The Benefice of Linton, Burnsall and Rylstone includes three parishes around Grassington, in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. These villages are praying for a priest who is willing to work in the community and enjoy pastoral visiting, who will bring a strong vision for the Benefice. The parishes recognise the need for the new priest to bring God’s word to all the community, and be a collaborative leader who enjoys working with people and developing people spiritually.

For an informal conversation please contact the Archdeacon of Richmond and Craven, the Venerable Jonathan Gough, via his PA, Mrs Chloe Drummond, Email: chloe.drummond@leeds.anglican.org

Closing Date: 18th June

Shortlisting Date: 28th June

Interview Date: 21st July

The benefice is situated in the Yorkshire Dales National Park mostly in the valley of the River Wharfe. Linton and Burnsall churches are by the River Wharfe whilst Rylstone is an adjacent parish on the Skipton Road.

Although the three parishes are adjacent neighbours, each has its own distinctive character. Linton Parish also has places of worship at Hebden, Fountains Chapel in Upper Linton and Church House in Grassington. Burnsall has the chapel of St. John the Baptist in Appletreewick.

The churches are managed by:

1. The PCC of St. Michael and All Angels
2. The PCC of St. Wilfrid’s
3. The PCC of St Peter’s

This post requires a prayerful priest and leader, reliant on the Holy Spirit, with good people skills, who wants to see the growth of the Kingdom of God within and especially beyond the church. The person appointed will, therefore, require passion for discipleship, mission and pastoral care and, as a leader and team player, be able to enthuse others with similar passion.

• A living and personal relationship with Jesus including a deep prayer life; Spirit led, listening and responding to God’s voice; servant hearted
• Experience of developing discipleship within congregations, recognising the different ways individuals grow in faith
• Knowledge of different worship styles and the spiritual resources available for different styles, including web-based technologies
• Ability to think broadly, analyse a situation and value diverse perspectives
• Ability to make a full contribution to the collective worship, curriculum and governance of the church schools within the parishes
• Effective organisation and time management skills
• Ability to engage, motivate, inspire and delegate through effective people management skills
• Able to effectively coordinate teams
• Able to assist the laity to identify their skills and talents and encourage their use in worship and mission to help grow the churches

The Diocese of Leeds was formed at Easter 2014. It is one of the largest dioceses in the country covering an area of around 2,425 square miles, and a growing population of around 2,642,400 people. The diocese comprises five Episcopal areas, each served by a suffragan (area) bishop. Each Episcopal Area is coterminous with an Archdeaconry.

The Diocesan Vision, informed by the values of ‘loving, living, learning’ 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 and expressed in meaningful ways across the episcopal areas.

The Diocese is a blend of urban and rural in all their diversity. This 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 (classed as a small city), Richmond and Wetherby; and the deeply rural area of the Yorkshire Dales. It covers several civic and parliamentary boundaries.

The Diocese is unique in having three cathedrals; Bradford, Ripon and Wakefield. The Deans of the Cathedrals work together and continue to look to fresh ways of sharing ideas and engaging in projects of mutual interest.