Rector for the Parishes of Kimpton and Ayot St Lawrence - The Church of England

Description

The Benefice of Kimpton and Ayot St Lawrence seek a priest to promote the love of God throughout our two villages and to lead inspiring worship within our churches. Situated in beautiful, Hertfordshire countryside with national rail and motorway links easily accessible, this is a part-time post within the Diocese of St Albans.

For an informal chat or for application details please contact the Archdeacon of St Albans office at or Tel

Closing date for applications: Wednesday, 29th May 2024 at 12 noon

Interview day: Monday, 24th June 2024

The parishes of Kimpton and Ayot St Lawrence offer a unique opportunity to minister to two very different churches, just 2 miles apart. Both are placed within an exceptionally beautiful part of the Hertfordshire countryside and are Grade 1 listed buildings. The two churches offer a diversity of churchmanship and usage. St Peter and St Paul, Kimpton, and its vicarage are situated in a vibrant village with a very strong community spirit and a primary school, shop and pub. St Lawrence Church, Ayot St Lawrence, is a Festival Church in a very small village of about 100 adults with a pub and National Trust property. We recognise each other's strengths and honour our differences. As our parish priest could you continue to maintain the vital role of these two distinctly different churches at the heart of their village life and enable them to flourish?

What we offer

• Both churches play an important part in our active and lively village communities. Hosting events such as art shows, a folk music festival, a Christmas market, concerts, harvest suppers and wine tastings as well as services. The churches are important to people who don't necessarily worship in them.
• We have a team of experienced people who have many gifts and give them freely to support the churches and the incumbent. Including a Lay Reader, church wardens, friendly and supportive PCCs, a robed choir at Kimpton, an organist, bell ringers, flower arrangers and working parties.
• A gracious, double fronted, detached Edwardian vicarage, situated on Kimpton High Street with 4 bedrooms and a sunny, south facing rear garden.
• Church and village communities which strive to be accepting of everyone whatever their faith, age, gender or sexuality.

What we are seeking

• Someone who can inspire a curiosity about faith within each parish. Reaching out to all in the community to draw people in to learn about God's love and to deepen their spiritual journey whatever their age or background.
• Someone who can lead inspiring worship that is relevant to our congregations; a good teacher of the Bible and faith but also someone who listens and can empathise with doubt and intellectual enquiry. Someone who enjoys creating varied and engaging forms of worship; and would be happy to support the Festival Church model.
• Someone who will live in the Vicarage and be a central figure within the life of the church and villages. Working effectively as a team leader, while collaboratively drawing out the skills of the community. A person with a genuine sense of humour, who would be easily approachable by everyone in the villages and church communities.

This is a part time post to suit individuals at different stages of their ministry journey and would be ideal for a priest who might, for example, be pursuing further study, be employed in another role (secular or in the Church), or who has caring responsibilities. It could also work well for someone who simply wishes to reduce their working commitments.

We are not churches which say "This is how we do things"; we are churches which say "This is how we do things at the moment, but how can we do them better?". We would love you to be here helping us to improve our response to God, our community and the needs of the wider world. If you can picture yourself walking alongside us on the next stage of our journeys, we would be overjoyed to hear from you.