THE DIOCESE OF LINCOLNBENEFICES OF THE BROTHERTOFT GROUP

and THE SIBSEY WITH CARRINGTON GROUP

COULD YOU BE OUR ‘GOOD SHEPHERD’?

(Window in St. Gilbert of Sempringham’s Church, Brothertoft)

BENEFICES OF THE BROTHERTOFT GROUP AND THE SIBSEY AND CARRINGTON GROUP

OUR PARISH PROFILE

THE DIOCESE OF LINCOLN has a vision “To be a healthy, vibrant and sustainable Church - to transform lives in greater Lincolnshire”. They urge congregations to pray, “May we be Faithful in our worship, Confident in our discipleship and Joyful in our service”, and we are.

OUR UNITED MISSION STATEMENT is ‘Together in Christ – to love, to worship and to serve God’.

ARE YOU SOMEONE WHO FEELS CALLED TO RURAL MINISTRY, and who will increase the spread of the Gospel in our Parishes, through prayer and teaching; lead, cultivate and enthuse teams of volunteers involved in the ministry, administration and

upkeep of our nine churches; be a visible and known presence in our communities, and events; engage with children and young families; encourage and enable all of us to work together more closely; take us through the MAP (Mission and Planning Programme within two yrs.) - a Diocesan

expectation?

We have predominantly older congregations but we pray for younger generations to seethe relevance of Jesus Christ in their lives, and to come and join us.

OUR CHURCHMANSHIPWe are comfortable with a range of worship and a broad expression of faith. Robes arepreferred when presiding at Holy Communion, with appropriate flexibility for other Services.

WHAT CAN WE OFFER YOU?We have supportive, hardworking and dedicated PCCs, DCCs, and Church Wardens. We already have good working relationships with the local Schools, the Royal British Legion, and other Village Organisations. We have a real desire to encourage, and to see, growth in our churches.

PERSONAL SUPPORTWe would expect our Vicar to have time for his/her own well-being, their family life and their own spiritual development. We would support time off for Retreats, and the purchase of relevant literature. We would respect your day off. YOUR WELL-BEING IS IMPORTANT TO US.

1.

YOUR NEW HOME will be a modern four bedroomed house situated in the charming village of SIBSEY. (See Appendix A for details and plan).

The church is within easy walking distance, as is the good village shop (with post office), the village hall, and the pub! There are numerous associations to join, for family members of all ages. The Primary School Ofsted rating is “Good” and the Pre-school Nursery is rated “Excellent”. Secondary schools are within an easy bus ride and offer a wide variety of choice including traditional Grammar schools. The village is on the main ‘bus route with easy access to local larger towns.

OUR VILLAGES sit on the edge of the Lincolnshire Fens and The Wolds and are within easy reach of the East Coast resorts. The unique landscape is famous for its “wonderful views, open skies and stunning sunrises and sunsets”.

2.The extremely rural nature of the area has meant that a dispersed population settlement pattern has arisen in all but Sibsey village, which has approximately 900 properties. There is excellent accessibility to facilities locally also to major road networks, trains and even airports.

The town of Boston is five miles from home and has essential facilities such as a hospital, railway station, theatre, multiplex cinema, and multiple stores, alongside a traditional market held on two days of the week. It has a College of Further Education, and Lincoln has its own University Campus and Teaching College. In this locality you can enjoy the best of both lifestyles – the peace of rural life and the ‘hustle and bustle’ of city life. Within an hour you are able to reach Lincoln or Peterborough and within two hours Nottingham, Leicester, York, or even London.

OUR WORSHIP

Monthly pattern of Services

The Brothertoft Group Service venue is rotated alphabetically.

NB Both PCCs are open to changes that a new Incumbent may wish to make.

3.

