We are looking for a talented priest who will enable us to fulfil our calling to share God’s love in a needy world.

Birkdale is a thriving community with a ‘continental’ flavour full of wine bars, excellent restaurants and independent retailers. It is part of Southport, a seaside resort and attractive town, and has excellent transport links to Liverpool, Manchester and Preston.

Both parishes are in the deanery of North Meols and have a population of 12,000 combined which is socially mixed with a significant population aged under 18 years although the main population is older than the averages for Sefton and England with both men and women in Birkdale living longer. There is a good range of primary and secondary schools.

The congregations have formed a positive and constructive relationship with their sister church St John’s in Birkdale and it is essential that this relationship is nurtured and developed.

The vicarage is within St James’ church grounds and was built in 1983. It provides good family accommodation, with 2 reception rooms, 4 bedrooms and study, complemented by a large lawned area and integral garage.

Closing Date: Wednesday 14th June 2023

Interview Date: Tuesday 27th June 2023

For more information please contact: Ven Pete Spiers, Archdeacon of Knowsley and Sefton

Mob: 07590690780 or email: pete.spiers@liverpool.anglican.org.uk

Main priorities

• Inspiring each age group to nurture each other in spiritual growth
• Promoting ways of bringing the living gospel to all
• Actively engaging with children and young families
• Ensuring appropriate spiritual provision for the elderly
• Encouraging more and more people to recognise and use their God given gifts and talents
• Collaborating with the newly appointed priest at St John’s Birkdale and lay leaders to be a more effective Christian presence in Birkdale

Our ideal candidate:

• Open hearted and welcoming to all
• Passionate to see spiritual growth in others
• Confident and energetic
• Collaborative and consultative
• Empathetic and prayerful
• Approachable and good listener

Being part of the Clergy Team in Liverpool Diocese

For many years we have been working to achieve growth in our diocese. We have used different ways to express this but the aim and direction of travel has remained the same – consistent with the whole of the Church of England. We have articulated a vision for this growth by saying

we are asking God for a bigger church so that we can make a bigger difference:

more people knowing Jesus and more justice in the world.

In our diocesan vision we have identified four priority areas for our work in mission in this season:

Introducing people to God through Jesus Christ

Deepening discipleship, especially by means of our Rule of Life

Developing Christian leaders in every place

Working for justice

Like everyone entering a new role in the Diocese, you will accept the priority of these areas, and will measure your ministry by effectiveness in these areas. You will be supported and expected to be accountable (through the Ministerial Development Review as well as through regular meetings with your colleagues) for how they are being implemented within your area of responsibility.

In common with all clergy in the diocese, you will work together with others to:-

1. Establish a culture of invitation in evangelism within the local church.
2. Start new worshipping communities and maintain existing healthy worshipping communities that are accessible to all.
3. Establish a culture in the local church of expecting a deepening of discipleship and putting into practice the 6 disciplines of the Diocesan Rule of Life.
4. Develop prayerfully a strategy for mission and church growth and aligning it with the Diocesan strategy Fit for Mission.
5. Identify, train, release and support new Christian leaders and teams.
6. Encourage vocations by identifying the gifts of others and assisting people to seek God’s calling for their lives.
7. Develop the distinctive ministry of the local Church within the wider context of the Diocese, Deanery and local ecumenical setting by establishing and maintaining good collaborative working relationships with clergy and lay colleagues.
8. Lead your congregations both to pray for justice in the Church and the world and to recognize how, working with others, your congregations can work for more justice in the Church, your local communities, and the world.
9. Ensure that safeguarding, financial and other governance disciplines are followed.