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The Joint Benefice of St. Mary's Datchet &

St. Thomas' Colnbrook

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Contents Page

➢ Cover ………………………………………………………………………… 1

➢ Aspiration ………………………………………………………… 2

➢ Introduction ………………………………………………………………. 4

➢ Vision …………………………………………………………………………. 4

➢ Location ……………………………………………………………………… 4

➢ Datchet and Colnbrook Towns ………………………………….. 5

➢ Our Strengths and Vulnerabilities ……………………………… 5

➢ Mission Action Plans ………………………………………………. 7

➢ Our New Vicar …………………………………………………………… 8

➢ Ministry Support ……………………………………………………….. 9

➢ Mission and Outreach – Youth …………………………………. 10

➢ Mission and Outreach – Community ……………………….. 13

➢ Prayer and Worship ………………………………………………….. 14

➢ St Mary’s Services ……………………………………………………… 15

➢ St Thomas’ Services………………………………………………....... 16

➢ Lay Leadership …………………………………………………………… 17

➢ Stewardship ……………………………………………………………….. 18

➢ Person Specification ………………………………………………. 20

➢ Vicarage …………………………………………………………………….. 21

➢ Contact Details ………………………………………………………….. 22

➢ Buildings ……………………………………………………………………. 23

➢ Barker Bridge House Trust ………………………………………… 24

➢ Church Community Centre ………………………………………. 24

➢ Communities and Schools ………………………………………… 25

➢ Appendix 1 Diocesan Information …………………………….. 27

➢ Appendix 2 Burnham and Slough Deanery ……………… 28

➢ Appendix 3 Accounts ………………………………………………… 30

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Introduction

Thank you for looking at our joint Parish Profile. We hope this Parish Profile will help you decide whether God is calling you to help serve in our Parishes.

Although in the past we have functioned as two separate parishes; since the vacancy we have been able

to work more closely together and are looking forward to developing this. We have two locations but

one supportive Church community which is looking for a welcoming Vicar to fuse the traditional with the

contemporary. We are excited about the future and potential of our spiritual family here at St Mary’s and

St Thomas and look forward with open hearts, to welcoming our new leader.

Our Vision To work collaboratively with a 21st century thinker and doer, who can help us continue to grow and

develop the Christian message in our parishes in innovative and imaginative ways.

“I have a dream” - Martin Luther King

“Let the little children to come unto me” - Matthew 19:14

“Be strong and courageous” - Joshua 1:9

“Fear not for I am with you” -. Isaiah 41:10

“For with God nothing shall be impossible” - Luke 1:37

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” - Philippians 4:13

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” - Hebrews 13:8

“Love your neighbour as yourself” - Mark 11:31

We put our hearts and souls into our Churches

and into this Parish Profile.

Will you join with us?

Location

Datchet and Colnbrook are two large

villages situated between the M4 and the

River Thames. Datchet has a population of

around 5000 and Colnbrook about 6500.

The Parishes were united as a Benefice in

2006 and although geographically

separated, only touching at the

roundabout by junction 5 on the M4, they

are continuing to explore their shared

vision, ministry and mission. The distance

from one end of Datchet to the other end

of Colnbrook is approximately five miles.

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Datchet is a pretty village on the banks of the

Thames. St Mary’s Church is in the heart of the village

overlooking the traditional village green with a war

memorial and surrounded by a number of listed buildings.

Our Church is an active part of a thriving village

community, with our hugely popular annual pantomime

and volunteer-run coffee shop “The Bridge”. Datchet is

located some three miles from Windsor & Slough, and

seven miles from London Heathrow Airport. There are

excellent rail connections into London from both Datchet

and Slough. St. Mary’s Church has 130 people on the electoral role, with perhaps 120 people who could

be considered ‘regulars’. Our young people proudly take an active role in our services and enjoy coming

to Church. Also noteworthy is the number of skilled individuals who give their time and talents to the

Church in many different ways.

Colnbrook St Thomas’ sits centrally to the village in a quiet,

leafy location and a wonderful tranquil quiet garden with Glebe land

fields, all maintained by volunteers. While the vicar lives in the vicarage

in Datchet, we are fortunate to have the Area Dean, the Reverend Rod

Cosh, living in Colnbrook.

Colnbrook has a ‘village feel’. Although due to the proposed and now

with the Government approval of the third runway at Heathrow Airport,

the makeup of the village may alter further. There are now more buy to

let properties and changes in the population. We are aware of the

massive investment and infrastructure that will come into our area and

the challenges and opportunities that will require innovative and

imaginative responses. We have made good links with the Polish

community and have begun ministry among them. The parish backs onto Terminal 5 of Heathrow

Airport and is therefore home to a number of industrial businesses.

At St Thomas the term ‘church family’ is often used to describe the atmosphere of our small

congregation. There are currently thirty people on our electoral roll.

