Parish Profile United Benefice of

Shipbourne with Plaxtol

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Welcome to our Profile for the Benefice of Shipbourne with Plaxtol. Our aim in this document is to give you an overview of our churches, our communities, our strengths and our challenges.

The profile will introduce you to our:

local area and surroundings

the deanery

villages

churches

worship and ministry

services

other church activities

communities

educational facilities

Rectory

finances

challenges and opportunities

We are seeking and would welcome a Rector who:

has a depth of spirituality and a strong and engaging faith

is a practical theologian, a good communicator, teacher and preacher

is at ease leading different forms of service whilst maintaining the traditional Anglican liturgy

has an enthusiastic and creative approach to family and children’s ministry

will take an active part in village life, including offering pastoral care within the community

will create a culture of learning in which all will flourish, and support Bible and study groups

is a leader who recognises, fosters and uses the skills of Church members

has computer skills and a sense of humour

OUR CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

to bring fresh challenge, insight and energy to mission in the benefice

how to grow the congregations in number, spirituality and discipleship despite the attractions and commitments of modern living

to consider how best to further develop children’s and young people’s ministry, along with those committed to this work

to cater for all ages and diversities

to encourage lay ministry, leadership and participation

A fuller description of the suggested role as seen by the two congregations is in the appendix

What are we offering?

Friendly church and village communities which long to see the churches in the Benefice thrive and grow

The opportunity to build on the foundations of faith and service already present in the congregations and to find ways of attracting more of the many young families who live within the Benefice

Vibrant and friendly villages set in an area of outstanding natural beauty where it is wonderful to live, work and relax, with town amenities nearby

A growing relationship whereby we support one of the poorest parishes in Rochester Diocese – All Saints Chatham, giving financial support and advice where requested with occasional shared worship and social activities

Please note that, at the present time, the full-time position being offered will involve 4 days in the Benefice (including Sunday duties) and 2 days for the Diocese. Candidates are invited to indicate what expertise or interest they would be able to offer the diocese or beyond the parishes.

OUR LOCAL AREA AND SURROUNDINGS The neighbouring Parishes of Shipbourne and Plaxtol, that make up the United Benefice, lie some 30 miles to the south east of London, outside of the M25 motorway, some six miles east of Sevenoaks and four miles north of Tonbridge. Access is convenient for motorways, train services (35 minutes to Central London), airports and ports. The area is semi-rural with a population of approximately 1500 covering some 20 square miles. Whilst many inhabitants are daily commuters, the parishes have several farming estates of mixed arable land, fruit growing and livestock. The Fairlawne estate is the largest of the local landowners. Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Benefice abounds with country footpaths and bridleways, including the Greensand Way. The towns of Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells offer a full range of shops, markets, and supermarkets and have a number of excellent schools, to which buses run from both Parishes. Both Shipbourne and Plaxtol have flourishing primary schools and there is an excellent nursery school in Plaxtol.

THE DEANERY Our Benefice is part of Shoreham Deanery, which includes 11 rural benefices that stretch from Shipbourne with Plaxtol in the south up to Eynsford with Farningham and Lullingstone in the north. The new Rural Dean, Rev Tim Hatwell, is looking to develop the life of the deanery in ways that will both affirm the rural nature of the parishes as well as help the clergy and churches to work increasingly together in mission to the area. He and others in the Deanery look forward to warmly welcoming the new Rector of Shipbourne with Plaxtol.

THE VILLAGES The two parish churches are within a mile of each other but the villages are very different. Shipbourne church looks out over a large common. The village has grown rather haphazardly from the buildings that serviced the needs of the Fairlawne estate, which was for many years the home of Shipbourne’s patron, Sir Edward Cazalet. His father, Sir Peter Cazalet was the Queen Mother’s horse trainer and Albert Roux his chef. The heart of the village is classified as a conservation area and contains a number of listed buildings including the church. This is adjacent to the popular Chaser Inn and the Common is a starting point for many walking groups. Many of these visit the church en route. There are now only three pubs within the Benefice!

Plaxtol Church stands almost at the top of the hill whose descending road, The Street, is flanked by an attractive mix of cottages and larger homes dating from the 15th Century to the current year. Plaxtol still benefits from its thriving Village Stores with a Post Office included. In addition to the two main villages, the hamlet of Dunk’s Green has a small chapel and a thriving community. It is important that the church maintains and further builds on its links with all the people in the villages.

