St James the Great, Congleton. CW 12 4EF
Part-Time Incumbent of St James the Great, Congleton
In consultation with the Bishop of Beverley, the Bishop of Chester is seeking to appoint a part-time incumbent to the parish of St James the Great, Congleton.
St James’s is a parish of the Society of St. Wilfrid and St. Hilda and is seeking to appoint a male priest affiliated with, or supportive of, the Society, who is dedicated to the continuation of the Catholic tradition which has been well established in the parish for many years.
The parish are praying for a new incumbent who will work with the currently small, but dedicated, worshipping community at St James to build on the excellent work and leadership during the ministry of Father Jonathan Roberts who has been seconded to them for the past 12 months. In that time, the congregation have welcomed many new faces into their beautiful building at reinvigorated services and events, and slowly but surely this has yielded positive results. The church has reconnected with local schools and would love to see this continue and bear fruit.
The congregation are eager to work alongside their new priest to continue this journey and to rejoice with them in spreading God’s word and fellowship to others.
The congregation are praying for a priest…
* With a genuine love for people and a desire to serve them, offering compassion, support and guidance. A good listener and wise counsellor with the ability to connect to people of all ages and backgrounds.
* Who is committed to the Anglo-Catholic tradition and can effectively explain its concepts in an understandable way, making it inclusive and accessible.
* Who emphasises the centrality of the Mass as the source and foundation of all our work in Christ’s name.
* Who is an approachable and relatable person who can lead the community in deepening faith and can grow the church by guiding the congregation in spiritual growth and encouraging participation in all aspects of ministry.
* Who works collaboratively, discerning the gifts of others and empowering them to live out their faith in everyday life.
* Who has a demonstrable commitment to fostering a strong and effective safeguarding culture in the parish.
So, if you are up for a challenge, this is a parish and congregation open to change. They are realistic but hopeful, certainly not perfect, but trying to be more like Christ. Might God be calling you to come and be among them?
In exchange for working part-time (2.5 days per week plus Sunday morning services) you will receive housing and 25% of a stipend.
Accommodation is currently offered in the recently purchased three-bedroom vicarage: 2 Newby Court, West Heath, Congleton, CW12 4JS
For a conversation about the post, please feel free to be in touch with The Bishop of Stockport, The Right Reverend Sam Corley, by email in the first instance: bpstockport@chester.anglican.org.
The Bishop of Beverley, The Right Reverend Stephen Race, would also be pleased to have a conversation about the role and the parish: stephen@seeofbeverley.org.uk.
- Shortlisting: Tuesday, 25 th November 2025
- Interviews: Friday, 5 th December 2025
The Diocese of Chester will not shortlist candidates unless they can provide an assurance of up-to-date safeguarding training and a valid DBS check for their current post. Candidates are required to submit relevant training certificates with their applications.
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