anglican parish of grovely parish profile · anglican parish of grovely profile 2020 page 4...

Anglican Parish of Grovely Profile 2020

Anglican Parish of Grovely

Parish Profile

All Saints, Arana Hills

St Matthew’s, Mitchelton


Contents

General Overview 3

Liturgical Expression and Style 4

Worship and Service Times 4

Nursing Homes /Retirement Villages 5

Statistical Trends 6

Parish Ministries 7

Fellowship and Social Activities 8

Organisational Structure 9

Finance, Buildings and Resources 10

Appendix 1 – Parish Survey 11

Contact information 15


General Parish Overview

The Anglican Parish of Grovely incorporates the people and churches of St Matthew’s in Mitchelton, and

All Saints’ in Arana Hills, both situated in North-West Brisbane.

St Matthew’s is 152 years old and includes a Church (which seats around 75-80 people), a graveyard, a

Memorial Garden and a Parish Hall. Its setting and architecture make it a popular venue for weddings and

baptisms. The Rectory is located behind the Parish Hall at 39 Church Road. The Church, Hall, Graveyard

and Rectory are all a part of the St Matthew’s Trust. The Trustees work closely with the Parish Rector and

Wardens to ensure the site is maintained.

All Saints’ at Arana Hills was constructed in 1991 and can accommodate a congregation of around 200. The

layout of the church building makes it possible to change seating, configuration and arrangements to suit

various styles of worship services, differing occasions and other functions. The Children’s Chapel is used

for child-minding and children’s activities during worship. The Undercroft has the capacity to cater for

small functions, study groups and meetings and also houses the Parish Office. There is sufficient land for

future development.

The Parish of Grovely area has a population of approximately 44,000 people. Its boundaries include the

suburbs of Mitchelton, Keperra, Arana Hills, Ferny Hills, Ferny Grove and Upper Kedron. Approximately

20% of the population in this area have identified themselves as Anglican/Church of England, while a large

proportion identified as “non-church going”.

There are a number of schools in the area including State Primary and High Schools in Mitchelton, Grovely,

Ferny Hills, Ferny Grove and Hillbrook Anglican School (Enoggera).

Aged Care Facilities within the Parish boundaries include Bellevue, Madonna Villa, Moonah Park, Regis and

Keperra Sanctuary.

Parish Website and Facebook page

➢ Updated regularly by parishioners

➢ www.grovelyanglican.org.au

➢ www.facebook.com/grovelyparish

http://www.grovelyanglican.org.au/

http://www.facebook.com/grovelyparish


Liturgical Expression and Style

Worship and prayer are central to our Parish Life. The Parish has an Anglo-Catholic tradition of worship,

including music and good liturgy. All of our worship tries to express and draw on a diversity of personal

worship practices. With a high standard of preaching based on sound theology and the lectionary

readings. Retired Clergy living in the parish and visiting preachers have all contributed to our liturgical life.

Worship and Service Times

The Two Parish Centres make it possible for us to cater to differing styles of worship, age groups and times.

Services

The Eucharist is celebrated regularly at both Centres using the 2nd Order from the Australian Prayer Book.

Eucharist

➢ Sunday, 7am St Matthew’s

➢ Wednesday, 10am St Matthew’s

Vigil Eucharist

➢ Saturday, 6 pm St Matthew’s

Sunday Eucharist (with choir and Sunday School)

➢ Sunday, 9am All Saints’

Taize’ Worship

➢ The fourth Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm All Saints’

➢ Parishioners coordinate the service preparation


Nursing Homes / Retirement Villages

Bellevue Nursing Home (Privately Owned)

➢ First Thursday of month, 10.30am Linkwood Drive, Ferny Hills

➢ Service of Holy Communion service conducted by Rector

Moonah Park Nursing Home (Churches of Christ)

➢ Second Thursday, 10.30am Blaker Road, Mitchelton

➢ Service of praise and song with scripture reading and ten minute reflection/homily

