"the beginning......... ........of a renewed mission"

We are seeking an enthusiastic and approachable leader who can build a strong team and inspire us to grow the church.

Cookham is situated to the north of Maidenhead in Berkshire and is part of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. It is bounded by the River Thames on the north and eastern sides and separated from the town of Maidenhead itself by open land designated as Green Belt.
The Benefice of The Cookhams is part of the Maidenhead and Windsor Deanery and the benefice has two parish churches; Holy Trinity, Cookham and St John the Baptist, Cookham Dean.

The role of Vicar in the Benefice of The Cookhams offers an attractive opportunity for a missionally innovative leader. The churches are well-resourced and are looking for ways to increase their missional impact, with a particular focus on increasing community involvement and engagement with children and young people.

We are looking for a priest with the ability to develop and implement strategies to engage with the broader community, meeting people where they are, and building bridges between the Church and the emerging generations.

Full details can be found in our Parish Profile, person specification and role description - links below.

The Diocese of Oxford serves the mission of the Church in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
In the last few years a common Vision has emerged for the Diocese of Oxford. The vision is based on the qualities described in The Beatitudes and addresses what kind of church we are called to be: a more Christ-like Church for the sake of God's world; contemplative, compassionate, courageous.
The Bishop of Reading is the Rt Revd Olivia Graham, who has been the Area Bishop since 2019. The Ven Stephen Pullin is the Berkshire Archdeacon, with the Revd Canon Liz Jackson, the Associate Archdeacon.

We are praying for:

• An enthusiastic and approachable leader who can build a strong team and inspire them to grow the church throughout the benefice.
• An active participant in village life who is valued by the local community.
• A priest who fosters an open-minded and inclusive attitude which is demonstrated by their compassion and pastoral care.
• Someone who understands and communicates well with younger people, both children and adults, to draw them into faith.
• A priest who enjoys leading both formal Common Worship and informal all-age gatherings and who has an awareness of the role of music in supporting and enhancing worship.
• An inspirational and engaging preacher who encourages people to hear the Gospel message and is a source of spiritual growth in our church.
  You will find in us:-
• Both a traditional and progressive approach to liturgy, worship and music,
• A growing mission to young families and their children with strong links to local primary schools.
• A popular place to live with excellent local schools and amenities in a semi-rural location yet within easy reach of London.

To discuss this role in more detail please contact the Venerable Stephen Pullin, Archdeacon of Berkshire on archdeacon.berkshire@oxford.anglican.org

Closing date for Applications: Monday 25 September 2023

Interviews: Friday 20 October 2023

All appointments are subject to acceptable pre-appointment checks, including a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check.

The new vicar will work closely with all stakeholders, within and beyond the Church, to foster a sense of community and shared mission, empowering others to actively participate in serving the community within and beyond the four walls of the church building. The new vicar will lead by example in being present in the community and in reaching out to individuals who have become disengaged from the Church and in fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of background, feel valued and accepted.

The Diocese of Oxford

Together as a Diocese we are engaged on a journey towards a Common Vision of what it means to be a Christ-like Church, and what we are therefore called to do together. Under the leadership of Bishop Steven, we are guided on this journey by the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-11) which shows us that to be more Christ-like means becoming more contemplative, compassionate and courageous.

We are also seeking to understand where God wants us to focus our energies and will be exploring six potential focus areas over the coming year:

• To make a bigger difference in the world and serve the poor.
• To share our faith with adults, children and young people and grow the church in every place; rural, urban and suburban.
• To plant new churches and congregations everywhere we can.
• To serve every school in our community.
• To put the discipleship of all at the heart of our common life and set God’s people free.