Castle Cary and Ansford - Profile A Single Parish Benefice in Somerset August 2020 - Diocese of Bath and Wells
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Parish Profile – Draft 5
Castle Cary and Ansford
A Single Parish Benefice in Somerset
Profile
August 2020
Contents
1. INTRODUCTION 1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. OVERVIEW 2
Welcome! The Somerset parish of Castle Cary and Ansford 3. WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR 2
needs a vicar and you might be the person for the post. We 4. THE PARISH AND THE CHURCH
hope you’ll read on and find out more about us, about the a) The Benefice 3
opportunities and challenges of this parish, and seriously b) Where we are 3
consider joining us. c) The Town and Parish 4
In what follows we think we’ve painted an accurate picture d) The Churches Together 7
of the parish, and we have consulted widely, but there is a e) Cary Cares 7
limit to what we can say, and it is, of course, our view. If f) Church of England Life 8
g) Challenges of the Last Five Years 10
you decide to explore further, we will enjoy hearing from
5. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
you. Then, as together with the bishop’s representatives we
a) Vision and Opportunities 11
try to discern whether joining us here might be God’s call
b) All Saints’ Development Group 12
for you, you will have the chance to find out more.
c) Hopes for Future Ministry 13
Whoever is appointed here will technically be priest-in- d) A Ministry Team? 13
charge but we use the term ‘vicar’ in this parish profile e) Who we are 14
because that’s the word people are familiar with here. It’s f) What we can offer a new vicar 15
also easier! g) Church Finances 16
h) Future Re-organisation of the Benefice
David Baldwin and Katya Duncan 6. THE DEANERY 17
Churchwardens 7. THE DIOCESE 17
8. CONCLUSION 18
1
2. OVERVIEW
The church’s vision is of a practical outworking of the love of
God which we celebrate in our worship.
This means church members being fully involved in the life of
this growing community and the church making its resources
available for all. Our church life is inclusive and welcoming, and
we are developing one of our two buildings as a community
centre for social events, care and support, and for prayer and
worship.
To help us achieve this we need a vicar who will share our vision
and join in our mission; offer guidance and leadership; build
relationships with people of all ages in the parish; and as a
pastor and teacher help us grow as a community of Jesus’
disciples.
The benefice is a single parish of a small lively market town and
has a modern refurbished vicarage.
3. WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for someone who will enjoy and make the most
of their ministry leading the church in this growing Somerset
market town.
The church is ready for change and wants a vicar who will help
the church grow in faith and in membership, welcoming and
involving particularly people who are not yet of retirement age.
We believe that our mission is to the whole town of which we
are an integral part.
It is important to us that our church life is inclusive and
hospitable.
We are looking for someone who has the spirituality, vision and
gifts to help us trust in and share the love of God, and to grow
as a fellowship into what God intends for us.
2
4. THE PARISH AND THE CHURCH
4a. The Benefice
Castle Cary and Ansford is a single parish benefice with two
church buildings. After many years of close co-operation the
parishes united in 2017 to serve what is effectively one town
with a few surrounding hamlets.
4b. Where we are
We are set in rolling countryside 35 miles due south of Bristol.
To the east the land rises up to the chalklands of Salisbury plain,
to the south are the Dorset Downs, to the west the Yeo valley
and the Somerset Levels, and to the north the Mendip hills.
Here the main rail line from Paddington and Reading to Taunton
and Exeter crosses with the Heart of Wessex line from Bristol
and Bath to Yeovil and Weymouth. Trains on both routes stop at
Castle Cary station.
The A303 runs four miles to the south of the town; the A37 four
miles to the west; and the A371 between Shepton Mallet and
Wincanton passes through the edge of the town. Buses from
Castle Cary run to Yeovil, Street, Shepton Mallet and
Wincanton. The cathedral and administrative centre of the
diocese is in Wells, thirteen miles away.
POSTCODES
All Saints’ Church, Castle Cary BA7 7EJ
St Andrew’s Church, Ansford BA7 7LD
3
4c. The Town and Parish Shopping in Castle Cary
Someone who moved into the parish just before lockdown Walk around Fore Street and Bailey Hill
commented on what a buzz there was in the town centre. Most and you will find…
of the locals who ventured out noticed how quiet it seemed.
