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PARISH OF SWINDON NEW TOWN 0 Swindon Deanery | Bristol Diocese Parish Profile
PARISH OF SWINDON NEW TOWN
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Swindon Deanery | Bristol Diocese
Parish Profile
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Overview
The Parish of Swindon New Town sits right at the heart of the historical ‘Great Western Railway Town’ of Swindon
and incorporates the churches of S. Mark, S. Saviour and S. Luke, and the chapel of S. Aldhelm, serving the town centre and the homes which were originally built for the families of those working at the Railway Works.
We are an Anglican Parish in the Catholic tradition, which operates under Resolutions A and B of the Priests
(Ordination of Women) Measure 1993 and has successfully petitioned for extended episcopal care under the Episcopal Ministry Act of Synod 1993. We are registered with the organisation Forward in Faith.
The parish is unique in that its three churches cater to the very diverse needs of their local communities, whilst offering a haven for those who feel led to worship in a traditional manner.
The parish is registered with the Charity Commission, registered number 1131070, and is part of the Church of
England, which is in itself a Registered Charity. Each year the PCC is required to submit its Annual Report and Financial Statements to the Charity Commission and they can be viewed on their web site.
As part of the preparations for this document, we distributed a questionnaire to the members of the parish, a report of which can be found at Appendix 1. We have also included quotes from the questionnaires at intervals throughout
the Profile.
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Contents Overview ............................................................................................................................................................ 2
The Parish .......................................................................................................................................................... 4
Location and History ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Worship .............................................................................................................................................................. 4
Services .......................................................................................................................................................... 4
Strengths and Opportunities ................................................................................................................................ 5
The Parochial Church Council ........................................................................................................................... 5
Vision ................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Our vision is .................................................................................................................................................... 5
Outreach and Community ................................................................................................................................ 5
Mission ........................................................................................................................................................... 6
Support .......................................................................................................................................................... 6
Aspirations ...................................................................................................................................................... 6
Our Churches and Buildings ................................................................................................................................. 7
S. Mark’s ......................................................................................................................................................... 7
S. Saviour’s ..................................................................................................................................................... 7
S. Luke’s ......................................................................................................................................................... 8
S. Aldhelm’s Centre ......................................................................................................................................... 8
The Chapel of Ease ...................................................................................................................................... 8
The Parish Office .......................................................................................................................................... 8
Resource Centre ........................................................................................................................................... 8
Rainbow Bookshop ....................................................................................................................................... 9
Clergy Accommodation .................................................................................................................................... 9
Statistics ............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Attendance ..................................................................................................................................................... 9
Weddings, Baptisms and Funerals .................................................................................................................... 9
Finance ............................................................................................................................................................. 10
Swindon Deanery ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Diocese of Bristol ............................................................................................................................................... 11
Contacts ............................................................................................................................................................ 11
Churchwardens .............................................................................................................................................. 11
Parish/PCC Secretary ...................................................................................................................................... 11
Parish Office .................................................................................................................................................. 11
Diocese and Deanery ...................................................................................................................................... 11
Appendices ........................................................................................................................................................ 12
Appendix 1 – Survey Report ............................................................................................................................ 12
Appendix 2 – Financial Information ................................................................................................................. 14
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The Parish
LOCATION AND HISTORY Swindon has a population of around 180,000, with a broad mix of inhabitants of all ages and ethnicities. There are areas of affluence
interspersed with those of great poverty and need. There are a number of major employers in Swindon, primarily within the financial
and car manufacturing sectors. Most of the housing in the parish itself is terraced, built during the height of the railway construction
era for which the town is famed. The population within the parish,
c16,000, is rising steadily, with the appearance of new apartments in the town centre. The town centre itself is undergoing major
regeneration.
There are many good primary and secondary schools in Swindon
and two Further Education colleges, both of which have an excellent
reputation. Within the parish itself, is Robert Le Kyng Primary School, which has, in the past, had links with the parish.