THE CHURCHES Apart from the Rectory, the churches do not own any other buildings in the benefice, but make use of the respective village halls for meetings. Both churches have large graveyards which are still open. Each Parish has two churchwardens, who also take responsibility for the fabric of the churches and churchyards; the Rector is therefore not required to take the lead on fabric, which is in good repair, or on financial matters. Plaxtol has a quantity surveyor who helps with church fabric repairs; each parish has a PCC , which meets 6 times a year, is made up of a wide age-range; many volunteers help act as sidesmen, read lessons and prayers, welcome at services, run coffee rotas, sanctuary duties, flower arranging, cleaning and helping with children’s groups. Shipbourne has a verger for funerals and a wedding tsar. A resident Reader helps in both parishes, and will be taking a large part during the interregnum. He is also involved in the young people’s work and the Community@4 band.

SHIPBOURNE CHURCH The present church of St Giles’ dates from 1881, and is built on the site of a previous Palladian style 18th century church and a 15th century chapel.When the present church was built, it was praised as being “one of the most charming country churches to be found anywhere”. No expense was spared in its building. The church has a fine pipe organ by T.C.Lewis. Also it boasts a full peal of bells, which are rung for weekly services and on special occasions by an enthusiastic team of mixed-age campanologists. The church can seat 200. It is the place of worship, not only for its Anglican parishioners, but also that chosen by many families from the North part of nearby Tonbridge, Hildenborough and some of its surrounding villages. The Shipbourne electoral roll has 127 on it. Farmers Market Every Thursday, between 9 and 11.00, St Giles plays host to an award-winning and popular Farmers’ Market. It draws customers from a wide area, not only for its excellent range and quality of locally grown produce, but also for freshly brewed coffee and delicious shortbreads, offering the opportunity to chat with a friend or stranger. Net profits are all donated to charity. This model has been used by the Church of England nationally as an example of how a rural church can reach out to people beyond the parish boundaries.

PLAXTOL CHURCH Plaxtol Church is slightly larger, and holds 220 people when full. It has but one bell which is shared with the newly automated clock. Dating from 1649, the Church building has the distinction of being one of only two churches in the country that were built during the Cromwellian times and so is not dedicated to a saint. This construction replaced a ‘chapel of ease’, a concession granted to avoid the necessity for worshippers to walk to Wrotham and back – a distance in all of 8 miles. The Victorians extended the building with two transepts, a choir and sanctuary. A badly needed re-ordering scheme is now in progress to provide toilets, a beverage kitchen and the removal of ten pews; this will also provide facilities for christenings, weddings and concerts and more space suitable for mingling and meetings. The Plaxtol electoral roll has 123 on it . Both churches are used monthly for Playchurch, a group for under-fives with their parents/carers; also occasionally for concerts, lectures, meetings and annual school services. Each church also produces a village magazine, delivered to all residents, containing all church and village events. This also goes on the website.

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WORSHIP AND MINISTRY Sunday services take place regularly in both St Giles and Plaxtol, and follow a rotation of Holy Communion, sung Matins or Morning Worship and Family services. Forms of worship vary from BCP, Common Worship Traditional and Modern, and informal. Our new service ‘Community@4’ is an afternoon initiative intended to meet the need of families whose children’s sporting commitments preclude attendance at morning services. Both churches have enthusiastic choirs, each under the direction of Organist and Choir Master, John Young, who rehearses both together and who combine for weddings, funerals, benefice services and 4 evensongs per year in one church or the other. Music is wide-ranging, depending on the service, from choral cathedral hymns and psalm singing to modern band music at the monthly Community@4. Common Praise hymn books are used in both churches with a variety of other music sources at times. Studies have included Lent courses, lectures, a prayer study course, Bible studies and some Alpha courses. Further work will be needed to improve liaison between the two congregations of the Benefice, encouraging cross parish worship together. Combined social church activities include fetes in both villages and a harvest supper in the magnificent local Victorian barn, by kind permission of nearby Fairlawne; also barn dances and quizzes are held.

SERVICES Shipbourne Plaxtol 1st Sunday 9.30 Parish Communion

(CW traditional version) 8.00 Holy Communion BCP 11.00 Family Service 12.00 Short Communion

2nd Sunday 8.00 Holy Communion BCP 9.30 Matins BCP

11.00 Parish Communion (CW modern version)

3rd Sunday 9.30 Parish Communion (CW modern version)

8.00 Holy Communion BCP 12.00 Short Communion 16.00 Community@4

4th Sunday 8.00 Holy Communion BCP 9.30 Family Service

11.00 Parish Communion (CW modern version)

5th Sunday 8.00 Holy Communion BCP 10.30 Joint Benefice service (alternating between parishes) 18.00 Choral Evensong (alternating between parishes)

The 12.00 Communion in Plaxtol is popular, especially with the elderly, some of whom are transported there by a team of volunteers. It is being taken by the Reader during the interregnum, by special permission of the Bishop. Average Sunday morning attendance at Shipbourne is 40 with 70 at family services; numbers at Plaxtol are a little less but similar, depending on the service. Festivals attract 200 or more. Fifth Sunday services usually combine the two parishes, offering variety and outreach. These have included;

an open-air service on Shipbourne common to highlight the plight of persecuted Christians abroad

a service to commemorate the start of WW1

a service at Plaxtol’s very productive allotments

services with ‘modern’ music led by visiting musicians and opportunities for testimony

Rogation Sunday service visiting the local farms

joint service with All Saints, Chatham followed by a BBQ

a service to commemorate 17th century Sir Harry Vane, who contributed much to Plaxtol Church and St Giles. This encouraged participation by members of the History Society.

