Vicar of the United Benefice of St James and St Michael, Beckenham

Overview

An Anglo-catholic church with a strong emphasis on the sacraments and under the episcopal oversight of the Bishop of Richborough

Introduction

The United Benefice of St James and St Michael w All Angels was formed in 2015 and serves a resident population of over 17,500 people.  Worship is characterised by its beauty and reverence, incorporating incense, candles, bells and other liturgical elements.

Main Responsibilities

To lead the two church congregations in faith and worship, helping them grow and better serve the local community.  The congregations are diverse and represent a wide range of ages and backgrounds.  

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a strong, passionate and devoted Society Priest who will:

* Lead and inspire the congregation through his personal dedication to Christ's teachings;

* Promote sacramental worship in the catholic tradition and preach and teach the Gospel in a way that is engaging and accessible;

* Work collaboratively with other clergy and lay leaders in the Deanery;

* Be committed to serving and engaging with the local community;

* Be ready to bring new suggestions and take on new ideas to grow our congregations and better serve the community.

About us

Beckenham is a vibrant and diverse town around 10 miles from Central London.  St James' Church was consecrated in 1879 and today has a friendly and welcoming congregation.  Its halls are used extensively by uniformed groups and the local pre-school.  St Michael's & All Angels was founded in 1908.  The church was completely rebuilt in 1956 following WWII bomb damage, and underwent refurbishment in 2018 to transform it into a bright and adaptable space which is also used by local community groups.

The current pattern of Sunday worship is to alternate Masses, Feast Days and Festivals between the two church buildings.  It is hoped that weekday Masses might be reintroduced in the benefice in the future.

The new parish priest will be supported by an experienced part-time Parish Administrator.

The Vicarage is a 4-bed detached property next door to St Michael's Church.

Full details about the benefice can be found in the accompanying Parish Profile.

If you would like an informal conversation with Archdeacon Allie Kerr about this vacancy, please contact her EA, Fiona Porter, in the first instance on fiona.porter@rochester.anglican.org.  

For a conversation with Fr Philip Corbett of SMF please email philippetercorbett@googlemail.com

Interviews will be held in late February (possibly Wednesday 21st)