House for Duty Priest for the benefices of ... - Diocese of York

House for Duty Priest for the
benefices of Brafferton and Alne
in the Diocese of York.
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CONTENTS
Locality Page 3
Ministry Team Page 4
Accomodation Page 5
Brafferton Benefice Pages 6-13
Alne Benefice Pages 14-17
Occasional Offices Page 18
Sunday Worship Pattern Page 19
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LOCALITY
The six village churches forming the two benefices nestle closely together
within the Vale of York in the Easingwold Deanery of York Diocese. The
churches are in Brafferton, Myton on Swale and Thormanby (the Brafferton
Benefice) and Alne, Aldwark and Tollerton (the Alne benefice). The villages of
Flawith, Youlton, and Tholthorpe are also within these parishes. The
immediate area is mainly beautiful farmland – arable and livestock. There is
easy access to the coast, North York Moors National Park and Yorkshire Dales
National Park. Each village has its own blend of people. Some have lived here
for generations, others are in-comers from the urban areas. There are also
people who come to this area for their holidays and there are a number of
holiday homes in the area.
Within this county of Herriot fame there are wonderful places to climb, walk,
canoe, ride and even fly! In addition there are National Trust properties and
stately homes to visit and enjoy.
Close by is the lovely city of York with its historic and cultural connections.
Visitors can ‘step back in time,’ but also enjoy all the modern amenities on
offer. Museums, shops, quaint streets, the river, theatres, art galleries and
numerous churches to name but a few of the attractions on offer, not
forgetting the impressive York Minster. York is a magnet for visitors from all
over the world. There are excellent road and rail links and Leeds/Bradford and
Manchester airports are within easy reach.
This is a lovely part of the world in which to live!
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MINISTRY TEAM
We have a joint Ministry Team with representation from all six churches which
at the moment meets monthly for input, to share stories from around the
group, and for business. Recently we had a day of led meditation at a local
Quiet Garden. We have also begun to look at Fresh Expressions of Church. In
future we will look to explore how we might develop the mission of the
church. Recent examples of working together include the running of a ‘Start’
course in Alne but with paticipants from Brafferton and Tollerton, and the
publication of a Church News Sheet for all six churches to promote what is
happening in the local and wider churches.
The Ministry Team is made up of Rev Chris Park (Priest in Charge), Rev Roy
Wadsworth (retired curate for St Michael’s Tollerton), a Reader Tricia Little, a
Deacon in training, Church Wardens and those involved with working with
families and youth.
Expenses for the clergy are fully paid from a Ministry Team account which is
paid into by each church in proportion to the Parish Share.
For the joint Benefice Sunday Worship pattern please see Appendix 1. There
are three retired clergy, a Reader, a Deacon in training and Church Wardens
as well as the clergy who take these services. On fifth Sundays there is a joint
service which moves round the group. In addition there is a Communion
Service held on the first Wednesday of the month in Brafferton.
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ACCOMODATION
1 Holly Garth, Brafferton, York
The property is situated in a small cul-de-sac close to St. Peter's Church. The
house is a modern 3 bedroomed dwelling with a sitting room, kitchen/diner,
downstairs toilet, utility room, study and bathroom. The windows are double
glazed and heating/hot water is supplied by an oil fired boiler. There is a coal
fire in the sitting room. The garden at the front of the property has shrubs
and fruit trees whilst the rear area is fenced with a lawn and flower beds.
There is a garage attached to the side of the house.
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THE BRAFFERTON BENEFICE
This is the group for which the House for Duty role will be focussed to begin
with. The benefice comprises three churches, all with PCCs. St Peter’s
Brafferton, St Mary’s Myton on Swale, and St Mary Magdalene Thormanby.
The population of the Brafferton benefice is approximately 1000. The house
at Holly Garth is in Brafferton.
ST PETER’S BRAFFERTON
The Building
St Peter’s is Grade II* listed. There is a sound system with 'Loop'. The church
is unlocked during daylight hours. St Peter’s stands on high ground
overlooking the river Swale where St Paulinus carried out a mass baptism in
the 7th Century. The chancel and West tower date from the 15th century with
the chapels added in the 16th century. Early in the 19th century it was
decided to enlarge the church by reconstructing the nave in a Georgian
perpendicular style. The result is light and airy with the nave being unusually
broader than it is long. In 1981 the south chapel was enclosed in glass and
fitted out for small services using some of the furnishings from the closed
daughter church at the nearby village of Pilmoor. There is a peal of six bells in
the tower but without a local team of ringers they are only heard when the
Easingwold team ring on request for weddings.
