The Parish Setting
Highbridge’s history is as a Somerset Market Town. It has a population of currently around 7,500, joined to neighbouring Burnham-on-Sea, which adds a population of 15,000 to a single urban area with rural fringes. Effectively the classification is “SMALL TOWN”. The Parish of St John’s covers the town of Highbridge, although there are some curious anomalies between the civil and ecclesiastical boundaries which need to be addressed. The town has an industrial past as a railway junction and works, docks and other factories. All this is now replaced by out-of-town industrial estates, and a moderate sized Asda supermarket. There is some farming in the parish, but the majority of the work lies in the industrial estates or tourist industry. There is some commuting to Bridgwater, Taunton, Weston-super-Mare and Bristol.
There is a range of private, council and housing association accommodation, but few, if any, wealthy areas. There are places where a variety of difficult social problems exist. Highbridge has a predominantly working or “lower middle class” population, with a considerable number of retired people. Many have settled here from London or the West Midlands. There is a cottage hospital in Burnham-on-Sea, but mostly hospital means a trip to Weston-super-Mare or Taunton. There is a community infant’s school next to the church, and on the same site a Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School, although plans are in place to amalgamate the two schools as a C.E.V.C Primary School in line with County policy. The church has a good relationship with both of these schools and is working hard to support them through this change The comprehensive school lies near the civil boundary of Highbridge and Burnham, but outside the ecclesiastical parish. Together with other local churches St. John’s welcomes the recent links made with this school and looks forward to developing them further. Nearby Cheddar is home to a Church of England comprehensive school that leads a three-tier system of first, middle and upper schools. Other quality primary schools are nearby and used by Highbridge people. The nearest further education establishment is in Bridgwater. Shopping in Highbridge is currently poor, but Burnham can sustain most day-to-day needs. Otherwise major centres are Taunton, Bridgwater, Weston-super-Mare and Bristol.
St John’s is a single-parish benefice with one church building, founded in 1857, a church hall and a relatively modern four-bed roomed Vicarage with gardens on site. In line with diocesan policy we are members of the Coastal Local Ministry Group (LMG) within the Axbridge Deanery with Burnham-on-Sea, Berrow & Brean, East Brent with Brent Knoll and Lympsham. There is scope to develop the workings of the group. We are also members of the Burnham and District Churches Together organisation, which covers the same area, has several exciting projects in the pipeline and is widely supported by the local ministers ecumenical fellowship
The Church
| Ecclesiastical Tradition: |
Moderate Catholic. Vestments are worn at the Eucharist. |
| Pattern of Sunday Worship: |
8.00am Said Eucharist (Common Worship Order 2 - Traditional)
9.30am Parish Eucharist (Common Worship Order 1 – Contemporary)
6.00pm Evening Worship (special occasions only)
The PCC currently have it in mind to rework the monthly Family Service. This had been held on a second Sunday afternoon at 4.00pm, beginning with a Bring & Share tea. The style of worship has been varied, but in recent times has been based on “Liquid Worship” model. One possibility under active consideration on the departure of the previous incumbent was to take one Parish Eucharist each month and offer a less formal celebration designed for all ages on that day at 9.30am
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| Weekday Services: |
Wednesdays & Major Holy Days: 9.30am Said Eucharist (CW Order 1- Contemporary) (Some Holy Days at 7.00pm)
Principal Holy Days: 7.30pm Sung Eucharist (CW Order 1- Contemporary)
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| Occasional Offices (2008 figures): |
Baptisms: 44
Weddings (inc.”Blessings”): 5
Funerals (inc.Cremations): 30
Further marriages after divorce are solemnised after due pastoral care following the current guidelines.
