Copthorne Village website

Appendices

Appendix 1: Glossary

 
CME - Continuing Ministerial Education
CMER - CME for Readers
DRG - Deanery Review Group
EGD - East Grinstead Deanery
EGDS - East Grinstead Deanery Synod
FMC - Full Ministry Costs (See PMC, TFR)
OLM - Ordained Local Minister
PMC - Parish Ministry Costs (See FMC, TFR)
RD - Rural Dean
TFR - Towards Full Responsibility (See FMC, PMC)
 
 
Diocese of Chichester

Appendix 2: The members/Facilitators of the Deanery Review Group

Members were chosen to represent both clergy and lay views perspectives from across the Deanery. Most parishes are represented by a facilitator.
Mr Barry Bull (Crawley Down)
The Revd Alastair Cutting (Copthorne) Co-chair
The Revd Clive Everett-Allen (St. Swithun’s, East Grinstead)
Mr David Fry (St Barnabas’, Poundhill, Worth)
The Revd Jon Hale (Crawley Down)
Mr Eddie Holmes (Copthorne)
Mr John Latham (St. Swithun’s, East Grinstead) Co-chair
Mr Keith Major (St Dunstan’s, Ashurst Wood, Forest Row)
The Revd Jonathan Mortimer (St. Mary’s, Southgate)
The Revd Doris Staniford (St Alban’s, Gossops Green, Ifield)
Ms Sarah Wallace (St John’s, Crawley)
(The Revd Gordon Bond, ex-officio, as Rural Dean, was kept informed of all proceedings, but did not attend meetings)
 

Appendix 3: Possible Boundary Changes

Inter-Parish Boundaries
Southgate notes that a section of north Southgate is actually in the Crawley St. John Parish, and there may be some value in using the railway line as Southgate’s northern boundary; though Crawley St. John’s may feel that is too great a loss.

A large section of Worth parish to the east of the M23 is largely uninhabited open land, and most of those living there are not aware they are within Worth’s ecclesiastical parish. It may well make sense to use the motorway as the dividing line, giving the smaller northern section above the Turners Hill Road to Copthorne, and the lower section to Turner’s Hill. This has the advantage of bringing Worth Abbey, and its school, into the parish of Turner’s Hill, where the parish priest is the part-time chaplain to the school.

One longer-term negative to this proposal might be that if a further neighbourhood of Crawley was built ‘outside’ the M23, then that would now fall into the possible new Turner’s Hill part of the parish, whilst still ‘looking’ to Crawley. However there are no plans for any such neighbourhood in even the longest-term plans we have been able to ascertain.

Copthorne Chapel exists in small corner of Crawley Down parish, north of the A264. There may be a value in drawing that in to Copthorne.

Rowfant House and Chapel currently are in Copthorne, but in some ways look towards Crawley Down, so a change there may be considered too - though St. John’s Copthorne was built by the residents of Rowfant, and so there is a historical link there too, that it may be a pity to lose.


Since the creation of Weir Wood Reservoir between St. Swithun’s and Forest Row in the 1960s, the intricacy of the boundaries is not only somewhat lost, but there is a section of each parish that is orphaned completely from the rest. Making the Reservoir itself the boundary, with St. Swithun’s to the north, and Forest Row to the south seems to make sense. There could also be some rationalising of the boundaries just south of Ashurst Wood, possibly following the old railway/Sussex Border Path line.


 
Inter-Deanery Boundaries
If the Deanery were to split, and even if it were not, it was noted that West Hoathly and Sharpthorne probably ‘look’ towards East Grinstead (in terms of schools and shops etc), rather than Cuckfield/Haywards Heath. Without prejudice, it may be worth exploring if such a shift would make sense. It would be of particular value should Crawley be removed from the East Grinstead Deanery.

