Parish profile
Cirencester is a thriving market town about 15 miles southeast of Gloucester. In Roman times, it was the second most important city in Britain after London. In the Middle Ages its status as one of the largest wool markets in England earned it the sobriquet 'Capital of the Cotswolds'.
Since the 1960s, development has included both domestic and industrial building projects. Modern roads, local and national bus/coach companies and a fast train service from Kemble station provide countrywide transport links.
The town boasts many facilities. There is a selection of schools providing education for all ages. The Royal Agricultural College, founded in 1845, is situated to the southwest of Cirencester; the headquarters of Cotswold District Council are in the Watermoor area; there is an excellent community hospital and the prize-winning Corinium Museum is in the centre of town.
A wide variety of retail outlets ranging from four supermarkets to the charter markets and farmers' market as well as an increasing number of eating establishments meet the needs of both residents and the many tourists who visit the town throughout the year.
Many sporting opportunities are provided by a leisure centre and also by a large number of clubs offering participation and coaching in both team and individual activities. There are also many societies and voluntary organisations.
The Parish of Cirencester has three churches, all of which have a sacramental focus, with each providing a varied and comprehensive pattern of worship.At the Parish Church of St John Baptist, as well as less formal acts of worship, major festivals are frequently celebrated with full ceremonial in High Church tradition.Holy Trinity Watermoor combines both formal and informal worship according to the appropriateness of the occasion.The small dedicated congregation at St Lawrence Church worship informally.
The parish is served by one PCC with representatives from each church.Currently, the clergy team consists of a vicar, an associate vicar, a non-stipendiary curate, a non-stipendiary associate priest, and four Readers.This is a training parish and the incumbent is required to have the skills necessary for training new clergy.In addition, funds have been raised and negotiations are in progress to appoint a youth minister in the near future.Each church has two churchwardens.
Whilst each congregation has the loyal support of laity undertaking a wide range of tasks and ministry, groups representing the whole parish share the planning and organising of the many parish activities.
Financial affairs are centralised in one budgeting and accounting system.Following the financially successful TRIO (The Responsibility Is Ours) campaign, there is a desire to consider all aspects of stewardship in the parish.The PCC has initiated a review of all parish properties to assist in its present and forward planning of issues involving buildings as well as pastoral care and outreach.
The Parish Church of St John Baptist, enlarged to become one of the largest parish churches in England, is the heart centre of the town.Each year, many thousands of people from all over the world come to visit.Its peal of 12 bells is the oldest in the country.
More than 500 people can be seated in the main body of the church.There are also four side chapels.The church is often filled to capacity for the major festivals and such occasions as Remembrance Sunday and civic services.The church is a popular venue for concerts and recitals.
During the week, morning and evening prayer are said and the Eucharist is celebrated on a daily basis.However, while major restoration works take place, these services are being held at Holy Trinity.
On Sundays, there is a said Eucharist, (BCP) at 8am.The sung Eucharist (Common Worship) at 10am attracts about 170 communicants.Choral Evensong (BCP) takes place at 6pm.
Dedicated teams lead the 'Friends of God Club' and 'Time Out', which provide activities for the children and the young members of the choir during the 10am service.An all-age Eucharist at which the young assist with readings, prayers and presentations is held monthly.For pre-school-age children and their mums, the 'Little Angels' service is held on Thursday afternoons.
There is a large team of well-trained servers.The parish church has an historic collection of silver and many magnificent sets of vestments.There is a strong tradition of choral music.The Director of Music trains a choir of adults and children.
The church is open every day between 10am and 5pm; a rota of stewards welcome visitors and staff the shop area.
Supported by financial assistance from past legacies and money raised by the Friends of the Parish Church, there has been a steady programme of work to maintain the fabric.Phase A of a major programme of works has just begun.The Victorian floor is being replaced with stone paving incorporating under-floor heating and the Father Willis organ is being removed, rebuilt and refurbished.The organ is due to be returned at the end of 2009.Phase B involves the conservation, preservation and renewal of the exterior of the South Porch, a unique Tudor building.The cleaning of the interior walls of the church and the installation of new sound and lighting systems will be Phase C.An appeal for £6 million is currently in progress.
Holy Trinity, Watermoor, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott and built in 1851, stands in its own well-maintained churchyard.Although there are no graves, there is a much-appreciated garden of remembrance.A core of around 200 regular worshippers produces an average of 140 communicants each week.
Every Sunday, there are two eucharistic celebrations, a said service at 8am and a choral service at 10am at which there is a well attended Sunday school.On the first Sunday of each month, an all-age Eucharist, aimed at younger people, currently attracts a congregation of around 150.
On some Sunday evenings, a variety of informal worship styles (including Celtic Praise and Taize services) are held.The midweek evening Eucharist often includes the sacrament of healing.
Teams of sidesmen are briefed to welcome visitors.alternating with the Parish Church, an accomplished group of bell-ringers ring the peal of eight bells on Sunday mornings.