The Parish of Swindon New Town came about as a result of the Great Western Railway Works construction, in order to serve the people who were brought into the area to work at the railway construction site. Housing, health and
leisure facilities were all provided for them and some of those still remain, although most services are now provided by Swindon Borough Council.
Worship Worship in the parish follows a pattern in the catholic tradition using contemporary
language liturgy, with which the majority of the members feel most comfortable.
Prior to the interregnum, mass was sung or said on a daily basis, in at least one of our churches. Special services are held for all major feasts and solemnities and
joint worship takes place for many of these.
Communion is taken to those in the parish who are sick or housebound on a
need-by-need basis. Most of those prefer to receive communion from an ordained priest, rather than a lay-person.
The members of the parish contribute to worship in many ways, through reading, serving, singing, as intercessors,
flower arranging, cleaning, etc.
Baptisms and weddings take place on a regular basis throughout the parish. Confirmation classes are currently
under way, for a confirmation service to take place in February 2013. We have experienced a reduction in the number of funerals being conducted during 2012, since the introduction of non-religious funeral officiators at the
local crematorium. Each year for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day), those who have
lost a loved one are invited to attend a mass in remembrance of them.
A Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham takes place each year during the summer time, providing an
opportunity for prayerful retreat.
SERVICES Sunday
9:00 am Sung Mass at S. Saviour’s 10:30 am Sung Mass at S. Mark’s and at S. Luke’s
Tuesday 11:45 am Low Mass at S. Aldhelm’s
Wednesday
9:30 am Low Mass at S. Saviour’s
Thursday
9:30 am Low Mass at S. Luke’s
Friday (Last Friday of the Month)
11:00 am Low Mass at Kings Court Care Centre
Saturday 9:30 am Low Mass at S. Mark’s
A Church Near You : Copyright © 2008.
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Strengths and Opportunities The traditional form of worship in the parish, combined with the commitment, talents and dedication of the people makes for a very strong combination. We are able to offer differing styles of worship within that tradition in our three churches, which cater to a range of diverse needs.
“[The] very friendly and welcoming people in our parish make it a stronger place; that is the main strength.” Shelley Jell.
In the past, the parish has had an affiliation with Robert Le Kyng Primary School and our previous Team Vicar would
regularly visit to conduct assemblies, etc. This has necessarily declined in the interregnum, but is seen by the parish
as a great opportunity, which should be pursued.
Just across the road from S. Mark’s Church is the Territorial Army Centre for ‘A’ Squadron Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry.
Efforts are on-going to encourage greater links between them and the church.
We are keen to raise the profile of churches in the local community, ensuring people in the locality know what the
parish has to offer. Along with this, we wish to develop new ways of serving the local community. As a parish, we feel that engaging with the younger members of our communities and involving them more fully in the life of our
churches is vital in securing the future of the parish.
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL There are twenty-one members on the Parochial Church
Council (PCC), including two churchwardens and a
deputy churchwarden. The Council meets at least six times a year in S. Aldhelm’s Centre. In addition, there is
a Standing Committee which meets to take forward any matters which arise in between meetings.
Complementary to the PCC, each of the three districts of
the Parish has its own District Church Council (DCC). These councils are elected at the APCM and are
responsible for the work of the Church in their respective Districts, subject to any direction given to
them by the PCC.
Vision
OUR VISION IS
to continue to provide pastoral ministry and witness to the diverse population of Swindon New Town
to encourage growth and spiritual maturity within the parish, developing the talents of our members for the
benefit of all to continue to be known as a place where the Catholic faith is taught in all its richness
to work in partnership with neighbouring parishes for the strengthening of the faith and the enrichment of
worship
to encourage children and young people to come to faith and participate in the life of the parish through
Junior Church and youth activities to strengthen communication between the churches within the parish
OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY The parish currently has close associations with a number of community projects. The Swindon Foodbank, of which the Parish is a ‘founding father’, has a distribution centre at S. Aldhelm’s hall three days a week and the parish office is often used as a drop-off point for donations. All three churches regularly have collections of food for the Foodbank.
