This is an exciting opportunity to be part of transformation and change leadership across a group of parishes and benefices.
Skelmanthorpe is a small town near to Emley Moor in West Yorkshire. It sits between Huddersfield and Wakefield, and is within easy reach of both, as well as the cities of Leeds and Bradford and the larger towns of Dewsbury, Halifax and Barnsley. There are excellent links further afield via the M62/M1 motorways and the rail network with good train services to London, Manchester and Leeds. Leeds/Bradford Airport is around an hour away by road. Emley Moor is recognisable from a distance, thanks to the large TV transmitter tower which sits at a high point between Emley and Kirkburton.
Through a conjunction of retirements and moves, most of the parishes across Emley Moor have become vacant at the same time. The parishes want to take hold of the opportunity this affords, to engage in a shared conversation over the coming years, discerning God’s call and developing a vision for the future of mission and ministry in this area. To that end, they have grouped into three clusters, each of which will have a priest, and all of which will work together to discern the future.
Having appointed to one of the clusters, we are now seeking to appoint priests to the remaining interim posts; all three posts will have a focus on developing our partnerships as missional churches for our communities. Each priest will have oversight of particular parishes, and work together with colleagues across the area in mutual support. One priest will have particular responsibility for the church at Skelmanthorpe, and for offering time and support into the other two groupings; one will have particular responsibility for the churches at Shelley, Shepley, Cumberworth and Upper Denby, and the third will have particular responsibility for the churches at Kirkburton, Lepton, Emley and Flockton.
We are looking for a priest for Skelmanthorpe, and to offer ministry across the area, who is committed to sharing in this conversation and discernment, to helping our churches to grow in numbers, in spiritual commitment to God and in service to the local community, and to working collaboratively across the wider area as we deepen and strengthen the relationships between our congregations and across our parishes. In return we will offer you our support, prayers and practical help from the multi-talented people in our congregations who are, in true Yorkshire style, welcoming and friendly.
Please see the Person Specification and Role Description attached, for further details of the post and the essential and desirable qualities we are seeking in the priest to be appointed.
The closing date for this post is Wednesday 23rd May 2024
Interviews: will be confirmed at shortlisting.
Please apply through Pathways or clicking this Link
If you require further information including copies of the accounts or would like a conversation about this post please do not hesitate to contact The Ven Bill Braviner, Archdeacon of Halifax by email initially on archdeacon.halifax@leeds.anglican.org . He will then arrange to have a telephone or Zoom conversation with you.