 
Inter-Diocesan Boundaries
Although the reasoning, the Southwark/Chichester boundary following the Surrey/Sussex County boundary makes some sense, looking at a map shows that Felbridge would fit much more easily with East Grinstead. The new neighbourhood planned for East Grinstead actually falls predominantly within the Felbridge parish boundary, and a new school is being planned there, which would fall outside the Chichester diocese currently, whilst being south of the A264.

Gatwick Airport, it appears, though staffed by Chichester, lies completely within Southwark Diocese, though within Sussex. Drawing the Airport in, effectively to Crawley St. John, would seem to make sense. Following the path of the M23, the M23 spur road, the A23 slightly north, and then following the Charlwood Road, and the airport perimeter road would appear to be most logical.

 

A small slither south of B2037 Antlands Lane, at Shipley Bridge, could also go to Copthorne, completing the remaining section of boundary to the M23, simplifying outlines.
Appendix 4: Building Issues within Parishes

In East Grinstead, St. Swithun’s is already aware of the need to consider the over-provision of buildings, and is contemplating the long-term use of St. Luke’s and St. Barnabas’ premises, and whether it continues to make sense to staff them along with St. Swithun’s.

This becomes even more significant if there is a stronger co-operation between St. Swithun’s and St. Mary’s in the future, and if there is ever any progress in drawing in Felbridge into the deanery.

There are three worship centres in Hammerwood, Holtye, and Cowden - and some of the best-attended special services have been held not in church, but in the village hall at Cowden. In a combined parish with a population of less than 1,000, supporting three large old buildings takes some justifying (taking into account local covenants).

St. Leonard’s Langley Green has significant roof problems, and its viability is in doubt; and also in the Ifield parish, with Crawley’s newest neighbourhood beginning to be built at Ifield West, positioning of worship centres needs to be carefully thought through. Is the Barn Church, suitable to support this, or will that be another distraction?

Lowfield Heath (in the St. John’s Crawley parish) has applied for redundancy.

Worth currently has no worship centre on Maidenbower, and is also expecting the next major 14th Precinct neighbourhood project near the crematorium. Will another worship centre be needed in either place at all?

In addition to the ‘usual’ issues with buildings, as mentioned in Section 7, several parishes have building projects on the go:
    St Andrew’s Furnace Green, in the Crawley Southgate parish is planning a new church/hall that is expected to cost some £500,000.
    Copthorne is in the process of building a new Parish centre, in the £1 Million region.
    Crawley Down needs to do something with its aging Parish Rooms, in the region of £150,000.
Section 7 asks these questions: How can the Deanery/Diocese support parishes that are trying to find the capital towards their mission? Should the Deanery/Diocese be trying to cushion their PMC in any way, as an encouragement to mission?

Appendix 5: Discussion Topics document

An Archive copy is available online on http://copthorne.org/EGDS.htm for now, but may in time be available on a site such as egds.org.uk  

Appendix 6: Draft (Interim) Report

An Archive copy is available online on http://copthorne.org/EGDS.htm for now, but may in time be available on a site such as egds.org.uk  
 
Specific Proposals from Parishes etc, in the Deanery
The Parish Church of All Saints’ Crawley Down
East Grinstead Deanery Review
Response of the Parochial Church Council of All Saints’ Church to the Draft East Grinstead Deanery Review Report dated June 2004