At S. Luke’s there is the Broadgreen Breakfast Club, initially set up some 15 years ago by local citizens concerned about the level of homelessness in Swindon. The club is managed by a committee of trustees, workers and volunteers and is open every day except Sunday, from 7.00 to 9.00 am. In addition there is the Harbour Project, founded by local people in 2001 at the time of the Kosovo crisis. The drop-in centre is for refugees and asylum seekers of all backgrounds. Staffed largely by volunteers, it operates Monday to Friday from 11.00 am to 2.00 pm.
Close to S. Saviour’s church is the Kings Court Care Centre. A service is held for the residents there on the last Friday of each month, and members of S. Saviour’s are actively involved in supporting this.
The Swindon Street Pastors have a base in S. Aldhelm’s Centre on Friday and Saturday nights, as they minister to those out and about in the town centre at the weekends.
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We aspire to increase our outreach within the local community, particularly with local schools, youth organisations, care homes, ethnic groups and perhaps military organisations.
“There are massive opportunities for outreach and sharing the Christian message with all kinds and conditions of men, women and children. Loneliness is a big problem in today's society as well as the need for a moral code which many people from all social classes, lack. We should explore the possibility of opening our churches more often to engender an atmosphere of welcome. We need to raise the profile generally of the parish, making use of the internet and social networking. We need to go out and meet people; - follow up baptism families, wedding couples and the bereaved: - offer support to people affected by recession.” Mary Jones.
We are actively involved with the organisation Churches Together in Swindon Town Centre, which fosters
communication and cooperation between the many churches in Swindon.
MISSION The current PCC policy is that 10% of Stewardship Income, together with the surplus on the Rainbow Bookshop in
any year, will be allocated to missions in January of the following year. In January 2012 the total amount allocated to missions/charities was £9,800. The PCC policy has been to allocate these funds on a 50-50 basis between home
and overseas missions/charities. Overseas missions include the Diocese of Lebombo in Mozambique, which has been supported by the Parish since 1906; priest housing in Lusaka, Zambia; Church Roofs in Zimbabwe, as well as the
Oxford Mission to Calcutta. Home missions/charities supported include the Life (UK) organisation, the Children’s
Society, as well as direct financial help to the Foodbank and Street Pastors groups. In addition there are Lent savings, supporting the work of US (formerly USPG) and the ACS (Additional Curates Society).
We continue to support the Swindon Food Bank with the free use of the hall at S. Aldhelm’s three afternoons each week for their distribution centre.
Additionally, many of our members have assisted the Food Bank’s work as
volunteers at the distribution centre, warehouse and at supermarket collection days. Contributions of food are made regularly in each of our churches, for
distribution by the Food Bank. One member of the PCC serves on the Board of Directors of the Food Bank. The Swindon Street Pastors project, an
inter-denominational Church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen and dialogue have been given free use of
S. Aldhelm’s as their base on Friday evenings.
SUPPORT The new incumbent will be ably supported by a very committed team of people within the parish. We aim to ensure
that the priest will be free to carry out his vital work, unencumbered by the day-to-day necessities which present themselves in any parish. We are keen to continue the work which has begun during the interregnum, where lay
members are involved in parish visiting, intercessions and stewardship. We are fortunate to have the steadfast
support of a number of retired priests, who regularly assist with both weekday and Sunday services throughout the parish.
ASPIRATIONS The congregations of our Parish comprise of many willing and committed people and we would welcome a Priest who has the enthusiasm and pastoral experience to work collaboratively with us, and encourage others to join us, as
we reach out to the wider community.
“It would be good to have a priest who is a good communicator and able to continue to bring the 3 churches together. That and diplomacy would be good qualities (and the ability to walk on water, of course).” Mary Gladman.
We seek a man with strong management and leadership skills to strengthen the unity of, and to guide the Parish into
the future. He will have Pastoral gifts to love the people committed to his care, respond to their needs, visit them in their homes and administer house communions to them.
“He will bring hope and breathe new life into our Parish. He will make our 'jigsaw' complete.” Name withheld.