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| Daily Offices: |
Currently, Morning Prayer is said publicly, at 8.45am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Regular attendance by members of the congregation is occasional, although all services are advertised. Attendance at the daily office has been a matter of obligation for clergy staff as a means of structuring mutual prayer and communication. |
| Parish Staff: |
There is currently a stipendiary Training Curate in post, ordained deacon in 2007, and priest in 2008, whose term of office is likely to expire in 2011. here are no Lay Readers in St. John’s congregation as yet, however, in all other respects a comprehensive lay leadership team exists, while the churchwardens have been treated as partners with the incumbent in delivering the mission. Relief clergy are drawn from retired colleagues and the staff of partner LMG parishes. There is one regular retired priest in the congregation, who is providing relief for the Curate during the Vacancy, and occasional visits from a number of “others”. |
| Lay Involvement: |
There is a high level of lay involvement, with devolvement of responsibility to “department heads” or equivalent, working in teams or through PCC sub-committees, leaving the PCC to determine policy and make major decisions. The churchwardens have met regularly with the incumbent for informal but confidential briefing sessions covering the exchange of ideas, trouble-shooting and, where appropriate, decision-making. The standing committee prepares and steers PCC business and prepares strategic decisions for discussion. There is a team of four Lay Pastoral Assistants formally commissioned by the Archdeacon after due training using course material prepared by the School of Formation. A Baptism Welcome Team represents the wider congregation assisting the incumbent and supporting families in their preparation and at their service. An annual preparation day is held to support wedding couples, which could provide the basis for more detailed preparation work using a lay team. |
| House Groups: |
Study groups meet for a series of sessions around three times a year covering a variety of topics and have included Bible study, theology through film and the use of York courses. Courses in Lent follow themes set by the local executive of Churches Together. |
| Areas of Particular Ministry: |
There are no specific “specialisms.” However, work with children is strong, led by a reasonably sized lay team. St John’s people have a heart for the wider community and a willingness to engage with it. We value the links that we have with many community organisations, particularly those who use our Church Hall. In general, this is a “parish church” in the broadest sense seeking to serve all in its care. There is a modest healing ministry, but this needs further development. At the beginning of the Vacancy the PCC undertook an “Away Day” to identify its priorities for the next 5 years, building on a similar exercise in 2004, which led to a Parish Development Plan for the period 2004-9. Together with other Highbridge based ministers, the clergy are chaplains to the Asda store in the town and have been involved with Chaplaincy to the Mayor of Burnham and Highbridge Town Council, The British Legion and The Sea Cadets. |
| Nature of Congregation: |
The congregation has a good age-range, with approximately 35 children on the Sunday School Register, with about half that attending on any given Sunday. Most are drawn from the towns of Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge. A wide range of spiritual tradition and experience is represented. |
| Areas of Co-operation: |
The place of St John’s in the context of the diocese is very important. Besides the Local Ministry Group, there is a particular relationship with St Andrew’s, Burnham-on-Sea, with occasional clergy swaps on a Sunday.
On the ecumenical scene, St John’s is a member of Churches Together in Burnham & District, and all the clergy value a monthly fraternal together. In 2005 we shared with Hope Baptist, Highbridge Gospel Hall (independent evangelical) and Burnham Community Church (charismatic “house church”) in promoting the Jesus Video on our main housing estate. |
| Priests (Ordination of Women): |
The PCC has passed a resolution to reaffirm its support to welcome both male and female incumbents in this parish. |
| Other comments: |
St John’s is a friendly congregation with a reputation for a warm welcome. Coffee time after the Sunday and Wednesday services are valuable times for our regular church-goers and friends from the wider community to have a chat.
St John’s congregation have a passion for their church and, given the right direction, will work exceptionally hard for it and the community it serves.
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Our Vision and Priorities for the future of the Parish
Our church members and PCC met in September 2009, as the Vacancy began, to work with a privately engaged facilitator to develop its vision and priorities for the next 5 years. We believe as a church, God is calling us for the future to concentrate our efforts on seven major areas of our parish life. The new incumbent will need to be faithful to this vision as a base-line for his or her ministry, although the PCC recognises that any plan should be an organic creature to be amended as circumstances or opportunities demand.
A brief summary of its findings is as follows:
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Nurture and support people in the congregation so that they do not feel alienated by change.
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Maintain and develop engagement with the older children in church-wide activities and look at Youth links in the wider community.
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Provide training and support for lay visitors to enable them to feel confident in supporting the people in our community who are in need of our care.
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Explore new areas of music to enhance our worship and ministry for all ages.
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Review types of services held i.e. all-age worship / liquid worship / involvement of children.
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Continue to support the Local Ministry Group and churches together.
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Further develop plans to establish a Parish office.
Our Hopes for our new Priest
The PCC looks forward to working with the right incumbent, regardless of race, gender or marital status. We are praying for God to raise up someone who will help us fulfil our vision and priorities for the next five years by being able to:
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Express concern and compassion for people of all ages both within the church and the wider community.
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Communicate, inspire and challenge.
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Continue to encourage and support lay involvement.
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Work across a range of worship styles within a moderate Catholic tradition.
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Have an empathy with our vision for the Parish over the next 5 years.
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Value liturgical music and help develop a more musical involvement within our ministry
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Input, support and develop our commitment to working with young children – in church , in the local schools and in the wider community
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