The Parish of Bramshott and Liphook - The Diocese of Portsmouth

The Parish of Bramshott and
Liphook
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Profile 2010

Welcome
From the Churchwardens...
Welcome to the parish of Bramshott and Liphook. As you read through our Parish and Person
Profiles we very much hope you will find the contents appealing and inspiring, and will learn
something of who we are and the work that we are doing in the Lord’s name.
We are fortunate in living in such a beautiful part of Hampshire, and we are grateful for all God
gives us in our daily lives. But we recognise the need to face up to our weaknesses and build on
our strengths as a parish. We are looking for a priest who has a passion and commitment to
mission, who will lead us and help us to meet the challenges and reap the joys of God’s abiding
love and plans for us.
Is this for you Is the Holy Spirit calling you to help us fulfil our Mission Statement – to be:
Christ centred
Bible based
Spirit filled
Ministering the Father’s love in a broken world
Nick Sear and Kay Murray
Churchwardens
“Waiting upon the Lord”
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Sections
Diocese and Deanery
Parish Profile
Person Profile
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Diocese and Deanery
The parish of Bramshott and Liphook is in the Deanery of Petersfield and part of the Diocese of
Portsmouth. The strongly urban heart of the Diocese could lead to a disconnection with the
rural parishes but, as one of the smaller Dioceses, the clergy benefits from a more personal
relationship with the Bishop and Archdeacon, and a greater sense of belonging.
The Deanery of Petersfield has a rural character and includes 15 parishes, ranging from the
larger 'commuter' settlements on the eastern side of the Deanery to the more scattered
parishes of the hills and valleys of the Meon Valley. The Chapter meets regularly for shared
Holy Communion and Chapter meetings. Since 1997 the Chapter has gone on retreat to a
convent in Brittany every two years. There is a strong commitment to personal support and
encouragement among the stipendiary and active non-stipendiary members of Chapter.
Currently there are 9 full-time stipendiary clergy in the Deanery, but current plans envisage a
possible reduction to 6.5 over the next few years. As the Diocese looks to leaner times in terms
of stipendiary ministry it has launched a Ministry for Mission Strategy and has encouraged the
deaneries to be a part of the process of establishing new patterns of ministry in the years
ahead. The development of a new Deanery Plan in the light of these changes is still in process
but we have recognised a need for the parishes to collaborate more closely in their ministry
and mission in the communities we serve. This will most likely result in clergy and laity being
licensed to more than one parish, possibly through the establishment of a Deanery wide Group
Ministry, and it will necessitate all ministers exploring creatively how we can better share our
gifts and resources
The Patron of the Parish of Bramshott and Liphook is Queen’s College, Oxford. The parish is
recognised as not only one of the largest but also one of the most dynamic in the Deanery and
it is anticipated that the Priest appointed to this post will have much to contribute to this
shared ministry. The living has been suspended as a result of the requirements of the Diocesan
Strategy and the development of a new Deanery Plan.
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Parish Profile
Contents
The Parish and Community
The Church Buildings
Ministry and Worship
Finances
Conclusion
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The Parish
Location
Liphook is a large village situated in the extreme east of Hampshire adjoining both Surrey and
West Sussex and is just outside the boundary of
the newly formed South Downs National Park.
The parish of Bramshott and Liphook includes
Liphook itself and the hamlets of Bramshott,
Conford, Griggs Green, Hammer Vale and
Passfield. Bramshott, established in Norman
times, was originally the main settlement
surrounding the Parish Church of St. Mary's. It
has long been outgrown by nearby Liphook which
due to the coaching trade and the advent of the
railway became the parish centre.
The borderland of these three counties is renowned for its beautiful scenery of rich and varied
“renowned for
its beautiful
scenery and
varied
woodland”
woodland and colourful heaths rising to nearly 700 feet
above sea level at Bramshott. The River Wey flows
through the parish. Extensive areas in and around the
parish are in the ownership of the National Trust.
Liphook is just off the A3 London to Portsmouth trunk
road. London is 46 miles away. Liphook Station is on the
South West Trains line from London, Waterloo to
Portsmouth with a regular service, the journey time
between London and Liphook being approximately one hour. Bus routes link Liphook with
Haslemere, Alton and other surrounding towns. There is a local link circular bus service.
