Vacancies

The benefices of Walsingham, Houghton and Barsham, and Hempton with Pudding Norton are seeking an inspirational priest equipped with a real sense of mission to parishioners, visitors and pilgrims of all ages in this unique setting.

The two shrines to Our Lady are separate and distinct from the benefices yet have considerable impact on the villages and on parish life in this deeply rural setting.

Both benefices are part of the Diocese of Norwich. As petitioning parishes they receive sacramental and pastoral care from the Bishop of Richborough.

The parishes are prayerfully seeking their new priest to be:

· God-centred and rooted in Anglo-Catholic prayer and spirituality, with a deep regard for the Seven Sacraments and for the Divine Office, who utilises the opportunities for outreach afforded by the Occasional Offices and who is committed to village community

· Equipped with a real sense of mission to parishioners, to visitors and to pilgrims;

· Aware of the character of the rural way of life, and able to embrace the particular challenges presented by deeply rural parishes;

· Possessed of an awareness of the variety of the Benefice’s liturgical heritage, and committed to its further development;

· A fluent Preacher of the Gospel and Teacher of the Faith;

· Keen to work with, and minister to, the Primary School and the younger residents of the Benefice, whilst at the same time valuing older generations in our communities

· Convinced that the all-age growth of each of our churches is nothing less than a Gospel imperative;

· Committed to building further collaboration between the seven churches of the planned Benefice, and to strengthening our relationship with the Anglican Shrine, with the Deanery and with the Diocese

· Prepared to oversee the retired clergy in the Benefice by offering them pastoral care, as well as inviting them to share in his ministry on occasion

· Committed to the further development of the ecumenical links throughout the Benefice;

· A discreet listener, an effective Spiritual Director and experienced Confessor;

· Committed to visiting all his parishioners in health and in sickness, whether at home, in care, or in hospital and to the necessary Celebration of the Sacraments in their presence, especially for those in end-of-life care;

· Willing and able to travel where necessary at all times of the day or night

· Interested in, and has an appreciation of, our mediaeval churches, and their maintenance and improvement

· Prepared to delegate to those willing and able to assist

· Approachable, determined to become involved with the wider communities of the Benefice and possessed of an excellent sense of humour

More information can be found in the profile and Diocesan notes.

If you would like to have an informal discussion before deciding whether to apply, please contact Ann Whittet (PA to the Bishop and Archdeacon of Lynn) at ann.whittet@dioceseofnorwich.org or phone the office on 01362 709200.

Please submit your Application and Confidential Declaration Form by 9.00am on Thursday 12th February 2026 to Mrs Ann Whittet (PA to the Bishop of Lynn and Archdeacon of Lynn) by email to ann.whittet@dioceseofnorwich.org with a hard copy in the post to: The Bishop’s Office, Commercial Road, Dereham NR19 1AE

Closing date: Thursday 12th February 2026 (9.00am)

Interviews: Wednesday 4th March 2026

We are praying for a Priest, deeply rooted in the Catholic tradition, to help lead our growth and our mission at a very exciting time in our development as a church and community in Walthamstow, east London.

We are looking forward to welcoming a priest:

• In the Catholic tradition who is being called to provide prayerful, visionary and missional leadership in our multi-cultural community
• Who will confidently and joyfully celebrate the sacraments of the Church
• Who is a gifted and zealous pastor, communicator and teacher of the Faith.
• Who helps us develop and strengthen our ministry to younger worshippers (St Michael’s Voyagers)Nurture, support and grow a
• diversity of lay ministries.
• Fully engage with, share and strengthen the wider life and ministry of our Deanery and Diocese as well as the wider Richborough Family.

