St. Lawrence’s Church, Frodingham

Parish Profile

The Town of Scunthorpe The town of Scunthorpe developed from the five separate small villages of Ashby, Brumby, Crosby, Frodingham and Scunthorpe, brought together from the mid-nineteenth century when ironstone was discovered locally. Development of the ironworks, and later steelworks, led to a rapid growth in the population, bringing in first local agricultural workers, and later, workers from Poland, the Ukraine, Italy, India, Bangladesh and elsewhere. The town gained urban status in 1919 and a Borough charter in 1936. Since 1996 Scunthorpe has been the largest town in the North Lincolnshire Council unitary authority and has a population of 70,000. In January 2010 North Lincolnshire recorded its highest unemployment levels in sixteen years but statistics for March show a fall with 5.4% of the working population seeking work. Scunthorpe became known as the Industrial Garden Town, with acres of attractive parks, open spaces, woodland and heathland. Today there are major plans to take this further and create „a

cohesive green structure and a network of sustainable connections for people and nature‟ (Yorkshire Forward in their „Strategic Development Framework‟). As part of the area‟s renovation, improvement work has already started in Central Park (the main municipal park in the town) including the building of a Leisure Centre which will include two swimming pools, a state of the art gym, a cafe and a dance studio with the work due for completion by Summer 2011. A more ambitious concept is that of the Lincolnshire Lakes which would see the linking of urban and rural through the creation of a major sustainable waterside setting between Scunthorpe and the River Trent.

Cultural The town houses the regional museum for North Lincolnshire with its archaeology and geology collections of national importance and there is easy access to the local authority run Normanby Hall Country Park with its farming museum and award winning Victorian walled garden. There is an excellent seven-screen Vue cinema and the vibrant 20/21 Arts Centre has a constantly changing exhibition programme. The Plowright Theatre hosts a varied programme of

professional and local productions including music, ballet, opera and comedy as well as drama. Work will begin soon on a rebuilding of the Baths Hall which will provide a state of the art, multi-purpose entertainment venue, capable of hosting a range of conferences and events, including live performances from top class entertainment acts. It is due for completion in 2011. There is also a variety of local theatrical, choral and historical groups in the town. Sporting interests are well catered for by local pitches, a velodrome, running track, swimming pools, sports halls and golf courses.

Retail The town has a number of major national shopping chains in either the town centre or retail parks along with other local specialist shops

and markets. The main town centre shopping area is pedestrianised and a covered shopping mall links to the Parishes shopping and

leisure complex which has expanded and improved the facilities in the town centre. Further developments planned for the town centre

include a new modern market hall, a multi-storey shopping centre and a supermarket. There are three retail parks which can be found on

the edge of the town.

Education and Health Care Many of the nursery, primary and co-educational comprehensive schools are recognised by Ofsted as being of

high quality. The secondary schools within the town are currently undergoing a rebuilding

programme under the government‟s „Building Schools for the Future‟ programme. All of

the schools have specialisms and include one Roman Catholic school and the first

Academy in the town, St. Lawrence‟s Academy, opened by the Archbishop of Canterbury

in 2008. There is also excellent provision for special needs pupils. There are two study

support centres, Study United FC and Study Heslam in the town and a Workers‟

Education Association Centre.

The John Leggott Sixth Form College, with over 1,900 full-time students, has a national reputation for excellence

in examination results as well as achievement in sport and music. The North Lindsey Further Education College

has approximately 2,000 full-time students and 11,000 part-time students studying a wide range of programmes.

Both have achieved Beacon status.

There is an excellent modern hospital with Accident and Emergency, situated within the parish, which serves the

town and surrounding area. It has its own chaplain.

