Part-Time Incumbent of Ashton-upon-Mersey, St Martin The Society for the Maintenance of the Faith is seeking to appoint a part-time incumbent to the parish of Ashton-upon-Mersey, St Martin. St. Martin’s is a friendly, caring church family in the modern Anglo-Catholic tradition where everyone is welcome. We are looking forward to the next stage of our journey and sharing it with a new Rector. We are praying for a person of faith, with a spirituality anchored in the sacraments, who will be among us as a pastor and leader, and a person who will inspire us so that together we can further God’s kingdom in the parish. Situated on the northern edge of beautiful Cheshire countryside, close to Sale and within easy reach of Manchester and with excellent transport links, Ashton-Upon-Mersey has a population of approximately six and a half thousand, yet retains a village feel. We are wanting to:
* Grow together as a worshipping community and deepen our unity around a shared vision and sense of purpose.
* Broaden our reach into our local community, especially in local schools.
* Use our gifts in service and mission.
* Develop and enrich our worship.
* Tackle the ongoing challenges of finance, and of maintenance and repair of our buildings
We are praying for an Incumbent who is:
* Resourced by the modern Anglo-Catholic tradition, with a deep, prayerful faith in Jesus Christ and eager to share the Gospel in everyday life.
* Able to build strong relationships with people from a variety of backgrounds and a good listener who will be a visible, approachable presence in both church and community life.
* Experienced in nurturing lay ministry in all its forms; someone who can recognise and nurture individual gifts, to foster active participation and teamwork.
* A good communicator, able to teach the faith in ways that are engaging, relevant, and accessible.
* Able to help others explore and live out the Christian faith in everyday life.
* Able to see the potential in our buildings and resources, for transformation, outreach, and community engagement.
* Ready to help us increase our giving, growing in generosity.
* Committed to nurturing a strong and effective safeguarding culture, where all in the parish feel safe, valued, and welcome.
In exchange for working part-time (Four days per week plus Sunday morning services) you will receive housing and 60% of a stipend. Accommodation is offered in a spacious four-bedroom, detached Rectory just a few minutes walk from the church. The General Secretary of The Society for the Maintenance of the Faith, The Reverend Father Philip Corbett, will also be pleased to hear from potential applicants: This post is open to women and to men, and we will particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups. Completed forms should be returned to:, and also copied to The Bishop of Stockport:, and to the General Secretary of The Society for the Maintenance of the Faith, The Reverend Father Philip Corbett: Applicants are required to submit relevant safeguarding training certificates with their applications. - Closing date: Wednesday 11th March 2026 - Shortlisting: Wednesday 18th March 2026 - Interviews: Monday 20th April 2026 The Diocese of Chester is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We 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. An Enhanced DBS Disclosure will be required for the successful candidate.
About us: The Diocese of Chester is in the province of York in the Church of England, part of the global Anglican Communion. For more information about our life, ministry and work please visit our website We are linked with the Anglican Church of Melanesia in the Solomon Islands and the Dioceses of Aru and Boga in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Diocese covers an area of 1025 square miles, approximately the old Victorian County of Chester, including parts which subsequently became absorbed into Merseyside and Greater Manchester. The Rivers Mersey and Tame approximately delineate the boundary with Liverpool and Manchester. There are areas of dense urban population, mainly in the north, stretching from Birkenhead to East Manchester. There are prosperous suburban regions of West and South Wirral, Chester and south of Manchester, with a mainly rural heartland, bounded by the Derbyshire Pennines and the Welsh Border. The overall population is around million. The Diocesan Bishop is Mark Tanner, Bishop of Birkenhead Julie Conalty and the Bishop of Stockport is Samuel Corley. The Cathedral for the Diocese is in Chester. The Diocese is divided into two archdeaconries: Chester covering the western half and Macclesfield the eastern, each with nine deaneries. There are 273 parishes, about 100 of which can be described as rural. Compared with many dioceses, there are few teams, and few multi-parish benefices. There are approximately 231 stipendiary clergy. The ministry of Readers and Pastoral Workers is important, with over 400 licensed. The role of self-supporting ministers is increasing, with over 80 in post at present. Roughly speaking, the Archdeaconry of Macclesfield covers that part of the diocese to the east of the M6, plus the area around Crewe and Nantwich. The Archdeaconry of Chester covers the rest of the diocese to the west of the M6. Each archdeaconry has a broad mix of urban and rural parishes. The Archdeacon of Chester lives in Chester, and the Archdeacon of Macclesfield lives in Congleton. Both now work from Church House, Daresbury.