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Worship Style
The Sunday worship style used is Common Worship Order 1 using traditional
language with a small committed core congregation average attendance of
12. There is a service on each Sunday of the month apart from a fifth Sunday
when there is a joint benefice service. Special services such as the Nativity
Service, Midnight Communion, Good Friday 'Last Hour', Harvest Thanksgiving
and others are also held, which attract larger congregations.
Services at the present time are covered by the Priest in Charge and visiting
clergy, with an Evening Prayer on the 3rd Sunday conducted by one of the
churchwardens.
With the closure of the Methodist Chapel some years ago a joint morning
service is held once month with a visiting Methodist minister/preacher.
A small prayer group meets monthly.
Financial situation
Our financial state is not strong but we have managed to meet the Diocesan
Quota with careful budgeting. A Gift Aid scheme using envelopes is in
operation to encourage tax paying worshippers to benefit the Church through
the reclamation of tax.
A big fund-raising event is held on the first Sunday of July each year, known
as Hidden Gardens, when villagers open their gardens to visitors and the main
street is closed and various stalls and entertainments take place.
From October to May a monthly Soup Lunch is held in the Village Hall with the
proceeds divided between the Village Hall and the Church.
Currently the church is in need of re-wiring and internal paint work. This
project is in its infancy but we can usually count on good support from the
village community when it comes to finacing work on the building itself.
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Family Work
St Peter’s holds a ‘Messy Church’ event approximately four times a year to
coincide with dates such as Advent, Mothers Day and Harvest. This attracts
families who do not attend Sunday worship. Numbers are increasing at this
event. We also aim other services specifically for families which include; the
Nativity Service, Mothering Sunday, Father’s Day, Harvest Festival and a Good
Friday Workshop held in the Village Hall.
In conjunction with the Methodist Children and Family Worker, a small group
go to the St. Peter's C of E Voluntary Aided Primary School on Monday
mornings to enact Bible stories from a publication called 'Open The Book'.
There are also Godly Play activities with the children in years 5 and 6.
Our verger, Maureen East is actively involved in the work with children and
families and is ably supported by parents and a couple who do Godly Play.
Church of England Primary School
The St. Peter's C of E Voluntary Aided Primary School in the Diocese of York is
maintained by North Yorkshire Local Education Authority. The school offers
small classes and personalised learning within a very happy caring
environment, in which faith is respected and honoured. Children move on to
secondary education in usually either Boroughbridge or Easingwold.
Village Life
The Millennium Hall erected in 2000 is used constantly by clubs and societies
or for private functions. Being well equipped it is used for various activities
such as badminton, gardening club, amateur dramatics, the W.I., Local
History Group, Monday Club for senior citizens, Yoga, circuit training,
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aerobics, indoor bowls, watercolour painting, mixed media art class, mobility
exercise class, pilates, mother and toddler group and ballet for children and
adults and parish council meetings.
There is a cricket and football club which are both well supported by the local
community.
Shops
The village Post Office, incorporates a shop providing fresh bread, milk, fruit
and vegetables and a cafe and deli.
A butcher's shop opens 4 mornings a week. There is also morning and
evening newspaper delivery within the village. A mobile fish and chip van
visits on Wednesday afternoons and a wet fishmonger on Thursdays.
Amongst other services available in the village are a car mechanic, MOT
station, builders and contractors, a soft furnisher and picture framing.
The modern Doctor's surgery on Main Street is serviced from the
Boroughbridge practice, with consulting hours Monday to Friday. Prescriptions
are made up in the same premises.
The Parish Magazine
A community magazine is published ten times a year which has a circulation
of over 350. It is produced by a voluntary team in Brafferton/Helperby with
contributions from Myton and Thormanby. The net subscriptions go towards
the church finances.
The magazine has details of services and church related activities and the
ministry team make written contributions for the magazine. In addition there
are contributions from other local interest groups and local businesses use it
for advertising.
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Pubs
There are two pubs in Helperby, both of which serve food as well as providing
accommodation.
