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Parish Profile

staidangravesend.org.uk

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Our Core Values We are a Committed, Compassionate, Respectful and Confident Church.

Our Vision Is for a vibrant, family orientated, multi-cultural church which encourages people, young and old to take part in the services. We wish for a larger congregation and choir.

Challenges and Opportunities We wish to increase involvement with our local schools and improve the mission to the whole parish. Our new vicar can

sensitively put his/her own mark on the parish and we wish for all to be valued and made welcome.

Who we're looking for We are looking for a vicar who is

approachable with a good sense of humour. Someone who can understand different cultures and is enthusiastic and committed. We wish our vicar to have a close, prayerful relationship with God in Christ.

What we can do for you We are a caring church and look forward

to welcoming a new Vicar and his or her family.

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The Congregation and Services

The Electoral Roll stands at 70. The multi-ethnic congregation is predominately middle-aged and elderly but there are also several families with young people or much younger children. Easter Communicants in 2017 were 73 The churchmanship does not tend to the extremes of being low or high. The priest has traditionally worn alb and stole. The church has a Cope which is worn for special services.

The 10 am Sunday Choral Eucharist (CW Rite) is the main service of the week, with an average of 50 communicants. The musical settings used are (a) the Gloria, taken from three different versions, according to which Sunday of the month it is, (b) the Agnus Dei by Peter Aston and (c) the remainder by Martin How. The choir is robed except for the first Sunday in the month,

when an All Age service and Family Eucharist is held, with worship and music following a less traditional pattern. The choir sings appropriate "gathering songs/hymns" on the third Sunday of the month.

A mid week said Service of Holy Communion is held at 9 30am on Wednesdays, the average attendance is 10.

Songs of Fellowship, Hymns AMR, Hymns for Today and Songs of God's People are our hymn books.

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The Parish Gravesend is 24 miles east of the City of London on

the south bank of the Thames. It is close to the Bluewater Retail Park and the Ebbsfleet International Station on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. Both outside the parish, they have generated work (and have had an environmental impact). A new development to the west of the town is Ebbsfleet Garden City which will increase the population of the area considerably. St. Aidan’s Parish occupies part of the south east of

the town. The parish is roughly rectangular (1

1/6 by

2/3 miles.

The population is about 12,000. There are two major blocks of housing. Westcourt (1930’s - 50’s council housing with a considerable amount now owner occupied) in the north of the parish. Riverview Park (a late 1950’s / early 1960’s privately built estate) is in the south. There is also some 1930’s private housing to the north of Westcourt and some 1970’s properties to the east. Close to the church are some modern Church Housing Association properties with some slightly older senior citizens' flats nearby.

The parish contains shopping parades at Riverview Park, Freeman Road, Lion Garage and Valley Drive. There is one public house and one branch library, both in Riverview Park. It is served by two medical centres and two dental practices but no industry or senior citizens residential homes. There is one mosque in a converted public house in Westcourt. Frequent bus and commuter coach routes run

through the length and along the western boundaries of the parish. Many people within the parish commute to the London area by car, train or coach. We have many unemployed and single parent

families in the parish. The computer suite is open 3 days a week without charge for those seeking employment. London Charing Cross is 55 minutes by train from

Gravesend. London St. Pancras is 20 minutes from Gravesend

by high speed train. Paris and Brussels are within easy reach from

Ebbsfleet International Station which is just to the west of Gravesend.

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Gravesend in relation to London

Gravesend is on the bank of the Thames

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Schools The following schools are within the parish; Riverview Infants http://www.riverview-infant.com/ Riverview Juniors http://www.riverview-junior.co.uk/ Tymberwood Academy http://www.tymberwoodacademy.co.uk/ Westcourt Primary & Nursery Schools http://www.westcourt.kent.sch.uk/ Thamesview Secondary (rebuilt 2010) http://www.thamesviewsch.co.uk/ Some of the Junior Schools hold their own services in St. Aidan’s on occasion.