He should be a man of prayer who will love and care for his people, be able to work with other members of our staff,
teach the Catholic Faith and celebrate the Sacraments.
“He's got to be first of all a spiritual man, a prayerful man who deeply believes in the Christian faith. A man of integrity who is deeply Christian and is therefore going to be a good pastor; reminding people how important it is to put our Lord first in their lives. I believe that's what people are looking for.” Roy and Barbara Allen
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Our Churches and Buildings The parish’s three churches cater to the widely differing needs of the congregations who worship in them, which is a great strength. However, it can present challenges in keeping open the channels of communication between the
individual churches and in fostering the sense of unity for which we strive. This is something we are continually working on and recently have seen very encouraging steps in the right direction.
S. MARK’S The congregation of S. Mark’s, whilst being the smallest in the parish, is nonetheless very dedicated and highly committed. There is a strong tradition of
music, with a very active choir who regularly sing traditional mass settings and
occasional evensong and benediction.
S. Mark’s is a Grade II listed building, built in 1845 next to the main
London-to-Bristol railway line and only yards from the stone built estate used to house the railway workers. It was designed by the renowned Victorian Architect
Giles Gilbert Scott and was funded by the then directors of Brunel’s Great
Western Railway Company to serve the Railway Works employees. Sir John Betjeman wrote of the church:
“If ever I feel England is pagan, if ever I feel the poor old Church of England is tottering to its grave, I revisit S. Mark’s, Swindon. That corrects the impression at once. A simple and definite faith is taught; S. Mark’s and its daughter churches are crowded.”
Whilst we may no longer say that the churches are crowded, the simple and
definite faith remains, along with a desire to grow and bring the message of God’s love to the wider community.
“I have met so many loving and inspirational people in S. Mark's. Highs and lows, tears and laughter have been in abundance. My faith has been challenged many times but I still find comfort and solace in the mass and the feeling that those people around me will be there for me.” Pat Mortimer.
As the town has expanded, the number of surrounding dwellings has diminished and the church building is now
perhaps a little separated from the population it serves.
S. SAVIOUR’S S. Saviour’s is the smallest church physically, but has an enthusiastic and dedicated
congregation. The congregation is extremely loyal to their church and have over the years participated enthusiastically in social and fund raising activities. Uniformed
organisations are an important feature of S. Saviour’s life, and parade Sundays usually find S. Saviour’s with the largest attendance in the parish.
Of this church, Sir John Betjeman said:
"I would sooner be on my knees within the wooden walls of S. Saviour's than leaning elegantly forward in a cushioned pew in an Oxford college chapel - that is to say, if I am to realise that there is something beyond this world worth thinking about."
S. Saviour’s was built in wood, in 1890 by voluntary labour, in response to the call of Canon Ponsonby to ‘build me
an ark.’
The building was clad in modern stone block work in the 1960s and considerable
efforts have been made to maintain and improve it, most recently by the installation of a new pipe organ and re-lighting and re-wiring of the church. Very
limited parking is a problem which it is hoped to address in the near future.
S. Saviour’s has probably the most relaxed style of service, being the first to have
a female pastoral assistant, women administering the chalice and serving at the
altar. This encourages younger people and S. Saviour’s has a broad spectrum of age groups from young families to elderly worshippers in their nineties.
“The warmth of welcome I feel in both the physical building and congregation at S. Saviour's are a constant pleasure. Within the parish is an equally welcoming atmosphere. Anon.
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S. LUKE’S S. Luke’s Church is situated in an area of high ethnic population. A hard core of long-standing parishioners regularly welcomes those of all ethnic
backgrounds into the congregation. It is situated within the heart of the
community which is now known as Broadgreen and consists of diverse ethnic origins and faiths. Indeed, the congregation of S. Luke’s is made up
from many differing nationalities and notices are read in both English and Konkani. Many strides have been made towards inclusion within the family
of the church and we hope to continue to build on this. It also has a thriving Sunday School.
