Priest in Charge of the Benefice of All Saints

Introduction

Is God calling you to be the next Priest in Charge of All Saints, Middlesbrough in the Diocese of York?

All Saints enjoys an honoured place in the centre of Middlesbrough town with a rich sacramental tradition and strong missional reputation. A Parish of the Society, the Mass is the centre of church life; All Saints has thrived over the years because of the direct line from the altar to the street. With new housing and a new secondary school being built whose catchment has the highest rate of child poverty in the country, we are seeking a priest with energy, vision and desire to collaborate; working with civic and church leaders, who will respond to the significant needs of those who live, work and study in Middlesbrough and continue the long-held tradition of All Saints of working beyond parish boundaries.

As a town-centre church, the parish has historically been associated with local government, civic and ceremonial events. Past Incumbents have chaired the Town Centre Partnership, local school governing bodies and community councils. Our parish is currently the shopping, administrative, commercial and educational centre for the wider area. There are now agreed proposals to build 3,400 new houses which will more than double our residential population.  This, together with a new secondary school, will provide a substantial opportunity for mission.

Today, All Saints is seen by many as their place for baptisms, weddings and funerals even when they have moved away. We enjoy close links with two primary schools and look forward to working with the new secondary school. Most of our congregation are established parishioners, some from other parishes. We also enjoy welcoming new faces from the mobile communities we serve: a fluid student population, medical employees with variable working patterns and newcomers to Middlesbrough.

From its earliest days All Saints has stood firmly in the Anglo Catholic tradition and has remained at the forefront of the movement. Over the years, the church has been enhanced and beautified for its worship; for example, the choir stalls were removed and a westward facing altar placed in what is now a wonderful open sanctuary. Worship is centred on the Mass which is celebrated 3-4 times a week and we are supported musically by an experienced Organist.

Across Middlesbrough this vacancy comes at an exciting time, as we are in the middle of discerning how the Spirit of God is calling us over the coming years. Later in 2026, the diocese, with the encouragement of the national church, is seeking significant new investment to support these plans; we envisage that our new priest will be a key part of this.

We are looking for an energetic priest, dedicated to their calling in the Catholic tradition of the church, who: 

· respects and upholds the tradition of the church and its liturgy · has a zeal for pastoral care · has a clear vision for growing the church · can recognise and use the talents of the laity through trust, co-operation and delegation · acknowledges the deprivation of the area · understands that our finances are stable and sufficient not to be a cause of stress · will have a supportive and experienced PCC · will play a core part in the Deanery Plan for the Town Centre parishes.

If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you!

About Us

The Diocese of York, led and guided by Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, takes in much of North and East Yorkshire. As the largest diocese in England, geographically, the area is very diverse, featuring a multitude of needs and opportunities. This includes the bustling urban centres of York, Hull and Middlesbrough, the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors National Park, and the incomparable Yorkshire Coast; as well as areas of deprivation in some of our urban and smaller rural and coastal communities.

Our mission and ministry relies on thousands of people – lay and ordained, volunteer and paid. Our diocesan teams provide a wide range of support services to our mission and ministry, including lifelong learning for ministry, the care of church buildings, and safeguarding. Together, we are striving to be a people who are ‘Living Christ’s Story’. We want to be a simpler, bolder, humbler church which in its diversity reflects the communities it serves. We are bringing renewed focus and fresh energy to achieving our aims:

• Becoming more like Christ
• Reaching those we currently don’t
• Growing in discipleship, influence and numbers
• Transforming our finances and structures

Informal enquiries are welcome:

The Archdeacon of Cleveland, Amanda Bloor | adcl@yorkdiocese.org | 01642 706095

The Bishop of Whitby, Barry Hill | bishopofwhitby@yorkdiocese.org | 01642 593 273

Assistant Area Dean for Middlesbrough, Fr. Edward Mathias-Jones SSC,  frmathiasjones@aol.com mob. 07307 190505

The Diocese of York 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.  Find out more here:  Safeguarding in the Diocese of York

Appointment is subject to pre-appointment checks including a satisfactory Enhanced DBS disclosure. Under current immigration rules, it is not possible for us to appoint clergy who are not already eligible to work in the UK.

Closing date for applications: Thurs 26 February, midday

Interview date: Tues 24 Mar