Keighley is a post-industrial northern town where many people are working hard to imagine and identify a new future. High levels of deprivation characterise much of the town (the parish is in the top 5% most deprived nationally), as well as the social problems often associated with deprivation. There are many ways that the churches stand alongside the residents of Keighley and work hard for the common good, while offering the gospel and God’s love to the town. The church is also a welcome ‘player’ in both the town’s civic space and its interfaith relations.
The Parish of Keighley was formed in 2016 with the merger of four former parishes. Since then, much good new mission, ministry and other work has taken place. In 2019 Keighley became one of five Resourcing Parishes in the Episcopal Area, which brought Strategic Development Funding (SDF) to add resource to the parish and new investment in some areas of ministry. In 2021, with the new parish five years old, a formal review was undertaken of the parish. Good progress has been made with implementing the review’s recommendations, including the merger of Ingrow with the Parish of Keighley and the closure of All Saints Church.
The parish has a population of over 44,000 and now includes four parish churches: the town centre church of St Andrew’s, St Mark’s Utley, St Barnabas Thwaites Brow and St John’s Ingrow (with the associated building of St Michael’s Brackenbank.
For an informal chat about this role please contact Archdeacon Andy Jolley on 07973 458403.
Application is via Pathways. closing date is 5th January 2025 with interviews on 31st January 2025.