“S. Luke's has always made me and my family feel part of the church family. There is a special bond and friendships made that will always be there.” Name withheld
The Church was originally built in 1902 to meet the needs of the growing population. This original church building is now used as the church hall and the church we have
today was built in 1911 and, in the words of Sir John Betjeman,
“Except for the Railway Works, which are awe-inspiring inside, S. Luke’s is the only fine interior, architecturally, in Swindon. Well there are bound to be some in Swindon who dispute such a judgement, but there is no doubt that S. Luke’s has much of that post-Victorian beauty which is a great help to prayer and devotion.”
It is used heavily by the several community groups catering to the needs of the homeless, refugees and asylum seekers. The hall was refurbished in 2011, in time
for its centenary, to provide modern catering facilities and additional meeting rooms.
The refurbishment was funded by grants from the Landfill Charities Trust, the Community Foundation, the Parish Reserve and by the generosity of the parishioners.
S. ALDHELM’S CENTRE The Church of S. Paul originally stood on the site of what is now S. Aldhelm’s Centre. The church was demolished in the 1960s to enable the commercial expansion of the Woolworth’s store to take place, on the proviso that a chapel
of ease was built on an area of the site, to preserve the consecrated ground. S. Aldhelm’s Centre was built, to include the chapel dedicated to S. Aldhelm, a hall with kitchen and toilet facilities and a small courtyard. Over the
years the building has changed and now is home to the Rainbow Bookshop, a Resource Centre and the Parish Office.
There is a single parking space adjacent to the building.
The Chapel of Ease The Chapel of S. Aldhelm is open to the public each weekday and on Saturdays. People often pop in for a few quiet moments of private prayer and reflection. Additionally, a Mass is held on Tuesday of each week, and this is
supported by a small but regular congregation.
The Parish Office The Parish Office serves as the administrative centre for the whole parish and is staffed from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm
Monday to Friday. The parish employs a part-time secretary, who is responsible for the administrative tasks which form a necessary part of parish life, including: the preparation and production of documentation, service sheets,
leaflets, posters and flyers; maintenance of the parish website; liaison with outside agencies (eg. Charity Commission). She is also the first point of contact for those who wish to enquire about baptisms, weddings or
funerals, or indeed any other queries relating to the parish.
There is a small room adjacent to the office, which is currently being used as a social space, but which may also be used as a private office.
Resource Centre Within the parish office itself we offer, for public use, a variety of Christian books, bibles and study material, which
people may browse and borrow. Currently this facility is under-used and we would like to see an expansion of its use, both from the other parishes within the Deanery and Diocese and by the local public.
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Rainbow Bookshop The Rainbow Bookshop began life in 1979, when it was opened by the Revd W Awdry, of ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ fame. Two major expansion projects in the intervening years have resulted in the current large shop, packed with
books, bibles, greeting cards for all occasions and a huge range of devotional gifts, CDs and DVDs.
The Bookshop has 5 part-time paid staff, ably managed by the Bookshop
Manager, Mrs Pat Mortimer, and enjoys the services of a dedicated team
of volunteers who come in at various times each week to give support and respite to the paid staff. These volunteers come from a variety of
Christian backgrounds, although none at present from our own Parish. The Bookshop caters to all Christian traditions, from non-conformist to
Roman Catholic; our visitors are equally diverse, from those who wish to
pass on their own views to those who are curious about the faith. Our small profits each year are donated to the Mission field and we pray that
we will be around to serve the local community for more years to come.
CLERGY ACCOMMODATION The Clergy House is a 19th Century 2-storey semi-detached town house overlooking Faringdon Road Park, within
sight of S. Mark’s church and within walking distance of S. Aldhelm’s Centre. Internally, there are three receptions rooms downstairs, with a fully fitted kitchen and upstairs there are four bedrooms. Whilst there is no parking at the
property itself, its close proximity to S. Mark’s allows for parking in the church car park.
The Parish also has at its disposal the former Team Vicar’s house, which it has purchased using various endowment
funds/trusts as well as some of its own funds. It is hoped that this property could be used to provide a home for a
House for Duty priest.