Public Transport
There are bus services six days a week (not Sundays) to and from York and
Easingwold. Additionally there is a return service to Ripon twice a week on
market days. A free supermarket service operates to Morrison's store in
Boroughbridge on Monday mornings. Two private hire car services are also
based in the village.
ST MARY’S MYTON ON SWALE
Myton is a small parish which was originally a Saxon settlement and is located
near the confluence of the rivers Swale and Ure. The village forms a cul-desac
as the road leading through it terminates at Myton Bridge. Present-day
Myton is a quiet, attractive village with no shops or public houses. There are
approximately fifty houses and farms in the village. The whole parish of
Myton used to form one estate and manor, the property of Major Henry Miles
Stapylton, J.P., D.L., whose ancestors had been resident at Myton Hall since
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the reign of Charles I. The Hall is now owned by Sir Ken Morrison CBE of
Morrison’s supermarket fame.
St Mary’s Church
The Church (St. Mary’s) is Grade II* and is said to have been built of stones
taken from the ancient Isurium, now called Aldborough. It was thoroughly
restored, in 1887-8, at a cost of £1,200, and was reopened by the Archbishop
of York on the 4th April, in the latter year. It consists of nave, with north
aisle, chancel, tower, and porch. The tower is built of brick faced with stone.
It contains three bells, all dating from1805. The east window is a beautiful
specimen of the glass stainer's art. Two large and beautiful paintings,
representing the Crucifixion and Resurrection, by C. H. Schwanfelder, hang
against the north wall of the chancel. The church is unlocked during daylight
hours.
Worship Style
The Sunday worship style used is Common Worship Order 1 using traditional
language with a small committed core congregation average attendance of 7.
There are three Sunday Services per month, including a Morning Prayer which
is currently being taken by one of the Church Wardens.
Financial Situation
The payment of the Parish Share is up to date, though being a small church
family there is a reliance on fund raising events such as fishing matches, a
village quiz and a Soup and Sweet lunch to enable the wider community to
support the church financially. The quiz and Soup and Sweet lunch in
particular are good for pulling the community together.
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We are currently in the process of repairing the church yard boundary wall,
but following an appeal to the village a significant amount has been raised
towards this project, and it is expected that the short fall will be made up
from grant making bodies.
ST MARY MAGDALENE THORMANBY
Thormanby lies on the busy A19 between Easingwold and Thirsk. Overlooking
the White Horse of Kilburn, St Mary Magdalene Church is the only public
building in the village.
Worship Style
The Sunday worship style used is Common Worship Order 1 using traditional
language with a small committed core congregation average attendance of 5.
There are two Sunday Services per month, including a Morning Prayer which
is currently being taken by a trainee deacon.
While regular Sunday attendance is relatively low, there are significant
numbers coming along to support Easter, Harvest and Christmas. There is a
Harvest Supper following the Harvest service and minced pies and mulled
wine are served after the Christmas Carol Service. Again these are significant
annual events in the life of the village.
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Financial Situation
The payment of the Parish Share is up to date. Again being a small church
family there is a reliance on fund raising events such as the annual barbeque
to enable the wider community to support the church. The barbeque is a
significant date in the social life of the village and many support this event.
Church Building
The church of St Mary Magdalene is Grade II*. It is believed to be Norman in
origin with additions in the 17 th and 19 th centuries. At the present time there
are plans to put in a toilet and kitchen area for which we now have the
faculty and some of the funds.
It is hoped that these developments will help St Mary’s to become a place for
small groups to gather during the week for quiet days and retreats, and for
the wider community to use as they see fit – possibly for mums with young
children or even concerts.
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ALNE BENEFICE
The Alne benefice consists of three churches. St Mary’s Alne, St Michael’s
Tollerton and St Stephen’s Aldwark. St Mary’s Alne is the parish church and St
Michael’s and St Stephens are daughter churches to St Mary’s. The latter have
informal DCC church councils rather than a PCC though they both have
representation on the Alne PCC. The vicarage for the Priest in Charge is
located in Alne. The population of the Alne benefice is approximately 1850.
There is a Parish Magazine delivered to all the houses in the parish for ten
months of the year. This magazine is funded by the churches and is seen as a
gift to the community and one way in which we engage in mission.