This set of six proposals was unanimously adopted by the PCC at its meeting on 21st September 2004
1.  That the Archdeacon of Horsham, or someone of similar, or higher standing, should convene and chair a working party to discuss:
a)    The reorganisation of the parishes within Crawley in order to equip the Crawley parishes to meet their financial challenges and be more effective thereby in their mission to the people of Crawley.
b)    The possible formation of Crawley into a separate Deanery.
The working party should consist of representatives from each of the four parishes involved.
2.  If Crawley separates to form its own Deanery the remaining part of East Grinstead Deanery should continue as East Grinstead Deanery in its own right, in order that East Grinstead may be a clear centre for mission, and that the Deanery unit may enable the effective implementation of both a mission strategy and financial planning.
3.  The Rural Dean post should be a Deanery-wide clergy appointment without responsibility for a specific parish, so that the Rural Dean may provide mission-centred leadership to all parish clergy in the Deanery.  This post should be funded from the Diocesan Mission Fund.
4.  Administration of the reserved sacrament by licensed lay ministers should be allowed.  This matter to be considered and pressed at Diocesan Synod and with the Diocesan Bishop.
5.  The advantages of the establishment of Locally Ordained Ministers should be reviewed by the Diocesan Synod and the Diocesan Bishop.
6.  Diocesan finances and the finances of the Church of England centrally should be set out for parish churches more clearly than they are at present because there is a lack of confidence that the Diocese of Chichester and the Church of England centrally are targeting themselves for cost reductions in the same way that parish churches are being asked to do.
Ifield Team Ministry
Extracted comments relating to the Deanery, from Ifield’s responses to Deanery Review Discussion Topics Document:

We hope also to establish a post of Priest/Missioner and Chaplain to (Holy Trinity) school.

We feel the Deanery is too big for ministry to be enhanced by licensing pastoral or youth workers and Readers across the whole area.  Sharing could, perhaps, take place in the Crawley area on the basis of people’s skills.  Partly for this reason, we would like to see Crawley become a separate Deanery.

It is our intention in the future to maintain 100% FMC. … We are a large parish in a densely-populated ethnic area which will never be affluent, and therefore finances will always be a challenge to us.  The largest part of our mission (youth and children, schools etc) is in a non income-generating area.

We believe the Deanery Review Group should be responsible for deciding on the number of priests in the Deanery and where they should be deployed.

We note with consternation that the Diocese budgets on a needs basis, yet makes requests to parishes, via deaneries, without taking account of ability to pay.

We find it disturbing that the Deanery last year raised in excess of £80,000 in fees yet was only credited with £30,000.

The reason we have not previously participated fully in this review was that we failed to see its relevance to our parish.
Proposals From Copthorne

    Identify a list of specific people, ‘experts in the field’, who can be available to other parishes in an advisory capacity.
    Creating a list of some of the other excellent ventures going on in local parishes, the ‘good practise’ going on; learning - and being prepared to learn - from neighbours within the deanery, building on peoples’ experience, and sharing it.
    Shared support for a Youth worker
    Share training; possible areas might include:
o    Music/worship
o    Prayer
o    Child Protection
o    Men’s Breakfasts and other mission ideas
o    Bereavement groups
o    ‘LifeLink’ (local practical help/support scheme; lifts to doctor, shopping etc)
o    Pre-school staff training
    Raise the profile of the work of the churches through the local media and in schools
    Why license so locally? License readers and NSMs to the Deanery

Crawley Town Centre Team Ministry Proposals

    That possibility of using Readers to lead services of Communion by Extension on a regular basis should be properly explored.
    It may be beneficial for lay workers to be licensed to the rural Dean and available across the deanery. With equal access for all parishes.
    The Deanery as it now stands is difficult for local congregations to relate to and it may be better split into two smaller parts.
    The role of the Rural Dean should be looked at with a view to him having a manageable workload and being able to support parishes in the Deanery. Possible ways of achieving this may be for him to have no Parish or a small parish.
    That the apportionment of Parish share should be the subject of a serious debate.
Proposals from the Deanery Readers Meeting

    Reinstate question in the Reader’s Annual Report asking about being open to minister elsewhere
    More freedom of movement/with a wider licence (perhaps licensed to the Rural Dean)
    Continuing Ministerial Education type addition to training (CMER), or perhaps invite Readers to join in the clergy CME
    May Readers be able to distribute Holy Communion by Extension more than just in extreme circumstances?
    Might readers become OLM’s or Deacons?
    Reader is an important ‘lay’ bridge between the clergy and congregation, which it would be sad to lose
    Value in the long term pastoral support by readers in a world of changing clergy
    Readers to perform baptisms as well as funerals on pastoral request
    There is a need to encourage training for each of the vocations reader/clergy, especially amongst the young (only 6 out of 330 Readers in the Chichester Diocese are under the age of 40)

