Associate Leader of Fountains Church Bradford and Priest in Charge of St Margaret's Frizinghall

Introduction

Our vision as the Diocese is about confident clergy equipping confident Christians to live and tell the good news of Jesus Christ.   For all of our appointments we are seeking clergy who have a joyful and confident faith which has inspired a track record of church growth. 

This is a joint role between the two churches as part of the Fountains Network, growing the links between the two churches in shared mission and ministry.  It is enabled by Strategic Development Funding from the Church Commissioners for church planting appropriate to Bradford.

Fountains Church Bradford

 Following widespread consultation, the Bishop’s Mission Order (BMO) for Fountains Church Bradford was created in May 2019.  

As a city centre church, in a central location, Fountains Church is expected to be a 7-day a week operation, with appropriate midweek ministries, including social enterprise as well as evangelistic and disciple-making activities.  As well as the main Sunday afternoon congregation, It has created three other worshipping communities that meet at Glydegate: Saturday Gathering, Wrestling Church and International Congregation.  As well as St Margaret’s Frizinghall, Fountains also has a network relationship with the outer estate parish of St Michael’s Shelf with St Aidan’s Buttershaw.   It is also currently offering support to St Saviour’s Fairweather Green. 

 St Margaret’s Frizinghall

 St Margaret’s is an inner city parish with a predominantly Asian Muslim population.  The church has key strengths in lay leadership and in ministry with children and young people.  It has also enjoyed a strong reputation locally for its community-facing ministry, especially with young families through PATCH (toddler group),  assemblies and visits for the local primary school, as well as with others through a Community Cafe and a women’s ‘Samosas and Scones’ group. The provision of a much-needed Food Hub has further strengthened these connections. The congregation mainly lives locally, if not always in the parish.  The church building with its integral church hall is in reasonable condition, but with some issues which the Finance and Fabric committee are looking to address.

 St Margaret’s has recently completed a 3 year period of Interim Ministry, which followed a period of over three years without ordained leadership which had left the very capable lay leadership feeling very stretched.  The Interim Ministry showed what is needed for St Margaret’s lay leadership (and the church) to flourish.  St Margaret’s could survive if it was strictly lay-led, with some oversight and limited input from an ordained clergy person. But it’s unlikely that it would thrive to the extent being seen now.  The ordained clergyperson added capacity for mission and ministry, but probably contributed most by the way he blessed, supported, encouraged and facilitated, thereby increasing St Margaret’s lay ministry and leadership capacity.  Hence, the Interim Ministry demonstrated that St Margaret’s needs appropriate facilitatory and encouraging ordained ministry to flourish.

 There is a question of a possible pastoral scheme for St Margaret’s.  The developing relationship with Fountains Church Bradford is a significant positive.  As this relationship develops and matures, a pastoral scheme can be considered.

For an informal conversation about this role please contact Archdeacon Andy Jolley on 07973 458403 

Closing date for applications is 14th March with interviews planed for 28th March.

Vacancy Brochure.pdf

PiC Frizinghall & Assoc Leader Fountains - Role Description February 2025.pdf

PiC & Associate Leader - Person Spec February 2025.pdf

Fountains Parish Profile.pdf

Frizinghall Parish Profile.pdf