But that was compared with what they were used to. Bailey Hill Books – independent bookshop
Boots the Chemist
It is a thriving town, with a weekly market supplying fresh fish, Buy and Save – all sorts: all cheap
thirty different cheeses, fruit and vegetables, Thai cooking, Post Office – plus stationery
pastries, and much more, all on the cobbles at the neo-Gothic Hardware and household goods
market house. This is supplemented in the main street by a Electrical supplies – big and small
wide range and mix of shops and services. There are Burns the Bread
independent cafes, restaurants and takeaways, the thatched Danela’s bakery and café
George Hotel, the White Hart further down the street, and the Market Garden – fruit, veg and plants
homely Bay Tree pub in South Cary. George the Greengrocer
The Really Wild Meat Company
The town has a small Co-op grocers and a McColls but there is Heather’s Flowers
no major supermarket. For supermarkets people go to Robert Frith Optician
Wincanton or Shepton Mallet. Neither is there a concert hall, The Proper Pet Co -
theatre or cinema, but there are frequent concerts in the Unwrapped essentials – zero waste
churches or Caryford Community Hall, amateur drama Somerset Wine Company
productions at Ansford Academy, and a monthly Moviola film The Wine Wizzard
showing which draws an audience of a hundred. Secrets – women’s underwear
Pinsents Deli
The primary school, with 210 children, is opposite All Saints’
The Wonderful Garden Co – quality tools
Church, and has had a good relationship with the church which
Save the Children shop
the Headteacher hopes will continue with the new vicar. The
St Margaret’s Hospice shop
local secondary school is Ansford Academy with 600 students.
The Co-op – small store
It has a recently appointed chaplain, shared with two other
McColls – small store
schools in the area. For further education young people go to
Phillips Tyres – and filling station
Strode College in Street or to Yeovil College.
……… plus…
There is no one dominating employer. People travel in all Restaurants
directions for work, or stay in the town where numerous small Pubs
trades and service industries are based. Agriculture, mostly Takeaways
dairy farming, is the most visible industry, although Estate Agents
manufacturing is the biggest employer. Cheese is made locally Galleries
on the small and medium scale. The Royal Canin pet food Hairdressers
factory is visible from a long distance, and near it is the small Barbers
Torbay Road industrial estate. We also have the UK’s only Gift shops
horse-hair weaving mill. Myrobalan herbalist
Pither’s Yard Natural Health Clinic
…….. and more.
4
Tourism is small scale and usually short stay. Nearby are Some Town Events 2019
Haynes Motor Museum, Clarks Village retail outlets,
April
Glastonbury, Hauser and Wirth’s art gallery in Bruton,
Churches Together Good Friday Walk of
several National Trust properties, a developing upmarket
Witness
hotel and spa with open gardens called The Newt, and plenty May
of scenic villages and country walks. For those who like high Food Festival – celebration of local food
level sport the county cricket ground in Taunton, Bath Rugby, and drink
and Yeovil Town Football Club are all within easy reach. Christian Aid Week – door to door
delivery and street collection
The quarterly Town Newsletter lists over eighty local June
organisations on its back page, ranging from Action for Joint Town & Parish Meeting and
Children to the Zambia Link via Carymoor Environmental Exhibition
Centre, the community choir, flower club, football, August
majorettes, Scouts, Twinning Association, and the Somerset Craft Fair at Caryford Hall
Wildlife Trust. Church members are involved with many of September
these organisations and played a part in making Castle Cary Green Fair at Market House
one of the first Fair Trade towns in the country, and more October
recently in the forming of Greener Cary to encourage Carnival – illuminated floats
environmental care and action. The town has allotments, a November
playing field, a park with an outdoor gym, pump park and Ceremony of Remembrance at War
wildflower areas, and a Millennium Wood with picnic space. Memorial
December
A lot of people in the town are concerned to make life better Big Christmas – street market,
for others. This might mean support for environmental entertainment, late shopping
action or voluntary work at the Fairfield and nearby nature Churches Together Christmas Service at
reserves; continuing commitment for Fair Trade; helping in Market House
the Hospice charity shop; involvement in a support group at
the local surgery; working for Macmillan Cancer Support, Weekly
Christian Aid or Save the Children; and for many people Tuesday Market
simply looking out for neighbours. When the town library Saturday Charity Coffee Morning at
was threatened with closure local people organised Market House
themselves to take it on, and it is now run by volunteers, as
is the town museum and the Information Point. Monthly
Moviola film at Caryford Hall
The centre of the town is not actually in the middle. Behind Vintage Market in Summer
the main street, are alleys, yards and gardens, and then the
castle mound and Lodge Hill rise up steeply. Public footpaths
lead up to the top of the hill where there is a viewing point
over the town and for twenty miles around. The housing Vintage Market
stretches in the other three directions: old cottages and
artisan dwellings, town houses, small post-war council
estates, seventies bungalows, small houses, and flats. More
houses are being built and are expected to increase the
population from its current 3,500 to 5,000.