Communication Links The town has excellent road links with the rest of the country via the M180/M18 (connecting to the M62, A1 and M1) and the Humber Bridge. The railway service has a direct link to Doncaster where all major services can be accessed. Two major regional airports, Humberside and Robin Hood, are situated within a 25 mile radius of the town. The River Trent runs to the west of the town. These links mean that Scunthorpe is an excellent location for attracting businesses and companies. Its compact boundaries allow rapid access to the surrounding, largely rural area with its attractive market towns, unspoilt villages and open countryside. At its height in the 1960‟s and 1970‟s, the population of Scunthorpe was 70,000, of whom about 20,000 were employed in the steelworks. Today, only some 4,000 people work in the industry but the plant has been modernised and rationalised, and Corus still remains one of the major UK producers of steel and steel products. Due to the efforts of a go-ahead local authority, industry and employment in the town has diversified and a buoyant manufacturing, servicing and distribution sector has been created. The population of the town currently stands at about 72,000 and is once again rising as people working in the major conurbations of Sheffield and Leeds and similar areas choose to commute to work from Scunthorpe where attractive new housing is being built and house prices still remain somewhat below the national average.

The Parish of St. Lawrence, Frodingham

The church of St. Lawrence, Frodingham is, by virtue of its age and location in the town, widely regarded as the „mother church‟ of Scunthorpe and is a popular venue for baptisms, weddings and funerals. The parish is in fact one of great diversity. Residents of the parish range from professionals - many of them of foreign nationality working at Scunthorpe General Hospital and living locally - to the disadvantaged and homeless catered for at The Forge Drop-in Centre which is run and mainly financed by the Methodist Church. The main town centre shopping area is situated within the parish, though we have few links as a church with those working there. There are large areas of mainly 1920‟s and 1930‟s built suburban middle class and working class housing near the church with occasional pockets of more affluent housing. The refurbished New Frodingham Village, built as ironworkers cottages

in the 1860‟s, now houses mainly single working people and families with modest incomes. Areas of new housing also provide homes for singles and young families. The Frodingham Infant School in the parish was originally built as part of New Frodingham Village. The church would like to develop greater links with all these different sectors of our parish. The church is part of the North Scunthorpe Group of Parishes. Other churches represented in the parish are the Baptist Church and the New Life Church, and the 7th Day Adventists have a café-church within the parish. We would like to develop stronger links with these churches. Outside the parish there are 15 other Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Congregational, Pentecostal and United Reform Churches within the Scunthorpe urban area.

The Church Building

The church, a Grade 1 listed building, is built of local ironstone with Ancaster stone dressings and a stainless steel-clad roof. The west tower and original north arcade is 12th century and the remainder of the medieval village church was comprehensively restored in the 1840‟s. A new nave, chancel, sanctuary, vestries and organ loft were added on the north side in a sympathetic style by Sir Charles Nicholson in 1913 as befitted a growing town. The church can seat approximately 300 people. There are three 16th/17th century bells, some attractive 19th century stained glass and what Sir Nikolaus Pevsner called „a modest but pretty late 17th century font cover‟. The interior is laid out in traditional style with fixed pews and choir stalls, moveable seating in the Healey Chapel and a dais area

between the nave and chancel to allow for more flexible worship. A moveable aluminium ramp allows disabled access to most areas and there is a relatively new sound system and hearing loop. An energy survey was carried out last year with a view to identifying the most efficient and environmentally friendly way of heating and lighting our buildings. This is work to be continued.

The closed churchyard is a grassed area with mature trees and the church is floodlit; both these features are maintained by the local authority as a public amenity. The church grounds have been used by the church for social and outreach events such as the Summer Fair, Teddy Bears‟ Picnic and occasional outdoor services. The building has been well maintained by the church, regularly inspected and remains in a generally good state of repair.

Vicarage The vicarage was built in the 1950‟s and is situated in a quiet residential area

with easy access to the town centre and railway station. It has an entrance hall

and cloakroom, south facing lounge and dining room, study with reception

room, kitchen/breakfast room and utility room on the ground floor, four

bedrooms, bathroom and a box room on the first floor. The kitchen was

recently refurbished and it is intended that a new bathroom will be fitted; there

is full gas central heating, and PVC double glazed windows throughout.

Outside there is a

brick single garage,

further parking for 6

cars, a flower garden

at the front and a large private garden at the rear, a popular venue for the

annual parish barbecue. The property is well maintained.