We are pleased to be known as a welcoming and inclusive church, but we are not complacent. Small in

number, big in heart and hard workers, we are a flexible congregation, ready to embrace change and to

continue to serve with whoever God sends.

Our Strengths

❖ Both St Mary’s and St Thomas’ are paying consistently more than our share of ministry costs, thereby

supporting ministry in other parishes.

❖ Welcoming, active, committed congregations in both parishes.

❖ Three schools in Datchet, including a secondary C of E school and 2 schools in Colnbrook.

❖ Significant number of mature/experienced Christians who are playing key roles in lay leadership.

The village and St Mary’s steeple

St Thomas’ Church

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❖ An open community - people come to us via natural touch points, including the Schools and Scouts.

❖ Good relationships and shared ministry with other local churches in both Colnbrook and Datchet.

❖ Well-maintained, sound historic Church buildings and a modern Church hall: no fundraising needed.

❖ St Thomas’ has a part-time children and family worker.

❖ There is an impressive choir at St Mary’s with a paid choirmaster & organist.

❖ Well established and popular bible study and Lent groups run in both Parishes.

❖ Over the past three years a successful Alpha course has run annually in Datchet at The Bridge Café

supporting both villages.

❖ There is a ‘Quiet Garden’ linked to the grounds of St Thomas’.

❖ With a remarkable number of talented singers and actors, of all ages, St Mary’s puts on a successful

annual pantomime.

❖ Significant income is generated from the use of St Thomas’ and St Mary’s facilities, particularly the

new Church Community Centre in Datchet, which is actively used by the Church and village for

classes and functions.

❖ The Barker Bridge House Trust pays for all the running costs of the building of St Mary’s.

❖ Up-to-date accounts and sound financial procedures in both parishes.

Our vulnerabilities

❖ Currently stalled numbers within our congregations.

❖ Unsure of our roles within the joint benefice.

❖ Need to increase levels of planned giving at both St Thomas and St Mary’s

St Mary’s Choir

Tea and coffee in St Mary’s Church Community Centre

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Mission Action Plans

Our two parishes have a commitment to growth and offer huge potential. We welcome constructive

change and have a strong desire to work collaboratively. Both Churches are keen to build their

congregations and work hard at collaborative and meaningful action plans.

St. Thomas’ vision is twofold:

❖ to be a place of celebration and worship of God.

❖ to serve the community of Colnbrook.

In the last three years St Thomas’ Church has been developing its Mission Action Plan, the top level of

which is shown above. St Thomas’ reviews, updates and notes progress on its mission statement at each

PCC meeting. Their thoughts and forward planning are brought together at the annual Away Day at

Burnham Abbey.

St Marys agreed a new three year, 3-strand vision in 2016. The overall vision statement is: “Rooted in

Christ, reaching out to his world”, and the 3 strands are:

❖ Increasing our faith, going deeper with God.

❖ Creating a vibrant Christian community centred on Jesus.

❖ Making a difference locally and beyond in the power of the Spirit.

At St Mary’s there is a specially constituted Leadership Team, responsible for implementing the initiatives

arising from the Mission Action Plan. The banners in St Marys remind the congregation of the MAP.

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Our New Vicar

We are looking for someone who is: -

❖ Reliable

❖ Resilient

❖ Collaborative

❖ Competent

❖ Cares about people as well as God

❖ Compassionate

❖ Willing to be seen in the community

❖ Able to empathise.

Support we will both offer

❖ The strongest support we can offer, is our friendship, fellowship, time and talents and

commitment to maintaining St Thomas and St Mary’s as sanctuary central to village life.

❖ We recognise that a Vicar has a personal life as well as community responsibilities. We shall

provide support in all areas of your ministry.

❖ We will encourage you to take your weekly day off and your annual holidays.

❖ We will pay ministry expenses in full and encourage you to take an annual retreat.

St Thomas’ Quiet Garden, an oasis of peace

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Ministry Support

Our Parishes are

supported by:

The Reverend Rod Cosh:

our full-time Area Dean

who is also licenced to the

parish and based at

Colnbrook.

Suzanne Johnson: is the

Licensed Lay Minister for

both Datchet and

Colnbrook. Since 2009,

Suzanne has been working

collaboratively with the

Vicar, Retired Priest and the

Area Dean, leading worship

and conducting

funerals. Suzanne has led

Said Matins at 8am for a

number of years, and leads nurture courses, home and study groups. Pastorally she supports the

congregation and wider community as much as possible and has taken services in a local nursing

home. Suzanne is now a final year ordinand at Ripon College, Cuddesdon which has meant she has

reduced her parish commitments recently. Suzanne will be ordained deacon at Petertide 2019. Both St

Mary’s and St Thomas has fully supported and encouraged Suzanne throughout her vocational journey.

