Vicar of the Benefice of Sowerby, Sessay Thirkleby w Kilburn and Bagby

Overview

VICAR

Sowerby, Sessay and the White Horse Parishes

We are seeking a VICAR with energy and passion for a group of 5 churches near the market town of Thirsk. With a range of worship styles, we understand the need to embrace imaginative new ways of outreach. We are looking for someone with vision and insight who will work alongside our enthusiastic lay leadership team and assistant priest as an encourager and guide and who will help us build on our current work especially in prayer, discipleship and service to others.

Introduction

This is an unusual and interesting group of parishes, with scope for further development, following 14 years of caring and imaginative ministry by the previous incumbent in Sowerby and Sessay, joined in plurality seven years ago with Thirkleby, Kilburn and Bagby.

There is close sharing between the parishes, whilst each place has its own distinct identity.  Each interfaces in some way with the area beyond. The community, economic and civic life of Sowerby itself is interwoven with Thirsk, the two together forming the whole market town footprint. Sessay as very much the feeling of a 'vale village', and our church primary school there is federated with another in Husthwaite to the south. Thirkleby and Bagby are at the foot of the Cleveland hills, with Kilburn having a distinct 'hillside' character.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for the new incumbent to be a person of vision and insight who will inspire and work with the existing leadership to grow the mission of each church within its community. We ned a committed, godly teacher, pastor and leader who will share the gospel faithfully and help us all to reach out in ministry to each community. We all need to be encouraged and energised in our prayer lives, discipleship, service and mission. The new vicar needs to be a team worker who is willing and able to work not only within the context of the five parishes of this plurality, but also collaboratively with the other churches of the Thirsk area, encouraging and equipping all to work together for the kingdom of God.

About us

The Diocese of York takes in much of North and East Yorkshire, including the cities of York, Hull and Middlesbrough, and two National Parks.  Extending from the River Tees to the River Humber, and from around the A1 road to the incomparable Yorkshire coast, the area is home to around 1.4 million people.

We are a family of 607 churches and 125 schools in 470 parishes, led and guided in their faith and work by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu.  York Minster is our principal church.  Our vision is to be a family of Generous Churches Making and Nurturing Disciples.

We are currently working through a Diocesan Strategy that focuses on:

• Reaching those we currently don't
• Moving to Growth
• Achieving sustainable finances

Our official website can be found here: http://dioceseofyork.org.uk

If you would like to have an informal conversation about this post, please contact the Bishop of Whitby, the Rt Revd Paul Ferguson Tel: 01642 593 273

Appointment is subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS disclosure.

Find out more about us at our microsite: https://jobs.churchofengland.org/dioceseofyork/

Unfortunately it is not always straightforward for clergy from overseas to be appointed to posts in the Church of England.  The policy of the UK Border Agency is that normally the organisation making an appointment has been able to prove that it is impossible to appoint a person who is a national of a European Economic Area country, before a visa giving permission to work will be issued to a person who comes from elsewhere.

This appointment is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS Check.

Closing date for applications: Thursday 30th July 2020
Interviews: To be confirmed