The Parish of Sanderstead (Southwark Diocese) is looking for a new Rector
We are looking for a leader who will help us to Grow in Christ and work with us to share God’s love in our community.
INTRODUCTION
There has been a church on the site of All Saints, Sanderstead, since at least 1230AD, worshipping God and serving the community. Our present congregation seeks to continue this faithful witness to the Gospel, and to share in God’s mission in this part of South Croydon.
There are 133 people on the electoral roll. Our monthly ‘Messy Church’ service attracts between 80 and 150 enthusiastic children, parents and carers, many of whom are attracted from our thriving toddler groups, uniformed organisations and our work with local primary schools. The Sunday morning ‘attending congregation’ consists mostly of people in the 60+ age range, whilst others, who cannot joint us in person, watch online.
The 2021 census recorded the population of Sanderstead as 15,774 and the average age at that time as 43.4. Local schools are heavily over-subscribed as young families continue to move to the area.
The Parish of Sanderstead lies on the northern edge of the beautiful North Downs and forms part of the southern boundary of the Greater London Borough of Croydon. It is
essentially a quiet suburban parish, approximately three miles due south of Croydon Town Centre.
The area is, popular with established families who enjoy its amenities and pleasant atmosphere.
The attractions of living in the area include
- accessibility to open spaces and woodland.
- good local Nursery and Outstanding Primary and Secondary Schools,
- good local shops including Waitrose, Sainsbury & Tesco.
- larger shopping centres are available in Croydon, Sutton and Bromley.
- good transport connections to London and the M25.
MAIN RESPONSIBLITIES
The primary responsibility of the Rector is to be the parish priest, working within the structures of the Diocese to ensure our church is Christ-centred and outward-focused.
We are looking for a leader who will work with the wardens, the PCC, lay and ordained ministry teams and the congregation to develop our children and families work as a priority, in order to grow the church both in numbers and spiritual maturity. Together, with our new incumbent, we will also need to care and tend for the existing aging congregation, many of whom have faithfully served the church for many years.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
We are looking for a confident, spirit-filled, prayerful, mission-minded leader who will work collaboratively with the wardens, PCC, lay and ordained ministry teams and the congregation to develop the vision for the church. Someone with:
- strong communication skills,
- the ability to engage and encourage people across the age ranges and to convey the church’s mission, vision and priorities,
- a commitment to preach the Word of God in thoughtful and stimulating ways,
- an energy and dynamism,
- a pastoral heart, showing empathy and good listening skills,
- a willingness to enable, empower, encourage and work collaboratively with lay leaders,
- an ability to build relationships within the church, in the local community and between local churches in Sanderstead,
- the ability, willingness and experience to help us to develop and enjoy a variety of worship styles, including further development of our less formal/ modern worship and music and corporate prayer life -whilst recognising and valuing our heritage,
- good, proven, organisational skills -if possible, with some experience of working in the secular world.
ABOUT US
We can offer:
- a warm, loving, caring, prayerful, supportive and accommodating congregation that does not demand a great deal of choreography but enjoys exploring new styles of worship/music as well as traditional liturgy,
- a willingness to grow spiritually, to pray together, to meet and learn together, including in home groups,
- a congregation that provides and enjoys strong social bonds as people support and care for each other,
- an outward looking church that engages well with schools and community groups, contributing to the well-being of others and supporting a range of national and local charities,
- a church based on a sound financial footing, with a generous congregation,
- a fine, well maintained, spacious family-sized rectory.
The parish currently has a Rector (vacant), based at All Saints. There are two administration assistants, both employed part time, one of which manages the hall bookings.
All Saints’ service patterns:
- 1stand 3rdSundays are formal Eucharist services, normally with choir,
- 2ndand 4thSundays are family worship, a more informal style,
- Messy Church, usually on the second Sunday of the month at 3.30 pm, attracts between 80 and 150 children, parents and carers.
All Saints’ church halls were built in the 1950s. The building includes meeting rooms and
offices, one of which is occupied by ‘Sanderstead Neighbourhood Care’, a local charity.
A part-time caretaker/groundsman and a part-time caretaker/ keyholder are employed to clean and oversee the day to day running of the halls and grounds.
St Anthony’s is a hall church in Hamsey Green, and it is the only church in the area. Attendance has declined in recent years, with 2 or 3 people attending regularly at a Sunday afternoon gathering. A service, with communication, is offered once a month. The PCC envisages new work to develop a worshipping congregation at St Antony’s, when a diocesan pioneer minister, working out of St Anthony’s, is appointed. The building is used as a community resource during the week and converts into a church when services are to be held.
There are positive working relationships between the two churches in the parish.
For an informal chat with the Archdeacon of Croydon, please email greg.prior@southwark.anglican.org to arrange an appointment.
We have a policy in Southwark Diocese that to be appointed to an incumbent status post, a priest must have served a title post in an Anglican church in the British Isles. We aim to be a diverse and truly representative Diocese, and particularly welcome applications from women and people of UKME heritage. This post is subject to DBS enhanced disclosure.
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