List of things that Readers are currently doing or have been asked to do:
 
‘Deaconing’
Spiritual Director
First half including the Gospel when preaching and Communion
BCP MP once a month
Reader or clergy gospeller
Leader prayer ministry team
Pastoral care of the elderly
Home communion in nursing homes
Lay chaplaincy at hospital
Heatherley Cheshire Home
Laying on of hands and anointing
Have done a Baptism
Evening song
Non-Eucharistic services
Home group leader/Alpha
Funerals
Confirmation group
Ex-officio on committees in Parish
School assemblies
Inter regnum - let out of the drawer
Part of the ministry team
Bereavement
General counselling
Intercessions
 
 
The Parish of St. Swithun, East Grinstead with St. Barnabas & St. Luke
DEANERY REVIEW 2004:  STATEMENT

1.    The Review Group needs to determine the overall Mission and Ministry of the Deanery and be committed to growth, both numerically and spiritually.
2.    Though the Review should not be finance driven, the implications of our present financial situation regarding man/woman power and church premises cannot be ignored.
3.    Collaboration is necessary not only between Parishes but also between Diocese and Deanery and Bishop/Archdeacon and Rural Dean. This is especially important when a vacancy occurs.
MATTERS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE DEANERY REVIEW GROUP

1.    If the Parishes of Crawley were to form a separate Deanery would the rest of the Deanery be viable?
2.    Could the town of East Grinstead (including Felbridge) be served by less than four stipendiary priests?
3.    Can the Deanery explore the possibilities of ministry and mission to the development of 2,500 houses to the West of East Grinstead?
4.    St. Swithun’s PCC recognises the need to decide on the long-term viability of its daughter Churches. It also needs to look at its relationship with St. Mary’s, East Grinstead and whether East Grinstead and Felbridge should become one pastoral unit.
5.    Certain clergy, Lay Workers or Readers should be licensed to the Deanery not individual Parishes. More use needs to be made of Readers and Lay Leadership.
6.    Consideration needs to be given to manpower levels so that specialist areas (e.g. Youth Work, Lay Training) and extra assistance to the Rural Dean might be possible.
7.    What plans are there to maintain and develop our ministry and mission to civic structures, schools (church and non-church), state/private, industry, hospitals, Police etc?
8.    The Chaplaincy of the Queen Victoria Hospital is also an issue to be addressed. Does it need to be the responsibility of the Vicar of St. Swithun’s?
9.    St. Mary’s, East Grinstead may wish to consider the role of its Church School in its own mission and strategy and the particular role the Church has in the town.
10.    The Parishes of Cowden and Hammerwood need to decide whether three places of worship are sustainable given the size of the population and the worshipping communities. St. Swithun’s would be grateful if they could inform us of any way in which we could offer practical help.
11.    The Parishes of Turners Hill, Crawley Down and Copthorne need to discuss what is an appropriate form of co-operation.
12.    It may be necessary for consideration to be given to suspension of benefices at the next vacancy.
13.    What are the possibilities of ecumenical co-operation (at Parish level) within the Deanery?
14.    We would welcome a future close and mutually beneficial relationship with the Parish of Forest Row.


The Southgate Team Ministry in Crawley also add
-    A recognition that ministry across Crawley's neighbourhoods requires a diversity of strategies and styles.  We have a clear understanding of four worship centres, answerable to the PCC and each with its own vision, mission strategy, budget, treasurer and lay team aiding the Vicar.
-    A recognition of the partnership in the Gospel we have with other denominations, and the exciting growth in this partnership, not least in the area of youth and children's ministry.