Statistics
ATTENDANCE In 2011, the last complete year of records, the following were recorded in the Parish Registers.
Total Acts Of
Communion
Electoral
Roll
Ave. Sunday
Attendance Adult Youth
Baptisms Weddings Funerals
S. Mark’s 3,328 75 48 4 31 10 10
S. Saviour’s 3,588 91 46 11 9 1 1
S. Luke’s 5,340 72 86 19 5 - 4
S. Aldhelm’ s 323 - - - - - -
Total 12,579 238 180 34 45 11 15
In addition to these services held in our churches, the clergy of the parish officiated at 23 services in local Cemeteries, or at the Kingsdown Crematorium, and at 5 services of the Interment of Ashes, as well as conducting
funeral services in other churches of the Swindon Deanery. Because of numerous clergy vacancies and absences
due to illness in the Deanery during 2011, clergy of this parish were busy in celebrating weekday masses and officiating at weddings in other Deanery parishes as well.
WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS All three of our churches are licensed for Weddings, but the majority take place at S. Mark’s
as it is situated in a churchyard and has ample car parking. The other two Churches do
have Weddings from time to time, but mainly from persons directly associated with those Churches.
In order to give as much flexibility to clergy time, the majority of Baptisms take place once a month at S. Mark’s, at 12.30 pm. Baptisms at the other churches often take place during
the Sunday morning Mass, due to local connections.
The number of funerals continues to fall, mainly due to families being directed by undertakers to the crematorium and the use of civil funeral celebrants. There are no longer
facilities for burial in any of our churchyards, with the exception of cremated remains.
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Finance The Parish finances are handled in accordance with Charity Commission legislation and are Independently Examined each year.
The SOFA (Statement of Financial Activities) of the Parish along with the Balance Sheet for 2011 can be found in Appendix 2 at the end of the Profile.
The SOFA shows a summary of the Incoming Resources and Resources Used transactions in the accounts. Our
accounts are formatted in such a way that the day-to-day running expenses of the three churches are met from day-to-day income and this forms column 1 of the Unrestricted Fund in the SOFA and is also known as the
Stewardship Account. Each year a Planned Giving renewal takes place and budgets are set based on this and it is hoped that each DCC will endeavour to balance its budget throughout the year.
The PCC also has two other Unrestricted Fund columns. One of these shows the financial activities of the
Rainbow Bookshop (column 2 of the SOFA), whilst the other, holds what was originally known as the Parish Reserve Fund, later re-titled the General Purposes Fund, as well as any other Miscellaneous Funds of the PCC or DCCs
(column 3 - Other).
The PCC deposits into this General Purposes fund the income from properties owned by the parish and income from
other investments which is not restricted in any way. The purpose of this fund is to enable large-scale expenditure
for the maintenance and upkeep of the churches and other buildings and chapels of the parish, without the necessity of recourse to fund-raising. The fund has also been drawn upon from time to time in the past to satisfy deficits in
the Parish Stewardship Account. In certain years it has not been found necessary to expend the whole of the income of the General Purposes Fund; in other years, however, the demands on the fund have exceeded its annual
income. The existence and husbanding of this fund has enabled the parish in the recent past to come into compliance with the Disabled Persons’ Accessibility legislation with minimal impact on ordinary parish operation; in
the immediate future it will probably need to be called upon to help remedy situations which have been deemed to
be fire risks. In view of the age of the parish’s buildings, and the fact that one of them is an important, listed building, the PCC have considered the fund necessary in order to maintain the parish’s existing work. In general, the
expenditure on buildings in any given year is limited to the amount of annual income into the fund.
A Restricted Funds column in the SOFA (column 4) is where transactions of monies given for specific purposes are
shown. These funds include the Churchyard Fund, Flower Funds, Organ fund and legacy funds with restrictive use
etc.
Certain investments are in the form of trusts and whilst the PCC receives interest from these investments, the
investments are held by the Diocesan Board of Finance Limited, as Custodian Trustees, and these transactions are therefore included in the accounts as Endowment Funds and are shown in column 5.