KEY COLLEAGUES

Holland Fen

Kirton Holme

Langrick

Wildmore

Brothertoft

FirstSunday

9.00amH.C. (Vicar)Brothertoft Group

10.30amH.C. (Vicar)Sibsey

SecondSunday

9.00amH.C. (Vicar)New Bolingbroke

10.30amMorning Worship (lay-led)Sibsey

10.45amH.C. (Vicar)Brothertoft Group

Third Sunday

9.00amH.C. (Vicar)Sibsey

10.30am H.C. (Methodist led)Carrington

10.45amMorning Worship(Lay led)Brothertoft Group

Fourth Sunday

9.00am H.C. (Vicar)Frithville

10.45amH.C. (Vicar)Brothertoft Group

6.30pm (Vicar/Lay)Sung EvensongSibsey

Fifth Sunday

H.C./ H.C. ‘Nine Churches Together’10.30 / 10.45

Usually followed by a Shared Lunch.

It could be developed further

We have a Licensed Reader approved to take Funerals and to administer home communion. There is also a good working relationship with Methodist Ministers and Lay Preachers. We have dedicated Church Wardens and several people licensed to administer the chalice. Worship teams are willing to help lead non-sacramental services and to assist in the planning and preparation of special services. There are teams of people willing to welcome, read and intercede during Services.There is a Safeguarding Officer, and Teams for Pastoral Visiting, Children’s Work, Hospitality, and the Magazine. We also have active Fund Raising Committees.

OUR EXPECTATIONSCelebration Services

Special Services are Carols, Christingle, Crib, Christmas, Easter, Harvest, Remembrance and All Souls - and these are well attended.

Outskirts of Boston Wildmore Service Harvest Festival Services are held in each church, mainly on a Sunday one on a Thursday. Each village has either a Remembrance Service or an Act of Remembrance at their Cenotaph. These may be Priest or Lay led. The local branch of the Royal British Legion is consulted and their members take part. Carol Services are held throughout the Parishes, with variable days and times. Christmas Communion service times and venues are decided annually and are fairly rotated.

Parish Meetings

The Vicar is Chair of the two PCCs, which meet once a quarter, including AGMs. There are also 5 DCCs led by a lay vice-chair. All have an AGM at which the Vicar is expected to attend. Special meetings are held when matters require urgent attention. In the Sibsey Group, a Church Fabric Sub-Committee is chaired by a Church Warden. Your attendance is welcome but not obligatory as a report goes to the PCC for discussion/approval. There was a joint Bible Study/Prayer Group, previously led by the Vicar.

Deanery Synod

Meetings are held four times a year. We have Lay representatives, one of whom is the Deanery Treasurer who is on the Diocesan Synod.

4.Schools

We have four Primary Schools and one Nursery School. Maintaining a Christian presence in these schools is essential. Assemblies are taken in three of these once a month. The fourth is by liaison with the Methodist Minister who runs a ‘Messy Church’ session in that village. Sibsey Free School hold their ‘End-of-Term’ services in the church, the Vicar being a School Governor and a co-opted Trustee. Until the Vicar’s retirement, there was a ‘Pre-School Children and Parents’ session in church, once per month. Church members actively pursue opportunities to engage with children. During the Vacancy, volunteers are going into schools with the ‘Open the Book’ programme to read Bible stories during Assembly.

Family Activity Sessions

These sessions are usually held once a quarter – in Sibsey and Holland Fen. They are based on biblical themes with a variety of art and crafts on offer. During the session, there is a short Act of Worship, and refreshment is provided or packed lunches brought.

RoadHOG

At Sibsey, we support and staff the RoadHOG (House of God) – a specially adapted double-decker ‘bus – to reach out to the teenagers in our villages.

5.

OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET THE COMMUNITY

Social and Fund Raising occasions are held throughout the year. Come and enjoy Snowdrop Sunday, Coffee Mornings, Summer Fairs, Strawberry Teas, Harvest Suppers, Quiz Evenings and Musical Concerts. You will be welcomed.