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Links with other churches The church is part of a legally-constructed group of churches known as the East Gravesend Cluster (comprising of St Aidan’s,

Christ Church, Milton-Next-Gravesend, and the Church of the Holy Family, Gravesend with St. Margaret’s, Ifield). The ministers of the cluster meet regularly, together with the ministers of St George’s, Gravesend and St Mary’s, Wrotham Road, for prayer and support in various churches throughout the week. The cluster churches share together in ministry as seems appropriate and mutually beneficial, sometimes also co-operating with other local churches. Currently the Cluster share in Marriage and Confirmation Preparation, in Lent and Advent reflections, and in a summer holiday week. The churches of the cluster have also benefited from sharing the ministry of a Curate-in-Training, currently in her final year. St. Aidan’s is also a member of Churches Together in Gravesham. These are churches from various denominational

backgrounds, many with different styles of worship, but all with one focus - to see our community come to know and experience a personal relationship with God. To that end, Gravesham Churches Together co-ordinate various meetings, town centre and community events, kids and youth activities and operate the local Street Pastors,the Foodbank initiative, Sanctuary, a winter night shelter for the homeless, and School Pastors.

St. Aidan's is part of Gravesend Deanery comprising the 12 benefices between Greenhithe in the West and Shorne in the

East, and extending mostly from the river Thames in the North to the A2 in the South. Clergy meet bi-monthly for mutual support at Deanery Chapter, and the Deanery participates in a shared mission plan 'Grow Together, Share Together, Work Together'.

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The Church

The church was consecrated in 1963 and was designed by Northover and Northover. The nave and chancel are exceptionally light, with large windows. The main altar is stone. The vicar’s vestry is small but has direct access from the

car park. The church seats 160 comfortably (including the choir stalls). A rebuilt pipe organ was installed in October 1979. New nave and chancel heating was installed in 1996. In February 2006 the church underwent a refurbishment at the west end to build a community centre within the existing building. A mezzanine

floor was installed with a new entrance, a larger office and a kitchen together with a computer training room and meeting rooms plus a disabled toilet. The building is fully accessible to wheelchair users with a lift to the mezzanine floor. The church was redecorated at the same time and modern

lighting was installed.

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The Church Hall

The church hall lies on the opposite side of the car park to the church. It was built in 1954 and for the first 10 years of its life was in use as a dual purpose church/community building. The hall has a male, female and disabled toilet, a small kitchen and a stage with curtains. It is used five mornings a week by the Church Nursery School. With church and outside bookings it makes a small profit most

years. It was redecorated and a lowered ceiling installed a few years ago and has recently received new windows and heating.

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The Vicarage

The vicarage was built in 1958 and is situated just north

of the hall less than 100 yards from the church. It has GFCH and consists of 2 reception rooms, a study, kitchen and utility room, downstairs toilet, porch and 4 upstairs bedrooms plus a bathroom. There is an integral garage, burglar alarm and exterior security lighting. The rear

garden is reasonably large. The premises are in good structural condition.

Beds not included!

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Statistics (2016 - 2017)

Baptisms 15 Confirmations 3 Weddings 3 Funerals 4 Oils The Church keeps Holy Oils in the Aumbry for use at Baptisms, Confirmation and for anointing.

The Ministry Team The Ministry Team consists of the Vicar, a retired Vicar, a shared Curate and a Lay Reader.

There are two servers who alternate in assisting with communion and a rota of Chalice Assistants.

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The Parochial Church Council

The PCC meets in alternate months and is composed of 15 members, including Deanery Synod Members and the two Churchwardens plus the Incumbent and shared Curate. One third of the electable members are elected each year. There are a number of sub-committees whose work is to specific (although largely unwritten) briefs in their area of responsibility. Proposals on matters of principle, or where money needs to be expended, are always referred to the full Council for approval. The following subcommittees exist: Standing Committee The Standing Committee is composed of the Incumbent, Churchwardens & Secretary and two other PCC members. It undertakes the initial discussion of important issues so as to allow the PCC to discuss already formed proposals thus saving time. Maintenance Committee The Maintenance Committee is responsible for considering maintenance work required to the Church and Hall and with the wisdom to know what to tackle "in house" and when professional help must be sought. It consists of the incumbent, the church wardens and co-opted members of the congregation with practical skills. Mission and Ministry Group The Mission and Ministry Group is principally concerned with arranging the All Age Service each month. Fund Raising & Publicity Group (FRAPS) Organizes fund raising and social activities such as: Quiz Evenings and a bring-and-share Harvest Meal

St Aidan’s Pew News Sheet A weekly news letter is published giving information about coming events and services.

