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Sedgemoor Deanery Mission Plan
05-09-17
Living and telling the story
Introduction
The proposed Deanery Mission Plan has been prepared by building upon several areas of ministry and mission.
The Deanery 5 years ago put forward a plan to the Diocese for the need to grow the kingdom by employing a Strategic Deanery Mission Enabler in this task. Part of this process highlighted the gifts, priorities and needs of each parish.
In this initial report we highlighted the need to enable mission in many areas of Sedgemoor but primarily:
- In the New Estates and those being proposed where there was no Church presence
- In the more deprived areas i.e. the Magnificat parishes
- In the 24 parishes requiring help for mission and ministry
- In creating links with community, industry, other denominations, developers and the like
We are also aware of the impact of the major Hinkley C development and are involved ecumenically in developing a plan for addressing some of the issues.
More recently we have asked every parish in our Deanery to prepare a Mission Action Plan and in compiling this Deanery Plan we have drawn out some main areas that we can support and develop, whilst enabling individual parishes to grow. It is this document that will help us in our implementation and review of what is actually happening on the ground.
This has also been considered with the Diocesan key aims of
- Placing mission and evangelism at the heart of all we do
- Re-aligning our resources towards mission
- Identifying and developing gifts of all our people
It is highlighted that we are building on what has gone on before.
Our main priority is to see growth in people’s faith in God; that is growth in maturity or coming to faith in Jesus Christ. To encourage the sharing of the good news of the Kingdom.
WHO ARE WE?
Sedgemoor Deanery
Sedgemoor Deanery comprises 23 parishes with a combined electoral role of approximately thirteen hundred members.
- St Mary’s Church, Bridgwater with Holy Trinity, Chilton Trinity
St Mary’s is the civic church in Bridgwater and has undergone a major refurbishment over the past eighteen months.
Holy Trinity, Chilton Trinity is a small village church with a samll but committed congregation.
- St John the Baptist, Bridgwater
The parish of St John the Baptist runs down the spine of Bridgwater, east of the River Parrett. In 2012 as part of the pastoral reordering the new areaknown as Kings Down was added.
The parish consists of residential, retail, office and industrial buildings constructed over the last 200 years. With those who live Eastover area considered to be living with high levels of deprivation.
- Holy Trinity Bridgwater with St Hugh’s Durleigh
Holy Trinity is a parish of c. 8,000 set almost entirely within the Hamp estate, to the south-west of central Bridgwater. It consists of significant amount of social housing built between 1920’s to 1970’s, sheltered housing, and around the fringes of are some newer, private housing developments. The parish is considered an urban priority area.
St Hugh’s Durleigh is a very small (c.200) semi-rural parish to the south-East of Bridgwater. With a very small congregation
- St Francis Bridgwater
St Francis, parish is the largest in Bridgwater, it is made up a series of estates, all built after the last war and building still goes on in small pockets.
The population is still close to 91.1% white working class, deprivation is high and despite much better education being offeredthan in the past, the prospects for our children, are not good.
- Alfred Jewel Benefice
It comprises the parishes of North Petherton (population 6,000+), North Newton-with-Michaelchurch (population 600), Northmoor Green (population 400), Thurloxton (population 250) and Durston (population 100). The benefice encompasses both urban and farming areas.Housing in all the villages is diverse including modern developments and a growing amount of social housing at the new development of Wilstock.
The Parish of Wembdon
Wembdon lies to the north west of the town of Bridgwater, and comprises three main areas of housing, each with about 1,000 homes: the village of Wembdon; the Newtown area of Bridgwater centred on Kendale Road; and new developments around Homberg Way, between Wembdon and Newtown. There is also the rural hamlet of Perry Green.
- Puriton and Pawlett
Puriton is located just beyond the Polden Ridge, It houses about 2,000 people, of mixed ages, with several families, and there is a junior school for about 150 pupils, and numerous elderly people.
Pawlett on the A38, between Bridgwater and West Huntspill. It houses about 1,000 people, with a mixture of ages.
- The Benefice of Woolavington with Cossington and Bawdrip
Woolavington is the largest parish and comprises of three distinct parts. The old village near the church of private houses, a newer part, mainly of social housing and quite serious deprivation, and the infill between of modest private housing estates.
Cossington is all private housing and comfortable “middle class”, although based around three major farms.
Bawdrip is a small self-contained village with an increasing community spirit after years of conflicts.
- Westonzoyland &Chedzoy
The two rural parishes are very separate although under two miles apart.
Westonzoyland being the larger parish with a population of 1800.
- Athelney Benefice
Has four parishes with North Curry the largest population of 1,600. Stoke St Gregory is a parish of 900.
Borowbridge has a population of 500,Lyng is the smallest village in the group with a population of 300,and both have very small congregations
Housing Development
Sedgemoor Deanery will see a very significant increase in its population due to substantial numbers of new houses being built over the next 14 years. The Local Authority has estimated that the population of Bridgwater will increase from 48,000 in 2012 to 63,000 by 2027, an increase of over 30%.