The Fairtrade Stall A warm welcome awaits at the Easter Coffee Morning at St. Margaret’s

Flower Festival at Wildmore Garden Party at Wildmore

Kirton Holme Coffee Morning Holland Fen Country Fair

OUTREACH/PUBLICITY

The wider communication of our mission and the need to reach out into the community are vital to our growth and service to others. There are existing Church websites which could be developed to appeal to young and old alike. This would work very effectively alongside our well-established and attractive church magazine. We also feature on the ‘achurchnearyou’ website. Our Magazine is aptly named ‘The Bridge’ as it spans both Benefices. It is professionally printed, financially viable and circulated to over 550 homes. Advertising is forthcoming from local rural businesses with whom we work well. Eleven editions are produced each year and distributed by volunteers.The small Editorial Team strives to keep the content lively, interesting and appealing to both Church attendees and the wider community. Details of Church services are clearly presented for each month. Additionally, our large rural area is vibrant with other Church activities and local events. We work hard to promote these to ‘All’.

6.

FINANCE

We are not afraid to face the financial realities of running a church in today`s world. We are fortunate in that five of our nine churches are Fen Chapels, the external fabric being the responsibility of the Church Commissioners.

PARISH SHARE GROUP REQUESTED AMOUNT PAID

2017 BROTHERTOFTSIBSEY

£11,122.16£15,771.96

£10,593.00£15,000.00

2018 BROTHERTOFTSIBSEY

£11,315.99 £15,300.00

£11,315.99£12,000.00

2019 BROTHERTOFTSIBSEY

£12,448.00 £16,830.00

For Parish data - see Appendix B

CONCLUSIONInevitably, with nine churches, the Vicar might wish to review the organisation of meetings, delegate some administrative tasks, and be an enabler. In turn, we promise to support to the best of our ability.

Each PCC has its own character and style. We come together with our ‘Nine Church’ Services and our magazine production. We accept our differences and distances geographically. ‘The Brothertoft Benefice’ has 25 years’ experience of working together. The ‘Sibsey with Frithville Benefice’ and the ‘Carrington and New Bolingbroke’ Benefice were united in 2013, to form ‘The Sibsey and Carrington Benefice’.

Whilst the Vicar is meeting the people in the Parish, ministering to their need, he/she will be able to enjoy the freedom of the countryside and, we hope, experience pastoral fulfilment and satisfaction. “A viewing is strongly recommended”. What are you waiting for?

We are pastures and flocks waiting for ‘a Good Shepherd’.

7.

NOT TO SCALE

Wildmore New Bolingbroke A16

Holland Fen B1192 Carrington

Langrick B1183 Frithville

B1184 Sibsey

Brothertoft

A1121 BOSTON Kirton Holme A16

A52 8.

THE FOLLOWING PAGES GIVE A BRIEF HISTORY, THE ACTIVITIES AND GENERAL INFORMATION OF THE NINE CHURCHES

OUR CHURCHES

BENEFICE OF THE SIBSEY AND CARRINGTON GROUPST. MARGARET’S, SIBSEYSt. Margaret’s is the ‘Mother Church’ of the Sibsey and Carrington Group – a Grade 1 plus listed building - built originally in the early 12th century. It has many architecturally interesting features, and thankfully the chancel roof has recently been completely repaired via the Lay Rectors. Sunday attendances are usually 30/40, rising to nearly a ‘full house’ on such occasions as Harvest, Remembrance, Christmas Eve (Crib Service and Midnight Mass) and the End of Term services for the School. (During the Vacancy, a member of the congregation has been going into school to read an ‘Open the Book’ Bible story during some Assemblies.) We have a good relationship with the RBL and the children’s uniformed organisations, and they join us for the Remembrance Service. We support Fair Trade, and their goods are on sale at the end of morning services. During the year we hold Easter and Christmas Coffee Mornings, a Summer Fair and a Musical Concert, and these are well-supported. There is a ‘Pop-in’ every Thursday morning, ‘open for all’, and this team also host a Macmillan Coffee Morning in September. The church tower is home to a peal of eight bells and we welcome visiting bell-ringing teams several times a year. St. Margaret`s took part in the first ‘Holland Places of Worship Festival’ in 2017, and will do so again in 2018. Websites: ‘Sibsey group of churches’ on Facebook/ ‘achurchnearyou’

The tower and War Memorial ‘The New Name’ accompany Morning Worship

There are an organist and choir at Holy Communion, Morning Prayer, and Sung Evensong.

