St Mary’s, Burley in Wharfedale is a single church parish with a population of just over 7000. There are around 2500 households and planning approval for a further 550 houses to be built. The population is predominantly white British on median or better incomes. Many people commute into Leeds or Bradford, though more are now working from home.

We are looking to recruit a vicar to help us continue on our journey.

For an informal chat about this post please contact the Archdeacon Bradford, Ven Dr Andy Jolley on 07973 458403

Closing date for applications is 5th March with interviews planned for 24th March 2023.

Our vision as the Diocese is about confident clergy equipping confident Christians to live and tell the good news of Jesus Christ so that churches grow and communities are transformed. For this post, we are seeking an enabling leader with a track record of church growth, both numerically and spiritually, who has a joyful and confident faith. We want to appoint someone who loves Jesus and loves people, who can work with the congregation to reimagine ministry, to be a church which worships in a variety of ways, to grow the church to be more multigenerational, to develop confident discipleship, and sustain and develop engagement with the local community.

There are three particular priorities for the incoming incumbent:

1. To sustain and develop a ‘mixed ecology’ of effective forms of mission, ministry and styles of worship to grow a wider diversity of ages in the church, and especially to reach out to families, young people and children in order to grow young people as Christians.

1. To continue building up confident lay ministry from the congregation, both in depth and numbers. This will include developing pathways for evangelism and discipleship, including the existing home groups, and increased lay leadership, encouraging individuals to grow in faith and use their gifts and talents. Hence, the incoming vicar will need excellent teaching, communication, team building and team leadership skills.

1. To develop and strengthen active and visible relationships within Burley in creative ways, both personally as an individual and also through the congregations. S(he) should be able to engage strategically with the life of the community, fostering excellent relationships (for example) with the three local primary schools, uniformed organisations, other churches and community organisations, as well as the many groups that use the Parish Centre. I expect him/her to build on the work of Love Burley so that St Mary’s contributes with others to a shared vision both for Burley, and for the place of the churches in Burley.

In addition the person appointed will be the senior Anglican priest at St Mary’s who will lead the ministerial team. They will also be the Training Incumbent for any curate deployed to the parish.

We are looking for a new vicar with the following skills and focus:

• Feels called to minister to and participate in a village community.
• Has a warm, pastoral heart and who is equally comfortable ministering to the sick, lonely or be-reaved as encouraging the young adults, families and children who will become tomorrow’s church.
• Has the vision and enthusiasm needed to help and encourage us to reach out to our large ‘fringe’.
• Is a good communicator, not merely within the confines of a church sermon, but in the local schools and around the village too. (A sense of humour is not only desirable but, perhaps, essential!)
• Has a deep regard for the Eucharist.
• Has the flexibility to deliver lively, non-Eucharistic worship and encourage our broad musical tradition.
• Will encourage and enable spiritual growth.
• Has proven leadership skills; a person of vision and enthusiasm who is equally at ease ‘leading from the front’ as they are in delegating to others.
• Has a collaborative and emotionally intelligent approach to communicating with everyone.
• Will develop relationships across all community organisations to enable effective partnerships work-ing together for the benefit of the village.
• Will be committed to uncovering hidden needs and to build trust in the circumstances found.

The Diocese of Leeds was formed at Easter 2014. It is one of the largest dioceses in the country covering an area of around 2425 square miles and a population of around 2642400 people. The diocese comprises five Episcopal areas, each served by a suffragan Bishop. Each Episcopal Area is coterminous with an Archdeaconry.

The Diocesan Vision is ‘confident Christians, growing churches, transforming communities and so helping share the Good News of Jesus Christ across our Diocese’. This Vision is embedded into the Diocesan Strategy and Goals:

1. Thriving as a distinctive Diocese whose culture is shaped by a shared vision and values.

2. Re-imagining ministry

3. Nurturing lay discipleship

4. Building Leadership pathways

5. Growing young people as Christians

The Diocese is a mix of urban and rural. The area includes the major cities of Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield; the large industrial and post-industrial towns of Halifax, Huddersfield and Dewsbury; the market towns of Harrogate, Skipton, Ripon, Richmond and Wetherby; and the deeply rural area of the Yorkshire Dales.

The Diocese in unique in having three cathedrals; Bradford, Ripon and Wakefield. The Deans of the Cathedrals work together to provide key diocesan services.