A congregational committee, annually elected by the Holy Trinity worshippers, provides a useful forum for planning and discussion.
The fabric of Holy Trinity is in good repair.The Associate Vicar and his family live in the substantial Victorian parsonage adjacent to the church.
St Lawrence Church Centre was built in 1951 to cater for the needs of the many people living in Chesterton.
Holy Communion is celebrated on the first, third and fourth Sundays at 10.30am and on the first Wednesday morning of each month.Morning worship is held on the second Sunday.Special services such as Christingle; Nativity; Christmas and Mothering Sunday attract congregations of more than 100.There is a large primary school with a County Children's Centre with which St Lawrence has strong links.
St Lawrence is a modern church building with flexible internal space that is fully compliant with DDA requirements.The church hosts a weekly drop-in coffee morning. The building is used by a range of community groups.
Parish ministry and the qualities listed in the Bishop's Statement of Need indicate that there is an expectation that the incumbent will have a high profile within the wider community of the town.
The incumbent is the Church of England chaplain to the local hospital, working in conjunction with both ordained and lay colleagues of different denominations.A regular eucharistic ministry is provided to local nursing and residential homes.The clergy and Reader team are always available to administer the Eucharist to those who are housebound.
Many of Cirencester's educational establishments have direct connections with the churches.There are two Church of England primary schools (one voluntary aided and one voluntary controlled).The clergy team and members of the laity are invited to take weekly assemblies, host and participate in end-of-term services and attend other events.The PCC approves the appointments of the foundation governors.Two other County schools, an infant and a junior, visit Holy Trinity, another maintained school has links with St Lawrence.
It is planned that the two 11-16 foundation schools, Cirencester Kingshill and Cirencester Deer Park, will be part of the remit of the youth minister hopefully to be appointed in the foreseeable future.Both schools use the Parish Church for major services and concerts.
Sixth-form education is provided at Cirencester College, which also offers a wide range of adult education courses.The re-establishment of the chaplaincy is the aim of the parish as is the affiliation of both secondary schools to the diocese.
The management of the parish has many facets.The PCC meets monthly to consider both pastoral and strategic matters and parish business.On occasions, the first hour is devoted to a particular topic and this part of the meeting is open to anyone who would like to attend.The finance and personnel sub-committees meet quarterly or as required.
There is a weekly meeting for the clergy, Readers, churchwardens and parish administrator at which the practicalities of the programme of parish events for the following two weeks are considered and potential bookings for future diary dates are reviewed.
The parish office occupies part of the Parish Centre just off Gosditch Street.The PCC employs a parish administrator, a clerical assistant and a bookkeeper.In addition, a number of able volunteers deal with the considerable volume of clerical work.
The annual budget, excluding endowed and restricted funds, is around £250,000.On a quarterly basis, income and expenditure are monitored carefully against the annual budget by the finance sub-committee which reports to the PCC.The planned giving scheme (with almost 100% gift aid support) is used extensively.Pledged amounts have increased noticeably since our TRIO campaign last autumn.Ten per cent of this income is given to missions and charities.
In 2007, we achieved a surplus over expenditure after three successive deficits despite having contributed additional funds to the diocesan quota over and above the amount assessed under the new parish share arrangement.It is too early to know whether income from visitors will drop during the £6 million reordering of St John Baptist.The work has been given a flying start with £2 million from our own restricted and other designated funds.The appeal committee is optimistic about its task.
The Parish Centre, was purchased and refurbished in 1996, is situated about 100 metres from the Parish Church and is used regularly by both church and secular organisations.The centre hosts the highly successful monthly outreach lunches held in aid of various charities.Currently, the annual income does not cover the running costs; however, the PCC has accepted its value to the parish.
The Church Hall at Watermoor was built in 1972.The hall is used regularly for the Sunday school and a number of parish events.One of the few halls in the town with parking spaces, it is in demand by other organisations, has regular bookings throughout the week and is often used at weekends for parties.
The Corner Stone book and coffee shop was set up as a limited company in 1991 as part of the churches' ministry.There is also a shop in St John Baptist.The board of directors meets quarterly and all profits are covenanted to the parish.Situated in Dollar Street, adjacent to the vicarage, it supplies a wide range of Christian books, music, cards and gifts to local people, schools and visitors to Cirencester.It also supplies many churches of all denominations.
The Corner Stone provides a welcoming and peaceful setting where the manager and staff offer support and a listening ear to those seeking pastoral care.The manager and assistant manager are salaried, the counter staff volunteers.The shop in the Parish Church is staffed by the volunteer church stewards.
The vicarage, acquired and converted in 1990, is an 18th Century town house situated adjacent to parish facilities.It offers flexible accommodation over three floors.The ground floor has a dining room, kitchen, utility room, study, office, cloakroom and cellar.The first floor has extensive living space, as well as two bedrooms and a bathroom.There are a number of bedrooms, storage space and bathroom facilities on the second floor.There is an attractive garden providing parking space and a storage room.
The Baptism course is found from the 'baptisms' link under 'bookings'