The Reverend Robert Spicer: Is a retired Self-Supporting Minister with

permission to Officiate, currently aged 78. Robert currently takes a

number of services, at St Mary’s perhaps once each month -

Wednesday Communions, Eton House Residential Home, Sunday 8am

BCP Communion, and the occasional 9.30am Main Sunday

Communion service. He also takes Home Communions to

parishioners and is available for home visiting. Robert also takes

occasional services at St Thomas

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Colnbrook Church Wardens:

Jenny Gregg Jenny has been Church Warden at St Thomas’ for seven years

and has been associated with St Thomas since the 1980’s to

present with a break for a few years. She’s had a long

connection with the Church, some happy and some sad

personal occasions. Jenny says “Our Church is a happy, friendly

and kind Church with very loyal people, whom I am very lucky

to count among my friends”

David Shields Coming back to the Church after being absent for many years, David has attended St Thomas now for

nearly ten years and says he has grown spiritually at this beautiful peaceful Church. He has been Church

Warden for four years now. David has also been appointed Lay Chair for our Deanery Synod.

Datchet Church Wardens:

Elaine Eastham Elaine has been attending St Mary’s for around ten years and has been Church Warden for four years.

she looks forward to supporting the new vicar.

Sandra Robinson

Sandra has been attending St Mary’s for the past ten

years and has been a Church Warden for the last two.

she has British and Australian citizenship: and grew up

in Australia and came to live here 20 years ago. Sandra

hugely appreciates the warm welcome - her children in

particular - have been given at St Mary’s and enjoys

being part of an active, welcoming Church.

Parish Administration

Fiona Norton Started working as the Parish Administrator at St.

Mary’s Church in March 2007, so has now been the Parish Administrator

for eleven years. Fiona works eleven hours a week over two days, i.e.

Wednesday and Friday. and occasionally does work for St. Thomas’ in

Colnbrook. There is possible scope for this support to be increased across

the Benefice.

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Mission and Outreach

Young People

Our work with young people is seen as a major strength and focus for the future by the clergy and laity

of both Churches. Datchet has three schools, Churchmead C of E (secondary) school, Datchet C of E

Primary School, and Eton End, an independent preparatory school. Colnbrook has two primary schools,

Pippins and Colnbrook Church of England Primary.

There is a common vision between St Thomas and St Mary’s to strengthen and increase the bonds

between Churches, schools and young people:

During the many meetings and discussions during the compilation of this, our joint profile, it became

clear that both churches have a distinct common vision, in the words of Martin Luther King we have a

dream, to reach out to the hearts and souls of our children within our local schools. They are and must

be the future of our churches foundation.

❖ Assemblies in schools in both parishes are regularly

taken by the Vicar.

❖ St Thomas’s Family & Children worker, John Collins,

visits Colnbrook schools weekly for ‘hanging around

ministry’ at lunchtime and also reads to the children

in class.

❖ In 2017 several Colnbrook PCC members supported

the school in a new initiative: The Prayer Space in

Schools. They helped with sessions throughout the school to accompany leaders in classroom prayer

station sessions over a week period.

❖ With the support of volunteers from St Mary’s prayer spaces were also successfully set up at both

Churchmead and Datchet St Marys.

❖ Colnbrook pupils visit the Quiet Garden for a reflective walk, using a religious and spiritually based

worksheet.

❖ Parishioners from both Churches work closely with Datchet and Colnbrook schools as governors,

readers and mentors.

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❖ The three schools in Datchet hold well-attended Christmas and Easter services in St Mary’s Church.

❖ Children from Datchet St Mary’s school are given active roles in special services, such as the nativity

play, or the Mother’s Day service.

❖ At St Mary’s work with the young people who come to our Churches is a big priority, as our 8 - 12-

year olds are strong in numbers. Currently their involvement in Church is warmly welcomed: several

singing in the choir or are responsible for operating the PA system; they have roles in our annual

Pantomime, they generally help to lead the monthly Family Services, and in other services they often

lead prayers or do readings. There is currently discussion as to how we can provide regular provision

for these young people, and a youth Alpha has been suggested.

❖ At St Mary’s Crèche (age 0 – 3 years) and Sunday School (age 3 – 12 years) meet every Sunday

except when there is a Family Service. The children meet in the Church Community Centre and

return to Church for Communion and Blessing.

❖ St Thomas’ has Fun On a Sunday Morning (FOSM) service on

the third Sunday of every month, led by John Collins, our

children and family worker and Jenny Gregg, our church

warden. A small group meets each month to plan this service

and share the tasks.

❖ St Thomas’ has an embryonic Sunday School which meets on

the second Sunday of the month and this is also run by John

our family worker and our Licenced Lay Minister Suzanne

Johnson and other volunteers.

❖ Colnbrook - Little Fishes every Friday from 10am to 11:30am. Our toddlers

group meets in Church with parents or carers for play, refreshments and

friendship, run by John Collins our family and children’s worker and

volunteer helpers.