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The Nursery Schools

St Aidan's Church operates two Ofsted Registered Nursery Schools. Started in the 1960’s the first operates from the Christopher Centre, Riverview Park, operating five mornings a week with full numbers. The second operates from St Aidan's Church Hall

on five mornings a week again with full numbers. The Nursery Schools have a manager in overall charge with a supervisor at each site and are both staffed by fully trained staff that work with the children .It has a good relationships with the local authority, very often taking referrals from them. It also works with the local primary schools especially when the children transfer from nursery to school making the transfer as stress free as possible. The church oversees the Nursery Schools through a management committee.

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Finances Our Freewill Offering Scheme has 24 people paying via our envelope scheme and 12 people

paying via standing order. Of these 25 contribute via Gift Aid. However, as the rules have been changed we can now also claim for the cash collected in the plate. At present we pay all the running costs out of income, but we are unable to pay our full quota to the Diocese and usually manage to pay half of the suggested amount. No fees are retained by the Ministry Team and full expenses are payable. Six Sundays in the year are designated for Charitable “Away Giving” when all collection money

except FWO envelopes is given to specific charities as agreed earlier in the year by the PCC. Church members are active during Christian Aid Week, collecting on doorsteps and organizing other fund raising functions. St Aidan’s also supports 2 children in India via Hope Gardens (formerly the Rhema Trust). We have a Children’s Society representative. A Christingle service in aid of the Children's Society

is held each December.

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Other Groups

Pastoral Care Team In 2012 the church set up a prayer area at the East end of the church an area for people to use for private prayer. When the church is open people can use the area to light a candle, pray in private or leave a request for loved ones to be

prayed for during the next service. The Pastoral Care team are available during and after services, to pray with people as needed. ‘ The 8 members of the team meet once a month to discuss home visits, phone calls etc.

Church Choir The church choir comprises 8 members -4 adult females, 2 children, and 2 men. The 6 adults are all in the retired category. The choir attends each Sunday morning service, except on the 1st Sunday of the month, and they provide a good lead in the

singing of the hymns and of the Communion music. The choir takes part in the Diocesan Choirs’ Festival in Rochester Cathedral and in the Gravesend Deanery Festival as they

occur. The choir performs solo items for special Sundays such as Palm Sunday, Easter Day, Patronal Festival service, All Souls’

Sunday, Advent Sunday, the 9 Lessons & Carols service, and any other special services as required. The choir also helps to augment the resident choir at other churches within the Gravesend East Cluster for weddings. The

choir performs at weddings and sometimes funerals at St Aidan’s as they occur. St Aidan’s has a dedicated organist/choir director.

Aidan Ladies This is a group of up to 15 ladies meeting monthly on the second Wednesday of the month.

Craft Club The club meets monthly on the third Wednesday of the month making cards etc for sale for church funds

Cameo (Come And Meet Others) This is a chance for lonely people to come to the church hall for a chat and a listening ear over a cup of tea or coffee and a cake or biscuit. It meets on the last Thursday in the month

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Children and Youth Work

Little Rainbows This is a parent and toddler club which takes place every Wednesday

afternoon during term time in the Church hall. At present there are about 15 mothers and fathers who attend. During the afternoon drinks and snacks are provided for the children and

tea or coffee for the adults.

Holiday Club Children from Holy Family/St Margaret’s, Ifield and St. Aidan’s gather for a week at the beginning of the school holidays for an annual holiday club in the church hall. Attendance is very good and the children have a good time. The joint team of volunteers do an excellent job of entertaining and teaching the children. It is greatly enjoyed by all those who attend.

Overseas Links We have developed a link with Bishop Samuel Gnanaprahasam

and his Church in Cumbum, Tamil Nadu, South India, that sponsors over 110 children, 18 as boarders, for their education and healthcare. Our Vicar made a visit in March/April 2006. Through Hope Gardens the PCC sponsors two of these children whilst several members of the congregation sponsor children individually.

www.hopegardensindia.org