The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Sanderstead, Croydon
Priest in Charge (Rector Designate), Parish of Sanderstead, All Saints’ and St Antony’s in the Diocese of Southwark
Vacancy Reference cofe/TP/48552/8094
The job has expired.
Number of Positions:
1
Contract Type:
Office Holder
Salary/Stipend:
£31,683
Location:
Sanderstead, Croydon
Closing Date:
06/04/2025
Vacancy Category:
Clergy: Incumbent / Priest in Charge
Business Unit:
Diocese of Southwark
Organizational Unit:
Benefice
Introduction
The Bishop of Southwark wishes to appoint a Priest in Charge (Rector Designate), Parish of Sanderstead, All Saints’ and St Antony’s
OVERVIEW
Sanderstead Parish (All Saints’ and St Antony’s) is looking for a new Priest in Charge, (Rector Designate).
We are looking for a leader who will help us to fulfil our strapline of: Growing in Christ, working together with the community and sharing God’s love.
INTRODUCTION
There has been a church on the site of All Saints,
Sanderstead, since at least 1230AD worshipping God and serving the community. History books indicate that there has been a church on the site since the time of the Domesday Book. Our present congregation seeks to continue this faithful witness to the Gospel, and to share in God’s mission in this part of South Croydon.

The vast majority of church members live within the parish. There are 190 people on the electoral roll, although not everybody on the electoral roll attends church due to age or infirmity. The ‘attending congregation’ consists mostly of people in the 60+ age range.
A monthly Sunday afternoon
‘Messy Church’ service attracts between 80 and 150 children, parents and carers.

The 2021 census recorded the population of Sanderstead as 15,774 and the average age at that time as 43.4. Local schools are heavily over-subscribed as young families continue to move to the area.
The Parish of Sanderstead lies on the northern edge of the beautiful North Downs and forms part of the southern boundary of the Greater London Borough of Croydon. It is essentially a quiet suburban parish, approximately three miles due south of Croydon Town Centre. The area is, popular with established families who enjoy its amenities and pleasant atmosphere.
The attractions of living in the area include;
- accessibility to open spaces and woodland,
- good local Nursery and Outstanding Primary and Secondary Schools,
- good local shops including Waitrose, Sainsbury & Tesco,
- larger shopping centres are available in Croydon, Sutton and Bromley,
- good transport connections to London and the M25.
MAIN RESPONSIBLITIES

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
We are looking for a confident, spirit-filled, prayerful, mission-minded leader who will work collaboratively with the wardens, PCC, lay and ordained ministry teams and the congregation to develop the vision for the church.
Someone with:
- strong communication skills,
- the ability to engage and encourage people across the age ranges and to convey the church’s mission, vision and priorities,
- a commitment to preach the Word of God in thoughtful and stimulating ways,
- an energy and dynamism - probably more extrovert than introvert,
- a pastoral heart, showing empathy and good listening skills,
- a willingness to empower, encourage and work collaboratively with lay leaders across a wide spectrum of activities in the church community,
- an ability to build relationships both within the church, in the local community and between local churches in Sanderstead,
- the ability, willingness and experience to help us to develop and enjoy a variety of worship styles, including further development of our less formal/ modern worship and music and corporate prayer life -whilst recognising and valuing our heritage,
- good, proven, organisational skills -if possible, with some experience of working in the secular world.
ABOUT US
We can offer:
- a long heritage of faith and commitment; many in our congregation are “seniors”
which, although it does not necessarily match the demography of the wider Sanderstead community, means that faith and tradition have deep roots in our church,
- a warm, loving, caring, prayerful, supportive and accommodating congregation that does not demand a great deal of choreography but enjoys exploring new styles of worship/music as well as traditional liturgy,
- a congregation that provides and enjoys strong social bonds as people support and care for each other,
- an outward looking church that engages well with schools and community groups, contributing to the well-being of others and supporting a range of national and local charities,
- a church based on a sound financial footing, with a generous congregation,
- a willingness to grow spiritually, to pray together, to meet and learn together in home groups,
- a fine, well maintained, spacious family-sized rectory.
The parish currently has a Rector (vacant), based at All Saints. There are two administration assistants, both employed part time, one of which manages the hall bookings.
All Saints’ service patterns:
- 1st and 3rd Sundays are formal Eucharist services, normally with choir,
- 2nd and 4th Sundays are family worship, a more informal style,
- Messy Church, usually on the second Sunday of the month at 3.30 pm, attracts between 80 and 150 children, parents and carers.

charity.
A full-time caretaker/groundsman and a part-time caretaker/ keyholder are employed to clean and oversee the day to day running of the halls and grounds.
St Anthony’s is a hall church in Hamsey
Green and it is the only church in the area. Attendance has declined in recent years, with 2 or 3 people attending regularly at a Sunday afternoon gathering. A service, with communion is offered once a month. The PCC envisages new work to develop a worshipping congregation at St Antony’s, when a diocesan pioneer minister, working out of St Anthony's, is appointed. The building is used as a community resource during the week and converts into a church when services are to be held. There are positive working relationships between the two churches in the parish.

For an informal chat with the Acting Archdeacon of Croydon, please contact the Archdeacon’s PA Kathleen.bailey@southwark.anglican.org to arrange mutually convenient time.
Closing Date: Sunday 6 April 2025, midnight
Parish visit and interviews: Monday 28 April 2025
We have a policy in Southwark Diocese that to be appointed to an incumbent status post, a priest must have served a title post in an Anglican church in the British Isles. We aim to be a diverse and truly representative Diocese, and particularly welcome applications from women and people of UKME heritage. This post is subject to DBS enhanced disclosure.
Please note that your Pathways generated CV will be downloaded and reviewed alongside your application, so please do ensure this information is up to date.