❖ In Colnbrook beavers, cubs and scouts meet twice weekly inside the Church and use the Church’s

Glebe land for camping and games. For the first time they recently joined the congregation for the

‘Fun on a Sunday Morning’ service after their weekend summer camp, followed by lunch in the

Church.

Fete day at Colnbrook Children enjoying a boat ride on the

afternoon of the St Mary’s parish

barbeque.

Flags of the Commonwealth – The

Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations

at Colnbrook

Sunday School at St Thomas

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Community

❖ St Mary’s and St Thomas’ hosts a range of strongly supported community events – Remembrance Sunday,

School Services, St Nicolas’ Faye, Colnbrook Fun Day’s Mothers’ Day Services, a fete with Churchmead, the

Vicars’ tea party for local schools and a monthly communion service at Eton House. Both parishes work

closely with the local organisations to plan special parish events.

❖ Most recently Colnbrook has celebrated the 800th Anniversary of Magna Carta, The Queens 90th

birthday and commemorated the start of WW1. At each of these events there was a well-attended

Church service and great community participation. “It is lovely to see the village organisations

working together with this Church.”

❖ St Marys holds an annual summer barbeque for the town, held in a garden overlooking the Thames.

This is always very well attended, even in the pouring rain!

❖ The Colnbrook Fun Day in 2017 included afternoon tea for the

village in the Church grounds.

❖ The Alpha course run at St Mary’s was a most positive

experience and a ‘continuing the journey’ course and several home

groups provide valuable follow up.

❖ Our communication at both Churches with the local area is

good, with a dedicated St Mary’s website, St Thomas’ with a weekly

news sheet posted on its ‘A Church Near You’ website and both with

Facebook pages, all kept up to date. St Mary’s have a Parish

Magazine, ‘The Link’ which is distributed quarterly, free of charge,

throughout the village.

❖ At Christmas St Thomas’ serves mulled wine and mince pies in the Church after carol singing around the

village clock.

❖ ‘The Bridge’ coffee shop in Datchet is staffed by volunteers and hosts film nights as a form of

outreach. This area is also available for hire.

❖ ‘The Bridge’ also has a room functioning as an ecumenical community centre, staffed by

volunteers: Citizens Advice holds ‘drop-in’ meetings every month.

❖ The Link St Mary’s parish magazine is entirely put together by Church volunteers and is distributed

free of charge to all the homes of Datchet.

St Marys, The Bridge Café and The

Royal Stag

St Mary’s Pantomime 2016 and 2017

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Prayer and worship

Prayer

❖ At both St Thomas’ and St Marys prayer ministry, prayer

partners and the Week of Accompanied Prayer (WAP) are

valuable parts of our Church life.

❖ St Marys offers healing ministry as part of its Sunday

service.

❖ St Thomas’ has an annual Away Day at Burnham Abbey:

www.burnhamabbey.org. We join the Nuns for a service of Holy Communion and then spend time

on reflection, discussion and planning.

❖ For the last two years St Thomas’ has taken part in the Pentecost Wave of Prayer.

❖ St Thomas’ had prayer stations in Church: some people supported the Area Dean as he sang his way

in our Church through the whole of the psalms: some walked part of the way with the Area Dean as

he visited every parish in the deanery.

At the end of all the Psalms

at St Thomas

A sunny day for a service at St Thomas

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St Marys Services

Services Time Style Average Attendance

2016/17

Sunday 08:00 Holy Communion 5

Sunday 09:30 Family Communion

Sometimes with Baptisms on

the 1st Sunday; Family Service

without communion on the 3rd

Sunday;

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Sunday 18:30 Choral Evensong

Normally on the 3rd Sunday of

each month (except August).

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Wednesday 11:00 Holy Communion

Tuesday - Saturday 08:30 Daily Prayer held in the Church

5th Sunday only, Joint

service with St Thomas

Venue alternative dates

9:30 or

11am at

St

Thomas

Holy Communion

The attendance figures are higher for special services

St Mary’s - There is a flourishing Mother’s Union Group

which meets monthly on the third Thursday of each month

at 7.45 pm.

Weddings - 3

Baptisms - 13

Funerals - 10

St Mary’s Parish five-year average

St Thomas - Carols in the cold then onto mulled wine and

mince pies in the church Service at St. Mary’s

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Colnbrook Services

Services Time Style Average Attendance

2016/17

Every Friday

Said Eucharist

08:30 Common Worship Order

One

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1st Sunday - Joint service

with the United Reform

Church, alternate at our or

their Church

10:30 at

United

11:00 at St

Thomas

Common Worship with

Communion at St Thomas

and United Reform

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2nd, 4th, 5th Sunday –

Eucharist

11:00 Common Worship order

one with hymns and music

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3rd Sunday - Fun on

Sunday

09:30 Lay led family fun for

Children and adults, with

songs games and prayers

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5th Sunday only, Joint

service with St Mary's

Venue alternative dates

09:30 or

11am

Holy Communion

Every Friday – Little Fishes

Toddlers Group

10:00 to

11:00

Play, refreshments &

Friendship

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The attendance figures are higher for special services

❖ St Thomas has strong links with the small congregation of the

United Reform Church, based on Colnbrook High Street, and

on the first Sunday of the month we have a joint service,

alternating between the two Churches.