Parish Hall The Church Hall is a comfortable, well-heated building with modern facilities and

stage and has good disabled access. It is used by sixteen groups on a regular

basis including Brownies, Guides, Explorer Scouts, Parents and Toddlers, and

the Reflections Choir and is also available for private hire. There is ample car

parking space and it has an entertainment licence.

Parish Office

Since the beginning of this year we have opened a Parish Office and

employed a Parish Administrator. The office is located in a newly fitted

out room in the Parish Hall which has its own separate entrance. There

are five computer stations for use by the Parish Administrator and

members of the clergy as well as duplicating facilities. The Parish

Administrator is there every weekday morning between 9a.m. and 12

noon. Baptisms and weddings can also be booked on a Tuesday

evening and this is staffed by the Parish Clerk.

Finances The treasurer, covenant and stewardship secretaries, and the Standing Committee have responsibility for the church finances.

We have a reserve fund deposited with the CCLA Investment Management Ltd. We have always paid our diocesan share in full, and have

a general policy of paying 10% of our income from the congregation to several international, national and local charities.

Fundraising The main fundraiser is our Free Will Offering Scheme with envelopes and bank standing orders. The majority of these are Gift Aided, as a

result of past Stewardship Campaigns.

Summer and Christmas Fairs and other social and fundraising efforts are organised, all of which add greatly not only to the finances but

also to the fellowship of our church. Last year we also raised £4,200 for our chosen annual charity and other specific charities which was

in addition to the £3,650 given to local and national charities from our income.

Worship St. Lawrence‟s offers a range of worship styles but is broadly central in its churchmanship.

Sunday Services The current pattern of services is:-

8.00a.m.

A said Eucharist which has a regular attendance of 15/30. 10.30a.m.

This is the main service and is usually a sung Eucharist with organ and choir, attracting around 80/100 people.

There is a small group of volunteers which plans an Informal Worship service once a month. This takes place on the 3rd Sunday and generally has a congregation of 70/90 people.

6.30p.m.

Usually a service of Evening Prayer

The Eucharist is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday. On average about 15/20 attend in the evening.

Weekday Services The Eucharist is celebrated on Thursday at 9.30am and this is generally well attended by about 25/30 people. Throughout the year there are „special‟ services such as the All Souls Memorial Service, the Carol Service, Christingle, Mothering Sunday Service etc. and these are usually very well attended. On a Monday evening the church is open for a time of prayer in addition to daily Morning and Evening Prayer being said by the clergy in church every week day to which all are invited.

Occasional Offices During 2009 there have been:-

25 Weddings, some of which involved previous marriages that had been dissolved. (For a number of years a welcoming policy on the marriage of divorcees has been adopted by the parish.)

5 Blessings of Marriage.

95 funerals conducted by the clergy based at St. Lawrence‟s of which 24 were in church and 71 at the crematorium half a mile away.

89 Baptisms. A welcome has always been given to all families from the parish and non-residents.

Church Music

The church‟s two-manual pipe organ has undergone a thorough overhaul, and a digital electric

piano and an upright piano are also available for use in services. A concert grand piano, housed

on the stage in the Church Hall, is used mainly by the local Musical Festival and outside

organisations.

A team of three organists cover services and occasional offices and there is a robed choir of 10

adults. The choir is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music and occasional Area and District

events and workshops are attended. A wide range of hymn styles is used in worship, with items

chosen mainly from Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New, as well as anthems and worship

songs. The choir also sings at

weddings and special services in

church, occasionally joining forces

with St. Hugh‟s choir to do so.

The church has also been exploring

more informal styles of music in

worship.

Age Range of Congregation

under 20

20-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70-79

80+

The People of St. Lawrence’s

Congregation members are predominantly female though recently the number of male members has been increasing. Of the 291 people on the Electoral Roll, 64% live outside the parish and have various types of connections with St. Lawrence‟s and

choose to travel from other parts of the town. Some of the older church members have worshipped here since childhood, been married and had their own children baptised here.

