Team Rector for the benefice of Wisbech with Walsoken
Leading change to make a real difference.
(St Augustine's - just one of 3 congregations)
This is a strategic post overseeing ministry and mission across 3 parishes that serve over 25,000 people. You will be responsible for leading the development of a new team, building a culture that connects the gospel with the lives of local people, energising church, growing younger and more diverse congregations. It is a big job, but you will not be alone.
You will be able to appoint a Team Vicar (or similar) who will share the leadership with you and local SSM clergy, LLMs, churchwardens and other lay leaders. You will have the support of a diocesan central team that is determined to help you succeed. You will have access to a fund for mission that can be used to leverage additional support. You will be expected to become a training incumbent.
To thrive in this post, you will need to be:
* Prayerful and articulate – there is significant desire to communicate the Gospel
* Focussed and resilient – there is a significant workload of pastoral care
* Faithful and gracious – there is significant diversity in the 3 parishes
* Wise and resourceful – there will be more opportunities than you can take alone.
We expect that you will already have significant leadership experience, ideally within parish settings. You will work with, and be able to get the best out of, staff and volunteers, heritage churches, community buildings, civic partners, and other Christian denominations.
We offer you an excellent home to live in (see Appendix), a stipend of £30,000, annual CMD grant, retreat time, clear HR and supportive leadership. As we await a new Diocesan Bishop, we confidently predict that this post will be sustained and supported going forward.
You will be Team Rector (designate) until the pastoral scheme is made. You will be building on strong foundations, with parishes that are still learning to work together. The benefice profile will help you understand the strengths and challenges of these parishes.
Download the Benefice Profile and application form below. Please note that applications must be submitted by email to
Closing Date 12:00 9 July 2024
Interviews 24th July 2024 (with alternative dates if unable to attend)
Full details at https://www.
Informal enquiries Ven Richard Harlow, Archdeacon of Huntingdon & Wisbech
Telephone 07415 757527
Safer Recruitment in the Diocese of Ely
The Diocese of Ely is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees to undertake safeguarding checks and training relevant to their role and to adhere to the. Therefore, this position is subject to an enhanced disclosure from the DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service).
(the spacious Vicarage, Wisbech)
Our Diocese:
The Diocese of Ely stretches from Cambridge to Peterborough and out towards the coastal areas of West Norfolk. It houses 3/4 million people, which will rise to 1 million in the next 15 years. This area buzzes with energy from the academic, business and medical excellence of Cambridge University to the rich agricultural areas of Huntingdon, Fenland and Norfolk.
Despite the presence of a world leading university, Cambridgeshire is not all affluent. Towns and cities have pockets of poverty and low attainment. Rural areas can be isolated and insular. The churches are strong in some places, but there is much work to be done.
The Diocese of Ely is a good place to live and work: stable finances, good housing, inclusive and warm hearted bishops, coupled with a rich diversity of benefices in all traditions make this a place that clergy stay once they have discovered us. We have just over 100 incumbent status clergy, with a strong Diocesan team, and a real emphasis on lay development and training.
The Diocesan Bishop has moved on, but the diocese remains on a steady course, as it seeks our next Diocesan. Our Mission Strategy, Ely 2025, devolves much decision making to the parishes, benefices and deaneries, so that clergy are able to innovate, take risks and build alliances for the sake of the Kingdom of God and the good of our communities. We welcome applications from clergy who are prepared to work collaboratively and faithfully. We will enable you to flourish and grow in ministry, whilst maintaining a sensible work life balance.
(Wisbech Town Centre in bloom)