❖ Each year, St Thomas hold a special service on Easter

Saturday, Święconka, the Blessing of the Baskets which is

extremely well supported by members of our Polish

Community as well as regulars from our congregation.

St Thomas Parish numbers 2017

Weddings - 3

Baptisms - 2

Funerals - 5

United Reform Church

Blessing of the Baskets Polish Service

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Lay Leadership ❖ Both Churches are committed to the safeguarding care and nurture of everyone within our

community.

❖ We have Safeguarding Policies in place and an appointed Safeguarding Officer and expect

everyone to have the ability to work towards keeping children and vulnerable adults safe, both

within the Church and outside it.

❖ The Leadership Team works to implement the Church’s Mission Action Plan.

❖ Several talented individuals assist us with our fundraising by arranging raffles and events such as

musical evenings and fetes.

❖ Individuals responsible for our Church’s ‘mission and social responsibility’ foster links with the

missions and charities which the Church supports.

❖ Pastoral care group leaders assist the Vicar with the care of members of the congregation and

the wider parish.

❖ The Friends of St Mary’s provides financial and moral support for the work of St Mary’s in the

community.

❖ Members of the congregation run a ‘night shelter’ through the winter months for the homeless.

❖ St Marys has a particularly talented flower arranger, who leads a willing team.

The night shelter at St Marys Kitchen of the Church Community Centre, Datchet

The night shelter in the Church Community Centre, Datchet

The kitchen of the Church Community Centre, Datchet

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Stewardship

St Thomas’ ❖ St Thomas has paid the Parish Share in full for the past

five years (2012 – 2017)

❖ We are beginning to look at the Parish Giving Scheme

to address our current low levels of planned giving.

❖ One of our strengths is the amount of time and talents

that are given to the Church.

❖ For the last two years, since one of our Church Wardens

retired from full time work, the Church has been open for

much of the week. The major proportion of our unrestricted

income goes toward paying the Parish Share. Voluntary giving on a regular basis via Gift Aid is

our main source of income.

St Mary’s

❖ 45 people have now signed up to the new Parish Giving Scheme, with 62 regular givers

❖ St Marys is number two in the list of top six Churches giving via the Parish Giving Scheme, more

than some bigger Churches.

❖ St Mary’s Church is paying consistently more than our share of ministry costs, thereby supporting

ministry in other parishes. It paid £44,500 in 2017, and £4,627 went to ministry elsewhere.

❖ In 2017 St Mary’s paid £3,500 to seven different charities.

❖ The Steeple Restoration project was completed in early 2017, after a sum of approximately

£100,000 was raised. The work was done to a high standard by Cliveden Conservation and the

steeple has been made safe for 50 years or more.

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St Mary’s repaired steeple

The Church Community Centre with concertina doors

folded back

The Church Community Centre – party time!

St Thomas’ at the Apple Fair

St Mary’s choir processing through the village

St Mary’s restored steeple

Church Community Centre, Datchet

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Person Specification

Worship ❖ You are comfortable with different types of worship styles and music (traditional and modern)

and be keen to explore these where appropriate.

❖ You enjoy the active participation of children and young people in the life of the Church.

❖ You will evidence a deep prayer life and ability to draw on a wide range of spiritual resources.

❖ Able to work with the Eucharistic tradition of both St Mary’s and St Thomas’ and to further

develop our services to reach and appeal to the community, by leading thoughtful all age

worship.

Leadership ❖ You are a confident team leader and team player, eager to work collaboratively across the Parish

and beyond. Someone who can grasp the opportunities that God provides.

❖ You can think strategically and are not afraid of change and new initiatives.

❖ You have good communication skills and know how to motivate, facilitate and delegate.

❖ Someone who can develop and lead members of the congregation in lay ministry.

❖ A person who has a sense of humour or has an optimistic can-do attitude (to match our own)

Preaching and Teaching ❖ You are an inspirational teacher, with skills in both explanatory and topical preaching, who will

help us interpret the Bible and reveal its relevance to our everyday lives and circumstance.

❖ You have vision and energy and passion for reaching people with the good news of Jesus,

whoever they are.

❖ You have a deep and mature personal Christian faith with a strong belief in the authority of

Scripture.

❖ You are willing and able to encourage us all to grow in faith and spiritual maturity and to cultivate

our own individual gifts.

❖ You will have the ability to find out where people are on their faith journey and accompany them.

Community ❖ You help us develop our vision to serve our different communities.

❖ You help us to engage with people of all ages and backgrounds.

❖ You continue to engage actively with local schools.