5
Ansford and Castle Cary were two distinct settlements until
the mid-twentieth century but housing developments have
joined them geographically, although not politically. The civil
parish of Ansford and the town of Castle Cary still have
separate councils, though few people passing through would
notice the boundary. As far as the church is concerned, they
are one parish and most people think of it as one town.
There are few big houses in the town. Some of the shops in
the town clearly cater for wealthy people but most of their
clients come from villages round about. The lively village
feeling in the centre masks significant pockets of multiple
deprivation, including child, working-family, and pensioner
poverty. Compared with average statistics in both Somerset
and England and Wales the town has a lower percentage of
‘working age’ and higher percentage of ‘older’ people (South
Somerset District Council Settlement Profile). It is also
identified as having high risk areas for social isolation,
particularly among the elderly, home workers, and single
parents.
A few statistics:
• 15% of local people live with long-term, activity
limiting illness, and 8% are unpaid carers.
• 27% of our working age community have level 1
qualifications or below
• 54% work either from home or within a 15-mile radius
• 32% of our population is over 65, which is significantly
higher than the county average
• 17% have no access to private transport, and poverty
restricts their use of public transport.
There are four small to medium sized care homes for elderly
people and two small homes for adults with severe learning
difficulties, and the town is working towards Dementia
Friendly status.
Millbrook Surgery is the town’s excellent medical centre. It
has several GPs, nurses and health coaches, and is the focal
point for many support groups. There are good relationships
between the Surgery, the town and parish councils, and the
churches.
WEBLINKS
Parish Church https://castlecaryallsaints.org.uk/
Methodist Church https://www.carymethodists.org/
Castle Cary Town Council https://www.castle-cary.co.uk/
Ansford Parish Council http://ansfordpc.org.uk/
Primary School https://www.castlecaryschool.org.uk/
Ansford Academy http://www.ansford.org.uk/
Millbrook Surgery https://www.millbrook-surgery.nhs.uk/
South Somerset D.C. https://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/
6
4d. The Churches Together
There are two denominations with worship centres in Castle
Cary and Ansford: the Methodist Church, which has a
refurbished building at the east end of the town centre; and the
Church of England, with All Saints’ Church at the west end of “I hope the new Vicar will be
the centre, and St Andrew’s, to the north. These churches work ecumenically minded so we can continue
well together under the umbrella of Churches Together in to work together.” Judith Cole,
Castle Cary and Ansford (CTCCA), which also includes Roman Chair of Churches Together
Catholics and Quakers, who have a church and a meeting room
in Wincanton.
Until early 2020 Churches Together published a monthly
magazine but this was discontinued as being no longer viable or
needed. Information about the churches is published together
in the Town’s quarterly newsletter. Each year recently there
have been at least five united services, including a carol service,
a Christmas service with the blessing of a crib in the Market
House, a service to launch the year’s Lent Appeal, a walk of
witness on Good Friday involving setting up crosses on Lodge
Hill, and a service in Christian Aid Week. In response to the
covid-19 pandemic Churches Together set up the Cary Cares
scheme.
“I am involved in numerous ecumenical
partnerships in my current section of
4e. Cary Cares
seven churches, jointly responding to
Cary Cares started in March 2020 when the covid-19 pandemic community events and celebrations with
was beginning. It very quickly developed four areas of work: the Anglican churches. This action of
arranging shopping and the collection of medication for celebrating and recognising our
isolating people; providing phone follow-up of people who denominational differences, whilst
were thought to be in need of more contact with others; standing together in faith as the Church,
assistance with buying electricity and gas card top-ups; and has been enlightening and encouraging.
providing free food for people who need it. This is in place of a “I hope that any future incumbent would
foodbank. recognize this work as important and
Cary Cares involves a large group of volunteers who are appreciate the hard work and
members of all churches and none. It is funded by the Town relationships that we have already built.”
