**Please note: this is an external role, advertised by USPG on behalf of our partner The Anglican Church in Southern Africa. **

Job Title: Vicar St Matthew’s Parish

Responsible to: Bishop Dale Bowers, Bishop of St Helena

Stipend: £15,071 per annum

Benefits: rent-free furnished 2-bed accommodation including utilities, the provision of a car, expenses, and annual travel allowance

Duration: 1/01/2026-01/01/2029 with a possibility of extension for further three years

Location: St Matthew’s Parish, St Helena Island (mid-Atlantic)

Hours of work: Full-time

The role is for a full-time male English-speaking Anglican Priest, and is based on St Helena Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. Successful applicants would be welcome to relocate with their family.

The Role

The selected candidate will be serving on St Helena Island, South Atlantic Ocean as Vicar of St Matthew’s Parish with a focus on evangelism and ministry with young families on the island.

The principal roles and duties include:

Leading the worship and spiritual life in the three churches of the parish – St Matthew’s, St Mark’s and St Luke’s – including:
- Sunday Eucharist, midweek Eucharist, Bible study, and the Daily Office.
- Life events, including Baptism, confirmation, marriage, funerals, and preparation for these (e.g., confirmation classes).
Recruiting, leading and supporting volunteers within the parish, including the self-supporting Deacon and Church Wardens, establishing Sunday School leaders and evangelists, etc.
Conducting pastoral visits to parishioners, including the bereaved.
Leading evangelism to grow the parish as a community of believers by Implementing the “Growing the Church” programmes (see below).
Chairing the Parochial Church Council (PCC) and being a member of the Diocesan Council.
Implementing the Diocesan Synod Motions, which include the Motion on Growing the Church Family, the Motion on Intentional Discipleship, the Motion on Integrating People into the Life of the Parish, the Motion on Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Motion on the Formation of Young People in their Relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. A copy of these Motions are available on request from Ella Sibley (contact details below).

The Context

St Helena is a small island with a population of 4300 people, of which 63.2% described themselves as Anglican at the most recent census. The culture on St Helena is becoming increasingly secular, with a large proportion of unchurched/fringe members. Many of the younger Saint Helenians work offshore on Ascension Island, in the Falkland Islands and in the UK, leaving the demographic profile orientated to an elderly population.

The ministry/mission of the post holder is to rebuild the parish by evangelising into the St Helena context, with a main focus of reconnecting people with the love of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. The Five Marks of Mission are central to the ministry in the Diocese and within St Matthew’s Parish.

The Diocese of St Helena mostly follows a High-Church style of worship, but is introducing modern music and worship to engage with new members. It is a traditional diocese which follows the teaching that marriage is between one man and one woman. Same-sex marriages and the blessing of same-sex unions are not permitted.

Person Specification

The candidate must be a male English-speaking Anglican priest with a passion and heart for the church, people and community. The ideal candidate will have the following essential and desirable experience and skills.

Essential:

Fluent in English;
A Bachelors or Diploma-level qualification in theology;
A minimum of five-years in Parish Ministry;
Experience of and passion for evangelism;
Experience of and passion for ministering to young families;
Good communication skills;
Good leadership skills – able to help people see the importance of the mission of the church in building God’s Kingdom; and enable lay members to be involved in the ministry of the parish.

Desirable:

A qualification, training or education in Mission and Evangelism;
Trained to deliver the Alpha Courses, Marriage Course, Parenting Course, Youth Alpha, or other Mission and Evangelism course.

More information

For more information or an informal conversation about the role and the organisation, please contact Ella Sibley, USPG Regional Manager for Europe and Oceania, via ellas@uspg.org.uk

Expressions of interest

Recruitment for this role will be undertaken on a rolling basis, so please express interest early to avoid disappointment.

To formally express an interest in this role, please email Ella Sibley, USPG Regional Manager for Europe and Oceania, via ellas@uspg.org.uk with a copy of your CV and a covering letter outlining how you meet the person specification and why you wish to undertake this ministry.

Posted on: 28/1/2025

THE UNITED SOCIETY

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