❖ You work collaboratively with other churches and local associated groups (youth, scouting,

education, spiritual)

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Vicarage – Parish Office and study

The Vicarage is a detached house, built approximately 30 years ago, and located in a quiet residential

area to the rear of St Mary’s church in Datchet. It has a large ground floor study and a separate parish

office, with a cloak room in the lobby. On the ground floor is an entrance lobby leading to a large family

room and kitchen, a separate dining room and a utility room. Upstairs are the four bedrooms and two

bathrooms.

There is a large garden to the rear, space for up to seven cars in the front, and a garage. The vicarage is

set back off London Road, with access via a single-track lane currently shared with two other properties.

The parish office is separate from the main living area with its own entrance.

Large study Living room

Kitchen

Vicarage from

the rear

The Vicarage from the front The back garden

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Churches – contact details

St Mary’s Datchet

Name of Parish: St Mary’s Church, Datchet

Diocese: Oxford

Deanery: Burnham & Slough

Address: The Green, Datchet, Berkshire, SL3 9JW

Website: www.achurchnearyou.com/church/416/

Email: office@stmarysdatchet.org.uk

Parish Office: (01753) 580467

Church Wardens

Elaine Eastham - 07960 859697

email: ladypink_11@hotmail.co.uk

Sandra Robinson - 07765 043669

Email: srobinson0107@aol.co.uk

St Thomas Colnbrook Name of Parish: St Thomas’ Church, Colnbrook

Diocese: Oxford

Deanery: Burnham & Slough

Address: Vicarage Way, Colnbrook, Berkshire SL3

0JY

Website: www.achurchnearyou.com/colnbrook-st-

thomas

Email: stthomascolnbrook@outlook.com

Church Wardens

Jenny Gregg – 01753 792846

email: jenny.gregg@sky.com

David Shields – 01753 681079 Mobile: 0751 388 3412

email: dmace1@btinternet.com

Children & Family Worker: John Collins: 0757 253 6475

Email:boogles_jc@ahoo.co.uk

‘Our vision is to be rooted In Christ’

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‘We are here to provide a place of worship and

celebration before god and to serve Christ in

the Community’

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Buildings

St. Thomas' Church is a well-maintained grade 2 listed

building Designed by Benjamin Ferrey in the Early English

Style and built between 1849 1852.

The latest Quinquennial inspection states that: -

“The Church and Churchyard is well maintained and is

generally in a good condition”

“The majority of the defects listed in the last Quinquennial Inspection Report have been attended to and

this is a testament to the dedication of the Church’s supporters”

St Thomas’ Memorial Chapel consists of an Altar and Chapel area on the North side of the Church.

There is a large Church yard, which is now closed to burials but available for interment of ashes. For the

last two years, since our Church Warden retired from full time work, the Church has been open for most

of the week.

First World War memorial – within St Thomas

Second World War memorial – within St Thomas

Gardening at St Thomas

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St Mary’s Church, originally part of St Alban’s Abbey, originates from the thirteenth century. The Church

fell into disrepair and was demolished and entirely rebuilt by the Victorians between about 1856 and

1864.

Barker Bridge House Trust – Barker

Bridge House Trust

Income is generated from the lease of the Royal Stag Public

House, situated adjacent to the church, and a small sum from

farm land rent. The trustees reimburse the PCC of St Mary’s

for any expenditure incurred in respect of keeping the

Church, including the Church Community Centre, in a good

state of repair and condition. The income of the Trust was

£37,200 (2016 - £22,400). The Church Branch Trustees made grants totalling £15,484 to the PCC for

repair and maintenance to the Parish Church.

Church Community Centre, Datchet St Mary’s Church Community Centre, CCC for short, was built in 2014 after a huge fundraising drive. It is

much appreciated by the congregation and is used every Sunday by the choir, Sunday School and the

crèche, and for coffee and tea after the service. The CCC has a soundproof folding partition which can

be used to divide the room allowing for two events to be held at the same time. It is also used by

groups in the community, who make donations to the Church funds. The CCC has a kitchen, toilets (one

disabled) and baby changing facilities.

Datchet Churchyard

The Royal Stag Public House

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Village Communities

Datchet proudly boasts its own village running, sailing, football, cricket & golf clubs, a Women’s Institute,

a branch of the Royal British Legion, the Rotary Club of Windsor St George and an amateur theatre

group. In addition, there is a library, village hall, Church Community Centre, green gym, recreational

grounds and tennis courts all within walking distance. For young people there are Cubs, Scouts,

Brownies and Sea Cadets.

Datchet has a predominately white ethnic makeup, with the next largest group being Asian or Asian

British, making up 13% of the population. Social rented housing accounts for 15% of all households.

Datchet also has a small travellers community, they are mainly settled in local authority housing or on

the permanent traveller site. They use St Mary's for weddings, baptisms and especially funerals.

