Mayland

Diocese of Chelmsford

Mayland

Associate Priest - House for Duty

Mayland is a thriving and still expanding village on the south bank of the River Blackwater. Despite the lack of a direct rail link into London, it provides a home for commuters as well as the older, long-term residents who built the community institutions during the previous half-century and are now retired and younger residents with school-age children, particularly at the local pre- and primary schools.

At present Mayland Church is firmly in "Pastoral Mode" and a mission plan has not yet been developed. Priorities during the vacancy have been to keep the show on the road. The congregation is warm, welcoming and willing to work with clergy. Given the present profile of the regular congregation, growth, in numbers, in faith and in variety of people is an important, God-given goal.

The Crouch Valley Parishes are loosely-grouped and so called because most have a boundary along the north bank of the River Crouch. Various groupings over many decades have left the local parishes with historical as well as current links; the current group consists of two benefices - Cold Norton and Stow Maries, and Althorne with Latchingdon and North Fambridge. All five parishes are rural or semi-rural, with relatively small populations and congregations. The current Rector has been in post for seven years and is Rural Dean

The Rector of the Crouch Valley parishes will become priest in charge of Mayland once the post of associate priest is filled. The Associate Priest will then minister collaboratively with the preist in charge across all six parishes; with the associate priest living in Mayland

Mayland has a vision to:

  • Be visible, get to know people and help to strengthen Church and community links.
  • Help the Church to reach young families
  • Enable long-term residents and new arrivals alike to work together
  • Revive accessible worship for people of different ages, experience and stages of faith in a growing village where many people settle for the long term.

The office holder will be fully involved with the deanery as it works with the diocesan strategy paper "Reimagining Ministry" and with the priorities set out in "Transforming Presence"

An application form, profile and role description can be obtained from

Mrs Amanda Robinson (P.A. to the Bishop of Bradwell)

arobinson@chelmsford.anglican.org

Bishop's House, Orsett Road, Horndon-on-the-Hill, SS17 8NS (01375 673806)

The closing date for applications is 18 July 2013

Interviews will be held on 5 September 2013

Canon Martin Wood, Mission and Ministry Adviser in the Bradwell Episcopal Area, would be happy to have an informal conversation about this vacancy

mwood@chelmsford.anglican.org  (01268 552219)

Appointment subject to a satisfactory DBS and an identity check for the UK Border Agency