Craig Manley,
Charity, of which the trustees are the Chair of the Town Council,
Methodist Minister
the Churchwardens and the Vicar. Supplies are bought
wholesale by The George Hotel to provide boxes of long-life
food, which is supplemented with fruit and vegetables from one
of the greengrocers. Donations from individuals, groups and
businesses at the start of the scheme amounted to over
£18,000. There were no major donors.
At time of writing, the number of volunteers is dropping off as
some people are able to return to work, but it is anticipated
that the demand for food boxes may well increase as the
recession bites and furlough schemes come to an end.
7
4f. Church of England Life Regular Services
Like many village churches, the style of Anglican church life in 1st Sunday of month
Castle Cary and Ansford is broad. Vestments are usually worn 8.30 Holy Communion: St Andrew’s
for services, festivals are celebrated and the Christian Year is 10.00 Parish Communion: All Saints’
marked, Hymns Old and New are sung, sermons are preached. 2nd Sunday of month
But unlike most villages, nearly all Sunday services have until 8.30 Holy Communion: All Saints’
recently been Holy Communion. Lay people lead the 10.00 Parish Communion: St Andrew’s
intercessions, read the lessons, serve, and assist with the
3rd Sunday of month
chalice. The 10.00am Parish Communion has been in
8.30 Holy Communion: St Andrew’s
contemporary language and the 8.30am service has followed
10.00 Parish Communion: All Saints’
the Book of Common Prayer.
4th Saturday of Month
The Anglican church in Castle Cary and Ansford is inclusive: 3.30 Messy Church: All Saints’
open to and welcoming people regardless of their colour, sexual
orientation, or family arrangements. The church has monthly 4th Sunday of month
collections for different aid, development and support 8.30 Holy Communion: All Saints’
organisations, both local, national and international, and 10.00 Parish Communion: St Andrew’s
twinned toilets. School visitors from Zambia have been 5th Sunday of month
welcomed and taken part in Sunday services. 8.30 Holy Communion: St Andrew’s
10.00 Parish Communion: All Saints’
The two parish church buildings are very different. St Andrew’s
in Ansford overlooks the Fairfield public park. It is small, open In recent years there have normally been
and cosy, with good chairs, a servery and a toilet. In about six baptisms, five church weddings
architectural style it is a typical Somerset village church, as and forty funerals a year, including those
refurbished by the Victorians, and then altered in the last few of parishioners at local crematoria.
decades to create a comfortable and flexible worship centre.
All Saints’ in Castle Cary was built in the fifteenth century and
significantly extended in the nineteenth. Its spire is visible from
many parts of the town and miles around. Recent alterations
have included removing some of the pews to create a more
flexible space, installing a nave altar, fitting toilets and a
servery, and putting in new lighting. All Saints’ is the setting for
Messy Church and Monday Mugs, and successful recent fund-
raising events for the Development Project (see p12) have
shown its potential for wider community use.
8
Many of the Messy Church Families attend Tiddlywinks, a Messy Church, is a way of “Being
Toddler group held weekly, in term time, at Caryford
Church” for families and their friends. It
Community Hall. A group from the churches goes along to
has a Christian core. We take part in
prepare fruit snacks, and make coffee to help the parents.
There is a link to church, in that the Vicar or Reader Sue All Saints’ Church, because we like to
Kellagher would come at festival times to tell Bible linked use the church building as a backdrop
stories with the children. to help our storytelling, creativity,
hospitality, and celebration. Messy
There have been Lent study groups and the national study Church usually happens on the fourth
course, Pilgrim, was also run about four years ago.
Saturday of each month.
There is a monthly prayer diary which helps church members
We were offering no young peoples’
focus on particular local events or parts of the parish on each
day in their private prayers. Until the covid-19 lockdown services, the Sunday School, and Youth
morning prayer was said in the parish churches alternately Group having finished, and we wanted
and both churches were open for visitors all day every day. to welcome younger people to our
Christian way of living. Under Rev. Liz’s
leadership Messy Church began,
helpers planning each session, using
CONTACT US ideas from Messy Magazine, and we
E-mail standrews.allsaints@gmail.com enjoyed learning from every session,
and were privileged to meet more
Phone 07483 866400 families from our community. We have
also linked annually with Playfest at
Website https://castlecaryallsaints.org.uk/
The Primary School.
Facebook allsaintscastlecaryandstandrewsansford
Monday Mugs is an initiative to show
that the church can be used other than
on a Sunday. Initially a pop-up-café,
parents could drop children at the
Primary School and then have coffee
before going home. Most parents now
need to work whilst children are at
school, but we are lucky that the
childminders, Elaine and John, pop in
for coffee, and parents, sometimes
from neighbouring villages come to
church to drop children off with the
child carers. As helpers we have a play
session with the toddlers, and meet
many more community families.
