Urban Ministry and Mission among Young People in Runcorn

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity for someone with a heart for urban mission and a passion to see God’s kingdom growing among younger people.

We are seeking a motivated and creative priest to join us in Runcorn to take on a full-time role with two elements:

• Priest-in-Charge of the parish of St Berteline and St Christopher Norton (Sundays plus two days per week). This is an outward-looking church of open evangelical tradition with deep community links in an urban estate setting in Runcorn;
• For the remainder of the working week, to serve as Youth Work Co-ordinator working across the eight parishes of Runcorn, inspiring and equipping them in their ministry with and among 11-18s. In this part of the role you would be employed by the Diocese of Chester, working with the Outreach Department. The first five years of funding for the youth work co-ordinator role is already secured.

A modern vicarage is provided next to the church. The combined remuneration is equal to an incumbent’s stipend.

More information is available here:Priest-in-Charge for Norton / Youth Worker Co-ordinator for Runcorn - Diocese of Chester (anglican.org)

Closing date for applications: 12 June

Interviews: 29 June

Prospective applicants are welcome to discuss the post with the Archdeacon of Chester:

The Ven Dr Michael Gilbertson

Archdeacon of Chester

01928 718834 ext 253
07921 040154

michael.gilbertson@chester.anglican.org

The Diocese of Chester will not interview any candidate for posts if they cannot provide assurance of a valid DBS in their current role and up-to-date safeguarding training

The Diocese of Chester is in the province of York in the Church of England, part of the global Anglican Communion. For more information about our life, ministry and work please visit our website www.chester.anglican.org We are linked with the Anglican Church of Melanesia in the Solomon Islands and the Dioceses of Aru and Boga in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Diocese covers an area of 1025 square miles, approximately the old Victorian County of Chester, including parts which subsequently became absorbed into Merseyside and Greater Manchester. The Rivers Mersey and Tame approximately delineate the boundary with Liverpool and Manchester. There are areas of dense urban population, mainly in the north, stretching from Birkenhead to East Manchester. There are prosperous suburban regions of West and South Wirral, Chester and south of Manchester, with a mainly rural heartland, bounded by the Derbyshire Pennines and the Welsh Border. The overall population is around 1.6 million.

The Diocesan Bishop is Mark Tanner, Bishop of Birkenhead Julie Conalty and the Bishop of Stockport is Samuel Corley.

The Cathedral for the Diocese is in Chester.

The Diocese is divided into two archdeaconries: Chester covering the western half and Macclesfield the eastern, each with nine deaneries. There are 273 parishes, about 100 of which can be described as rural. Compared with many dioceses, there are few teams, and few multi-parish benefices. There are approximately 231 stipendiary clergy. The ministry of Readers and Pastoral Workers is important, with over 400 licensed. The role of self-supporting ministers is increasing, with over 80 in post at present.

Roughly speaking, the Archdeaconry of Macclesfield covers that part of the diocese to the east of the M6, plus the area around Crewe and Nantwich. The Archdeaconry of Chester covers the rest of the diocese to the west of the M6. Each archdeaconry has a broad mix of urban and rural parishes. The Archdeacon of Chester lives in Chester, and the Archdeacon of Macclesfield lives in Congleton. Both now work from Church House, Daresbury.