St. Margaret’s ‘dressed’ for a wedding The M.U. meet in Church on the first Tuesday of each month.

9.

ST. PETER’S, FRITHVILLE

Frithville is a small village, with a thriving school and a village hall. The population is approx. 250 households and is growing steadily. The church of St. Peter built in 1821 is similar to Carrington. The Church has had extensive work carried out in recent years on the exterior, funded by the Church Commissioners. The cupola is due to be reinstated. Currently, there is one service held each month with a regular congregation of twelve. There are two side persons who prepare for services and a dedicated team of flower arrangers and cleaners. Historically Frithville was a member of the South Lindsey Ecumenical Partnership with services led by both Anglican and Methodist ministers. The congregation are more than willing to accept services led by either of these denominations if this enhances the continuation of regular services. One church member assists with reading in the school and a volunteer has agreed to read ‘Open the Book’ during the Assembly. There is much potential in this village to increase the attendance at church, with both church and school keen to work together.

ST. PAUL’S, CARRINGTON

There are approx. 100 houses in this very agricultural village. Famous for the magnificent snowdrop display each year, this is a lively community linking activities with a busy village hall. The Church of St. Paul was built in 1816, a year after the battle of Waterloo. The simple red brick Church stands in a churchyard filled with snowdrops in winter and primroses in spring. Visitors remark that it is well kept and has a peaceful

and welcoming atmosphere. We are lucky that the fabric of the Church is maintained by the Church Commissioners - as are the other two Fen Chapels of Frithville and New Bolingbroke.Carrington has funds available for the long term upkeep of the Church. There are new houses being built in the village, and we are hopeful of the potential for an increased congregation/renewal.

10.

ST. PETER’S CHURCH, NEW BOLINGBROKE

The Church of St.Peter was built in 1854. There is a population of approx. 400 and each month a service is

held at the church. The newly renovated ‘Town’ hall is bringing more life to the village and we hope as a church to link into this new growth, to increase our attendances at services (usually about 10) and become a more active

participant in village activities. This year the newly formed village Community Group are participating in the English Heritage Weekend and have requested that the Church be open as part of this occasion. This is an Important indication of new vitality in the village and gives us promise for the future. Carols in the Town Hall

B E N E F I C E O F T H E B R O T H E R T O F T G R O U P

ST. GILBERT OF SEMPRINGHAM’S CHURCH, BROTHERTOFT

St. Gilbert’s Church, dating back to the 1500s, lies off the B1192 in rural surroundings. It is accessed via a roadway across park-land. It is the oldest church in the Brothertoft Group. The church is constructed of stone with a slate roof and bell-cote. The roof construction of oak timbers is

in the form of a ship’s keel. The east window is especially attractive depicted in stained glass. In the church, there are pews in the nave and a gallery providing seating for approximately 120 people. The regular service rota allows for a morning service every five weeks with further celebrations of important dates in the church calendar.

Photograph - Celebrating the Queen’s Birthday

11.

ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH, HOLLAND FEN All Saints’ Church Holland Fen is part of the Group of five Fen Churches and Chapels. It is a Grade 2 listed building of special historical and architectural significance.

The church was built in 1812 as a Chapel of Ease but was dedicated as a Parish church in 1924. The Coat of Arms of George III hangs on the south facing wall in the nave.The church stands in an open grassed area set back from the road with open fields on all sides and is situated adjacent to the North Forty Foot Drain on a minor road between Brothertoft and Chapel Hill. The church is open daily; runs children’s activity days during school holidays using the local Parish Hall facilities. We hold a monthly coffee morning, and various fund raising events, highlighted by the Autumn Country Fair, with appropriate displays in the church. Besides the graveyard at Holland Fen the church is responsible for two other graveyards in the area where the churches are now private residences.