Remembering the plight of persecuted Christians

Commemorating the start of WW1 Harvest Supper

Rogation Sunday Bethlehem Live St Giles, Shipbourne

OTHER CHURCH ACTIVITIES PASTORAL TEAM Plaxtol in particular has a very strong Pastoral team led by the Pastoral Assistant, Carol Crossley, whose attentions are focussed on up to thirty people who are elderly or infirm. Coffee, Cake and Company is a popular monthly Thursday event in church and every year the elderly are also treated to a trip to a coastal location for lunch, a breath of sea air, most recently to Rye. Other outings include an annual theatre visit and visits to a local garden centre for tea. Once a month on Sundays, a Bring and Share lunch is organised for those who would otherwise be on their own for Sunday lunch. The team also help taking parishioners to church, to medical appointments at the surgery and hospital, and when the Rector is not available, Carol takes home communion to those who are unable to get to church. A welcome book is given to all newcomers to the village which contains useful information about the village, its societies and facilities. This Pastoral care is so effective and beneficial that efforts are being made to replicate it in Shipbourne where, at the moment, its work is undertaken by the Rector.

FRIENDS OF PLAXTOL CHURCH For some thirty years, Plaxtol church has been blessed by the fund raising activities of an energetic team. The Friends Of Plaxtol Church organise an annual programme of events, some exclusively, others in co-operation with local organisations or schools. They are committed to paying £2000 per annum towards the Quinquennial repairs, and have paid some £26,000 over the years towards repairs and many additional needs in the church, such as automating the clock. The annual Duck Race draws many from far and wide and the bi-annual Burns Night gives an opportunity for some healthy exercise. YOUNG PEOPLE’S WORK There is a thriving Youth Club in Plaxtol village, now run by parents and a trained youth worker. It attracts young from a wide area including Shipbourne. Also

a group of mothers meet monthly for Playtime

Playchurch is held monthly in each church, for pre-school children and their parents or carers, with a bible story, creative fun and a quiet time for the parents to talk and learn. Only a few attend at present

family services are held monthly in each church and are well-attended

Community@4 includes worship, a craft-time, Rock Solid for teenagers to learn and have fun, and adults to discuss topics relating to the reading

EDUCATION Each village has a thriving primary school, of some 100 children each. They are not church schools but are visited at times by church members and hold end-of-term and carol services in their parish churches. It is hoped a more regular involvement by the Rector will develop, particularly at Plaxtol. Plaxtol has a lively nursery school with a wide catchment area which has received excellent Ofsted results. Nowhere in the country has better state schools than Tonbridge. Sevenoaks has the distinction of having recently opened a free Christian School, and Tunbridge Wells also has excellent schools; buses run from both our Parishes to all state schools. Kent still has the Kent test for those going from primary to secondary education. The outstanding Bennett Memorial Diocesan School in Tunbridge Wells is one of the comprehensive schools in the area. See www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/ See www.sevenoakseguide.com/sevenoaks-schools/ There are also many privately run junior and senior schools in the area, including the public schools of Tonbridge and Sevenoaks.

http://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/http://www.sevenoakseguide.com/sevenoaks-schools/

THE COMMUNITIES Although most property within the Benefice is owner occupied, there are also charitable housing trusts, low cost housing and some housing association accommodation; Shipbourne has a development of low-rent flats for people over 60 with a local connection and Plaxtol has 4 similar alms houses. Many of our working population commute to London daily and work in the banking, legal, managerial or insurance sectors, some regularly travel worldwide, so church attendance may come secondary to family commitments and evening meetings are not always practical. Both parishes are rich in human resources because of the large number of professional people living in the benefice. Others work on the land, particularly on the Fairlawne estate with its 7500 acres, and still others cover the whole range of manual, office or social work. Unemployment is very low, a number are retired. Both villages are friendly and welcoming if you wish to join in. Some residents who relatively recently arrived in the Benefice have commented very favourably on the ‘friendliness’ of local people, encouraging them also to participate from the beginning in local activities. Local pubs attract many customers and the Kentish Rifleman has many events for regulars.