Val Chainey
94g. Challenges of the Last Five Years
Quinquennial surveys in 2016 showed St Andrew’s to be in a
good state of repair but All Saints’ to be showing serious signs
of weathering. Among the necessary repairs the nave roof
would need re-slating. The PCC decided that the repairs should
be undertaken and the building developed for wider
community use. The All Saints’ Development Group was
formed, following a well attended public meeting, to involve
people from across the community in this project.
In 2017, further investigation revealed that the ornamental
pinnacles at the top of the tower were badly weathered and
some were dangerous. The tower was fenced off, bellringing
was stopped, and possible options began to be explored. The
Development Group began a very successful series of
exhibitions and concerts in the church, and serious grant
applications for roof repairs and re-ordering the church.
In 2018 the previous vicar had some extended leave of absence
and in 2019 a sabbatical. During these periods regular worship
continued with retired clergy presiding at communion and
some of the 8.30 services becoming Morning Prayer led by
Readers. During this time the attendance at Messy Church
dropped off and a number of active church members moved
away or left. In January 2020 Revd Liz left to take up a new post
in the diocese.
In February the pandemic struck and in March we went into
lockdown and the churches were closed. Many church
members put their energies into Cary Cares. A weekly electronic
newsletter was begun, and a weekly service was produced and
circulated by e-mail for people to use on their own. The parish
did not have the capacity to produce streamed services. PCC
members took on the responsibility of regularly telephoning
others on the electoral roll. Church members were also
instrumental in setting up a bereavement support Facebook
page.
Development Group events were cancelled but work continued
on grant applications and to arrange for All Saints’ roof to be
repaired in the autumn. At time of writing, the PCC and
Development Group are working to open the church for a wide
range of community groups and organisations to make use of
the space which enables social distancing to be maintained.
Restarting regular services was problematic as all the PTO
retired clergy and the Readers are over 70, as are most of the
pre-lockdown regular congregation. But services began on the
first Sunday in August. With lockdown, all scheduled baptisms
and weddings were postponed, at the request of the people
concerned. For a long time many of the funerals have been
conducted by Readers. During the pandemic funerals have been
conducted by a Reader from a neighbouring benefice.
105. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
5a. Vision and Opportunities
Our vision is that strengthened by worship, prayer and
fellowship we will aim to show the love of Christ in a practical
ministry within the wider community.
None of us knows how church life will be as the covid-19
pandemic recedes. We only know it will be different from how it
was. Apart from that, there are substantial opportunities for the
church in this parish.
• The need for major repair work at All Saints’ is a
challenge, but addressing this challenge has brought
people together and involved both regular worshippers
and others in an enterprise for the whole community.
• All Saints’ Church provides arguably the most suitable
indoor space in the town for people to maintain social
distancing while meeting together, and the re-ordering
of the church will make it even better.
• New housing on the north side of the town will increase
the demand on the town’s resources, but also bring
new people into the town and possibly the life of the
church.
• The PCC’s finances are not in a strong position, but this
creates an opportunity for church members to consider
seriously their financial commitment to the life of the
church, with a sense that everyone’s contribution
matters.
• The age of many church members means that they have
been particularly restricted during the pandemic and
been made very aware of how much in the church has
depended on a few older people.
• In recent years, through Messy Church, festival services,
special events, weddings, baptisms, and the school, the
church has touched on the lives of many young families,
and this provides a platform for involving younger
people more fully in church life.
• The involvement of church members in community
support and in the town’s social life is a potential
springboard for further engagement and outreach.
• The involvement of the church with many organisations
and churches beyond the parish and abroad means that
members are aware of the stress and suffering that the
pandemic is causing elsewhere, and they are concerned
to respond to needs beyond the parish.
• Being the only parish in the town means that the church
has an eclectic mix of spiritualities and liturgical
preferences, making it a potentially rich environment
for growth.
This is a church that is deeply involved with the life of the wider
community and is concerned to remain so, in order to live out
as well as celebrate the love of God.
115b. All Saints’ Development Group
The PCC’s vision is that through a Development Programme we
are able to serve the wider community and remain a worshipping
church. The programme is not simply a means to an end but the
activities and events themselves build community and engender
and celebrate care and creativity.