National Express coaches call at Liphook.
The Community
Liphook is essentially a commuter village with a population of about 8,500. The main local
employers are Allianz and the service industry. It has the appearance of being an affluent
community and there is a wide spectrum of wealth but also small pockets of real deprivation
and hardship. Housing ranges from large private
houses to social housing. There are five areas of
retirement houses and flats and four residential homes
in the parish.
“small pockets of
real deprivation
and hardship”
Liphook has a strong sense of community which
manifests itself in various events throughout the year. In June the local business association
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LIDBA organises a charity bike ride. Up to 1,200 riders take part and the money raised goes to
local charities, clubs and projects. In July there is a
Summer Fun Day on the Village Green. Most clubs,
societies and churches are involved. Liphook in Bloom
volunteers plant up the village throughout the year.
They have an excellent record of winning prizes in a
national competition and won a Silver Gilt award in
Britain in Bloom in 2009. On the last Saturday in October
the Carnival and Bonfire takes place. It is one of the
biggest and oldest in the South of England. Liphook has its own Community Magazine
published quarterly, free of charge and distributed throughout the parish. It covers information
and news from all the clubs, societies and churches within the village. Age Concern organises
Meals on Wheels, weekly Lunch Club and a support laundry. There is a Day Centre for the
elderly at the Peak Centre. Assistance is also available from Voluntary Care.
Education
There are three state schools. They are Liphook Infant School, Liphook C of E (Voluntary
Controlled) Junior School (St. Mary's provides two Foundation Governors, one of whom is
usually the incumbent) and Bohunt Community College. Bohunt caters for over 1,200 pupils
aged 11 to 16 years. The school is very successful. Ofsted awarded it four and a half stars. 63%
of pupils achieve 5 or more grade C or above GCSE's. Bright pupils can also take exams early
and achieve GCSE and AS levels before 16 years of age. It has designated Language College
specialist status and has many extra-curricular activities. The community uses the facilities out
of school hours.
Liphook also has two independent co-educational preparatory schools. Highfield and Brookham
School is a co-educational school for children from nursery age through to preparatory school,
offering boarding and day places for children aged from 3-13 years and Churcher's College
Junior School is for 4 to 11 year olds. There are also many other private schools nearby.
Leisure
Sports available include bowls, cricket, football,
and tennis including youth sections. There are two
18 hole golf courses. Scouts and Guides each have
their own purpose built facilities adjoining the
Millennium Centre. There is a Youth Club held at
the Centre. There are many clubs and societies
including two Women's Institutes, a Preservation
Society, an Art Society, a Horticultural Society and
a University of the Third Age.
Other Churches
Catholic Church, Methodist Church, Tower Road Gospel Church, Trinity Church held at Bohunt
School
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The Church Buildings
St Mary the Virgin, Bramshott
The traditional cruciform shaped church dates from 1220, having originally been built by the
neighbouring Manor. The Transepts were added in the 14th
century and the present Nave was rebuilt in 1871. The
wooden Spire dates from the 15th century.
The church is situated in the centre of the original Parish of
Bramshott, one mile from the relatively new village of
Liphook, and set in one of the largest churchyards in
Southern England. St Mary’s has a strong link with Canada, a
number of items now present in the church having been
given in memory of her soldiers who died here in the flu
epidemic of 1918/19 and who now lie in the War Graves
section of the churchyard. A service
of remembrance is held annually in
June. The church has 6 bells, rung
regularly at most services. These
were re-hung in 1989.
Recent additions/renovations include the restoration of the old bier and
Bier store, glassing in of the South Transept, a new electronic organ,
new central heating boiler and Bell Tower access. The church is kept
open during daylight hours all
year round
There is always work waiting in
the wings and our current
mission is to raise £100,000 for
the replacement of the whole
roof and chimney. We also
plan to upgrade the toilet
facilities.
St Mary’s is cared for by a band
of willing volunteers. We have
regular churchyard working
parties to help with the upkeep
of the churchyard.