Societies run in the villages include: WI’s in each village meet monthly Men’s society Tennis club – joint Scottish dancing Bridge club Local History society Plaxtol players (drama) Pilates/tai chi/yoga Cricket clubs – one in each village - strong rivals! Please see web: www.shipbourne.com and www.plaxtol.com for more information about the churches and village life. Recent events have included: Summer Fetes on Shipbourne Common and in the Rectory field. Plaxtol Concert by Graham Kendrick Handel’s ‘Messiah’ as staged opera at Plaxtol Russian choir from St Petersburg in Shipbourne

http://www.shipbourne.com/http://www.plaxtol.com/

THE RECTORY Halfway down, almost opposite the quiet ‘Paper Makers Arms’, is the entrance to the Rectory for the Benefice. A ‘sixties’ replacement of a less convenient Victorian building, still to be seen higher up the Street, the present residence is set back from the road and has a good garden and a paddock. The Rectory has a large L-shaped sitting room, a dining room, kitchen, study, downstairs toilet, 4 bedrooms (2 large doubles, 2 small doubles) and 2 bathrooms, one ensuite. The drive is shared with 2 other houses and leads to a double garage and parking.

FINANCE The financial administration of both parishes is autonomous apart from the payment of shared costs, particularly the parish share and rectory expenses. These come out of the joint account to which each parish contributes equal monthly amounts to maintain an adequate balance. The joint account is administered on a three year cycle by each parish, currently by the Plaxtol treasurer. Both treasurers report to their PCCs on a regular basis. Formal accounts are prepared to 31st December each year for independent examination and presentation to the members of each Church at the APCM. A summary of the accounts for the year to 31st December 2015 (including a share of the joint expenses) is as follows: Income Expenditure Net Assets Shipbourne £56,509 £54,553 £116,012 Plaxtol £50,184 £50,346 £103,848 A large proportion of giving is made by standing order under the Gift Aid rules.

Data from Diocese Figures for Shipbourne and Plaxtol Parishes, 2011 figures (from website: Diocese of Rochester ‘Spotlight on your parishes’; find ‘Plaxtol’ or ‘Shipbourne’, about 2/3 down page). The number of young families has increased in the last 5 years.

Shipbourne Plaxtol

Population 500 1100 % Christian 69% 67%

Households owned 150 350

rented housing ≤ 50 c. 50

social housing 15% ≤ 50 6% ≤ 50

Population by age

0 - 4 6% 50 7% 50

5 – 15 15% 50 16% 150

16 – 64 60% 300 60% 650

65 and over 19% 100 17% 200

Work split aged 16-74

Employed - full time 74% 69%

- Part time 16% 19%

Managerial posts or self-employed

45% 60%

Qualifications: Degrees or more

46% 46%

Employed but on benefit 3% 3%

Unemployed 2.5% 2.5%

Suggested Role Description

1. To consider how the Church's mission in Plaxtol and Shipbourne might be developed and how to grow the congregations both in numbers, in spirituality and discipleship. 2. To organise and preside at worship in both churches, providing eucharistic and other services suited to the needs of each parish, taking account of the diversity of musical tradition; and to provide home communion to those who need it. 3. To provide pastoral care to the two congregations and to individuals in each parish, working with the lay pastoral team in Plaxtol (and setting up its equivalent at Shipbourne). 4. To be known to the whole community in Shipbourne and Plaxtol, not just those who are regular churchgoers; visiting people in their homes. 5. To consider how best further to develop children's and young people's ministry; and to build strong links with the two primary schools in the benefice, including regular pastoral visits and school services in church. 6. To encourage lay ministry and leadership in both parishes. 7. To be involved in the social and fund-raising activities in both churches and to support the successful weekly Farmers Market at St Giles, Shipbourne and the Friends of Plaxtol Church. 8. To support the respective Churchwardens, Treasurers and other officers in their management of the two parishes' finances and maintenance of the church buildings and graveyards (but not to take active responsibility for these things, which is a matter for the officers). 9. To foster the benefice's links with the parish of All Saints, Chatham. 10. To maintain a good relationship with the Fairlawne estate, which plays an important part in the life of both parishes. 11. To chair meetings of the two parochial church councils.

Finally: Thank you for reading our Parish profile. We hope it has whetted your appetite to take your interest further. If you would like more information or simply to talk about this vacancy, please do not hesitate to contact the Ven. Clive Mansell, Archdeacon of Tonbridge on 01892 520660 or at clive.mansell@rochester.anglican.org We look forward to meeting you.

websites: shipbourne.com plaxtol.com

mailto:clive.mansell@rochester.anglican.org