(Photograph taken at the Bicentennial Celebration)

CHRIST CHURCH, KIRTON HOLMEKirton Holme is a small village 5 miles from Boston and is the only one in the Brothertoft Group that can claim to have a ‘village centre’. Christ Church is a former Methodist Chapel and was dedicated in 1964 when it relocated from its previous site nearby in the village. There is no graveyard at Kirton Holme. It has a Church Hall adjoining it and both the Church and Hall are in good condition. We have maintained a link with the Methodists and also over the years formed a strong bond with the Salvation Army in Boston, with whom we shared our Church for a period whilst theirs was being renovated. The Church holds several well supported events during the year, with the Harvest and Christmas ones often over-subscribed. These are seen not only as fundraising but maintaining contact and outreach with parishioners. We receive great support from the community. Historically, the Church has been the focal point in the village for national events such as royal Jubilees and Birthdays. There is a support group raising funds for The Children’s Society with events held locally and a Christingle Service held in the Church. A

monthly Community Coffee Morning is held in the Church Hall, mainly led by church members, which reinforces our presence in the village. As with other Churches in the Group we are part of the travelling congregation that supports each other as our services operate on a rota basis. (www.kirtonholmechurch.co.uk)

(Garden Party at Kirton Holme)

12.

ST. MARGARET’S CHURCH, LANGRICK

The church dates from 1828, and is one of the few remaining Fen Chapels which have the exterior of the building maintained by the Church Commissioners. The church can accommodate about 100 people. It is part of the Brothertoft Group of Churches, and usually has a service every five weeks, on a rota basis with the other churches. It is able to be used for all church services including weddings, funerals and baptisms. The church had its last ‘overhaul’ both internally and externally in 2013, to satisfy the quinquennial report of that period. The adjoining cemetery is well maintained and can

account for a number of residents reserving spaces therein. The wild flowers make the area very colourful. The Parish Council have the responsibility for maintaining and operating the adjacent village hall. Activities that the church may wish to hold there include quiz nights, the annual supper, and strawberry tea. (Photo - Teddy Bears’ Picnic Service)

ST.PETER’S CHURCH, WILDMORE

Wildmore is the Parish but the local village is New York. St. Peter’s is located on the edge of the Wildmore Fen. A ‘Fen Chapel’, it was completed in 1816. It stands almost isolated and some distance from the village community, so congregations have always needed to travel to reach it. The number of people who attend worship from the parish is low but the Church has a lot of community support, so organised events are always really well attended, whatever they are, so there are excellent opportunities for mission. The Church, village school and hall are the communal features of the parish. The church does not have a hall, and as it is not in the village, most events take place in the village hall. The village school is located between the Church and the village proper. There has always been a strong relationship between them. At the moment a monthly ‘Open the Book’ visit takes place which is very well received as are other Christian related activities. St. Peter’s is used to co-existing with other churches as it had a working relationship with St. Margaret’s at Langrick before the formation of the Brothertoft Group.

13.

Appendix A

Your New HomePE22 ORT

The Vicarage stands in Vicarage Lane, Sibsey. It is a four-bedroomed house, with an enclosed garden.

The ground floor has a main front door. To the left is a toilet, to the right is a large study which could be used as a meeting room/parish office, if you wish.

Facing the front door, is an inner door with lock, leading to the hall. On the right of the hall is the sitting room and on the left is a dining room. To the right of the dining room is the kitchen, with a walk-in pantry.There is also a utility room.

On the first floor, there are four bedrooms. The master bed-room has an en-suite, the second and third bedrooms each have a fitted wardrobe. The fourth room is a single. There is also a bath/shower room and toilet.

The house has oil-fired central heating.

The house has undergone redecoration and we understand some rooms have been re-carpeted.

The house has a lovely, homely atmosphere and we are sure you will enjoy living here!

See plan of the vicarage on the next page.

Plan drawn up in 2008; proposed extensions were

effected.

Appendix B

Parish Data

Electoral RollBrothertoft Group - 70Sibsey Group - 99

Population 2011CensusBrothertoft Group - 3,100Sibsey Group - 3,112 Attendance

Weekly/Christmas Eve / Easter Brothertoft Group 20 / 52 / 22Sibsey Group 40 / 181 / 75

Other Services in 2018: Baptisms Weddings Funerals 10 6 22