Colnbrook is a village in the unitary authority of Slough, Berkshire. It

has formed part of the Colnbrook with Poyle parish since 1995,

previously having been part of Iver parish in Buckinghamshire.

Colnbrook forms part of the Windsor constituency, and thus its local

Member of Parliament is Adam Afriyie (Conservative).

Coaching inns were the village's main industry. Colnbrook's High

Street was on the main London to Bath road and the turn off point

for Windsor and was used as a resting point for travellers.

Cox’s Orange Pippin

Colnbrook is also the place where Mr Richard Cox, first grafted the Cox's

Orange Pippin, a cross between the Ribston Pippin and the Blenheim

Orange. It is perhaps our most famous English Apple.

Poyle is a Hamlet of Colnbrook, it is mainly large industrial estate primarily

serving the Heathrow market and offering high employment opportunities.

However, its small housing area is still considered an area of mission.

MP Adam Afriyie at the Magna Carta Day Colnbrook Gathering to process to St Thomas’ Church

26

Where applicable images produced from the Ordnance Survey service. Images reproduced with kind permission of the Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

Colnbrook C of E Primary School Christian Values

Aspiration, Resilience, Respect, Responsibility, Community, Compassion

Colnbrook Church of England School is a

one form entry Primary and Nursery School serving the local

community, current assemblies are taken by the Vicar or our Family

& children worker, John Collins. The Church also hosts school

services termly. John visits weekly for ‘hanging around ministry’ at

lunchtime and also listens to children read. Several members of the

PCC supported the school in a new initiative ‘Prayer Spaces in

Schools’ to accompany leaders in Classroom prayer station sessions

within the School over a week period. A member of our congregation is a school governor. During the

year each class visits the Quiet Garden for a reflective walk, using a religious and spiritually based

worksheet.

Pippins Primary School

Pippins is a mixed

foundation

Primary School,

with an age range

of 3 -11 and an

intake of 210. John

Collins visits

weekly for

‘hanging around ministry’ at lunchtime and also listens to

children read. Pippins School also comes to the Church for

special services several times per year and classes visit the

Quiet Garden for Nature studies and reflection time.

The cross and hands at the centre of

St Thomas’ Quiet Garden

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Datchet Schools

Datchet St Mary’s School was founded by a past incumbent in the

early Victorian period. Since then there has been a history of strong

if sometimes eccentric links with the school, currently there is a very

thriving relationship between school – pupils and staff, and Church –

congregation and PCC. There is an active and innovative Governing

Body.

Churchmead is a mixed 11-18 Church of England School welcoming students of all faiths. It a

comparatively small Church of England secondary school (approximately 420), where students are

valued as individuals. Representatives from different churches in Datchet, including St Marys, are on the

governing body.

Appendix 1 - Diocesan Information The Diocese of Oxford serves the mission of the Church in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and

Oxfordshire. The Diocese comprises more than 600 parishes, with over 800 churches, serving a diverse

population of more than 2 million people located in all types of settings.

Due to the size and complexity of the Diocese, we have three Area Bishops who exercise considerable

strategic & pastoral oversight for their Archdeaconries. The Bishop of Buckingham is the Right Rev’d

Alan Wilson who has been the Area Bishop since 2003.

With the appointment of the new Bishop of Oxford, the Right Revd Dr Steven Croft, a new common

vision is emerging for the Diocese of Oxford …

The vision addresses what kind of church we are called to be – A Christ-like Church.

What are the marks of a Christ-like Church? To be the Church of the Beatitudes:

• Contemplative

• Compassionate

• Courageous

It also asks what we are therefore called to do together. This is currently a work in progress, but is

likely to cover the following strategic priorities:

• To make a bigger difference in the world and serve the poor.

• To share our faith with adults, children and young people and grow the church in every place;

rural, urban and suburban.

• To plant new churches and congregations everywhere we can.

• To serve every school in our community.

• To put the discipleship of all at the heart of our common life and set God’s people free.

• To celebrate and bless our largest, fastest growing city Milton Keynes.

Datchet St Mary’s School

28

These priorities will be supported centrally by resources, training, conferences, workshops, and much

more. The diocese is inviting benefices and their priests to share a vision rather than demanding a

response. It wants all its priests to flourish in ministry and to deepen their enjoyment of God.

Alongside the emerging diocesan vision, the priorities and principles for the Buckingham Archdeaconry are set

out in our Buckingham Mission Action Plan (see http://www.oxford.anglican.org/wp-

content/uploads/2013/01/Bucks-Archdeaconry-Plan-0515.pdf)

It is expected that all clergy appointed into the Archdeaconry of Buckingham will want to commit themselves

to the Diocesan vision and Archdeaconry MAP and their strategic directions.

Appendix 2 -Burnham & Slough Deanery

The parish of Colnbrook is located within the Burnham & Slough deanery. Since the implementation

of synodical government, the deanery has developed a strong sense of working together. Church

tradition across the deanery is diverse and, like other deaneries of a similar size, we are enriched by

the variety of worship that takes place daily and weekly within our thirty places of worship. The

deanery is a mixture of rural, semi-rural and urban parishes with one formal LEP working together to

build up the life of the church locally.

