This is a very large and vibrant parish of nearly 53,000 people from a wide-range of cultures, and is one of the Bradford Episcopal Area’s flagship examples of ministry in the inner city where those of the Muslim faith are in the majority. This particular post sits in the context of developing appropriate forms of worship, evangelism, mission and church for deprived “presence and engagement” areas. As such it requires a priest with a pioneering mindset and a heart for this type of community.

Our vision as the Diocese is about confident clergy equipping confident Christians to live and tell the good news of Jesus Christ. For all of our appointments we are seeking clergy who have a joyful and confident faith which has inspired a track record of church growth. For the post, you would be joining a creative ministry team which includes te Rector, an urban pioneer minister and other lay staff.

The person appointed will be expected to work collaboratively under the overall leadership of the Rector in furthering the vision for the parish. As well as sharing with the Rector in the typical aspects of ordained parish ministry, (s)he will have day-to-day responsibility for particular areas of ministry and / or geographic parts of the parish, as agreed with the Rector. Examples could be:

• Sunday Congregation lead. Pastor and teacher in an amazing multi-cultural church. Working together with the team to make it intercultural. This would include pastoral follow up from Sundays and welcoming new arrivals to the
• Pioneer a church plant in Girlington. St Philip’s Church in Girlington is home to 3 great community projects that are separate to our Parish. There is much work to do there as a ‘Chaplain’ to the site and the area, and work collaboratively with the projects. The building could become even more of a community asset, bring in funds and be a brighter light to the streets around.
• Schools ministry: There are lots of primary schools and several secondary schools in the parish. Bradford is the ‘youngest city in Europe’ and so there is a huge amount more to do as a schools/young people/education lead in the parish. At Easter 2024 the team delivered Easter assemblies to 3400 primary school children. But there are so many more! Can we build on this amazing opportunity?

Formed from the historic parishes of St Philip’s Girlington, St Paul’s Manningham, St Barnabas Heaton and St Martin’s Heaton, the parish is in the top 2.5% most deprived in the country. Housing includes poor-quality private-rented homes, a large council estate, large family homes and semi-rural properties. Over two-thirds of the population is Muslim, mainly from Bangladesh and the Mirpur area of Pakistan. 76% are of Asian origin and 16% white (of whom significant numbers are from Eastern Europe). There are large numbers of young people in the parish (over half the population is under the age of 30 and one third under 18), while only one in eight people are over 60. Hence there are many schools – including two Church of England primary schools, numerous private Islamic Schools, Bradford Grammar School and Bradford Girls Grammar School. Considerable effort has gone into developing ministry in many of these schools.

In 2022, the PCC accepted the Bishop’s invitation to become one of six Resourcing Parishes in the Episcopal Area. This has brought Strategic Development Funding (SDF) from 2023 to 2027 to add resource to the parish and new investment in some areas of ministry.

Closing date for applications is midnight on 22nd Feb 2026 with interviews planed for 6th Mar 2026

For an informal chat please contact the Rector Revd Chris Chorlton on 07840 312202 or Archdeacon Andy Jolley on 07973 458403

Application is via Pathways. 

Incumbent of Marsden and Slaithwaite w East Scammonden

INTRODUCTION

Our vision as the Diocese is about confident clergy equipping confident Christians to live and tell the good news of Jesus Christ. For all our appointments we are seeking clergy who have a joyful and confident faith which has inspired a track record of church growth.

Marsden and Slaithwaite parishes offer a wonderful opportunity for a priest to lead and pastor its congregations amid wonderful communities, surrounded by beautiful scenery in Pennine Yorkshire.

Building on the work done in the past six years of Interim Ministry, the parishes are focusing outward to their communities and growing in confidence and impact as God’s people here.

As the next vicar, you will bring passion and skill in community engagement and congregational growth, in developing and deepening discipleship, and in encouraging stewardship and outreach. You will work collaboratively with lay leaders in the parishes, and with schools and community organisations. You will be blessed with the support of congregations that have a willingness to grow and develop, with excellent deanery colleagues, and with diocesan resource teams who are ready and willing to help.

Informal conversation about the post can be arranged with the Archdeacon, Ven Bill Braviner. To arrange this, please email archdeacon.halifax@leeds.anglican.org

The Diocese of Leeds is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders are expected to share this commitment. All appointments to roles undertaking regulated activity are subject to pre-appointment checks, including references and a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check.

The closing date for applications for this post is 8th March 2026

Interviews will be held on 15th April 2026

If you require further information including copies of the accounts or would like a conversation about this post please do not hesitate to contact The Ven Bill Braviner, Archdeacon of Halifax by email initially on archdeacon.halifax@leeds.anglican.org . He will then arrange to have a telephone or Zoom conversation with you.