ST MARY’S ALNE
St Mary the Virgin in Alne is a Grade I listed building. Both church and grave
yard are well cared for. Financially the situation is stable, the parish share
paid and responsibility taken seriously by the Wardens, PCC and
congregations for the financial well being of the church. Recently a toilet has
been installed in the tower – and a servery on the West wall. We hope this
will enhance the work here in Alne, both with the present congregation and
links with the community. The building is wheelchair friendly and there is a
sound enhancement system. The congregation averages 19 and is fairly
elderly. However, there have been some younger folk attending worship
regularly. Festival services attract large numbers. There is a friendly
atmosphere. The worship pattern includes Holy Communion order 1
contemporary English and one All Age service per month. Our Methodist
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friends join us once a month as they no longer have a chapel in the village.
This service alternates between Anglican and Methodist liturgy.
There is a splendid organ, expertly played and guitar music is heard at the All
Age Service. Coffee and refreshments are always served after the service.
Messy Church – which we call Family Time – Fun, Faith and Food for Families
is held once a month jointly with the St Michael’s church family at the cricket
club in Alne. This is well attended and regularly attracts in excess of 40 adults
and children.
The village is popular with families. There are good recreational facilities and
a number of clubs including Women’s Institute, Gardening Club, Tennis Club,
Cricket Club and a book club to name a few. Alne has a Nursing Home called
‘Oak Trees’ and a Cheshire Home. There is also a thriving Primary School (not
church affiliated) which is excellent and serves a wide area. The church has a
healthy relationship with the school. Unfortunately there is no longer a shop
in Alne and the pub is really a restaurant.
ST STEPHEN’S ALDWARK
St Stephen’s is a lovely little Victorian Church consecrated in 1854, standing
at the centre of the village. It is very manageable and well cared for. The
congregation is enthusiastic and welcoming with the average attendance
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eing between 25 and 30. St Stephen’s has two services a month, these both
being Holy Communion from Common Worship Order 2 traditional language.
The festivals tend to have larger support.
Until 1950 Aldwark was an estate village. Since then there has been some
new housing development, but mainly in the higher price bracket.
The church is popular for weddings, partly due to the close proximity of
Aldwark Manor Hotel with it’s reception, spa and golf club facilities. Weddings
often reach double figures in a calendar year at Aldwark.
Finances are sound which has allowed improvements to be made inside the
church which include effective heating and a new organ.
ST MICHAEL’S TOLLERTON
St Michael’s Mission Church Tollerton is a pleasant church dating from the
1950s with modern facilities and a recent extension. It is well cared for and
used by the local toddler group, an art group and the local health centre for
flu jabs, as well as the church. Most Sunday services are attended by between
20 and 25 adults and 10-12 children. People travel from beyond the village to
worship at Tollerton.
The worship style is more informal. During the month there are two Holy
Communion services, one Morning Worship and an All Age service.
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The church family is friendly and supportive and a number go to the New
Wine Conference at Newark.
Finances are steady and the church here has an emphasis on giving rather
than fund raising to generate income.
Rev Roy Wadsworth – a retired Industrial Chaplian lives in Tollerton and
supports the life of the church.
Tollerton is a typical larger North Yorkshire village. It has a thriving pub,
village store and Post Office. There is a village hall, a playing field, tennis club
and various other activities. There is no school in the village so primary age
children go to either Shipton or Alne. Senior pupils tend to go to Easingwold.
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OCCASIONAL OFFICES
Over the past three years the occasional offices for the Brafferton Benefice
(Brafferton, Myton on Swale and Thormanby) have averaged:
Baptisms 7
Weddings 2
Funerals 7
In the Alne benefice (Alne, Aldwark and Tollerton) the Priest in Charge has
usually covered the occasional offices. The average numbers over the same
period have been:
Baptisms 10
Weddings 10
Funerals 7
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Appendix 1. Joint Benefice Sunday Worship Pattern
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
ALDWARK
9.00am
HC
9.00am
HC
ALNE
10:30am
All Age
10:30am
HC
10:30am
HC
10:30am
HC
Ang/Meth
BRAFFERTON
9.00am
HC
10.30am
Meth/Ang
6.30pm
Evening
Prayer
9.00am
HC
MYTON
9.00am
HC
6.30pm
EP
10.30am
MP
THORMANBY
10.30am
MP
9.00am
HC
TOLLERTON
10:30am
HC
10:30am
All Age
10:30am
HC
10:30am
MP
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