Swindon Deanery The Swindon Deanery comprises of 19 parishes and is served by a Deanery Leadership team led by the Area Dean,
the Revd Simon Stevenette. Swindon is one of seven Deaneries in the Bristol Diocese. Amongst our number we have a pioneer minister in Pinehurst, the Chaplain of Wiltshire Police and a Chaplain for Economic life in Swindon. As
a group we are very committed to Swindon Churches Together and play a full part in Street Pastors, Swindon
Foodbank, the Harbour Project for Asylum Seekers, The Filling Station, Christian Aid, New College and Swindon College, for example. We emphasise that ' we are the Deanery, we are the Diocese'. We do all we can to build up
the ministry and confidence of one another as colleagues, friends, and partners in mission. We meet once a month from 10am - 12.30 p.m. for encouragement, teaching and sharing together. We also have social evenings and an
annual retreat at Nympsfield Marist convent for two days in March. All clergy make Chapter a high priority and look to utilising all the gifts amongst us.
In the coming months we are committed to working out the implications of our Diocesan strategy ' Releasing the
Energy' at our local level, especially through-:
The Growth Programme (growth in influence, numbers, partnership and commitment)
Good Leadership
Generous giving
Ministry teams and deployment
We look forward to welcoming a new colleague during 2013 learning from you and supporting you in your exciting
ministry amongst us. A particular quote you might like to reflect upon from Abbe Coutrier a Roman Catholic Priest:
' If we are to unite we must love, if we are to love we must meet'
What does it mean to truly meet with God and each other?
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Diocese of Bristol The Diocese of Bristol is experiencing a time of change and growth.
Our purpose of “creating communities of wholeness with Christ at the centre” remains constant. We maintain our
commitment to encouraging growth in commitment, partnership, influence and numbers in and through those communities – growth of the Church and of the Kingdom of God. But how we approach fulfilling our purpose and
achieving our aims is changing.
This change in approach is articulated in “Releasing the energy”, the Diocesan Strategy 2010-2015 (www.bristol.anglican.org/ministry/strategy). The Strategy aims to ensure the Diocese is playing its part in releasing
the energy that God has given to His Church to see His Kingdom come where we live and serve.
The Diocesan Strategy seeks to create a culture in the Diocese where growth is considered the natural condition of
every believer, the Church and the Kingdom; where all ministers seek first to serve and empower others, releasing
the energy of the whole Body of Christ; where interdependence based on trust and mature engagement is expressed; where decisions are entrusted to those best placed to make them; where generosity, grace and mutual
challenge are encouraged and thrive.
It is in this context that we are committed to holistic growth across the Diocese, leadership development, appropriate
decision-making at Deanery level and a new approach to Parish Share based on generosity, grace and
interdependence.
The Diocese of Bristol is committed to playing a full part in the Church of England, as part of one, holy, catholic and
apostolic Church. In its ordained ministers, it seeks men and women who will live and articulate the Church’s teaching.
Contacts
CHURCHWARDENS Mr Sandy Steele-Davis (PCC Vice-chairman)
Mr John Bishop (Parish Treasurer) Mrs Julie Emmett (Deputy Churchwarden)
PARISH/PCC SECRETARY Mrs Karen Vermeersch
PARISH OFFICE S. Aldhelm’s Centre Edgeware Road
Swindon
Wiltshire SN1 1QS
Open 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Monday to Friday
Telephone: 01793 538220
Fax: 01793 491065
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.swindonnewtown.co.uk
DIOCESE AND DEANERY
Area Dean of Swindon
The Revd Simon Stevenette Vicar of Christ Church with St Mary's
The Vicarage, 26 Cricklade Street,
Swindon, Wiltshire
SN1 3HG Tel: 01793 529166
Email:[email protected]
Church House
1st Floor Hillside House
1500 Parkway North
Stoke Gifford BRISTOL
BS34 8YU Tel: 0117 906 0100
www.bristol.anglican.org
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Appendices
APPENDIX 1 – SURVEY REPORT The following report was published in our Crossfire Magazine and also displayed on the notice board at each church.