At present there is one Lay Reader in training. There are also a number of people who lead worship and study groups, assist at Communion by administering the chalice, read the lesson and lead intercessions on a regular basis. A small number take turns to act as server, and rotas are followed for sharing responsibilities as welcomers/sidespersons and to prepare and serve drinks following the main service. Some lay people administer home

communion. There are also rotas for church cleaning, brass cleaning and bell ringing.

Church Committees At present the P.C.C. has 21 members. It meets roughly bi-monthly and tries to have a mix of business and „single item‟ meetings. The

Standing Committee consists of the Clergy, Church Wardens, P.C.C. Secretary and Treasurer and at present has two further, co-opted,

members from the Church Council.

A „Fellowship and Outreach Group‟ exists for the organising of social events. Anybody who is interested can attend, but all organisations

are encouraged to send a representative along. Its remit is to coordinate social events, to help us to grow together and to look outwards

into the community.

Working parties are set up as needed such as for planning a stewardship campaign. At present two major issues which are going to be

looked at are Communications and Working with Children and Young Families.

North Scunthorpe Group St. Lawrence‟s is a member of the North Scunthorpe Group of churches which formally

came into being on 1st January, 2001. Meetings take place once a quarter, but clergy

meet together more frequently. Currently there are two clergy of incumbent status in

the group, one of whom will be retiring in 2011 and will not be replaced, and two

curates in training who are based at St. Lawrence‟s. There are four parishes within the

group – Frodingham, Crosby (a neighbouring town centre parish with a large multi-

cultural population), Berkeley (situated on a housing estate) and Gunness and

Burringham (villages about 2 miles outside Scunthorpe). Exchanges between the

clergy take place for presiding and preaching and the Group Churches join together for

their main service on fifth Sundays of the month as well as for some evening services.

The group has organised study days and Group Weekends as well as joint study

groups (such as the Parish Foundation Course and Vulnerable Adults Training) and

social events such as the one held on Shrove Tuesday. A year ago saw the start of

„Group Live‟ a joint monthly magazine which has replaced the previous individual parish magazines and is indicative of the degree of

growing together which the Group has achieved over the last 9 years. It is hoped to identify more activities which can be done jointly in

order to make better use of the resources available. Recently the clergy at St. Lawrence‟s have gained pastoral and liturgical responsibility

for the neighbouring parish of All Saints.

Churches in North Scunthorpe (CINS) The Anglican, Methodist and Congregational Churches in the north part of the town have been meeting together for the past fifteen years.

Joint services take place on occasions such as Palm Sunday and Advent Sunday and joint study groups have been organised in Lent.

Links to the Community Christian witness is shown in various ways by church members working or doing

voluntary work in the parish or town. This includes working with The Gideons,

providing assistance for parental contact sessions at the Forge and helping with

various charity activities in town.

St. Lawrence‟s is also used as a venue for special events such as Memorial Services,

Carol Services and Concerts organised by other groups in the community and these

occasions are usually well attended.

Over the last year, with the opening of the St. Lawrence‟s Academy and the

involvement of the Diocese of Lincoln, links have developed with this 11-16

comprehensive, which has a large number of children from immigrant families and

asylum seekers. There is significant involvement in the Academy from St. Lawrence‟s

clergy and this post will include responsibility as a sponsor trustee. The church also

has good links with Frodingham Infants School and Bushfield Road Infants School

which are in the parish.

During 2009 St. Lawrence‟s, along with the Scunthorpe Methodist Circuit, started the Messy Church Project. This seeks to meet the

spiritual and practical needs of families in a deprived area of the parish. At present about 12/15 children attend fortnightly.

Pastoral Care Until recently a small team of church members who have completed the diocesan training course formed the Pastoral

Care and Bereavement Group and were responsible for co-ordinating visits to the sick and housebound and would visit

the bereaved when appropriate. However, illness and relocation has meant that the group is no longer able to continue

in the way it has done in the past. At present consideration is being given to how best we can continue to look after the

pastoral needs of our congregation in view of these recent changes.

Home communion is regularly taken to housebound parishioners and services held in some of the local care homes.

The Child Safeguarding and Vulnerable Adults Policy has been adopted and implemented as appropriate.

Floral Group This group was formed about 19 years ago to promote and encourage flower arranging in the church.

