2011 Parish Profile 2011
A warm welcome awaits you at
All Saints with St Saviour Weston-super-Mare www.allsaintswsm.org
www.achurchnearyou.com
Contents
Church Ethos Mission Statement Future Parish Plans Profile of Priest-in-Charge Parish Team Clergy Wardens Other officers
Buildings All Saints Church Former St Saviour‟s Church Church halls Hall users Vicarage Parish office
Parish Activities Finances Statement Inventory
Town Location History Local Government Population Education Employment Communications
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Church Ethos The Parish is known as : Weston-super-Mare All Saints with St Saviour The Church building is known as : All Saints’ Church with St Saviour The Patron : The Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells, The Rt. Rev’d Peter Price The Parochial Church Council has adopted Resolutions A, B & C. However, like most churches, the congregation is diverse in its views and attendance at All Saints does not necessarily assume sympathy with these Resolutions. The parish has a website www.allsaintswsm.org and a regularly up-dated entry on www.achurchnearyou.com
Services Sundays
08.00 am 10.00 am 6.00 pm
Holy Communion Prayer Book - said Parish Mass – fully choral. Common Worship Evening Prayer - said
Weekdays
10.00 am 10.00 am 10.00 am
Mass (Wed, Thu) Common Worship - said Walsingham Mass (2nd Sat) - said Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament Mass (4th Sat) – said
Appropriate services are held to celebrate all major church festivals. The annual CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT for Cancer Research UK attracts huge congregations from across the country and involves specially commissioned works. [Unfortunately severe snowfall caused the cancellation of the 2010 service at which Sir John Tavener’s Cradle Song was due to have its world premiere with a 2nd performance by the BBC Singers on Radio 3 on Christmas Eve. The BBC’s rendition became the standin premiere!]
Young people in rehearsal for a school concert
The augmented choir with chamber organ and strings sang Haydn‟s “Little Organ Mass” for the 2010 Advent Sunday Eucharist.
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Mission Statement
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e wish to:
1) Grow in Discipleship by providing opportunities for all members to explore and develop Christian faith through worship, prayer, study, reflection and experience in fellowship. 2) Grow our Church by going out into the wider community of the town, proclaiming the Good news of Jesus Christ, welcoming visitors and helping enquirers. 3) Serve our community by being good neighbours and supporting town projects including “Winter Warmth”. 4) Engage with other Christians by working towards closer unity, especially within the Local Ministry West Group, which embraces the five town churches, together with Milton and Kewstoke. 5) Resource our Mission and Evangelism by sharing increasingly our spiritual gifts, generosity of heart and money and by supporting all of this in prayer.
Future Parish Plans
Attendance
: Averages 75 at the main Sunday morning service. The congregation is eclectic with some travelling from out-of-town on a regular basis. We would like to explore ways of increasing our attendance and in particular would like to expand our appeal to families and younger worshippers without unduly compromising our particular style.
Music : Music forms an important part of our worship and culture and is much appreciated, both within the town and far beyond. There is scope to expand the choral element of worship and to make a wider appeal to an increasingly un-churched local population. With superb acoustics, no fixed seating and a wide-open nave the building lends itself to “special” services, concerts, drama, exhibitions, social events and lectures.
Organ : Though we have completed all necessary internal and external building work we shall need to consider restoration of the organ (still creating fine music but in need of a rebuild after more than 70 years service). A CCTV system was installed in December 2010 to enable better vision between the organ console (in the south aisle) and chancel.
Lighting : Should finances improve we would wish to see an up-dated lighting system installed. Open Church : Mindful that a locked church is undesirable, we would like to explore ways of keeping it open for at least part of each week. Somerset is rich in church buildings and we would wish to consider ways of developing our own contribution to the growing interest in church tourism.
Porous Parish Boundaries : The historic urban parish boundaries are unhelpful, even a hindrance and the PCC would not be averse to change. There is already some cross-boundary work and local churches will need to consider the issues as soon as possible. We have an established nursing home visiting system using both clergy and laity but a need is growing for inter-parish collaboration with so many nursing and residential homes in the town.
Hall users : We are attempting ways of reaching out to and engaging with our hall users in an ethos of Christian hospitality and friendship. We would wish this to be actively led by our new Priest.
Post-service hospitality : Refreshments (coffee & cakes, sherry, wine etc) are served at the back of church.