Madonna Villa, Oxford Park Retirement Settlement (Sisters of Charity)

➢ Third Tuesday, 10.30am Church Road, Mitchelton

➢ Service of Holy Communion

Regis Nursing Home (Unity Church)

➢ Fourth Tuesday of month 10.30am, Lanita Road, Ferny Grove

➢ Service of Holy Communion

Keperra Sanctuary (Privately-owned)

➢ Every second month, Saturday morning, 10.00am and 11.00am, Samford Road Keperra

➢ Ecumenical service followed by Holy Communion

➢ We share the Anglican ministry at Keperra Sanctuary with the Gap Anglican Parish

Outreach

➢ Parishioners support the Mission to Seafarers (knitting beanies, scarves)

➢ Breakfast in the Park

➢ ABM

➢ Sri-Lankan appeals when requested to support the building of homes for the poor

➢ Archbishops Drought Appeal

➢ Lions Club Bunya


Statistical Trends

2017 2018 2019

Attendance 7364 6851 7008

Home Communions 210 214 210

Nursing home communicants 465 470 338

Confirmations 2 1 0

Baptisms 21 16 11

Weddings 3 4 1

Funerals 13 11 8


Parish Ministries

Faith Formation

Parish Faith Formation comes under the auspice of the “Being in Mission” focus group, coordinated by

parishioners. This group also covers the ministry of Welcoming.

Adults

The parish has developed a culture of continuing spiritual growth through small group processes, with an

emphasis on the groups being open to all. The whole Parish is encouraged to be involved, particularly

during Advent and Lent. Other groups offered in the past have included a Pre-Pentecost Study and a

“Being Christian” Study during green time.

Children

➢ Sunday School takes place during the 9.00am worship at All Saints’ during the school term

➢ One Sunday a month the children have Sunday School in the garden

➢ A team of parishioners and Rector coordinate this ministry and provide ongoing training for those

involved

➢ Youth Minister employed in 2020

Baptism and “Come to the Waters”

There are many baptisms in the Parish, mainly connected with St Matthew’s through family tradition, and

an increasing number through the parish webpage inquiry.

The Parish community takes seriously its responsibilities in connection with baptismal families. Each

baptismal family is allocated a parish contact who travels with the family through the preparation process.

A monthly (when required) information session for baptismal families called “Come to the Waters” is held

at All Saints’ and coordinated by a parishioner.

Mothers’ Union (MU)

Grovely Parish has an active MU group which meets on the third Wednesday of the month, following the

10am service. MU provides the reader, the reflection and the prayers for the service. MU has opened up

the scope for guest speakers for appeal to the whole parish. MU is actively involved in and supportive of

the baptismal ministry.


Choir

The Parish choir leads the Sung Eucharist at 9.00am each Sunday at All Saints’ church and is always open to

new members.

Cursillo

There are 28 Cursillistas who work alongside the Grovely Parish Faith Community and are all deeply

involved in the mission and activities of our Parish. All activities of the Cursillo Movement are open to

anyone who is interested in attending.

St Matthew’s Memorial Garden

The garden was created in 2010 and is maintained by a team of parishioners.

Fellowship and Social Activities

The Parish offers various opportunities for fellowship throughout the year. The largest Parish social event

is the Parish Christmas Breakfast held on the last Saturday morning in November at the Arana Leagues

Club.

