St John’s Clayton is a single church parish within a clearly defined large urban village in West Bradford. It has a growing population through new housing developments. St John’s has strong lay leadership and associated structures. It was designated a Resourcing Church in 2019 and is receiving Strategic Development Funding from 2019-2027 to support revitalisation work in west Bradford
St John’s church is well-maintained, with excellent and well-used community rooms, and a recently reordered chancel area, which gives more flexibility for leading worship. There is a very good relationship with the Clayton St John’s C of E Primary School and a growing relationship with Clayton Village School. The congregation is recovering well from the impacts of the pandemic, now growing with new people as well as returners, not least families and children (especially at Messy Church). A new worshipping community has also been established at The Avenue Nursing Home.
A key challenge for the incoming vicar will be to continue building up the “home” congregations, especially with children, young people and families, and to re-engage St John’s more fully with its role and agreed goals as a Resourcing Church. From the perspective of the Episcopal area we therefore see four particular priorities for the new vicar:
- To sustain and develop a ‘mixed ecology’ of effective forms of mission, ministry and styles of worship to grow a wider diversity of ages in the church, and especially with families, young people and children. This must include reaching out to those moving into the new housing developments in the area.
- To continue building up confident lay ministry, both in depth and numbers. This will include developing pathways for evangelism and discipleship, encouraging new people into leadership and inhabiting a role as a strategic leader of leaders in a way which enables others to flourish. Hence, the incoming vicar will need excellent teaching, pastoral, communication, team building and team leadership skills.
- To lead and enable St John’s in its role as a Resourcing Church, working with the Area Bishop and Archdeacon to realise agreed goals around church revitalisation and planting.
- To creatively develop and strengthen active and visible relationships in the parish, both personally as an individual and also through the congregation. (S)he should be able to engage strategically with the life of the community, fostering excellent relationships (for example) with the local schools, uniformed organisations, other churches and community organisations. I expect her/him to contribute with others to a shared vision for Clayton in particular, and West Bradford more widely.
For an informal chat about this role please contact Ven Dr Andy Jolley, Archdeacon of Bradford on 07973 458403
Application is via Pathways. Closing date midnight on 23rd June with interviews planned for Wed 10th July 2024
Clayton Parish Brochure Clayton Role Description Clayton Person Spec Bishop's Statement