Past activities have included angel, star, wedding and textile
festivals. Each has brought many hundreds of people through the
door and been a tremendous demonstration of creativity and
skill. Many have attended concerts by local choirs, folk bands, a
string quartet, and other orchestral ensembles.
All Saints’ Church has roadside parking and is also only 200m
from the large Millbrook car park. It has plenty of space but the
internal design is such that a small gathering or congregation
does not feel lost. The acoustics are excellent for both speech
and music, and the fittings, furniture and monuments are not
precious so it is both attractive and usable for a wide range of
activities.
Re-ordering will involve improving disabled access, creating
greater flexibility with the seating, rearranging the chancel,
improving the heating, re-decorating, and enlarging the servery
to make it a versatile and attractive building. All these proposals
have the support in principle of the DAC.
The steady and hard work of applying for grants has enabled the
PCC to schedule roof repairs for Autumn 2020. As we emerge
from lockdown the group is exploring how the building might,
even before re-ordering, be used again by the school, and also
the library and the surgery for events like the Dementia Friends
Group, Memory Café and Flexercise. The space means that in
various events social distancing can be maintained in ways that
are not possible in other venues in the town.
The All Saints’ Development Group is a Committee of the PCC
formed to develop wider use of the church building by the local
community and to work with the PCC to raise the necessary
funds. It is constituted of members from both the church
congregation and other people in the town. It operates within
the overall policy determined by the PCC.
12 PICTURES
- dev group logo5c. Hopes for Future Ministry
During the covid-19 lockdown a survey was conducted among
church members and others in the town to establish what
people were looking for from a new vicar. The overwhelming
consensus was that the church needs a leader. The life of the
church needs to change. We need someone to help us discover
God’s way ahead for us and to move that way.
There is also a desire for the new vicar to be a pastor,
concerned for the spiritual growth of the church as a whole, of
the individuals who are its members, and of those who have
little to do with the church but who still matter infinitely to God.
The church also wants the vicar to get to know the needs of the
community as a whole and help us see those in the light of
Christian faith.
We recognise that one person cannot do this alone. We want to
work with our new vicar and to do this effectively we will need
teaching, training and organisation. We do not expect the vicar
to have all the skills needed to do all this, but we want them to
draw on the resources of other people from within the parish,
deanery, diocese and wider church in order to help build up the
church in this place.
5d. A Ministry Team?
The ministry of the church in recent years has been shared but
there has not been a ministry team. Roles and tasks have been
shared out but sometimes there has been little support or sense
of collaboration. Readers have preached from time to time and
also carried out many pastoral responsibilities including
conducting funerals, verging for funerals, and taking Holy
Communion to three care homes and to individuals.
Since Revd Liz left, the churchwardens, David Baldwin and Katya
Duncan, and the pastoral co-ordinator, Sue Kellagher, have
been meeting each week with retired priest, Revd David
Osborne. The PCC has been meeting monthly and the
Development Group more often. Zoom has been used to
maintain this pattern during the lockdown. There is a desire to
develop a greater sense of working together, sharing in the
church’s ministry and mission rather than simply sharing out the
jobs.
The church will look for a lead from the new vicar about how
this can be done, and what kind of leadership team would best
help the whole church in its ministry, but the desire and
willingness to work together is there among church members. “As a school we would very much
welcome involvement from the new
A new ministry team may well include Revd Richard Needle, a
vicar. We may not be a church school
recently retired priest who moved into the parish just before
but we hold our links with the
lockdown. In considering the best pattern and structure for
Churches of the Parish as very
collaborative ministry here we hope the new vicar will also bear
important.” Sarah Martin,
in mind the desire of the Methodist Minister, Revd Craig
Headteacher of Castle Cary
Manley, to work with the new vicar, and the developing
Community Primary School
ministry of Wendy Hester, the Chaplain to the Academy.
135e. Who we are
In the year before lockdown the average congregations on an
ordinary Sunday were 9 at 8.30am and 35 at the 10.00am
Parish Communion. The membership, for the calculation of the
Parish Share, was reckoned as 74, and there are 93 people on
the Electoral Roll.
Among those currently in positions of responsibility and
leadership are:
• Katya Duncan: Churchwarden, Vice-Chair of the PCC,
and Parish Administrator.
• David Baldwin: Churchwarden and PCC Treasurer.
• Sue Kellagher: Reader and Pastoral Co-ordinator.