Other social activities include:

➢ Faith Formation Groups (Study Groups)

➢ Trivia Nights

➢ Men’s and Women’s breakfasts

➢ Parish Christmas Breakfast

➢ weekly morning tea following the 9.00am service

➢ MU functions including bus trips and guest speakers

➢ Cursillo Gatherings

➢ Parish Pilgrimage into the Cathedral organised by the Leckmy Street Fellowship Group (every 2

years)


Organisational Structure

The Parish Leadership team is made up of:

➢ Rector

➢ Wardens (2 elected People’s Wardens and 1 appointed Rector’s Warden)

➢ Parochial Nominators (3)

➢ One reserve Parochial Nominator

➢ Synod Representatives (2)

➢ Treasurer

➢ Parish Council (plus 5)

➢ Liturgical Assistants (2 Licensed to preach, 1 Licensed to conduct funeral services)

➢ Parish Secretary (Part-time)

➢ Pastoral Care Team

➢ Youth Minister (started in 2020)

➢ Parishioners


Finances, Buildings and Resources

The Parish has sound finances with several streams of income including interest from investments, planned

giving, fundraising and hall and facility hire.

All Saints’ Buildings and Resources

➢ Vestry with vestment cupboards, drawers for storage, safe and furniture

➢ Children’s Chapel

➢ Narthex

➢ Grand Piano

➢ PA and Sound System

➢ Furniture and fittings as needed

➢ Sealed Car Park

➢ Toilets (including 2 with disability access)

➢ Garden storage shed

➢ Undercroft which houses a kitchen, toilets and a meeting/function area

➢ Parish Office (includes office furniture, telephone, computer, multi-function printer/copier)

➢ Parish Church and Office airconditioned

St Matthew’s Buildings and Resources

➢ Vestry with vestment cupboards, drawers for storage and furniture

➢ Pedal Harmonium Organ

➢ Sound System

➢ Furniture and Fittings

➢ Grounds with Graveyard and Memorial Garden

➢ Church Hall with stage, kitchen, toilet, piano, furniture and fittings

Rectory

➢ classic Queenslander style with views over the adjoining suburbs

➢ 3 bedrooms

➢ Office

➢ formal and informal living areas

➢ 2 toilets/bathroom

➢ kitchen

➢ open verandas

➢ private courtyard

➢ open carport for 2 cars

➢ Storage areas

Parish Car

➢ To be negotiated with the new Rector


APPENDIX 1: Parish Survey – held 29/2 – 01/03/2020

Parish Survey regarding the Attributes of a Suitable Parish Priest

The Parish Nominators and Wardens would appreciate if you could contribute to filling in this

survey as an indication of your preference in the requirements of selecting a new Rector.

Just tick the box indicating the level of importance of the following possible attributes of the new

Rector for Grovely Parish.

Statement Most

important

Reasonably

important

Some

importance

Not

important

Ability to preach sermons that relate to our lives as

Christians living in the world.

41 7 2

Capacity / willingness to promote ministry to our young

people and young families.

37 11 2

Capacity / willingness to encourage the development of

Sunday School.

33 17 1

Ability to co-ordinate the organisational affairs of the

parish.

17 22 11 1

Ability to manage the financial affairs of the parish. 13 23 8 5

Ability to provide counselling / guidance. 34 12 3

Ability / willingness to work in cooperation with other

churches in the area

11 26 12

Willingness to serve the occasional needs of the people of

the area who are not regular

members of the congregation.

11 30 8

Ability / willingness to contribute in the community

activities in the area.

11 24 15

Commitment to the development of Lay Ministry. 22 24 5

Ability / willingness to delegate roles to members of the

congregation.

23 21 6

Ability / willingness to comment on current social issues. 17 25 7 1


Statement...continue Most

important

Reasonably

important

Some

importance

Not

important

Ability to conduct the liturgy with the ceremony that is

appropriate.

33 15 2

Ability to manage processes/programmes that encourage

all to grow in faith.

38 11 1

A strong commitment to the sacramental life of the

parish

36 11 3

Ability to get to know and take an interest in each

parishioner.

35 12 3

Willingness / ability to develop the community life of the

parish.

31 15 4

Ability to give sermons that deal with current theological

issues.

30 15 3 1

Willingness / ability to provide guidance on moral /

ethical issues.

22 21 6 2

Willingness to involve the parish in movements such as

Cursillo.

