OVERVIEW
The Parish of Croydon wishes to appoint an Associate Vicar with responsibility for chaplaincy in the John Whitgift Foundation, the body sponsoring the post. The funding is not time limited.
The vision is for a priest to join the College of Priests in the parish – three priests, two churches, one parish – focused on Croydon Minster and chaplaincy to the John Whitgift Foundation chaplaincy, but flexible to share tasks and duties across the parish, working collegially with fellow priests.
This post will suit an energetic priest, committed to liturgy, preaching, teaching, pastoral care and mission, rooted in the daily offices and Eucharist.
POST INTRODUCTION
Croydon Minster is the civic church of Croydon in the Catholic and choral tradition and a member of the Major Churches Network.
The John Whitgift Foundation runs two independent schools in Croydon and almshouses, sheltered and nursing accommodation (with chapels).
The Parish covers Croydon Old Town, the Waddon area and the heart of civic Croydon, comprising two Districts: Croydon Minster and St George, Waddon. The parish is part of the Croydon Central Deanery.
The population is recorded as 17,556. It is younger, more diverse and more deprived than national figures. 20% of the population is aged 15-29yrs and 26% aged 30-44yrs. 50% of the population lives in rented accommodation of one sort. It is not unusual for young adults to start coming to church and then move out of the area. The Index of Multiple Deprivation overall deprivation figure is 11%. Over 20% of households are single occupancy, 36% have single family with dependent children. London is a majority minority city and this is reflected in Croydon: white British (42%), Black (25%). The Minster congregation has this diversity too, with those of (predominantly West) African and Caribbean heritage. After Christianity (49%), Islam is the biggest religious affiliation (10%) in Croydon, but 25% report no religion. Full data about the parish can be found here. Unsurprisingly, aspects of this data are not reflected at Whitgift and Trinity Schools.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
The postholder will share fully in:
* The life of the parish –
1. liturgical,
2. homiletic,
3. catechetical,
4. pastoral,
5. missional.
* Lead on the parish’s engagement with educational institutions in the Minster District (Minster Nursery and Infant School & Minster Junior School). (NB Aerodrome Primary Academy is in the St George’s District: the associate priest at St George’s is Chair of Governors and leads on engaging with the school);
* The postholder will be a member of the PCC, PCC Standing Committee and chair the Minster District Church Council (DCC).
* Lead on chaplaincy to the schools and care provision of the John Whitgift Foundation.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The postholder will be:
* Catholic in spirit and in practice, committed to the Daily Offices and Mass;
* A strong preacher;
* Confident in the historic faith of the Church of England;
* A lover of the Anglican choral tradition;
* Committed to pastoral care and spiritual accompaniment, especially amongst young people;
* Nuanced in relating to those who do not share the Christian faith or assumptions;
* Able to demonstrate commitment to chaplaincy in school and care settings;
* Discreet in confidential matters and have high levels of integrity;
* Committed to the collegial setting of the Parish of Croydon;
* Committed to study and have an enquiring mind;
* Resilient, flexible and able to go the extra mile;
* Committed and assiduous in the implementation of the PCC Safeguarding Policy and Diocesan training.
ABOUT US
Croydon Minster is a church in good spirits, with beautiful generous Catholic liturgy, Sunday Choral Evensong (and on two evenings a week in term time) sung by an excellent choral foundation, daily Mass and Offices said together in church. We look beyond ourselves in work with the Separated Child Foundation, Crisis and Croydon Nightwatch.
In ministerial terms, the parish as a whole is a place of energy and purpose where a priest, who enjoys working collegially, can thrive. We look after each other as colleagues, within the context of having high expectations of our contribution to our priestly ministry. As well as praying together we seek to read, share theological passions and be open in our discussions of our ministry.
We work well with our schools, but can develop that further. The Minster also has opportunities to grow our children and young people’s work. We have scope to engage further with our locality, to recalibrate what it means to be a ‘civic church’ and to be a Minster church. We have many of the features of the life of a parish, but also expectations (self-imposed and externally imposed) to be quasi-Cathedral in feel. This makes for a creative tension: who we are as a church for Croydon in our times is our challenge. A profile of the parish in 2024 can be found here.
For an informal conversation with The Revd Canon Dr Andrew Bishop, Vicar of Croydon, please contact his PA t.kierzek@croydonminster.org.
Closing Date: Sunday 2 March 2025 (midnight)
Parish Visit & Interviews: Thursday 27 March 2025
We have a policy in Southwark Diocese that to be appointed to an incumbent status post, a priest must have served a title post in an Anglican church in the British Isles. We aim to be a diverse and truly representative Diocese, and particularly welcome applications from women and people of UKME heritage.
This post is subject to DBS enhanced disclosure.
Please note that your Pathways generated CV will be downloaded and reviewed alongside your application, so please do ensure this information is up to date.
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