There are three churches - St. Nicholas, All Saints and St. Michael and All Angels that make up a single parish team. Each church has a D.C.C responsible for the management for that church and each D.C.C appoints representatives to serve on the P.C.C. The strength of the Sutton Team is its diversity; each church respecting a different tradition - one evangelical with charismatic leanings, one middle choral and one a little higher. Each church values strong ecumenical links. We worship together monthly at the moment. Sutton parish is a rich place to learn and explore.

The parish is in the town of St. Helens, Northwest England, and lies approximately 10 and 20 miles respectively, as the crow flies, from Liverpool and Manchester. Although close to these two major cities St. Helens retains its own individuality. The town is well served by motorway, major roads and rail networks. Liverpool and Manchester airports are within easy reach of the town also.

The Rectory is a large, detached house next door to St Michael’s and All Angels church.

Short Listing: 6th February 2023

Interview Dates: 27th February 2023

For more information, please contact the Archdeacon of St Helens and Warrington the Ven Simon Fisher on: simon.fisher@liverpool.anglican.org.uk

Sutton parish is one of ten parishes in St Helens deanery engaged with the Fit for Mission process, bringing churches together for the development of a common mission, investing in development of clergy and lay leaders and making strategic decisions together for the future of the church across this town. The post-holder will be closely involved in this programme, which is a two-year change programme running from 2022-2024, with the likelihood that Sutton parish will become part of a larger parish and team ministry across St Helens at the beginning of 2024.

The Main Responsibilities are:

• to play a key role in developing Sutton’s part in the new future of the church in St Helens
• collaborate with colleagues (lay and ordained) help to cast vision, to lead others through a change process, and to be led yourself
• to help to develop the effective witness and mission of the Sutton churches in this part of the town

Other Responsibilities involve:

• play a full part in the life of the wider clergy team in the deanery
• identify, develop and lead existing and new lay leadership
• teach and encourage others in their Christian faith

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.