13 22 12 2

Willingness to consider a range of service types and

times.

12 27 8 2

General Questions

Would you be happy with either a male or female priest? Yes / no 46/4

Do you have a particular preference for a female priest? Yes / no 9/38

Do you have a particular preference for a male priest? Yes / no 2/43

Do you have a preference for the theological disposition or style of our new priest? Yes / no 16/29

If your answer to Question D is yes, please explain:


Comments for section D:

❖ Someone who is not a theological liberal: I would prefer Anglo Catholic style (like we have now)

❖ My preference is for same as Rev. Jenny, Rev. Jan, leaning to Anglo-Catholic (true Anglican) and a

Sacramental Priest

❖ Not too academic

❖ Prefer a “high church” style priest with solid theological learning

❖ Not too traditional

❖ With imagination

❖ I would prefer a priest with a liberal-progressive disposition, who accepts modern science and

modern biblical scholarship

❖ That he/she will preach on the Gospel

❖ Deep respect for prayer, contemplation and scripture and social action

❖ No fundamentalist, no “gender” to God, along the same lines as Jenny

❖ The priest sexuality is, for me, irrelevant he/she would not be disqualified if homosexual or lesbian

❖ More liberal than evangelical in theology, collaborative not combative

❖ I tend towards “high church” having grown up in that milieu

❖ I love the singing

❖ One that can relate theology to examples in life rather than too philosophical more straight forward

clearer to understand sermons

❖ God is love for all creation

❖ Time for a change

General Comments

If you have any further comments / suggestions that you would like to make, please record them in

the space below.

❖ That the priest has good communication skills and has a “human” and loving

approach to people (this congregation)

❖ Anglo Catholic

❖ Should be Practical and not a blind greenie

❖ Contemplative focus (similar to Jenny)

❖ Keeping a High Mass is important to me

❖ MU that he/she embrace it

❖ To continue to support and promote the strong fellowship character of the

congregation

❖ That he/she is experience but not so old that they are tired and worn out and with no enthusiasm

for their role

❖ Getting men linked to a deeper spiritual life – please take my views lightly as I have only been to

two services and only just touched briefly the heart and the church but loving it

❖ Continuation of youth ministry


❖ I am used to a female priest as they tend to give better pastoral care as long a man gives good

pastoral care that’s OK

❖ Must have good people skills

❖ Need sermons that relate to practical things in life with examples to pin the ideas to

❖ I dearly would like a mix of Jan, Jenny and Robert

❖ Someone with a strong work ethic and interest in people and their person concerns

Please comment on any aspect of possible ministry that would be particularly important to you

personally.

❖ Music

❖ Music most important to me

❖ Would prefer someone who doesn’t comment on social issues/politics etc, Christ is the focus

❖ Pastoral Care – if and when I need it in times of illness and/or trauma in my or my family’s life

❖ Music

❖ Good pastoral care

❖ Progressive Theology

❖ More modern music would be good in addition to current music

❖ The importance of creation we are all connected and as a loving gift from God

❖ Please note any aspect of the current ministry within the parish that you think is important to

continue in a manner at least close to its current form?

❖ Quiet days, the healing service, baptism “Come to the Waters” ministry, Sunday School

❖ Yes

❖ Pastoral Care – Sunday School, Youth Ministry, support for MU and Cursillo

❖ Pastoral Care – Outreach in the park

❖ I am not asking for a super human far from it, just that I could not single out anything more or

less than the other.

❖ Choir

Please return this survey to one of the parish wardens/nominators at the end of the service. However,

if you think of something else that you would like to add later, do not hesitate to contact one of the

wardens/nominators.


Parish Finances 2019 will be available upon request from the Bishops office

www.grovelyanglican.org.au

Please address any enquiries or expressions of interest to Bishop Jeremy Greaves

Phone: 0428 315 763

Email: [email protected]

http://www.grovelyanglican.org.au/

mailto:[email protected]

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