Author: Libby Lane

From the Bishop of Stockport
The Right Reverend Libby Lane
It has been a privilege to work with the parishes of St Mary Stockport, St Thomas Stockport and St Luke Brinnington over the past couple of years. Pastoral reorganization, is now complete and we are ready to make appointments: first of a Rector of the new parish, and immediately thereafter of a full time Associate Priest.
We have high hopes and expectations for Stockport and Brinnington, and trust that we will be able to appoint an exceptional priest to lead this re-imagined ministry.
This innovative appointment, for the Diocese of Chester, will model development of collaboration, partnership, growth, and intentional evangelism and outreach for others in the deanery, borough and diocese.
Together with the Rural Dean, Diocesan Secretary, Archdeacon and Director of Mission, the people of this parish, the PCC, licenced lay workers, retired and seconded clergy, neighbouring parishes, ecumenical partners, and other community contacts, have travelled to a shared vision for a way forward together, as:
The church in Stockport and Brinnington,
in Jesus’ name, by the work of the Holy Spirit,
to the glory of the Father:
transforming individuals and communities,
growing in number and commitment,
resourcing all that brings God’s Kingdom closer.
These churches, in common with others in the deanery, have declining attendance numbers, aging congregations and low under 16 to adult ratios. There are anxieties, of course, about coming together in mission and ministry: questions about buildings, practicalities and logistics. The new parish framework addresses some of the underlying financial and human resource pressures, but concerns remain.
Each of the 3 previous parishes, and their congregations, have different strengths and challenges. Their contexts are particular, they have a range of worship styles and theological inheritance.
We see this diversity as an asset, and the churches desire to see every community and congregation flourish. They are growing already in sharing resources, praying and worshipping together. They know that change is necessary, and are more than open to what this re-imagining of church offers for them and the parishes: they are expectant.
While they want to treasure that which is precious to
them in their churches, these congregations want to
reach those as yet untouched by the church. They want to discern and invest in new initiatives of worship and prayer, teaching and discipleship, social action and partnership. And hope to be a resource in all that to the rest of the deanery and beyond.
There is wide support for this appointment to be significant beyond the three existing parishes. The Local Authority is looking for a key partner in community transformation. Other churches want someone who will help accelerate and amplify Kingdom work already going on locally. Diocesan senior staff and officers are looking for this new parish to provide opportunity for localized resourcing of key work in mission, education, discipleship, training and social impact.
The Mission Department has identified resourcing urban hubs, of which Stockport is one, as a key priority.
It is hoped that the new parish will offer a suitable context for the placement of curates, ordinands, and Readers and Pastoral Workers in training. We would want to explore ways to access additional external grants and funding for buildings and staff.
We are committed to supporting and mentoring this mission and ministry. With the Archdeacon of Macclesfield, the Rural Dean and Diocesan Officers, we work to ensure appropriate resource is offered to facilitate the flourishing of whoever is appointed to be Rector for Stockport and Brinnington.
We know that no-one will fulfill every aspect of what might be hoped for in this ministry. So we are looking for a priest who will bring the gifts, experience and strengths they have and resilience, flexibility, curiosity and aspiration to work fruitfully with others to lead.
The Church of England in Stockport deanery has declining overall numbers. It rates among the lowest per capita attendance at church in the Diocese. It has among the lowest under 16 to adult ratios in the Diocese. However, Stockport is resilient and hopeful. There are church schools, readers and pastoral workers, clergy who have been praying, talking, planning and dreaming together for months. Stockport has good ecumenical relations with Anglicans at the centre, and a constructive engagement with the local authority which is keen to develop partnership. Recognising the opportunity and challenge, the new parish of Stockport and Brinnington is ready for change. It is ready to be a centre for innovation and hope.
Stockport town centre and Brinnington have enormous potential, and considerable challenges.
Mission focus for Stockport and Brinnington
Stockport is one of the flagship urban hub projects to which the Diocese of Chester is committed
The church in Stockport and Brinnington:
Urban centres, and their outer estates, have considerable potential for mission and evangelism.