You can look forward to:

• Excellent, modern housing in a pleasant area of Walthamstow
• Superb transport links to central London and the City; regular bus and overground suburban links; easy access to areas of beautiful countryside
• A beautiful neo-Gothic church located close to Walthamstow Market
• Great opportunities for growth and mission in this up and coming, multi-cultural areaCommitted Churchwarden, PCC and Licensed Lay Minister to support you in your ministry
• Friendly and welcoming congregation

For an informal conversation or to request an application form please contact the Archdeacon of West Ham’s office on 020 8989 8557 or email a.westham@chelmsford.anglican.org

Closing date: 31 October
Interview date: 8 December

The parish of St Michael and All Angels Walthamstow is affiliated to the Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda and is under the episcopal care of the Bishop of Richborough

The parish of St Peter, Folkestone, is located where the North Downs meet the English Channel which continue eastwards to form part of the White Cliffs of Dover. Due to its close connection with the sea, it is known as ‘The Mariners’ Church’.

We are a Resolution Parish under the Episcopal care of the Bishop of Richborough and under the ecclesiastical authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury and seek a Priest of The Society. A preference is expressed for a member of the Society of the Holy Cross (SSC) and for someone with proven success in their previous parish.

We are praying for a priest who will:

• hear God’s call to this coastal community and ministry in this place.
• confidently and joyfully celebrate the sacraments of the Church.
• be a gifted and zealous pastor, communicator and teacher of the Faith.
• provide prayerful, visionary and missional leadership for the parish.
• lead us in developing further our evangelistic outreach and pastoral care.
• rejoice in the gift of our Church of England primary school and our ministry to the children, staff and their wider families in the community.
• nurture, support and grow a diversity of lay ministries.
• fully engage with, share and strengthen the wider life and ministry of our Deanery and Diocese as well as the wider Richborough Family.

In return we offer:

• a beautiful church in a prominent location in the parish.
• a rich catholic liturgical life and tradition.
• a generous Victorian vicarage adjacent to the church and school.
• a hospitable community.
• good transport links.

If you have the courage and confidence to lead, renew and inspire our congregation, schools and parish in the Catholic tradition of the Anglican Church please apply.

For more information, contact Louise Mills, the Archdeacon of Ashford’s PA, LMills@diocant.org or 01233 712649

Closing date for applications: 30th September

The post requires an Enhanced DBS check

Priest in Charge (House for Duty) of St David’s Eastwood

St David’s church is a modern catholic church, praying and worshipping in the heart of Eastwood, which is at the western end of Southend.

As a parish we are looking for a prayerful person who will:

• help lead us forward in a collaborative ministry, encouraging again the growth of our church
• serve the parish through its offering of daily prayer and an ever developing liturgical life

We are looking for a priest within the catholic tradition, who is open to embrace a more modern and profound expression of the church’s liturgical life. If you think you may be that person, we would very much like to hear from you.

St David’s has passed a Resolution under the House of Bishops’ Declaration.

Closing date: 17^th June 2025

Interviews: 17^th July 2025

Details on www.chelmsford.anglican.org/vacancies or from the Acting Archdeacon of Southend a.southend@chelmsford.anglican.org Tel 01268 779345

Vicar (House for Duty) of St Mary the Virgin South Benfleet

St Mary’s is a beautiful Grade 1 Listed Church, which has been a faithful Christian presence since Anglo-Saxon times. It is situated in the South Benfleet conservation area, and has excellent train and road links towards London and the Essex Coast.

Do you feel called to:

• help to nurture our congregation in the Anglo Catholic tradition
• give us fresh insight and materials to help guide the study of Scripture
• help us give pastoral care and support to those seeking advice and counselling within the parish
• help us build upon the relationships we have with local schools through events, fellowship and friendship

We would love our new priest to lead our worship in a clear direction, to spread the word of our Lord to the new generation, encouraging the wider community to worship at St Mary’s.

St Mary’s has passed a Resolution under the House of Bishops’ Declaration.

Closing date: 17^th June 2025
Interviews: 17^th July 2025
Details on www.chelmsford.anglican.org/vacancies or from the Archdeacon of Southend a.southend@chelmsford.anglican.org Tel 01268 779345