There are about 35 members now and the group continues to attract new ones. A wide range of topics

is covered with members practising together, having demonstrations and lots of social events. Meetings

take place on the fourth Monday evening in the month.

Mothers’ Union This meets on the first Wednesday afternoon of the

month to share a very sociable afternoon attended by

about 45 ladies who are proud to be part of one of

the biggest branches in the country. The meetings

have various speakers, dealing with topical subjects,

trips and meals out and the group is very supportive

of its members.

Everywoman With around 30 members this group tends to attract the middle age group

of ladies. It meets in the evening on the third Tuesday of the month.

Speakers, theatre trips, outings and faith meals are a feature of the

group.

Luncheon Club

This is run by a small dedicated group which works really hard once a month to

put on an excellent meal for mainly the elderly of the area. Transport is often

organised.

Youth Group The Youth Group has for the last 24 years met in the Church Hall and seeks to meet the social and spiritual needs of both churched and

unchurched young people in our area.

Numbers attending the group have ebbed and flowed over the years and currently only has about 8 members. Activities are varied,

ranging from hall meetings, where there is the opportunity to socialise, sing, dance, play table tennis and pool etc., to organised trips such

as laser questing, swimming, ice skating, bowling and going to the cinema.

The work with young people is carried out under an approved child protection scheme and leaders and helpers are police checked. This is

vitally important as so much of the work is based on getting to know them and building strong trusting relationships that will allow them to

grow spiritually and socially.

There is currently a review by the church of the work it is doing with young people and children and the Youth Group, its activities,

leadership and future work are included in this comprehensive assessment.

Girls’ Friendly Society

The Girls Friendly Society branch at Frodingham is over 100 years

old and is one of only two in the Diocese of Lincoln. There is a

regular meeting each week, though with modern family life it is

sometimes hard to encourage the girls to attend church services

on a regular basis. Funds are raised both for the branch and for

the Parish Charity.

Manlake and the Isle of Axholme Deaneries The Manlake Deanery consists of 21 urban and rural parishes in Scunthorpe and the surrounding area. These parishes are organised into

2 team ministries and 3 group ministries for mutual support and to enable more effective Christian presence in each of the communities in

our area. The area is served and supported by 9.5 FTE stipendiary clergy, 9 NSM and active retired clergy, 2 Readers (plus 4 in training)

and a number of lay ministry teams.

The Isle of Axholme Deanery consists of 11 rural parishes in 4 group ministries served by 3 Stipendiary clergy, 1 NSM, 2 Active retired

clergy, 3 Readers and a small number of lay people who have trained on the diocesan ministry training course.

In both deaneries there is an increasing amount of cooperation leading to more Deanery Celebrations, study, planning and mutual

support.

Ecumenical relationships are warm, friendly and largely informal in both deaneries with much potential for closer cooperation and

collaboration. However, there is no “Churches Together in North Lincolnshire” or similar umbrella organisation.

The North Lincolnshire Multi-faith Partnership brings together people from many different faith communities to enable dialogue. The local

authority often consults this body when undertaking new initiatives or seeking to improve current service provision. This body gives us

(and all faith communities) good regular access to council officers and members. The new Area Dean, concerned as he/she will be with a

strategic overview of the whole of North Lincolnshire, would want to make MFP meetings a priority.

For the past 5 years the two deaneries have drawn alongside each other to mutual benefit whilst retaining their separate identities.

Alternate clergy chapter meetings are joint meetings for clergy of both deaneries. It is anticipated that a similar pattern might emerge for

the deanery synods.

St. Lawrence, Frodingham is in some senses the “mother church” of Scunthorpe and has the potential to become a minster church that

reaches out and supports the work of the church right across the town and possibly the county. The new Area Dean will no doubt wish to

gently move this possibility forward.

Both deaneries face the challenge of finding new ways of engaging with children, teenagers, young adults and young families.

Despite a considerable amount of economic growth expected and planned for in the coming years, issues of sustainability, urban and

rural deprivation, access to health and social services, affordable housing, an aging population, reducing our carbon footprint, improving

the environment, etc., need to be debated by the churches so that we can make an informed contribution to the debates about our

county‟s future.

