Vicar of Formby Holy Trinity and Altcar St Michael and All Angels

Introduction

Holy Trinity, Formby and St Michael and All Angels, Altcar

EVERYONE: INVITED INCLUDED IMPORTANT 

Overview

We are looking for a priest who has the energy, vision and courage to help us grow our Church by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in ways that are attractive to the communities we serve. Both our Churches have engaged with ‘Leading your Church into Growth’ (LYCiG) and have woven their mission prayer into our liturgy and our prayer life. This engagement has underpinned our outreach work and informed our thinking as we work to grow our Churches.

Holy Trinity was built in 1890 and re-ordered in 2015 when pews were replaced by flexible seating, a new foyer was added with a range of facilities and a mezzanine floor was created at the west end of the nave. Our approach is broadly Liberal Evangelical. We often follow the lectionary but regularly enjoy embarking on a sermon series to encourage spiritual growth in a particular area and to give a freshness to our teaching and preaching. We value our relationship with Trinity St Peter’s CE school very highly.

St Michael and All Angels is an attractive grade 2* listed building and the only public building in the parish. Over the years we have held several artists’ days, retreats, open days and guided tours and is the meeting place for Great Altcar Parish Council. We have an extensive church garden and graveyard. We leave areas of the grounds unmown to encourage wildlife and we have placed several bird and bat boxes in the surrounding trees. We are a silver Eco church. A number of special services are held which are part of rural tradition at Rogationtide and Harvest, for example

Our united benefice has a gifted ministry team which includes an associate self supporting priest, 3 retired clergy, 5 lay readers and 3 informal worship leaders and preachers. In addition we have 2 organists/directors of music and a worship group at Holy Trinity and a robed choir at St Michael’s.

The vicarage is a short distance from the Church in the heart of Formby. It is a well- maintained, spacious and modern 4 -bedroom house with lovely gardens to front and rear.

Formby is a small town of about 25,000 and there are 2 other Anglican churches. Holy Trinity church itself lies in the commercial and shopping heart known as the 'Village' . The village provides a central and bustling location for everyday shopping opportunities with chains like Boots, Iceland, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer Simply Food outlets but also smaller family run businesses. It has a modern swimming pool and fitness centre. Altcar is comprised of Great Altcar, a farming community, which is also home to ‘Farmer Ted’s’ and Little Altcar where most of the 3000 parishioners live. It is seen considerable growth with the the building of a new estate, Pinewood Park.

Transport links whether by bus or train are good to Liverpool and Southport and further afield to Manchester. If you're up for a bit of a drive, within two hours you can reach the scenic coasts of North Wales, or head inland to the breathtaking landscapes of the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, and Peak District. Locally, you can discover the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust Centre at Martin Mere, the historic Rufford Old Hall (National Trust), and the relaxing Formby Hall Golf Club. Formby Little Theatre and the Atkinson Arts Centre in Southport offer a lively mix of visual and performing arts. In Liverpool, You’ll have easy access to top venues like the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool Empire, Philharmonic Hall, and the Liverpool Arena. Art lovers will enjoy the rich variety of galleries including Tate Liverpool, the Walker Art Gallery, and Bluecoat.

We are praying for the right person to step into this role and join us in sharing the hope and love of Jesus with the world. Could that be you?

Closing Date: 7th January 2026

Interview Dates: 3rd February 2026

For more information please contact: Ven Pete Spiers  
Archdeacon of Knowsley and Sefton 

Mob: 07590690780 or email: pete.spiers@liverpool.anglican.org 

                       Being part of the Clergy Team in Liverpool Diocese

For many years we have been working to achieve growth in our diocese. We have used different ways to express this but the aim and direction of travel has remained the same – consistent with the whole of the Church of England. We have articulated a vision for this growth by saying

          we are asking God for a bigger church so that we can make a bigger difference: more people knowing Jesus and more justice in the world.

In our diocesan vision we have identified four priority areas for our work in mission in this season: Introducing people to God through Jesus Christ

Deepening discipleship, especially by means of our Rule of Life

Developing Christian leaders in every place

Working for justice

Like everyone entering a new role in the Diocese, you will accept the priority of these areas, and will measure your ministry by effectiveness in these areas. You will be supported and expected to be accountable (through the Ministerial Development Review as well as through regular meetings with your colleagues) for how they are being implemented within your area of responsibility.

In common with all clergy in the diocese, you will work together with others to:-

1. Establish a culture of invitation in evangelism within the local church.
2. Start new worshipping communities and maintain existing healthy worshipping communities that are accessible to all. 
3. Establish a culture in the local church of expecting a deepening of discipleship and putting into practice the 6 disciplines of the Rule of Life.  
4. Develop prayerfully a strategy for mission and church growth and aligning it with the Diocesan strategy Fit for Mission.
5. Identify, train, release and support new Christian leaders and teams. 
6. Encourage vocations by identifying the gifts of others and assisting people to seek God’s calling for their lives. 
7. Develop the distinctive ministry of the local Church within the wider context of the Diocese, Deanery and local ecumenical setting by establishing and maintaining good collaborative working relationships with clergy and lay colleagues. 
8. Lead your congregations both to pray for justice in the Church and the world and to recognize how, working with others, your congregations can work for more justice in the Church, your local communities, and the world. 
9. Ensure that safeguarding, financial and other governance disciplines are followed.