Incumbent-designate of
Upper Holme Valley East
(parishes of Thurstonland, Hepworth & New Mill)
Note: This Benefice is being created by pastoral reorganisation of the Upper Holme Valley Team Ministry into two new benefices, each of which will have an incumbent. If the scheme to create these benefices has not moved to completion by the date of appointment, then initially the appointee will be licensed as Team Vicar, and subsequently inducted as Incumbent of the new Benefice of Upper Holme Valley East.
INTRODUCTION
Come and minister in ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ country, in the beautiful Holme Valley.
Our vision as the Diocese is about confident clergy equipping confident Christians to live and tell the good news of Jesus Christ. For all our appointments we are seeking clergy who have a joyful and confident faith which has inspired a track record of church growth.
The Upper Holme Valley as a whole area (made famous through the TV series ‘Last of the Summer Wine’, which was filmed here) consists of seven parishes, which have formed a Team Ministry for many years. Following the departure of the Team Rector and one of the Team Vicars, long-standing plans for the area to be served by two stipendiary clergy were put in place, and discussions among the parishes resulted in a decision that the team ministry ought to be split into two benefices, each with its own incumbent. This results in a vacancy for an incumbent for the Eastern benefice, comprising the parishes of Thurstonland, Hepworth and New Mill.
The parishes seek a new incumbent who will embrace living in a rural community, have a friendly, outgoing and enthusiastic personality, and an ability to engage with all ages (especially children and young families). The churches value clergy with a good preaching ministry, as well as a good sense of humour.
As the next vicar, you will bring passion and skill in community engagement and congregational growth, in developing and deepening discipleship, and in encouraging stewardship and outreach. You will work collaboratively with lay leaders in the parishes, and with schools and community organisations. You will be blessed with the support of congregations that have a willingness to grow and develop, with excellent deanery colleagues, and with diocesan resource teams who are ready and willing to help.
Informal conversation about the post can be arranged with the Archdeacon, Ven Bill Braviner. To arrange this, please email archdeacon.halifax@leeds.anglican.org
The Diocese of Leeds is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders are expected to share this commitment. All appointments to roles undertaking regulated activity are subject to pre-appointment checks, including references and a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check.
The closing date for applications for this post is 7th April 2026
Interviews will be held on 22nd April 2026
Applications via Pathways - link
If you require further information including copies of the accounts or would like a conversation about this post please do not hesitate to contact The Ven Bill Braviner, Archdeacon of Halifax by email initially on archdeacon.halifax@leeds.anglican.org . He will then arrange to have a telephone or Zoom conversation with you.
The Diocese of Leeds
The Anglican Diocese of Leeds comprises five episcopal areas, each coterminous with an archdeaconry. This is now one of the largest Dioceses in the country and its creation in 2014 is unprecedented in the history of the Church of England. It covers an area of around 2,425 square miles with a population of around 2,642,400 people. The Diocese comprises major cities (Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield) large industrial and post-industrial towns (Halifax, Huddersfield and Dewsbury), market towns (Todmorden, Harrogate, Skipton, Richmond, Ripon and Wetherby) and deeply rural areas especially in the Dales. The whole of life is here, along with all the richness, diversity and complexities of a changing world.
Five area bishops (of Bradford, Huddersfield, Kirkstall, Ripon, and Wakefield) and five archdeacons (of Bradford, Halifax, Leeds, Richmond & Craven, and Pontefract) assist the Diocesan Bishop.
This Benefice is in the Huddersfield Deanery of the Huddersfield Episcopal Area, in the Archdeaconry of Halifax. The Bishop of Huddersfield is The Rt. Revd Smitha Prasadam. The Archdeacon of Halifax is The Venerable Bill Braviner.
Our vision as a Diocese is about confident clergy and laity working together, equipping confident Christians to live and tell the Good News of Jesus Christ, to grow our churches and transform our communities.
For all our appointments we are seeking clergy who have a joyful and confident faith, and a passion and commitment to work with their lay and ordained colleagues to foster church growth, both numerical and spiritual.