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All Saints is frequently in the local press
Profile of Priest-in-Charge
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e are looking for an outgoing, energetic, caring spiritual priest with proven and enthusiastic leadership and organisational abilities. All Saints is a Eucharistically-based church steeped in the tradition of dignified liturgical worship. st However, we do recognise the need to live in the 21 century and would welcome new ideas to lead us along the path of Christian growth and development. We feel there is a need to cater for emerging spiritual enquiry within an accessible liturgical framework and would support a new priest‟s efforts to reach beyond the traditional congregation to those of an un-churched background. Ideally our new priest will have a working appreciation of music‟s role in worship and be supportive of our aims and objectives within the town‟s wider cultural sphere.
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Good communication skills are essential and we rather enjoy thoughtful, even challenging sermons, so an engaging pulpit ability would be helpful. As in every organisation we have members possessed of long held and dearly cherished views; tact and love would be beneficial leadership attributes. There is an elderly feel to much church life in Weston-super-Mare (partly the result of the town‟s demography) and even though our own congregation is not particularly young in years we maintain a healthy capacity for enjoyment and would not necessarily fear careful change of emphasis. Although this church is the only obviously “high” place in town, we would wish our parish priest to continue and nurture sound relationships with other priests, ministers and congregations.
There is both need and scope for Christian outreach work among families and younger people.
Though not in our parish Weston-super-Mare College is on our doorstep. A priest‟s ability to work with and encourage young people and those employed in the education services would be advantageous.
Music students from Bury St Edmunds enjoying a break between rehearsals during their 2010 tour of Wells Cathedral, Bath Abbey and All Saints W-s-M
External relationships : We already have excellent working relationships with college musicians, Weston Youth Orchestra, North Somerset Council‟s Young Musicians‟ Service, Worle , Wyvern and Churchill Schools music departments and scope exists to enhance these links.
The Elderly : Despite a need to develop work among young people a new priest would remain mindful of the needs of the elderly, particularly in a town possessed of so many residential care and nursing homes.
Humour : Ease among people is essential and a sense of humour would be much appreciated!
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Parish
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he combined parish is in two detached parts. The smaller All Saints section is on the hillside above Grove Park and consists of substantial 19th Century houses, most of which have been converted into flats with some nursing / residential homes. The larger St Saviour‟s section is on the levels between Locking Road and Milton Road. Here the houses range from Victorian semi-detached to modern in-fills and council housing. Ashcombe Primary School, a new Children‟s Centre and the Fire Station are within the parish.
Church & hall
Vicarage
The Team
Office & hall
The Team Clergy
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he Rev‟d Peter Bolton retired in July 2010 as Vicar after three years service, following the unfortunate onset of debilitating Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Fr Alan Mills, Fr David Parkinson, Fr Arthur Payne, Fr Stuart Boyd and Fr Clem Upton are honorary assistant priests who have a wealth of varied experiences. Two Lay people are licensed to take communion to residential homes and others are licensed to administer the chalice at Holy Communion
Wardens Brian Bewley and Joan Beer are Churchwardens.
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Other Church Officers There is a full complement of Sidesmen, PCC officers and PCC members including PCC Secretary – Humphrey Reader PCC Treasurer and Lay Chair - Terry Edwards Safeguarding Person – Jude Forth Buildings Officer – Alan Yeates Concert Committee Chair and Director of Music – Christopher Manners LRAM Anchor Editor and Parish Adminstrator – Marjorie Fox (Temporary) Locking Deanery Synod – Joan Beer, Heather Collings and Marjorie Fox Sacristan - Tim Johnston, who leads a full team of servers The parish pays remuneration to (1) the Parish Administrator, (2) the Director of Music and (3) two hall caretakers
Multi-tasking at social and fund raising events when all congregational skills are put to the test!
Buildings All Saints Church “The finest church of entirely modern foundation in Somerset” - Sir John Betjeman
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he Church was designed in 1898 by the Royal Academician George Bodley RIBA, FSA., and opened for worship in 1902. It replaced a 31-year old tin building. Frederick Eden MA, RIBA, FSA, added the exquisite south aisle and Lady Chapel in 1925. Bodley‟s tower was never built. It is a Grade Two Star building in a Conservation Area and the only church in Weston designed by an architect of international repute. Sir John Betjeman also said the church is “all light within” – no doom and gloom here! Many of the furnishings are Bodley‟s or Eden‟s with additional works by W.H.R. Blacking, Robert Potter, Dame Werberg Welch and Laurence Broderick. There is glass by Kempe and Eden, the latter‟s said to be some of the finest modern glass in England. “Conspicuously good and beautifully furnished”.