The Diocese of Leeds

The Anglican Diocese of Leeds comprises five episcopal areas, each coterminous with an archdeaconry. This is now one of the largest Dioceses in the country and its creation in 2014 is unprecedented in the history of the Church of England. It covers an area of around 2,425 square miles with a population of around 2,642,400 people. The Diocese comprises major cities (Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield) large industrial and post-industrial towns (Halifax, Huddersfield and Dewsbury), market towns (Todmorden, Harrogate, Skipton, Richmond, Ripon and Wetherby) and deeply rural areas especially in the Dales. The whole of life is here, along with all the richness, diversity and complexities of a changing world.

Five area bishops (of Bradford, Huddersfield, Kirkstall, Ripon, and Wakefield) and five archdeacons (of Bradford, Halifax, Leeds, Richmond & Craven, and Pontefract) assist the Diocesan Bishop (The Rt. Revd Nicholas Baines, till 30^th November 2025).

This Benefice is in the Huddersfield Deanery of the Huddersfield Episcopal Area, in the Archdeaconry of Halifax. The Bishop of Huddersfield is The Rt. Revd Smitha Prasadam. The Archdeacon of Halifax is The Venerable Bill Braviner.

Our vision as a Diocese is about confident clergy and laity working together, equipping confident Christians to live and tell the Good News of Jesus Christ, to grow our churches and transform our communities.

For all our appointments we are seeking clergy who have a joyful and confident faith, and a passion and commitment to work with their lay and ordained colleagues to foster church growth, both numerical and spiritual.

Our vision as a diocese is about confident clergy equipping confident Christians to live and tell the good news of Jesus Christ. For all our appointments we are seeking clergy who have a joyful and confident faith which has inspired a track record of church growth.

The benefice of Bardsey comprises a single parish with two churches -- All Hallows, Bardsey, and St Mary Magdalene, East Keswick -- in two attractive villages to the north east of Leeds with a total population of 3,594.

The congregations have grown in recent years, both in numbers and in service to the community. There is an enthusiasm to welcome the whole community into the life of the church.

The index of multiple deprivation ranks the parish in the top decile nationally, which brings its own challenges and opportunities. There are active and capable lay leaders who encourage an outward-looking and inclusive ethos. There is good support for eco-mission and for a food share project in an inner city parish.

The PCCs say:

We are looking for a vicar who can lead us in:

• Building on the community mission we have established in the past few years, so that our churches can remain at the heart of the community.
• Supporting adult enquirers and development of appropriate courses for people to grow in discipleship.
• Continuing to see the churches not just as a building for the few but as a resource for the whole community – to encourage through our doors those who do not come to church.

We are seeking of new Vicar who:

• is able to inspire our congregation, help us grow in faith, and encourage new people into our Church life, encouraging young families whilst still having regard for the older members of our congregation.
• approachable and a strong communicator, with good people and pastoral skills, who will be happy to work well with all aspects of our village communities.
• respectful of our traditions and adaptable to the needs of this Church community, while also open to exploring new ideas.
• willing to encourage and enable laity in the planning and leading of worship.
• willing to work with us to build on and develop our mission to the local community, including our work with children and families and eco church, as we embrace change and explore new ideas and forms of worship.
• not afraid to address and manage difficult situations that may arise, with a supportive attitude and a sense of humour.

If this is you, please take time to read the role description, brochure and parish profile.

If you would like an informal conversation regarding the vacancy, please contact Ven Paul Ayers, Archdeacon of Leeds at paul.ayers@leeds.anglican.org

Closing date 11 February 2026

Interview: 2 March 2026

RECTOR

ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, KIRKHEATON

This lively evangelical church is on the outskirts of Huddersfield in West Yorkshire (ASA 100 adults with daughter church in the neighbouring village of Grange Moor ASA 13). In addition to ASA the church has regular contact with approximately 150 additional people during each month through mid-week events. The parish has a population of 15000 and is looking for someone who is committed to biblical preaching and witness under the direction of the Holy Spirit. He/she will be:

• passionate about seeing new people come to faith in Jesus Christ whilst encouraging and challenging the congregation to grow in faith and commitment
• flexible and dynamic in helping us to maintain a balance between traditional, contemporary and alternative worship for people of every generation
• committed to helping us develop our work with children and young people
• pastorally sensitive and committed to supporting and growing our pastoral teams
• committed to working collaboratively and team building
• creative and strategic in their approach to ministry and mission in order to help us be effective in serving our three communities at Kirkheaton, Dalton and Grange Moor

There is a modern four bedroomed Rectory in Kirkheaton and access to a range of good local schools both primary and secondary. The Diocese of Leeds is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders are expected to share this commitment. All appointments to roles undertaking regulated activity are subject to pre-appointment checks, including references and a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check.

