest Dioceses in the country and its creation in 2014 is unprecedented in the history of the Church of England. It covers an area of around 2,425 square miles with a population of around 2,642,400 people. The Diocese comprises major cities (Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield) large industrial and post-industrial towns (Halifax, Huddersfield and Dewsbury), market towns (Todmorden, Harrogate, Skipton, Richmond, Ripon and Wetherby) and deeply rural areas especially in the Dales. The whole of life is here, along with all the richness, diversity and complexities of a changing world.

Five area bishops (Bradford, Huddersfield, Kirkstall, Ripon and Wakefield and five archdeacons (Bradford, Halifax, Leeds, Richmond and Craven and Wakefield. assist the Diocesan Bishop (The Rt. Revd Nicholas Baines)

These two churches lie in the Batley and Dewsbury Deanery of the Huddersfield Episcopal Area, in the Archdeaconry of Halifax. The office of Bishop of Huddersfield is currently vacant, following the recent translation of The Rt. Revd Dr Jonathan Gibbs to the See of Rochester. The Archdeacon of Halifax is The Venerable Bill Braviner.

Our vision as a Diocese is about confident clergy equipping confident Christians to live and tell the Good News of Jesus Christ. For all our appointments we are seeking clergy who have a joyful and confident faith and with a commitment to church growth both numerical and spiritual.