Vicar, Portsdown & Purbrook

Introduction

The Parish of Portsdown & Purbrook are two dynamic churches, diverse in worship and context, but with one collaborative heart.

• Can you lead worship with relevance, nurture faith and encourage discipleship amongst our inter-generational congregation?  
• Help us deepen our unity and strengthen our shared identity? 
• Help guide us into an exciting future of Christ centred worship, inspiring and leading us in bringing God into the heart of the community?
• Are you an approachable, compassionate and good humoured priest?

We are praying for a new and enthusiastic, passionate, and prayerful Incumbent and minister to join our parish and lead our two churches. This role will also include the leadership of a new part time Pioneer Minister leading engagement with the community on the growing neighbouring Berewood development. A separate profile of this role is available.  Our new Incumbent will be a strategic leader for growth in our parish, alongside a strong parish team of clergy and lay ministry. They will:

• be a valued member of our Christian and local community
• develop stronger community engagement, family-focused ministry, discipleship and multigenerational worship.
• have a solid biblical approach with traditional and modern outlooks to our worship
• be welcomed at the heart of our parish and expected to be part of our parish social activities.

We are seeking a leader that will actively pursue the development of our current congregation and our out reach into the Parish both through supporting our current activities and in new and exciting ways. We hope to continue and expand our offering of our home groups and Easter, Advent and other courses such as Alpha, Pilgrim or Christianity Explored. The recent combination of two parishes to create the new Parish of Portsdown and Purbrook, with two congregations who are working as one church family while maintaining the range of services and activities offered across two churches, creates a wonderful opportunity to welcome a range of new members and grow our Christian community on the sunny South Coast.

The Bishop of Portsmouth and Simeon’s Trustees are praying for you, and would love to help you discern if this is God’s call to a fruitful and meaningful ministry.

Please read the attached Parish Profile for further information or contact Archdeacon Bob White to speak about this exciting post. 

Find out more at portsmouth.anglican.org/jobs.

• Closing date: May 22nd, 2026.
• Interview dates: June 15th & 16th, 2026