• Sally Thompson: PCC Secretary and member of the All
Saints’ Development Group.
• Val Chainey: PCC Member, Messy Church worker, and
All Saints’ Church cleaning co-ordinator.
• Revd David Osborne: Chair of the All Saints’
Development Group.
• Sarah Stringer: Deputy Churchwarden, unofficial
‘Catering Manager’ for church events, and St Andrew’s
Church flower organiser.
• Gillian Sinclair: Reader and Deputy Churchwarden.
• Barbara Flower: Pastoral Visitor, and Clerk to the
Primary School Governors.
• Joy Cross: Lay Pastoral Assistant, Member of the
Deanery Synod.
• Flo Mills: Member of the Deanery Synod
• Ruth Metherell: Pastoral Visitor
• Judi Morison: Chair of Castle Cary Town Council and
Church Safeguarding Person
• Madron Osborne: Reader
• Ainsley Creedy: Volunteer Co-ordinator of Cary Cares
• Christine Outhwaite: All Saints’ Church flower organiser
• Peter Rice: Organist
• John Pearse: Clerk of Works, St Andrew’s church
Church Attendance 2019 All Saints’, Castle Cary St Andrew’s, Ansford
Ordinary Sunday average - 8.30 am 10 8
10.00 am 40 29
Messy Church average 28 (incl 13 children)
Easter Day 77 10
Remembrance Sunday with RBL 228
Ecumenical Carol Service 218
Christmas Crib Service 123 (incl 38 children)
Christmas Eve - 9.30pm 57
Christmas Day – 10.00am 77
Most regular worshippers attend the 10.00 am service regardless of which church the service is held in. A few attend
a particular church regardless of the time.
145f. What we can offer a new vicar
We offer a warm welcome, both in the church and in the parish
as a whole. Many people moving into Castle Cary and Ansford
comment on what a friendly community it is. The PCC is
progressive, and looking for change. There are many young
families in the town who have had contact with the church
through baptisms, Messy Church, or school, and who will
appreciate a vicar who wants to involve them in church life and
help them in their faith.
Within the church and the town as a whole there are many
people who are concerned to make life better for people and
the environment. This is shown by the hundred people who
volunteered to work with Cary Cares, and others who donated
to help it happen. All these will welcome contact with and the
support of the vicar.
The vicarage was built in the 1970s and has just been
refurbished. It is located next to All Saints’ Church, an easy walk
into the town centre but secluded behind mature trees, and
with easy access to the open space of Lodge Hill. It has a garage,
ample parking and a large garden.
The Primary School is not a church school but for many years,
has had a good relationship with the church. This means that
the vicar will not be an ex officio school governor, although if
they feel that they could valuably contribute some of their time
and skills to school governorship the opportunity would
probably be there. Whether or not they took that on, the Head
Teacher, Sarah Martin, would welcome the vicar into the school
and explore ways the vicar might be involved.
The school frequently uses All Saints’ church building. The
oldest part of the school building is owned by the church and
the church is able to use it free of charge. There is no church
hall but with the school being available, plus the space and
facilities we have in the two church buildings, and the
possibility of hiring other rooms in the town, a hall of our own
would be a burden rather than an asset.
The PCC pays for a Parish Administrator to work between 4 and
6 hours a week depending on need. Retired clergy and Readers
can offer cover to the vicar during holidays or illness, or give
other support if it is needed. It is expected that the new vicar
will, in accord with diocesan guidelines, take their full
entitlement of six full weeks holiday each year, as well as days
off, and go on retreat and attend conferences. It is also
expected that the vicar will ensure they have the support of a
spiritual director or counselling supervisor, and the PCC would
expect to reimburse travel to these, along with all parish
expenses.
The vicar will have a life of their own, hopefully with friends,
family and personal interests. Local people will expect, respect,
and appreciate that.
155g. Church Finances
In recent years the PCC has consistently paid its parish share,
even though for a while it was very high as parents attending
Messy Church were considered in the calculation as church
members though they did not contribute to its funds. Most
people give by banker’s order but the lack of collections during
services has still impacted on the church’s income. The parish
share in 2020 will be £38,757 and will be paid in full.
The church in Castle Cary and Ansford has consistently
financially supported other local, national and international
organisations that work for peace, health and justice. This
support has been directly from PCC funds, in monthly
collections, and in special appeals such as Christian Aid Week
and the Churches Together Lent Appeal.
