Incumbent: Hallwood Ecumenical Parish

We are seeking a full-time priest to lead this parish (population 12,000) of central to open evangelical tradition in the town of Runcorn. The successful applicant will be committed to encouraging the congregations in everyday discipleship, mission and ministry. The ecumenical character of the parish (Anglican, URC and Methodist) is central to its life.

A good modern house is provided.

In particular, we are looking for someone who will:

• Be committed to working ecumenically and leading worship using Methodist and URC liturgy as well as Common Worship.
• Be passionate about proclaiming the Gospel of the Love of God.
• Be an inspired teacher who will help us to apply our faith to everyday life.
• Be a team player, encouraging the ministry and talents of members of the parish to help us grow individually and together.
• Be someone who would value what we already do and help us develop our ministry to the community.
• Be someone who can lead and inspire us to identify new ways of reaching out.
• Be able to help foster a good safeguarding culture in the parish.
• Have a particular skill needed in the churches in Runcorn and be willing to work co-operatively with other clergy in the town.
• Have a good sense of humour and the patience of Job.
• And, most importantly, must be someone who feels a sense of God calling them here and able to demonstrate their passion and enthusiasm to fulfil that calling.

In addition, the post carries with it an expectation of collaborative working more widely across the parishes of the town. See the important separate note on ‘Working Together in Runcorn’.

Closing date for applications: 31 October

Interviews: 22 November

Prospective applicants are welcome to discuss the post with the archdeacon:

The Ven Dr Michael Gilbertson

Archdeacon of Chester

01928 718834 ext 253
07921 040154

michael.gilbertson@chester.anglican.org

Please note: The Diocese of Chester will not interview any candidates for posts if they cannot provide an assurance of a valid DBS and up to date safeguarding training.

The Diocese of Chester is in the province of York in the Church of England, part of the global Anglican Communion. For more information about our life, ministry and work please visit our website www.chester.anglican.org We are linked with the Anglican Church of Melanesia in the Solomon Islands and the Dioceses of Aru and Boga in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Diocese covers an area of 1025 square miles, approximately the old Victorian County of Chester, including parts which subsequently became absorbed into Merseyside and Greater Manchester. The Rivers Mersey and Tame approximately delineate the boundary with Liverpool and Manchester. There are areas of dense urban population, mainly in the north, stretching from Birkenhead to East Manchester. There are prosperous suburban regions of West and South Wirral, Chester and south of Manchester, with a mainly rural heartland, bounded by the Derbyshire Pennines and the Welsh Border. The overall population is around 1.6 million.

The Diocesan Bishop is Mark Tanner, Bishop of Birkenhead Julie Conalty and the Bishop of Stockport is Samuel Corley.

The Cathedral for the Diocese is in Chester.

The Diocese is divided into two archdeaconries: Chester covering the western half and Macclesfield the eastern, each with nine deaneries. There are 273 parishes, about 100 of which can be described as rural. Compared with many dioceses, there are few teams, and few multi-parish benefices. There are approximately 231 stipendiary clergy. The ministry of Readers and Pastoral Workers is important, with over 400 licensed. The role of self-supporting ministers is increasing, with over 80 in post at present.

Roughly speaking, the Archdeaconry of Macclesfield covers that part of the diocese to the east of the M6, plus the area around Crewe and Nantwich. The Archdeaconry of Chester covers the rest of the diocese to the west of the M6. Each archdeaconry has a broad mix of urban and rural parishes. The Archdeacon of Chester lives in Chester, and the Archdeacon of Macclesfield lives in Congleton. Both now work from Church House, Daresbury.