Cottingley is an important single church parish of around 5,500 people. St Michael’s Cottingley brings together a lively and growing congregation which is committed to following Jesus, and a strong engagement with the local community, particularly since 2008 through the adjoining purpose-built Cottingley Community Centre.

The role includes the neighbouring Parish of Holy Trinity Bingley, which has a population of over 7,000 people and two churches, Holy Trinity and St Wilfrid’s. The post-holder will also be licenced as Interim Associate Vicar of this parish

There are five particular priorities for the incoming priest in charge / associate vicar:

1. To provide leadership which enables numerical church growth, sustaining and developing a ‘mixed ecology’ of a range of forms of church and worship to grow a wider diversity of ages and a more balanced gender mix in the congregations. In particular, this will involve developing and implementing a sustainable strategy for effective ministry and styles of worship to reach out to both men and women, and also to families, young people and children in order to grow young people as Christians.

1. To build stronger, more confident lay ministry from the congregations, both in depth and numbers. This will include developing pathways for greater discipleship and increased lay leadership, and encouraging individuals to develop in their faith and use their gifts and talents. The incoming post-holder will therefore need excellent teaching, team building and team leadership skills.

1. To help the churches connect fruitfully with their local communities, and especially with those who experience loneliness, isolation, mental ill-health and material need. This will involve developing active and visible relationships within the communities in creative ways, both personally as an individual and also through the congregations, and to contribute with others to a vision for the parishes, and more widely for the place of the churches in Bingley and Cottingley. At Cottingley, this will include engaging strategically as a key Trustee (ideally Chair) of the Community Centre, building on the strong links between the Centre and the Church (see below).

1. To develop good working relationships between the parishes of Cottingley and Holy Trinity Bingley particularly, but also with All Saints Bingley and the Eldwick Church, and explore possible future pastoral reorganisation to ensure the Church of England has the best possible relationships with the town.

1. To help ensure the continued sustainability, both financially and in community impact, of the Cottingley Community Centre, taking a leading role with the trustees, staff and volunteers in the governance, management and development.

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 congregations to reimagine ministry in the light of new opportunities, grow the churches, develop confident discipleship, and sustain and develop engagement with the local communities.

Amongst other things we are looking for someone who has:

• A proven track record of commitment to and delivery of church growth.
• A track record of leadership which empowers others and grows the confidence and gifts of God’s people.
• A track record of inspiring vision and developing appropriate strategies.
• Experience of managing paid staff and volunteers.
• A passion for seeing people of all ages and backgrounds become disciples and grow in their faith

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 details of which can be found on the website

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.