Parish Profile St. Luke and St. John, Cheltenham

The Parish

The People

Areas of Ministry and partnerships

Services, worship & church life

The Property

Priorities and Gifts Required

The Parish

The parish is located near to the centre of Cheltenham in a relatively affluent part of town, yet with pockets of typical town centre diversity and social and indeed ethnic mix. To the west is the town centre parish (St. Mary/St. Matthew) and the town centre is ½ mile away.

The parish is mostly residential with a mixture of Georgian town houses (many of which have been converted into flats) plus terraced housing and some 1930's semi detached properties.

The Cheltenham General Hospital, by far one of the largest employers in the town, is located in the parish near to the church building. The fire station, the open air swimming pool and Cheltenham Boys College are all located within the parish.

St. John's Church of England primary school (the church school of the former St John's church which merged with St Luke's in the late 60's) is and remains a fundamental part of the life and work of the Parish, and church members are foundation governors.

A photo can be seen on our website at: http://www.stlukes-church.org.uk Back to top

The People

There are two lay readers at St Luke's (although one is currently working abroad) and a retired vicar. The electoral roll is about 140. Average attendance is between 70 and 80 for the main service at 10am, plus a dozen at the 8am Communion.

The church enjoys a proactive and engaged congregation who not only play an active role in the services but also in the life and ministry of the church. For example, we have benefited from initiatives organised by members of the congregation such as 24/7 prayer and other initiatives.

One of the striking characteristics of the church's make up (in a town with a reputation for its relative conservatism) is its diversity in terms of age, ethnicity and social status. Young families with toddlers mix easily each Sunday (and throughout the week) with those who have only recently made their homes in England, with 'genteel retired folk' and indeed the less advantaged members of our community. There is thus a strong sense of church family and belonging at St Luke's.

There is a youth worker employed jointly with Cheltenham YFC (Cheltenham Youth for Christ), co funded by the church and in the throes of establishing a range of groups and activities to meet the needs of young people and teenagers in the parish and in partnership with other parishes, including Highbury Congregational Church, which we mention later.

The PCC is a friendly and diligent team which meets regularly, and there is a strong bond of fellowship and teamwork. It has not suffered from partisanship and any disagreements are handled without rancour. At all times it has sought to build a wide, willing and genuine consensus. The PCC delegates some day to day functions to a series of 'Working Groups', preferring this more activity-centric term to 'Committees'. Back to top

Areas of Ministry and partnerships

In recent years, St Luke's has been an active training parish for curates and others in training as a parish placement, and has thus remained a valuable church in which people may develop and extend their ministerial experience.

In addition to the church partnership with CYFC, the church has worked with Highbury Congregational Church principally in running children?s holiday clubs and other events. This link is highly valued by St. Luke?s.

The focus of mission has been into the neighbourhood. Previous ministers have participated in the spiritual life at St. John's primary school (where other church members are school governors) leading assemblies, participating in several missions in partnership with SU at the school and building positive relationships with children, parents and staff. Church members conduct "Open the Book" sessions at school.

For the past five years the church has fostered and built a successful and thriving Toddlers group that meets weekly in the open space at the back of the church building. It has been open to families throughout the parish and beyond and has represented an important aspect of mission to and visibility amongst the population and in particular those who have otherwise had no other church contact.

Cheltenham General Hospital is within the parish and the church is spiritual home to a number of health professionals who are based there. The vision of the PCC is very much towards developing this mission area and responding with imagination to the needs identified by the NHS Trust chaplaincy team.

It has always been a priority to build high quality relationships with individuals and groups that contribute towards the life of the local community at large.

There is an Artist in Residence who uses an otherwise redundant part the building as a studio and uses the building for periodic exhibitions of work.

The church actively supports Fair Trade and there is a weekly stall open after the main service. Back to top

Services, worship & church life

The theological stance of the church could best be described as evangelical (although some church members would not necessarily be comfortable with this description), which is committed to biblical preaching and teaching. Nowadays, the word "evangelical" is used to describe a whole range of views. The leadership is content with the term "thoughtful or broad Evangelical".

Overall, however, it is fair to say that one of the distinguishing gifts and characteristics of St Luke's as a church over the past decade has been the sensitive balance struck and nurtured between the various ends of the worship style spectrum, balancing the worship needs of the traditional and more conservative worshippers with more progressive worship patterns. It has done this with integrity and in a style that that has become accepted and respected both within the church and outside by reputation.

The main services are at 10.00 am and are best described as "low Anglican". The Organ is regularly used and its use is valued. There is also an active music group which participates in most regular services. A good balance of contemporary and more traditional music styles is aspired to!

There is no longer an evening service although there have been times when this slot has been used for more informal worship and prayer.

There are four home groups who follow materials provided by the Education Working Group (EWG) of the church. The EWG has organised weekends away for the church and "away days" on particular themes and issues.

St Luke's looks for imaginative ways of outreach and interaction with its local community. These include the church's work at St John's School, a quarterly 'glossy' bulletin "Roundabout" that goes to every home in the parish and hopes to develop work through the hospital. We have even recently helped to establish a chaplaincy role/mission work with Cheltenham Town Football Club! We hope to build on this active role within our community. Back to top

The Property

The church building is just over 150 years old and contains the church office. New lighting and wiring were installed less than 5 years ago and will shortly be paid for. Some pews were removed about 8 years ago freeing up space at the rear of the building for coffee after services and other uses by church based groups (eg Toddlers) and others.

There is a church hall administered by a separate charity (of which the priest in charge is a trustee) but which is seen as an integral part of the vision of the church for serving its community. It is self financing and has been refurbished within the last 10 years. It is frequently and regularly used by a variety of community groups including the Blood Transfusion Service and the Cheltenham Open Door charity at Christmas. Back to top

Priorities and Gifts Required

So far as St. Luke's is concerned, the person's gifts should include:

• Vision. The capacity to see what sort of church we should become in a changed world and after pastoral reorganisation. To see how to achieve that vision without overlooking pastoral issues and to be able to see the broader picture.
  
  
• Commitment to Biblical teaching.
  
  
• Sensitivity. The management of change includes the nurturing of partnership and consensus within and between churches and helping those who have yet to fully perceive the wisdom of a particular change.
  
  
• Integrity. The person needs to be open, honest, trustworthy and approachable.
  
• Perception. The ability to see gifts in others and draw them out.
  
  
• Mission. A desire to see the growth of God?s Kingdom in numbers and maturity and to share the vision of the church to reach and serve its community. In particular to explore new mission possibilities in partnership with the hospital chaplaincy.
  
  
• Time management. An ability to delegate is essential as well as the ability to focus on key issues facing the parish. Although pastoral gifts would be essential, an ability to co ordinate pastoral care within the church will be required.

We do not expect a "jack of all trades" but a gifted leader who will be able to identify, develop and deploy the gifts within the congregation and lead the church, and help grow it, through a time of change and transition.

Quite obviously, the new person will have to learn how to manage their responsibility for two quite different churches with hitherto a minimal history of collaboration with each other.

We look forward to meeting you.

11th May, 2006 Back to top