Parish Profile Questionnaire
We received a marvellous 86 responses to our questionnaire, which will help enormously with the preparation of our Parish Profile and ensure that the views of the whole parish are represented within its pages. A heartfelt thank you
to all who took the time to respond!
Overleaf you will find graphical representation of those questions which were answered via a ‘tick box’. But first, we
would like to show a little of how people in the parish feel about the subjects discussed.
What is Good in the Parish?
Many people felt that the churches in the parish are friendly and welcoming and that each church works hard to
foster its strengths—the music tradition at S. Mark’s, the encouragement of young families and children at S. Saviour’s and the inclusion of the ethnic community at S. Luke’s. Most also enjoy the traditional ‘Anglo-catholic’
style of worship and feel very comfortable with this.
Where could we Improve?
Most felt that it is important to try and foster greater communication links and cooperation between the individual
churches, so that parish unity can be improved. Many also felt that work on this has already begun. There was a general feeling that heating during the winter months is inadequate in S. Mark’s and S. Luke’s.
What are our Strengths?
Our traditional form of worship is seen as a great strength. The commitment, talents and dedication of the people of
the parish, along with the retired priests who are assisting so willingly during the interregnum help to keep us
strong. Also, the fact that we have three very different styles of worship in our three churches, which cater to a range of diverse needs.
What Opportunities do we See?
Many would like to see an emphasis on outreach within the local community, particularly with local schools, youth
organisations, care homes, ethnic groups and perhaps military organisations. As a parish, we feel that engaging with
the younger members of our communities and involving them more fully in the life of our churches is vital in securing the future of the parish. It is felt that we should embrace the use of up-to-date methods of communication and
‘advertising’. Some felt that a music festival could provide a vessel for outreach.
Personal Experiences
Overwhelmingly, those who answered this question felt that the parish had been a great source of support and welcome, although some felt that this was restricted to their own individual church.
Resolutions A, B & C
Many of those who responded are keen to maintain the Catholic tradition and feel that retaining the Resolutions is the only way to ensure this happens. There are those who disagree with this, and feel that the parish needs to be
more receptive to today’s society. Some fear that any change may cause discord within the parish.
Hopes and Aspirations for a New Priest
“and the ability to walk on water, of course”
The parish has high hopes for a new priest! Mostly we would like to see a priest who will uphold our traditions and bring us forward in our spiritual life as well as in outreach. A “people person” seems to be much desired, with a
sense of humour and flexibility. Someone who can foster the strengths of each church, whilst helping us continue working towards greater unity.
Supporting our New Priest
Overwhelmingly, we feel that the priest will need our support and encouragement. There is a feeling that we can continue and expand upon our existing groups (pastoral support, stewardship, intercessors, etc) as a way of allowing
the priest to focus on those duties only he can perform. Some felt that there may need to be compromise on the number and patterns of services which take place. Most felt that making the priest welcome in the first instance was
very important.
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Our Church Buildings
Most felt that our buildings are well placed within the local community and are welcoming places to visit. It was
acknowledged that there are some issues with each building which may hamper full usage or make worship difficult. Inadequate heating at S. Mark’s and S. Luke’s was felt to be inhibiting. The lack of parking at
S. Saviour’s was also felt to be restrictive. Overall, however, despite the need for some refurbishment of kitchen/hall in S. Mark’s and S. Saviour’s it was felt that the churches are well able to meet the needs of the congregations and
the local community.
Additional Comments
Some felt that a shortage of priests contributed to a lack of integration within the congregations. It was felt that we
should build on our strengths and work towards being more inclusive. Working on better communication between the PCC and the congregations is felt to be necessary to ensure that everybody is aware of what is happening in the
parish, and to foster greater involvement and cooperation.
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APPENDIX 2 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Parish of Swindon New Town
Parish of Swindon New Town
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