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The Church Centre, Liphook
Built in the 1960’s, this is a
relatively modern church and
community building serving
many purposes. It is used for
Sunday Worship and other
associated church activities,
e.g. youth groups, mother and
toddler groups, Alpha courses
and music group. The building
can be divided into three separate areas to accommodate such activities. The building is also
used during the week by many local groups and organisations. It has a large modern fully fitted
Kitchen, and is used for social functions. The foyer has also been refurbished.
The Rectory, Liphook
In the 1980’s a separate building (the Ark) was
erected, which contains the Church Office and a
room used for Sunday children’s activities. In 2006
the Church Centre was linked to the Ark and
Church Office by a corridor and small chapel. The
Chapel is used for services and quiet prayer.
The whole is fronted by a large car park and to the
side by a grassed play area.
The Rectory was built 10 years ago on what was part of the Church Centre grounds. It has been
sympathetically and
purpose built to
encompass some of
the features of the old
rectory, stands in its
own secluded
grounds, and has
views over both fields
and the Church
Centre. It is situated
off the Portsmouth
Road on the western
edge of the village of
Liphook.
It comprises four bedrooms and box room, bathroom, shower room, two separate toilets, large
entrance hall, two reception rooms, kitchen and laundry room, and has a separate study and
downstairs cloakroom. There is a double garage with hard standing. The entrance is off the
Church Centre car park.
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Ministry and Worship
Leadership structure
Over the past decade, our stipendiary ministers have worked hard to encourage and develop
lay leadership. Besides the clergy, the preaching team includes one non-stipendiary minister,
three Lay Ministers and three other experienced lay preachers. Members of this team have a
wide diversity of backgrounds, enabling the preaching to be stimulating and balanced.
The church has looked to the stipendiary clergy for much of its vision and direction. Within that
vision, lay leadership across all areas is provided by the
PCC, which is largely concerned with matters of policy, by
paid staff members, and by churchwardens and other team
leaders. Lay team leaders oversee aspects of pastoral work,
work with families, children and young people, education
and training, finance, buildings and administration. So we
are blessed with many lay leaders and helpers. However, it
is also true that a minority of church members do most of
the work. We would very much like this to change, so that the workload is shared by more
people and we have some spare capacity. We feel that we are in need of refreshment, renewal
and encouragement to reach out more effectively to our community.
Most church members attend one of the three morning services. There is not much crossover
between the three congregations, but each one is noticeably good at loving and caring for its
members. However, we would like to see a stronger connection between the congregations.
We also need to improve communication between team leaders, church staff and the
congregations.
Work with children, young people and families
“we are blessed
with many lay
leaders and
helpers”
Children’s work is one of the top priorities for
the church. In addition to the Sunday morning
children’s groups, we run weekly Urban Saints
meetings for three age groups (5–7, 7–11 and
11–14). There is also a youth group which is
run by a paid part-time church youth worker.
These midweek meetings involve about 60
children and young people, many of whom
have no other contact with a church.
However, we are now facing an acute
shortage of leaders and helpers; we are looking urgently for a solution to this problem.
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We have two other paid part-time posts: a children’s worker and a family worker. The
children’s worker coordinates the Sunday morning children’s groups at the Church Centre.
Although most church families with
children worship at the Church Centre, a
growing number who prefer a traditional
service are attending St Mary’s. Five years
ago we introduced Junior Church to give
children at St Mary’s suitable help to grow
in their faith. Once a month, this group is
swelled by a large number of children who
are attending a Baptism service. We see this as an outreach opportunity to introduce nonchurchgoers
to a good Sunday school experience. Junior Church is now in urgent need of new
leaders to allow it to continue and flourish.
The family worker has a range of projects that keep her in touch with local families. These
include running a toddler group, Little Lambs, which is hugely popular and is our biggest weekly
contact with the community. She also runs the youngest Urban Saints group and contacts
families of children who are baptised.
The paid posts are a small part of the story; we are in need of more who are willing and able to
lead. For instance, for the past fifteen years we have run a summer holiday Bible club (Liphook
Lightshow). Normally this attracts around 100 local children, many of whom then become
involved in Urban Saints. This year, partly because of a shortage of leaders, we are having a
sabbatical in order to consider whether we should continue with Lightshow or look for
something new. So once again we are in need of fresh energy and vision.