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Restoration : The church was fully restored both internally and externally between 2001 & 2005 at a cost of about £210,000. Quinquennial Reports are always put into effect and the latest occurred in May 2011 Gas heating is efficient; lighting adequate and an emergency lighting system has recently been installed. There is a modern radio sound amplification network with loop facility and CD player. BBC TV has recorded “Songs of Praise” twice in All Saints The building is also used for CD recordings
St Saviour Church
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t Saviour Church in Locking Road was an incomplete 19th century building of inadequate design, and with worsening structural problems the parishioners wholeheartedly supported redundancy. This former church has been converted into apartments and is now known as St. Saviour‟s Court.
Church Halls
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here are two halls. All Saints Hall is timber framed and though of some age is structurally sound and has been upgraded with new kitchen & toilets. St Saviour’s Hall is a more recent structure. Both have excellent heating systems and are in constant use by a variety of community groups.
Hall Users Narcotics Anonymous, Bridge Club, Guitar Group, Funny Bunnies pre-school playgroup, Self Help Group, Evergreen Club, Scrabble Club, Carlea Dance and Theatre Group, Keep Fit, Art Club, Arthritis Care, Mother & Toddler Group, Tai Chi, Macular Degeneration Club, Weston Assembly, Winter Warmth
Vicarage 46 Manor Road Weston-super-Mare BS23 2SU A modern 3-storey detached family parsonage house with a large double garage, study and sloping gardens (delicious apple tree!), situated in a residential area on the southern slopes of Worlebury Hill in the neighbouring parish of Christ Church.
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Parish Office he parish office is located in St Saviour„s Hall, Locking Road and is open Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 10.00am until 12 noon. The Parish Administrator works three days a week with lay support. The weekly Pewsheet and The Anchor, our monthly magazine, are printed in the office as are most other publications. The Anchor is profit making with a print run of c.110. We would like to consider ideas for widening its circulation. The office is responsible for hall bookings and for settlement by user groups.
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Parish Activities Music
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he church has a long musical tradition. The current Director of Music is Christopher Manners, LRAM. Our adult choir sings at all the main services. On special occasions the choir is augmented eg Advent Carol Service The annual Christmas Carol Services attract full houses as young professionals from various cathedrals and universities present seasonal music of exceptional quality, including commissioned works, with proceeds going to Cancer Research UK (so far in excess of £40,000). The church has three fine musical instruments : a 3-manual organ of late 1930s vintage by John Compton (based on the instrument in Downside Abbey), a Georgian Chamber Organ in the Lady Chapel on loan from the Director of Music and a Broadwood grand piano.
Concerts ll Saints has superb acoustics and is in regular use as the town‟s premier concert venue. Professional and semi-professional orchestras, soloists, visiting choirs, local schools and visiting foreign musicians ensure good capacity audiences. The building is also in demand as a recording studio, especially by the Bristol Ensemble (Bristol‟s professional chamber orchestra). Concerts add considerably to the church finances and capacity exists for further development. The concerts also introduce people to the inside of the building, many of whom might never have crossed the threshold of any place of worship.
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Other Parish Activities
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ent Discussion Groups, Lent Lunches, Walsingham Pilgrimage, Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, Flower Guild, Church Cleaners, Grounds Maintenance, Social Committee, Concert Committee, Winter Warmth Project, activities with other parishes. Individual members of the congregation are members of varied church-interest groups including the Bible Reading Fellowship, Prayer Book Society, the Ecclesiological Society, Forward-in-Faith, Friends of Somerset Churches & Chapels, the Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary, Bristol & District Organists Association, Royal School of Church Music. Some have attended Certificate in Theology courses and others enjoy participating in the hilarities of the annual inter-parish skittles match at the Lamb Inn near St Martin‟s Church, Worle (we tend to lose, but are not without hope!).
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The Financial State Financial Statement
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he 2011 Parish Share is £38,378 a 3.91% reduction on 2010, nothing has been paid as yet, we still owe th £9,000 from 2010 as at 30 April 2011. Discussions have been had with the Diocese and plans have been formulated. Regular monthly payments are made, together with lump sums when funds allow. There are no outstanding Quinquennial Survey requirements, however, we have had a new Survey in May 2011 and await the results. Income from two church halls provides finance for the parish office. Letting rates have been revised. The church is used extensively for concerts, which is a profitable fundraiser. Copies of the full audited 2010 accounts are available electronically or in hard copy. Various Restricted Funds (organ appeal, fabric & bequests) are held in the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund with a total deposit exceeding £39,000. As with most other parishes there is room for improvement in our fund raising!