Yarborough Deanery

Yarborough Deanery consists of a mix of urban and rural parishes spread between the Humber (Barton and Barrow) in the north to Bishop

Norton in the south. The major centres of population are Barton upon Humber and Brigg. The 31 parishes of the deanery are currently

organised into 11 benefices, some of which are held in plurality. One of these benefices is undergoing pastoral re-organisation and will

cease to exist as a separate benefice later this year. The Yarborough Deanery plan for mission and ministry is currently under active

review. The area is served and supported by 9 FTE stipendiary clergy (including 3 curates), 1 House for Duty NSM priest, 2 Ordained

Local Ministers, and 9 active retired clergy, 6 Readers and a number of lay ministry teams.

Ecumenical relationships, especially with the Methodist Church, flourish. Two of the four Deanery synods held each year are shared with

the meetings of the Methodist circuit. Joint ecumenical celebrations (e.g. on Good Friday and Pentecost) have been held regularly, with

much potential for closer cooperation and collaboration. There is one LEP (Anglican, Methodist and Baptist) currently in the process of

being inaugurated in Kirton in Lindsey.

The greater part of the Deanery falls within the area covered by North Lincolnshire, and the comments made in relationship to North

Lincolnshire and the Multi-Faith Partnership (above) apply equally to Yarborough Deanery. Those parts of Yarborough Deanery which are

not in North Lincolnshire fall within the area of West Lindsey District Council, with whom the churches have a constructive relationship.

There is no “Churches together in West Lindsey” group.

Yarborough Deanery has specifically identified work with children and young people as its major mission priority for the last two years. A

number of very successful childrens‟ and youth events have been held around the deanery, and increased deanery monies have been

budgeted to build on this work in future.

Whilst Yarborough Deanery is generally a more rural deanery than neighbouring Manlake Deanery, the economic, social and

environmental factors which will influence the future development of the area are largely the same as those facing Manlake Deanery.

However, transport issues also continue to feature as a significant factor in the life of those who live in Yarborough Deanery. Humberside

Airport is situated within the deanery. Road networks are good by local standards; but the patchy availability of public transport remains a

challenge, especially for elderly rural residents of the deanery.

“At St. Lawrence’s we value faith, love, integrity, forgiveness and joy, we offer friendship and support for each other and a willingness to respond to good causes, and we believe we are being called to extend these strengths into the wider community.”

(This is the statement arrived at following the Lent Study Groups in 2005) Our current priorities are:-

To be a fully inclusive church where all feel welcome and valued.

To be a growing community, active in mission to the communities we serve.

To nurture both ourselves and those exploring the early stages of faith.

To provide fresh impetus to our ministry to young people.

To create an environmentally sustainable and yet versatile sacred space, building on the work which has already been done.

We take for granted that you will have a firm faith, nurtured by prayer, reflection and continued study and that you will support the spiritual

life of our parish by your own efforts and by working with the officers and lay people of the parish.

We hope that you will be able to inspire us and lead us in our attempts to discern and fulfil God‟s plan for our parish, our group and our

town.

We expect you to support the ordained ministry of women and the ministry of lay people within the congregation.

In the light of our situation and our perceived needs, we would be pleased to see the following key qualities and skills in our new

incumbent:-

Leadership and a commitment to develop the gifts and talents of church members.

A willingness to work closely with the other churches in the Group and with other denominations within the town.

Flexibility in styles of worship and a readiness to develop and respect different styles of worship.

The ability to help us develop a ministry for children and young people.

A willingness to engage in the local community.

A person who will encourage growth and learning in those who come to church.

Somebody who can bring a shared sense of purpose to a gathered congregation.

A good sense of humour!

With you we need to work together to:-

Deepen our faith and spiritual life.

Make our church accessible spiritually, physically, emotionally and socially.

Develop links with the wide variety of interests within our parish, especially those not currently represented in our congregations.

Develop our work with children and young people and with families, while being mindful of the more traditional parishioners.

We strongly hope that you would take regular time off for rest and recreation.