Ministry
Worship and Service Patterns
We are fortunate in having two churches, one ancient and one modern, so we are able to offer
a good variety of worship styles. The average total attendance for both churches on Sundays is
roughly 120 adults and 25 children.
St. Mary’s
At St. Mary’s the worship style is
traditional, involving organ and hymns.
Sunday services start at 8 a.m. with
Holy Communion (Book of Common
Prayer). The next service, at 10.30 a.m.,
cycles between Morning Worship and
Baptism, Sung Matins and Sung Holy
Communion. At 6 p.m. there is Evening
Prayer or, once a month, Sung Holy
Communion.
Services such as Remembrance Sunday,
Canada Wednesday, Harvest Festival
“60 children and young
people, many of whom
have no other contact
with a church”
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and Mothering Sunday are held at St. Mary’s, as are our Easter and Christmas Eve services,
which draw large congregations from the local community.
Church Centre
The worship style here is less formal. There
is a thriving music group that includes a
number of young people. We use a screen
and projector, which enables us to introduce
new songs easily. The main Sunday service is
at 9.45 a.m. and cycles between Morning
Worship, Holy Communion and a family
friendly service. Most of our families with
young children attend the Church Centre,
where there are several children’s groups
and a Crèche. There is a visible gap in the 20–40 age range in the village generally, which is
reflected in both churches. Nevertheless, we would like to do more to reach young families.
Church Centre Chapel
The chapel is left open all day for private prayer and reflection. It is also used for a midweek
Holy Communion service, for prayer meetings and prayer ministry.
Pastoral and Outreach
We have much to offer both in love and
support and, when combined, our
different approaches to our faith and
spirituality give us a powerful witness and
outreach in the village and beyond. As part
of this, we provide many activities for all
age groups. We aim to bring people
together, to help them grow in faith and in
their knowledge of the Bible, to provide
support and fellowship in Christ for all
members of the church family, and to
enrich parish life in general.
We are very fortunate to have some
dedicated and committed leaders for the
many aspects of our pastoral and outreach
work. Here there is strong teamwork, but
we need to improve communication
between leaders of each team so that we
can work more cohesively; we also need
more volunteers.
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Home – Bible Study/Discussion Groups
At present we have seven home groups, which meet weekly. They provide teaching and
informal pastoral care for around 30% of our congregations. We would like to increase
participation, as home groups are an important source of fellowship and prayer support for
their members.
Bereavement Support
Tea and Company is one of the main areas of our support for bereaved people. Once a month,
members of our bereavement support group welcome bereaved and elderly members of the
parish to meet over a cup of tea. We organise occasional outings, and there is an annual
Thanksgiving and Remembrance Service which is always very well attended.
Lunch Break
Each month, 35–40 people get together for an informal lunch, prepared by volunteers, after
which we have a guest speaker. This is a wonderful opportunity for people in the parish to mix
and share in fellowship. Some of those attending bring friends, encouraging people from
outside the parish to join in.
Live Nativity
In December 2009 we put on our very first
‘Live Nativity’ event. This event gave us the
opportunity to share the Good News of the
free gift of Jesus with our community. We
were delighted to welcome over 170 visitors
on the day, coming to see the animals and
meet the nativity characters, to enjoy a drink
and a mince pie, and to listen to live music.
Live Nativity 2010 is already in the diary.
Alpha Courses
We have run many Alpha courses for our congregations and the wider community. These have
helped a number of people to become regular worshippers, especially when courses led to the
formation of new home groups.
Diaso Link
The church family has a long-standing link with the parish of
Diaso, which is in Cape Coast, Ghana. We have had a number of
exchange visits, and we support the parish by providing finance
for capital projects.
Prayer
Prayer Chain and Hospital Prayer Watch
Our Prayer Chain has being running for around 20 years. Eight
committed members currently provide confidential prayer
support for those who request it. For Hospital Prayer Watch, a
dedicated team offer half-hourly prayer for people in the
church family who are having surgery in hospital on a particular day.
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Prayer Ministry
We have a Prayer Ministry
team that has existed for
some years and has attended
the main services at both
churches. Recently, prayer
ministry has been carried out
informally; at the Church
Centre, church members
often pray together
spontaneously or with the
service leaders. Prayer
Ministry leaders are also
available for more confidential requests in the quiet of the Chapel.