St Andrew’s has a building reserve of £38,000, largely from
legacies. All Saints’ building fund will be used in the autumn to
re-roof the building. Most of the £200,000 needed for this work
has come from grants, although £30,000 has been generated by
the Development Group through local fundraising and events.
Further grants of £30,000 have already been awarded towards
the cost of re ordering All Saints’.
The PCC has no substantial assets or reserves but overall income
exceeds expenditure by approximately 9%.
In the last seven years there have been six PCC Treasurers. This
has led to a lack of clarity in the past about the church’s funds
but this is being addressed now by churchwarden David
Baldwin.
A statement of account for 2019 is available from
treasurer.standrews.allsaints@gmail.com
5h. Future Re-organisation of the Benefice
There is no question of this benefice being split up. Castle Cary
and Ansford are effectively one town and the church is ahead of
the civil authorities in recognising this and reorganising
accordingly.
This is a small benefice and at some point in the future it is likely
to be joined with another nearby. The most likely neighbouring
benefice is The Six Pilgrims, a benefice of very small villages to
the west, which is currently served by a house-for-duty priest
and has good, active lay ministry.
The new vicar of Castle Cary and Ansford will need to have an
eye to preparing the church here for such a change.
167. THE DIOCESE 6. THE DEANERY
The Diocese of Bath and Wells is one of 41 Church of England Bruton and Cary Deanery is a large
dioceses in the country. The diocese stretches from Portishead deanery comprising 11 benefices. The
in the north to Crewkerne in the south, Minehead in the west clergy chapter meet monthly and it is
to Frome in the east. a good place for mutual support,
sharing of ideas and prayer.
Our vision, and the diocesan strategy that is emerging from it,
speaks of the story of Jesus; his life, teaching and work, his
The current deanery plan has served
death and resurrection; the story which is the context of our
us well, supporting and inspiring
faith and the content of our message.
parishes as they engage with mission
We seek to live this story as disciples of Jesus Christ in the and evangelism in their own contexts,
world and to tell it, both in sharing the good news and by the but is due for renewal in the
way in which our lives speak about Him. forthcoming year. There is an
openness to working across parish
Bishop Peter’s work on a new vision and strategy for the and deanery boundaries on specific
diocese began during his first year as Bishop of Bath and Wells, projects and it is expected that
which he spent visiting parishes and listening. individual clergy are willing to share
The diocesan strategy is built around three priorities: their areas of expertise and passions
1. To place mission and evangelism at the heart of all we do. within the deanery. Details of the
2. To re-align our resources towards mission. Deanery plan can be found on the
3. To identify, develop and release the gifts of all our people. deanery website.
Attendance at deanery synod is a key
This has been developed in a number of areas: part of supporting parishes and
anyone is invited to come along. The
• Deaneries. Each deanery now has a Deanery Mission Plan
focus of each Synod has been very
(DMP) to identify and address priorities for mission in the local
much on mission and evangelism with
area. This has encouraged a lot of collaboration across
a speaker and discussion rather than
deaneries in mission and discipleship development. DMPs will
simply a business meeting. We hope
continue to be important in the coming years as decisions
to continue with this ethos under the
about resource allocation will be made in the light of what the
new plan.
plans say.
This is an exciting time for parishes
• Pioneering and fresh expressions. Our Pioneer Project and the deanery as a whole and you
(part-funded by the national church) seeks to encourage would find a welcoming and
pioneering across the Diocese to reach those communities supportive group of both lay and
where we currently have little impact. Deaneries and parishes clergy with a passion for rural
are being resourced to develop pioneering within their areas ministry and a love for the Gospel.
and to encourage the vocation of those who are called to work
with people outside the inherited church. Revd Kevin Rogers, Area Dean
Rob Sage, Lay Dean
• Lay ministry and vocation. Our priority is to develop the
ministry of all God’s people, lay and ordained working in brutonandcarydeanery.net
partnership. We increasingly emphasise lay leadership and
ministry in our diocesan programme, and we are developing
new pathways for lay vocations in order to allow this to
develop.
www.bathandwells.org.uk
178. CONCLUSION
This is an exciting time for the church in Castle Cary and
Ansford, and a great opportunity for a parish priest to have a
significant part in leading the church into God’s future. It is a
thriving town, there are excellent relations with the other
churches, and the church membership is aware of the need
for change, and ready for it. The new vicar will be warmly
welcomed and have prayerful and practical support in their
ministry here.
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