Market Town Ministry on the Wirral

The Parish of Neston

We are seeking a full-time incumbent for this large parish with three churches, covering the whole of the market town of Neston. We are looking for a wise and mature priest with strategic vision, a track record of collaborative leadership, and an open and inclusive approach to ministry. A good, modern, 4-bedroom vicarage is provided.

The successful candidate will be:

• able to inspire, energise and enthuse people with a vision for the parish, and can help people to use their spiritual and practical gifts to bring the vision to life
• an effective leader in mission, able to encourage people to live out their faith in daily life
• able to motivate and lead people through times of change and growth.
• at home with a wide variety of worship styles
• an effective leader of teams
• able to provide leadership in business management in the parish
• good at engaging with people, communicating clearly and confidently with them in formal and in personal situations

Please note: The Diocese of Chester will not interview any candidates for posts if they cannot provide an assurance of a valid DBS and up to date safeguarding training.

The Archdeacon of Chester, The Venerable Michael Gilbertson is available for a conversation should you wish. Tel: 01928 718834 ext 253 or Email: michael.gilbertson@chester.anglican.org

Applications should by preference be made to the Archdeacon of Chester USING THE DIOCESAN APPLICATION FORM available on the website

Incumbent of Neston - Diocese of Chester (anglican.org)

Closing date: 30th April 2023

Interviews: 17 May 2023

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.