Annual Parish Quiet Day
We normally have a Parish Quiet Day once a year. Last time it involved about 20 people, who
much appreciated the fellowship and valued the
opportunity for making this quiet space for God.
“church members
often pray together
spontaneously”
Development
Over several years, tutors from the Acorn
Christian Foundation have organised Christian
Listening courses for members of our parish.
Around a dozen church members are now accredited Christian Listeners; many more have
taken some of the courses. They have enabled us to grow in compassion. It is noticeable that
we are a parish whose members make time for each other and who look out for those who
have particular needs.
Some of our church members have taken various courses within the parish and the diocese to
develop their awareness of different kinds of prayer. This training has been helpful to the
church and has deepened the prayer life of those who have been involved.
Training
The parish has been a training parish for many years and it is anticipated that this will continue.
Any prospective applicant needs to be aware of this. The Revd Alison Bennett, who was
ordained priest in July 2009, is our stipendiary curate at the moment. The curate’s house,
which is owned by the diocese, is a three bedroom detached house in Liphook, well placed for
both churches.
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Finances
The financial situation of the parish is very satisfactory. Our balance
sheet at the end of 2009 showed a balance of £206,000. Of this,
£100,000 is the book value of the Church Centre, Ark and Link
buildings which are not realisable assets as they are built on land
which was endowed to the church specifically for church use. The
church operates a number of restricted and endowment funds which
account for £35,000 of the balance.
The Hon. Treasurer is tasked to produce each November a detailed
budget for the following year plus a rolling 5 year generalised budget.
For 2010 the PCC have approved a budget which is in line with
previous year's budgets. A regular report is presented to the PCC on
the actual income and expenditure against budget.
The church operates a number of bank accounts at CAF, Lloyds Bank
and CCLA for our medium and long term cash deposits.
The parish has always been in a position to pay its Fair Shares (Quota)
from general giving. In 2010 the Quota is £63,839. We expect the
Quota to continue to rise by 6-7% per year for the next five years and
have built our budget accordingly.
At present we have 121 people using the Gift Aid planned giving
scheme. In 2010 we expect over £80,000 income via this scheme
which together with the tax rebate provides about two thirds of our
budgeted income. We would expect to have a new stewardship
campaign in 2011 as the last was at the beginning of 2007. With
increased costs showing in the five year budget it will be necessary to
raise more from general giving to maintain our present ministry and
mission. The parishioners have in addition been generous with their
giving for specific projects and through this we have in the past three
years been able to install a new organ and also replace the central
heating boiler without use of the general fund.
Our Church Centre is let on most days of the week and generated
£9,500 in 2009. In total the income for 2009 was £161,000, with
expenditure of £155,000 which included the Quota, staff costs, utilities, and mission giving.
The Church employs a number of people, all on a part time basis, accounting for an
expenditure of £45,000 per year which is all paid from the giving from the parishioners.
The approved Report and Financial Statement for 2009 is available upon request.
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Conclusion
We very much hope that we have been successful in telling you about our parish, its
community, our church buildings, and the very active and widespread ministry and worship
which we are so fortunate to enjoy.
More can be found on our website at www.liphookchurch.co.uk
We know that all the elements are in place for the parish to move forward with confidence into
what will undoubtedly be a very challenging future and we hope therefore that we have been
able to fill you with enthusiasm to share that future with us.
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Person Profile
We pray that our new incumbent will ...
Be a committed Christian of strong personal faith
Have a strong personal prayer life
Show love and respect for the Word of God, and be open to the Holy Spirit’s working
Be a dynamic, effective and servant-hearted leader
Be approachable, warm-hearted, compassionate, and have a sense of humour
Be an inspiring and prayerful Bible-based teacher
Be prepared to equip, motivate and actively encourage the ministry of those who have
gifts in preaching, teaching, pastoral, evangelistic and worship roles in the church
Recognise, value and be willing to further God’s work in renewal and mission within the
community
Support and extend the existing youth and children’s work
Nurture all members of the church, and value and develop the traditions and styles of
both congregations
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