Full-time incumbent St Thomas', Norbury

Introduction

Full-Time Incumbent of St Thomas’s Norbury

The Parish of St Thomas, Norbury (known as Norbury Church) is situated in Hazel Grove on the southern edge of Greater Manchester close to the Peak District. Transport links are excellent with local motorway, rail and bus services providing easy access to Manchester and the wider area. The Parish has a population of approximately 19,000 whose circumstances vary from significant affluence to pockets of deprivation. The Parish includes six primary schools and one secondary school. 

Norbury Church is a registered Inclusive Church that is rooted in the Scriptures and drawn together by a vision of the love of God. Partnering with the Holy Spirit, we seek to offer a beacon of hope, a community of wholeness and a place of peace in a fractured world. 

What the parish offers:

●    A friendly, welcoming and inclusive Christian community, which believes that Jesus came to share God’s love for all people

●    Well-attended activities where dedicated volunteers welcome the community into our church, including a weekly Welcome Cafe, weekly toddler groups, and an annual holiday club

●    A variety of services and worship styles on Sunday mornings including BCP, Common Worship and contemporary worship

●    Several long-running discipleship activities including: regular retreats, a fortnightly group for 18-25 year olds, and fortnightly home groups. 

●    A 4-bedroom detached vicarage with gardens within easy walking distance from the church, very close to schools and public transport links

Norbury Church is praying for a vicar who will:

●    Lead with clarity to bring stability and rebuild confidence, enabling us to reach out effectively into our community 

●    Be an encourager and a listener, someone who can relate well with people of all ages and backgrounds

●    A skilled communicator and gifted teacher of the scriptures

●    Support volunteers keen to develop our engagement with young people, building on our well-developed children's ministry

●    Work collaboratively with a large team of volunteers (including a  part-time Curate, three Readers and a dedicated PCC) and three employees (Children’s Worker, Verger & Sexton, Musical Worship Leader)

●    Uphold our equality commitment to be a church where all people feel welcome, safe, valued and free to worship without fear, or fear of discrimination.

Accommodation is offered in the vicarage: 75 Chester Road, Hazel Grove, SK7 5PE). 

There are good local amenities, and excellent schools and transport links. 

Closing date:        Sunday     11th May 2025

Interviews:            Friday           30th May 2025

The Diocese of Chester will not shortlist any candidate for posts if they cannot provide an assurance of a valid DBS and up to date safeguarding training.

If you would like to have an informal conversation, please contact:

Bishop of Stockport:

Rt Rev’d Sam Corley  

E:  bpstockport@chester.anglican.org

M: 07878 371 897

Applications should by preference be made to the USING THE DIOCESAN APPLICATION FORM available on the website:

Full time Incumbent Norbury Church

About us:

The Diocese of Chester is in the province of York in the Church of England, part of the global Anglican Communion. For more information about our life, ministry and work please visit our website www.chester.anglican.org  We are linked with the Anglican Church of Melanesia in the Solomon Islands and the Dioceses of Aru and Boga in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Diocese covers an area of 1025 square miles, approximately the old Victorian County of Chester, including parts which subsequently became absorbed into Merseyside and Greater Manchester. The Rivers Mersey and Tame approximately delineate the boundary with Liverpool and Manchester. There are areas of dense urban population, mainly in the north, stretching from Birkenhead to East Manchester. There are prosperous suburban regions of West and South Wirral, Chester and south of Manchester, with a mainly rural heartland, bounded by the Derbyshire Pennines and the Welsh Border. The overall population is around 1.6 million.

The Diocesan Bishop is Mark Tanner, Bishop of Birkenhead Julie Conalty and the Bishop of Stockport is Samuel Corley.

The Cathedral for the Diocese is in Chester.

The Diocese is divided into two archdeaconries: Chester covering the western half and Macclesfield the eastern, each with nine deaneries. There are 273 parishes, about 100 of which can be described as rural. Compared with many dioceses, there are few teams, and few multi-parish benefices. There are approximately 231 stipendiary clergy. The ministry of Readers and Pastoral Workers is important, with over 400 licensed. The role of self-supporting ministers is increasing, with over 80 in post at present.

Roughly speaking, the Archdeaconry of Macclesfield covers that part of the diocese to the east of the M6, plus the area around Crewe and Nantwich. The Archdeaconry of Chester covers the rest of the diocese to the west of the M6. Each archdeaconry has a broad mix of urban and rural parishes. The Archdeacon of Chester lives in Chester, and the Archdeacon of Macclesfield lives in Congleton. Both now work from Church House, Daresbury.