For further details, parish profile and  Applications are via Pathways

or contact Ven Bill Braviner, Archdeacon of Halifax  E Mail:   archdeacon.halifax@leeds.anglican.org;

Phone: 01484 471803

Closing Date: 5th February 2026

Interviews: March 2026

Do you have a heart for church growth? Can you attract and encourage children and young people? Then come and join what God’s doing with us!

This is an exciting opportunity to work with three closely-linked churches in a beautiful part of Yorkshire.

The Calder Valley, in the South Pennines, is mid-way between Leeds and Manchester and enjoys a rural feel yet with good links to nearby towns and cities.

Each of the three churches has its own strengths, including active lay leadership and strong roles within their local communities, while each also has an appetite for more.

We are looking for a priest who will stimulate and manage our growth, our spiritual commitment to God and our service to our local communities. In return we will offer you our support, prayers and practical help from the people of our diverse congregations and parishes.

The Diocese of Leeds is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders are expected to share this commitment. All appointments to roles undertaking regulated activity are subject to pre-appointment checks, including references and a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check.

Please see the Person Specification and Role Description, Brochures and Parish Profiles attached for further details of the role and the essential and desirable qualities we are seeking in relation to this post.

Closing Date: 8th March 2026

Interviews: are expected to be held on 13th April 2026. 

Apply via Church of England Pathways

For more information on this post please email archdeacon.halifax@leeds.anglican.org

This is a single benefice on the outskirts of Bingley and within the Bradford Episcopal Area of the Diocese of Leeds. It is comprised of four churches which work together closely. United in faith and service, they are seeking a new Team Rector who can lead them in mission and ministry, while others shoulder the burden of parochial administration.

For the past six years a fruitful period of Interim Ministry has been in place. After the benefice came into being eleven years ago, the constituent parishes continued to run with a great deal of independence. Following the Interim Ministry, there is now a strong, shared and cohesive identity across the four churches (one of which is an encouraging local ecumenical partnership in Denholme with the Baptists and URC). A Benefice Council has been fully established and the respective Church Council meetings are set up to minimise the load for the clergy. A coherent, attractive and workable pattern of worship has been established across the four villages, including new forms of worship (particularly Messy Church and online services) to reach new people. The clergy operate more flexibly across the whole benefice. Confident lay leadership has been developed (making good use of the Diocese’s Personal Growth and Leadership Course) and the office holders in the four churches meet regularly to share good practice. Financial viability has been enhanced. Relationships with the schools in each village, and links with the various community, uniformed organisations are all good.

We are now looking to make a permanent full-time appointment to the role of Team Rector. (S)he will be the senior Anglican priest in Harden, Wilsden, Cullingworth & Denholme with responsibility for overall leadership of a ministerial team which comprises a Team Vicar, retired clergy with PTO, one of whom served recently as a Self-Supporting Priest in the benefice and continues to hold pastoral responsibilities, and an LLM with Permission to Officiate, and retired clergy. (S)he will also be the Training Incumbent for any curate deployed to the parish.

The new post-holder will be able to build on the foundations laid during the past six years, offer good Church of England parish ministry, and continue to:

work with the congregations of the four churches to grow them, particularly through outreach and ministry among families, children and young people, and working a ‘mixed economy’ of new forms of church and worship alongside traditional ones;

• continue the good work in developing lay discipleship and lay leadership;
• grow the financial health of the churches in the benefice to be able to meet the full costs of mission and ministry in the benefice and also make a contribution to the costs of mission and ministry in less economically advantaged parts of the Diocese;
• reinforce the shared identity of the churches in the benefice;
• help the congregations be even more at the heart of the community life of the villages.

For an informal chat about this role please contact Archdeacon Andy Jolley on 07973 458403

Closing date for applications is 8th March 2026 with interviews planned for 17th April 2026

Application is via Pathways 

The Diocese of Leeds has a number of curacies available in 2026. Please click on the below churches to find out more, and if you are interested in any of the curacy roles, please email jenice.guild@leeds.anglican.org by Saturday, January 31, 2026.

Bradford Episcopal Area

Huddersfield Episcopal Area

Leeds Episcopal Area

Ripon Episcopal Area

• Wetherby St James - Benefice of Wetherby
• Arkengarthdale St Mary, Grinton St Andrew, Melbecks Holy Trinity, Muker St Mary - Benefice of Swaledale with Arkengarthdale

Wakefield Episcopal Area

• Carleton St Michael, Chequerfield St Mary, East Hardwick St Stephen, Pontefract All Saints, Pontefract St Giles - Benefice of Pontefract
• Barnsley St Edward The Confessor, Barnsley St George, Barnsley St Mary, Barnsley St Paul, Gawber St Thomas - Benefice of Central Barnsley
• Lupset St George, Thornes St James with Christ Church - Benefice of Lupset and Thornes