We are beginning to work well, with partnership across departments in the Diocese, to resource these areas:
· the Mission Team is driving change evangelism and mission to equip churches for growth and change;
· the Board of Education is resourcing schools to be deeply Christian, serving the common good: being loving, ambitious and brave;
· the Committee for Social Responsibility is investing in creative and transformational projects and local community partnerships;
· the Committee for Ministry is focussing lay training from and with these communities.
As we grow vocations we are committed to placing ordinands, curates and lay workers in these centres to encourage those who are called from and to such ministry.
We are prioritising the appointment of gifted clergy and restructuring parishes to facilitate the release of local assets.
Working with existing congregations in three churches, the person appointed to this new and exciting post who will oversee a team, including a full time clergy colleague resident in Brinnington, will:
· offer a praying heart for the town and borough,
· model commitment to outer estate ministry, engagement and resourcing
· resource the people and clergy of the deanery to listen, identify and respond to the work of God across the town and borough,
· grow new opportunities to share the Gospel in ways that are good news for those as yet unreached e.g. in the outer estates of Stockport, in the retail and business centre and for the night-time economy, through our church schools, at Stockport College, with the homeless and marginalised,
· plant new congregations or Fresh Expressions for those who respond or are searching,
· train and equip in realistic and practical ways those whom God is calling to resource the work of the Kingdom e.g. in outer estates; in the management and mission of buildings; in families, children and youth work; in response to refugee and asylum seekers
· develop relationships with the town and borough so the church is a key partner in the redevelopment of Stockport.
Building on existing collaborations across parishes in Stockport borough, within 5 years, we anticipate:
· the planting of new congregations and fresh expressions, learning from e.g. GLO, and the evidence of new life they bring, will facilitate a continuing ministry resourced by the three deaneries in the borough;
· building up expertise locally, as part of the Diocese’s participation in Setting God’s People Free, over the 5 years will enable the ongoing self-generated peer to peer training and resourcing to continue;
· effective identification of projects that churches can jointly contribute to and benefit from will generate the impetus for such joint working to be resourced long term from collaborative funding.
Further, we are working to access funding for additional staff to work out of the parish of Stockport and Brinnington. We hope this additional support with accelerate and amplify work already in progress. We hope for the provision, for 5 years, of a Pioneering Ministry Coordinator, a Lay Training Coordinator and a Project Manager will contribute to the work of transforming Stockport.
There is good practice to build on :
- examples of those with resource and expertise partnering with the town centre:
- examples of effective church planting;
- examples of generous secondment from larger churches;
- examples of voluntary financial redistribution between parishes.
Our asset based approach recognises expertise and opportunity in these unique and particular locations.
We are committed to both presence and engagement, and pioneering evangelism for Stockport and Brinnington.
We intend to invest in creative and flexible models of church that are committed for the long term.
Rt Revd Libby Lane,
Bishop of Stockport
The churches, communities, and local leaders and influencers in Stockport and Brinnignton have been working towards this new parish for two years. Wewe have reached a stage when targeted, specific investment of additional human resource will reap benefits.
The new Parish of Stockport and Brinnington will be a hub from which , in partnership, prayer and worship, mission and evangelism, teaching and learning, and social action will spread through the town and borough.
The centre of Stockport is already undergoing a radical and exciting £1billion programme of investment led by the Council and its partners. We’re rooted in our rich heritage and looking to the future with a varied suite of commercial, residential and leisure opportunities for all. Work has already begun…
This is Stockport’s Whole Town Plan and it’s essential that all members of the community are fully engaged and involved in every stage of its development. Stockport has a wealth of community strength and it’s essential we fully harness this and continue to build on this as the town centre develops. We need creativity, energy and partners with an ability to community and engage with residents and businesses across the town centre.
Stockport Council looks forward to working closely with the new Rector of Stockport to achieve our shared objectives.
Caroline Simpson – Director of Regeneration at Stockport Council
For an informal conversation regarding the Parish of Stockport and Brinnington, and the role of Rector for the new parish, please contact the Bishop of Stockport, the Rt Revd Libby Lane on 0161 928 5611.
Additional appendices cover a full list of the essential skills and competencies that are envisaged for the post and the Parish Profiles of the three parishes which have been prepared by the separate and individual PCCs, and reflect the current circumstances of these parishes as well as their hopes for the future. There are also facts and figures about church buildings and finances