Life in rural South Norfolk brings God’s creation to your door in all its glory.

We are looking for a collaborative priest, confident in their love of God, who can lead and encourage our Team of churches to grow and develop their mission to everyone in the communities they serve.

ARE YOU an inspirational, collaborative leader with a passion for Christian mission and outreach into the community, who will build on our present foundations and inspire us to move forward with vision? If so, read on.

The Diocese is at an important and exciting point with a new vision emerging under a still relatively new diocesan bishop, and work is currently underway that will see the development of strategies for the outworking of the vision across the diocese.

We would love to hear from you if you feel that God might be calling you to this new role in this beautiful part of the county, or if you have questions about this role.

Diocese and Deanery

Under the leadership of the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, a vision is emerging for the Diocese – Transformed by Christ: Prayerfully, Pastorally and Prophetically. Work is currently underway on the strategies that will help us live out and deliver this vision.

Bishop Graham has written an Ethos and Culture Statement, available on the diocesan website - https://www.dioceseofnorwich.org/app/uploads/2020/12/Our-Life-Together-2021.pdf - which gives details of our structures and the character of the Diocese.

The benefice falls within the Archdeaconry of Norfolk, and so under the care of the Bishop of Thetford (currently in vacancy) and the Archdeacon of Norfolk (The Venerable Steven Betts). The benefice is in the Redenhall Deanery whose Rural Dean is Canon Nigel Tuffnell, Rector of the Redenhall with Scole benefice. There are 4 incumbents, 1 Team Vicar, 2 OLM Curates and 6 Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) in the Deanery, together with a number of PTO clergy and Authorised Worship Assistants.

Attendance at Deanery Synod and Chapter is an expectation, and all diocesan clergy are encouraged to give some part of their time and energies to the wider life of the Diocese.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR the person who will help us achieve our Vision by:
• lively preaching and teaching, relevant to daily life
• being comfortable with Prayer Book and Common Worship
• praying, with us and for us
• encouraging and developing pastoral care across the team
• understanding the challenges of both town and remote rural settings, including the upkeep of ancient buildings
• growing and encouraging links with families, schools and young people
• helping us to engage with the wider communities, sharing your own gifts
• working with us as we seek the best way forward for our benefice
• looking with fresh eyes to discern how we might do some things better while perhaps letting others go
• being ready to learn from others, having fun and enjoying the company of others

WE NEED someone to help us develop our vision and unite us in our purpose, a leader to guide our further spiritual journey and enable us to reach out to others in both the town and rural communities and spread the good news of the joy of knowing our loving God.

They will have enthusiasm for bringing the Gospel message alive and inspiring Church members to share their own faith in Christ with others.

Like most benefices we face many challenges and are confident that everything in Christ becomes possible with the right leader.

WE ARE a geographically fan-shaped benefice of 11 parishes in South Norfolk, with Diss at the hub. St Mary’s in Diss is the largest church and currently the one most used for benefice
services.

The 10 country parishes are villages of varying sizes; all see their Church as a vibrant part of the community, whether sited at the centre or on the outskirts.

We are still young, formally becoming an eleven parish benefice in July 2021. Six of the parishes were united ten years ago; the extra five joined following the retirement of their incumbent.

There are eight primary schools across the benefice, which feed into Diss High Academy. Two are Voluntary aided, one is Voluntary controlled, with the others being community schools, but all enjoy good relations with their local church, as do pre-schools and uniformed groups where these exist.

Churches are the preferred venue for festival services; some of the church schools held regular worship in church, led by ministry team members, pre-pandemic. Until March 2020, the church schools in Diss and North Lopham welcomed regular visits by the Open the
Book team. They have asked for visits to resume in 2023. There is a real opportunity to extend and encourage this work.