Rector York City Centre Churches

Introduction

The York City Centre Churches comprise five churches across four parishes, serving the very heart of the City of York. Our congregations are a vibrant and varied mix of local residents, students and visitors, and each church plays a distinctive and complementary role in sharing the gospel of Christ within our city.

We are committed both to sustaining and celebrating our rich and wide-ranging traditions, and to developing new ways of engaging with the people of York today. We are seeking to work with you to help grow and develop our churches, to reach a new generation of worshippers, and to engage the many who have yet to encounter the Christian faith.

Centrally located within the UK, the historic and distinctive city of York is well connected by both rail and road. The Rectory occupies a prime position in the historic heart of York, close to York Minster, and our churches are accessible on foot or bicycle.

Is God calling you to minister to us?

We are seeking a Rector who will:

• be a prayerful, inclusive and pastoral leader, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in the heart of the city
• be visible, approachable and hospitable, building strong relationships across diverse communities
• lead worship in a thoughtful and dignified way, cherishing and sustaining our varied Anglican traditions
• be an engaging and inspiring preacher, able to nurture and develop the gifts and vocations of others
• work collaboratively with clergy, PCCs and lay leaders, offering both support and strategic leadership
• engage confidently with the civic life of York and help us grow our mission among residents, students, workers and visitors

We offer

• The opportunity to minister in the heart of a historic and lively city
• A supportive and collaborative ministry and lay team which is generous with time, hospitality and resources
• An engaged and committed group of churches with real potential for growth
• A well-situated rectory in the city centre

Please view our City Centre Churches website: https://www.yorkcitycentrechurches.co.uk/

The Diocese of York

The Diocese of York, led and guided by Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, takes in much of North and East Yorkshire. As the largest diocese in England, geographically, the area is very diverse, featuring a multitude of needs and opportunities. This includes the bustling urban centres of York, Hull and Middlesbrough, the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors National Park, and the incomparable Yorkshire Coast; as well as areas of deprivation in some of our urban and smaller rural and coastal communities.

Our mission and ministry relies on thousands of people - lay and ordained, volunteer and paid. Our diocesan teams provide a wide range of support services to our mission and ministry, including lifelong learning for ministry, the care of church buildings, and safeguarding. Together, we are striving to be a people who are ‘Living Christ’s Story’. We want to be a simpler, bolder, humbler church which in its diversity reflects the communities it serves. We are bringing renewed focus and fresh energy to achieving our aims:

• Becoming more like Christ
• Reaching those we currently don't
• Growing in discipleship, influence and numbers
• Transforming our finances and structures

Our approach is aligned with a commitment to the best of our parochial inheritance and to the poorest communities, and to the financial realities we face.

Under current immigration rules, it is not generally possible for us to appoint clergy who are not already eligible to work in the UK.

The Diocese of York is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.   Find out more here:  Safeguarding in the Diocese of York

Appointment is subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS disclosure.

If you would like to have an informal conversation about this post, please contact the  Bishop of Selby’s office – bishopofselbypa@yorkdiocese.org

Closing date for applications: Sunday 17th May 2026  

Interviews: Tuesday 16th & Wednesday 17th June