Inventory & Guides here is a comprehensive electronic inventory of all church contents, which is in the process of being updated. The Church Guide was re-written for the national Bodley celebration in 2007 and is being revised for a further edition. The Friends of Somerset Churches & Chapels has produced a series of church tourist cards, one of which is about All Saints.
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Advantages of Living in Weston-super-Mare Location
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eston-super-Mare is an English seaside resort on the Bristol Channel coast of North Somerset, 20 miles southwest of Bristol. Most of the town is at sea-level, with inland growth across the low lying "levels", though some parts command glorious views from the southern slopes of Worlebury Hill. There is a mild Atlantic climate. Period piece guidebooks refer to the resort having "air like tonic wine", and a bracing stroll along the Prom' certainly does wonders for the appetite!
Following a few circuits on the new seafront Weston Wheel members of the choir adjourned for lunch at their favourite Italian restaurant.
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History
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eston-super-Mare is an ancient place despite its Victorian seaside appearance. We know the boy Jesus came here with Joseph of Arimathea, travelling through the little Roman port at Uphill en route to the lead mines at Charterhouse (OK, so it’s only local legend, but why should Glastonbury, Canterbury and Rome take all the glory?) Little of the Medieval village remains. The town is clearly Victorian with large hillside villas and somewhat lesser scaled properties on the levels – mostly constructed in local Carboniferous limestone. Municipal woodlands, parks and open spaces abound Midland holiday makers and Bristol day trippers came by train, and visitors from South Wales sailed over on paddle steamers; all providing security for the prosperous tourist trade and the ubiquitous landlady. Confidence continued into the 1930s and, as with so many other British resorts, Weston-super-Mare‟s post-war market appeal fell into decline. Even though long-stay visiting has ceased tourism still plays an important part in the town‟s economic and social life and much worthwhile regeneration work is being undertaken along the seafront.
Local Government
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anorial rule by the Smyth-Pigott family (of Spaxton & Agapemonite fame!), Town Commissioners and an Urban District Council led to the settlement‟s Incorporation in 1937 as a municipal borough with its own mayoralty. In 1974 Weston was subsumed into the larger Woodspring District and County of Avon which were themselves abolished in 1996 and replaced by four Unitary Authorities, Weston-super-Mare becoming part of the administrative County District of North Somerset (within the historic County and Lord Lieutenancy of Somerset). A new Town Council was established in 2000 to look after purely local affairs. North Somerset Council offices are at the Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare. Weston Town Council offices are at Grove House, Weston-superMare
Population eston-super-Mare‟s population is about 73,000 and as with all seaside towns, there is a disproportionate concentration of elderly citizens in the old town, with younger family arrivals tending to settle in the newer suburbs.
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Education
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eston has the usual range of Local Authority schools and a few smaller independent schools. There are four secondary schools (11-16 with shared Vlth form work). Most 16+ students enrol at Weston College or travel outwards to Churchill, Bristol or Bridgwater. Weston College is a highachieving, rapidly expanding establishment with a modern town centre building and a second multi-million pound University Campus at the Uphill end of the town. There are four universities in nearby Bristol and Bath, though some degree courses are taught now at Weston College in collaboration with Bath Spa University. Weston-super-Mare General Hospital, located on the town‟s southern boundary, also has a teaching role.
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Employment hough tourism still provides important employment opportunities North Somerset Council is the town‟s largest single employer. The former Westland helicopter factory closed in the 1980s. There are several modern light industrial / servicing / warehousing estates and the usual array of shops and stores in both the traditional High Street and out-of-town locations. Many people commute on a daily basis to Bristol; however, parts of the former RAF Station Locking and Weston Airfield are earmarked for future employment development.
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Communications
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eston is linked to the M5 at junction 21. The A370 is an alternative route to Bristol (journey time approximately 45 minutes). Bath & Wells are within easy driving time. The town has three railway stations (Weston-super-Mare, Weston Milton Halt and Worle Parkway) with regular trains to London via Bristol Temple Meads, some of which are direct. First Group operates the majority of bus services. Bristol International Airport is about half an hour‟s driving time from Weston.
Thank you for taking time to read this parish profile We hope it has given you a flavour of who and what we are May the Lord be with you Panels from F.C. Eden’s superb South Chapel window
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