The Burnham & Slough deanery recognises the importance of outreach to the wider community and

many of our parishes are actively engaged in mission activity that brings them into regular contact

with the wider community. For example, we have strong links to the many schools in the area,

including a number of Church of England schools, some of which are unique in terms of their student

population. We also have strong links with our statutory and community service providers. Being part

of a diverse community has given rise to some important inter-faith work, alongside some essential

community development initiatives resulting from engagement with the Local Strategic Partnerships

in Slough and South Bucks.

Like all deaneries we respond to the changes that the National Church is facing at this time. Deanery

re-organisation has brought us into four groupings of churches - three formal group ministries and

one informal group of churches working together in the East of the deanery. Our total ministerial

resources serve to lead these groups in their ministry and mission activity. This structure requires

flexibility and for people to work much more collaboratively together. Needless to say, anyone new to

the deanery would be expected to work within this structure and be part of this way of working.

Recently, we have appointed one incumbent to also be Mission Enabler for the Deanery. Her role is

to support and encourage mission across the parishes. Another has been appointed to liaise with the

large number of schools both church and state within the Jubilee group.

Below is shown numerically how our current ordained ministerial resources are deployed across the

deanery.

Jubilee River Group Ministry Southern Group Ministry

5 Stipendiary Priests 4 Stipendiary Priests

(One of these is half-time Deanery Mission Enabler 2 Associate Priests

one is half-time school’s liaison for the Jubilee Group) 2 Curates in Training

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Northern Group Ministry Eastern Group of Churches

3 Stipendiary Priests (1 vacancy) 2 Stipendiary Priests

1 Associate Priest SSM 1 House for Duty Priest

1 House for Duty Priest

1 Curate in training

Permission to Officiate

There are 10 PTOs currently assisting in the Deanery.

Deanery Post

In 2013, the Deanery appointed its first full-time Area Dean.

Note: Our Licensed Lay Ministers (13 in number) work in our parishes/benefices/teams with two

licensed to work across the whole of the deanery.

This deanery is an exciting place to exercise ministry and mission. Those who work here tend to stay

for a number of years. The area covered by the deanery has a very diverse population. It has places of

affluence as well as having wards that are some of the most deprived in the country. Because of this

the deanery is one that throws up many challenges. Our local churches rise to these challenges, showing

that they can respond to most things that come their way.

Are you being called to serve with the people of God here in this deanery?

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Appendix 3 – Accounts

St Mary’s Accounts

Income Unrestricted

2017

Restricted 2017 Total 2017 Total 2016

Planned Giving 44,709 44,709 49,373

Donations 4,508 4,508

3,808

Donations –

Link

1,000

Donations –

Church

Community

Centre

2,887 2,887

3,792

Collections in

Cash

4,445 4,445

3,106

Gift Aid 9,657 9,657

11,470

Friends of St

Marys

1,000

Fundraising 4,193 4,193

4,819

Fundraising for

Steeple

58,274 58,274

90,648

Lunch Club 214 214

659

Book Stall 92 92

341

Fees – Weddings

etc

2,849 2,849

1,995

Advertising in

The Link

5,450 5,450

4,660

Refund from

BBHT

15,484 15,484 15,550

Parish Share

Rebate

1,220

TOTAL 73,553 79,208 152,761 193,445

Expenditure

Costs against

fundraising

217 217 986

Governance

Costs

1,500 1,500 1,440

Parish Activities 44,550 44,550 58,405

Deanery Share 747 747 597

External Giving 5,500 5,500 6,483

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Christmas

Charity

Collections

435 435 70

Link Expenses 4,452 4,452 5,067

Upkeep of

Services

872 872 1,074

Organists salary 3,715 3,715 3,669

Relief Organist 240 240 80

Organist and

Choir Expenses

126 606 269

Organ / piano

tuning

60

Vicar’s expenses 930 930 1,293

Administration 1,892 1,892 2,511

Office telephone 695 695 541

Administration

Salary

5,788 5,788 5,526

Parish Training

and Mission

274 274 645

Youth Support 78 78 77

Insurance

premium –

BBHT funded

3,439 3,439 4,068

Church

Cleaning –

BBHT funded

2,164 2,164 1,645

Hall gas –

BBHT funded

523 523 612

Electricity –

BBHT funded

1,359 1,359 1,245

Water – BBHT

funded

208 208 533

Church heating

oil – BBHT

funded

4,794 4,794 3,582

Churchyard

upkeep – BBHT

funded

1,132 1,132 111

Church

Maintenance –

BBHT funded

2,083 2,083 3,714

Steeple Project 51,310 51,310 109,512

TOTAL 83,260 56,242 139,501 213,845

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St Thomas Accounts