It is anticipated that 2,347 homes will be built in 2013-2018 alone. Two medium-sized (500-1500 homes) areas of new housing under construction are Stockmoor/Wilstock Village to the south of Bridgwater (in the parish of North Petherton, part of the Alfred Jewel Benefice), and Kings Down to the East (in the parish of St John’s, Bridgwater). Neither has provision for a new church building.
Sedgemoor Deanery also has three areas of social housing that have significant deprivation two in Bridgwater
- The Hamp Estate, in the Parish of Holy Trinity;
- Sydenham Estate, in the Parish of St Francis.
- Woolavington has a social housing area of 400 properties on the southern side of the Parish that has become a sink estate from Bridgwater.
Bridgwater was designated in the March 2015 Budget as one of the Government’s 30 Housing Zones. One thousand new homes are to be built on a brownfield site between the A38 and A39 from the ex-Cellophane site up to the Morrisons Distribution Centre. The designation of the Zone recognises both the significant growth already experienced in the area and the additional demand likely to arise from development at Hinkley Point.
- Please also see report April 2014 – “Planning for mission, planning for growth”
The role of the Deanery Mission and Pastoral Group
We recognise there is a huge amount that we are hoping to achieve and therefore as a team and with the help of the DME we will support, encourage and enable these initiatives in each parish as much as we are able. We will do this by
- Supporting and encouraging the people and parishes where initiatives are taking place, whether existing or new
- Providing guidance and support in setting up and continuing in these initiatives
- Being a link between the parishes and Diocese in obtaining help, finance or anything else that is required, as far as possible.
- To review with the parishes what is happening in order to sustain growth
- To provide a system of joined up thinking, linkng networks and the sharing of good practice
Note:
Following a meeting with David Maggs in March 2017 we are still waiting for assistance with our statistical analysis of the Deanery and a named person to help with the Deanery Mission Plan.
PURPOSE of the DEANERY PLAN
Growth in Faith
We aim to be places where people can discover, learn and grow into the likeness of Christ.
Growth in Love
We will grow in love by developing welcoming, serving and worshipping Christian communities.
Growth in Purpose
We aim to grow in discipleship by being nurturing and supporting.
Growth in Stewardship
We aim to enable current and future ministry and mission activities to be undertaken, through the provision of adequate and appropriate physical space and resources.
Placing mission and evangelism at the heart of all we do
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?15And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?Romans 10:14-15
Re-aligning our resources towards mission
5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;apart from me you can do nothing. John 15
Identifying and developing gifts of all our people
27 So God createdmankindin his own imagening the image of Godhe created them;
male and femalehe created them. Genesis 1
Main Priorities for the Deanery Mission Plan
1Prayer at the heart
2Developing and growing our Children and Youth-work provision,
3To build wider links with our communities
4To develop the occasional offices for mission
5To develop the role of ministry to men.
6To re-shape how Deanery Synod works
7To provide training where it is needed
8We are also aware of the key needs of parishes in regards to
- Buildings
- Finance
- Administration
- Communication
1.Prayer at the heart
2Devote yourselves to prayer,being watchful and thankful.3And pray for us, too, that God may open a doorfor our message, so that we may proclaim the mysteryof Christ, for which I am in chains. Col 4:2-3
Monthly prayer gathering (building on Thy Kingdom Come)
Prayer Hub
Regular prayer guide
Awareness of churches own prayer rhythms
2.Developing and growing our Youth/Children work provision
9Only be careful,and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teachthem to your childrenand to their children after them. Deut 4
- Schools work
Open the Book
After Schools Clubs
Taking lessons
Governors / Directors
Assemblies
Making connections – reading etc
- Chaplaincy
Schools
- College
Supporting Sarah at Bridgwater and Taunton College
Christian Union ?
- Youth
Help develop across the area active and supportive youth hubs
To support individual churches
To look at ways of supporting youth leaders in their roles
- Holiday Club development
4.To build wider links with our communities
‘Love your neighbour as yourself. Matt 22
- Bridge-building
- Developing the café style gatherings – lunches, breakfasts, hobby craft style gatherings
- Addressing needs of the community
Food bank
Street Pastors
CAP
Death Cafe
- Seek and provide training for new workers
- Working with Council and other churches regarding the impact of Hinkley C
- Developing Chaplaincies for Industry, shops,
- How to be church in the New Housing Estates
- Re-imagining church; Planting and equipping new places of church
Developing the work of the DME – report due October 2017
4.To develop the occasional offices for mission
Baptisms
Weddings
Funerals
Follow up and engagement
Shared resources and training
Precise and clear information
- Investigating and implementing web based missional tools and initiatives
- Exploring what welcome really means
5.To develop the role of ministry to men.
- To provide space for new style mens groups
Ie CVM; men’s sheds; breakfasts; engaging in areas of life that matter
Offering training and support – families, work, faith,
6.To provide training where it is needed
- Discipleship / small group development
- Evangelism (living and telling the story)
- How to proclaim the message of Jesus
- Worship / Lay training
- Other areas that are needed
7.To re-shape how Deanery Synod works
Providing space for all to attend
To engage with things that matter
Place of open support, sharing, discussion and equipping
Improving communication within and between churches
8.How can we support our churches with the day to day practical needs
- Buildings
- Finance
- Administration
- Communication
30th August 2017 / 10am