Vicar of Lancaster St Mary with St John and St Anne (The Priory)

Introduction

Lancaster Priory is home to a welcoming, inclusive Christian community serving all the people of this historic city.  It is one of England’s Major Churches, a Grade I listed building in a place where the Christian faith has been celebrated for many centuries.  Our parish embraces the medieval and Georgian conservation area, the commercial heart of the city with shops and hospitality, an industrial estate, long established communities including an area of multiple deprivation and new housing including student accommodation for our two universities. 

For this place and its people, we need a priest:

• with a proven record of incumbency leading a parish to growth   who is a pastor to nurture our own growth as a caring community reaching out to all
• who is assured in leading worship, eucharistic, choral and occasional civic ceremony                                                         
• who is an inspiring preacher, fostering study in Scripture and our spiritual development                                                                 
• who is confident in enabling lay leadership among people of ability and working with them as a ministerial team                       
• who will help grow our ministry and worship among those young in the faith and years                                                                 
• who can explore new ways of engaging our many tourist visitors with the Christian ways
• who can help realise our potential as an inspiration within the diocese and Vision 2026
• and who will work with leaders of other denominations and faiths to renew confidence in the 21^st century life of the city.

We will welcome you:

• with funding in place to appoint a full-time Associate Priest for a period of four years
• into a congregational life centred on eucharistic worship in a richly catholic tradition                                                                 
• with vibrant musical expression, robed choir, magnificent organs, a concert programme                                                                
• with a team of Vergers, Young Church teachers, Community Worker, Events Manager                                                           
• as people with diverse experience, varied gifts and a willingness to work together                                                                      
• serving local needs among the disadvantaged, homeless, refugees and asylum seekers
• to a church with a strong civic role in the city, the county, the Duchy of Lancaster
• to a place and people with active environmental concern, a Bronze Eco Church 

Closing date: 11th January 2026

Interviews will be held on: 5th February 2026

For an informal conversation about the post, please contact 

Church Wardens using russbus005@outlook.com or Bishop Philip using appointments@bishopofblackburn.org.uk

The Diocese of Blackburn believes that diversity enables us to thrive and develop and is committed to race equality, welcoming applications from UK Minority Ethnic/ Global Majority Heritage backgrounds

The Diocese of Blackburn 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. 

For information about Blackburn diocese please follow this link https://jobs.churchofengland.org/blackburn/vision-2026/

For information on making an application through Pathways please follow this link https://jobs.churchofengland.org/HELP/candidate-faq/