Incumbent

Overview

We are looking to appoint a priest with excellent leadership skills as Incumbent of St Thomas with All Saints, Bedford Leigh.

For an informal chat please contact The Venerable David Sharples, Archdeacon of Salford on 0161 828 1423.

Introduction

We are seeking a warm, compassionate priest who is a good listener and who will relate well with our friendly and committed congregation as well as those in the wider community. 

We are a ‘Society’ parish though we would welcome applications from male priests who are committed to maintain our catholic tradition.

Main Responsibilities

As we cherish our bond with St Thomas’ School we are praying for a priest who is committed to continue and build on that relationship and who can communicate well with children. We fully subscribe to the vision of the Manchester Diocese to become a Church for a Different World, to grow, nurture and serve in the name of Christ.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking and praying for someone:

• With energetic and enthusiastic Leadership.
• Who is warm, compassionate and ready to listen to those whom they meet, inside and outside the church congregation.
• Due to our exceptional bond with St. Thomas Primary School we need a leader who can engage the children and develop their faith in a light hearted manner whilst preserving the important factors of leading a good Christian life both within an educational environment and at home.
• Who prays for us and with us, because we are already praying for you.........!

Spiritual direction through life and doctrine:

• To encourage new Christians to baptism and confirmation.
• To bring God's forgiveness and healing.
• To be a Teacher of the faith and addressing all aspects of church, community and social life.

About us

The Parish of Bedford, Leigh is primarily residential and varies from the large Estates of Higher Folds and Butts Bridge, through to the large new-build estate of Walmersley Park and smaller housing groups of Spinners Mill and Rowan Meadow. In the past 10 years the population has grown from approximately 14,000 to 16,000 - 17,000.

The general population comprises of a wide range of social housing and some private housing, which inevitably has led to the inclusion of unemployed and a higher than usual number of families living on Social Benefit.

Due to the social history of the area most of the large employers such as, Cotton Mills, Coal Mines and Engineering Companies have closed down. As a result, those who are employed often have to travel some distance, or take up employment at the Retail Parks  and the like, which does not allow for much variation or choice.

Leigh suffers from an inadequate transport system, we do not have a train station which results in people using cars and buses.

The Parish has four schools:

• St. Thomas CE Primary School.
• St. Gabriels Catholic primary School.
• Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School.
• Bedford High School.

The Parish has four Nursing/Care Homes:

• Bedford Nursing and Residential Home.
• High Peak lodge Nursing and Residential Home.
• Lyndhurst Care Home.
• Brideoake Care Home.