St James the Great, Manston, LEEDS Vacancy for Organist / Church Musician

Transcription

1 St James the Great, Manston, LEEDS Vacancy for Organist / Church Musician A Parish Church in Manston: The Parish of St James the Great, Manston, lies on the east side of the city, 4 miles out from the city centre, and is an area more generally known as a part of Cross Gates. Anglican Worship has been offered here since 1847 when the first Church was built, and following a new and larger church being built in 1913 that commitment to a rhythm of worship and service has continued to the present day. Our Cycle of Worship: Today our parish worship week by week is largely Eucharistic, whilst a recent review of our morning worship has caused us to move to offering a number of extra non Eucharistic / all-age services with the aim of making church more accessible to young families, as well as to offer some more traditional services at alternative times, again to enable some of our elderly or infirm members to more readily access worship. As a result our present cycle of worship is as follows:- 1 st Sunday of the Month 2 nd Sunday of the Month NO 8am 9.30am Eucharist & Parade (sung) 11.30am All Age Worship 11.30am Eucharist (said) 3 rd Sunday of the Month 4 th Sunday of the Month 11.30am All Age Worship 11.30am Baptisms (as booked) 5 th Sunday of the Month (an opportunity to do things a little differently) 10.00am All-Together Eucharist followed by the sharing of food Our 9.30am sung Eucharist is held each week and on the 1 st, 3 rd, and 4 th Sundays is accompanied by the organ and includes the singing of hymns, a Eucharistic setting (Margaret Rizza s Bread of Life, Grayston Ives Salisbury Service and also the popular Peter Jones Gloria,) and Responsorial Psalms on occasions. In addition, an increasingly reduced choir has continued to be committed and enthusiastic, and given a lead to the congregational singing. Our most recent organist has also undertaken the role of Director of Music in rehearsing its members to sing the hymns, an anthem suitable for the number and mix of voices (all upper voices), and on occasions to lead plainchant psalms. (See later comments on the expected role of a newly appointed organist / church musician). There are usually in the region of people at this service.

2 On the 2 nd Sunday of the month our 9.30am Eucharist is also a Parade Service. We are joined by members of the Uniformed Organisation who contribute to our services and a small Music Group (keyboard, guitar, oboe, clarinet and couple of voices) traditionally provides the accompaniment for a mix of music with a greater emphasis upon the more contemporary. There are usually in the region of at this service. Our All Age Worship (1 st & 3 rd Sundays at 11.30am) has recently increased from once a month to twice a month. These services are much more informal in style and liturgically and musically lighter. They aim to welcome and encourage those who are new to church, the young families who come to us through baptism requests and to gently draw some of our newer members into greater participation and to leadership roles. Again most recently these services have been musically supported by a couple of members of our music group (keyboard and guitar). However, with us having increased these services from once to twice a month they would value, and sometimes require, some musical support and back-up from others. Our Evening Worship has for many years taken the form of a sung Evensong but for some time now without any choir present in the evening to lead. This has meant that a faithful congregation of between traditionally people, with organ accompaniment, has enthusiastically sung three hymns, and a psalm and the evening canticles to Anglican chant, whilst the member of clergy / ministry team conducting the service has led the singing of the vesicles and responses. Following our morning review of worship last year, recent discussions have led us to review our evening cycle of worship, with the outcome that we wish to continue to offer our sung service (as above) just once a month and to offer alternative opportunities for worship and prayer on the other Sunday evenings. There have also been discussions about whether evening worship should continue to be at 6pm all year round or whether it should be at 4pm during the winter months. Our Vision and Hopes for the Music and Worship of St James We, at St James Manston, see this as a time to make some creative decisions about the way in which music can continue to play an important and significant part within the life of our Parish Church and within the ministry and mission of a people who are called to sing God s praises and to share the love of Christ generously with others. As a Church with a neighbouring church school, a number of other local schools, and in contact with children and young families through our wider ministry we are committing to making two individual musical appointments which we hope will work both separately and together to develop the worship and ministry we offer in and through music. In addition to the appointment of an organist / church musician, we are committed to appointing a Children s Music Co-ordinator to begin and develop a group of junior singers who will commit to rehearsing and singing together and to contributing within the church s worship once a month, at services to be agreed. The Organist / Church Musician s Role will be as described more fully in the Job Description below, but is primarily to sustain and develop the music for our sung Eucharist on the 1 st, 3 rd, and 4 th Sundays, to provide for a sung and accompanied Evensong style worship once a month, to support and enable those who would like to continue to offer a lead to congregational singing as well as to offer their musical gifts in worship vocal and instrumental, and to work collaboratively and supportively with those who lead other aspects of the church s music (music / worship group and children s choir) and with the clergy and members of the wider ministry team.

3 As organist at St James, you would have the privilege of playing our fine two manual organ which is a well maintained 28 rank Abbot and Smith instrument, rebuilt by John T Jackson in 1992 and is a highly versatile organ, equally at home in much solo repertoire, as well as accompanying choirs and congregations. There is also opportunity to play for weddings and funerals during the year, and to earn further income for any such duties undertaken. Remuneration for the role of Organist / Church Musician will be in line with RSCM rates (category B). As a PCC and Ministry Team we believe that this new way of working, outlined above, offers some exciting and creative possibilities as well as the opportunity to continue to be faithful to our call to be a worshipping and witnessing people. As an indication of us being in a time of transition both the posts we are offering will in the first instance be for a 2 year period. Please read the more comprehensive job description and person specification provided below, and if after doing so you feel that you have the gifts and skills which we are looking for and that you could be a leader, a team player and an encourager to, and enabler of, others within the musical life of St James Church then please do get in touch. For further information or a conversation:- carolyn.james117@btinternet.com or phone the Parish Office on To make an application please send:_ 1. A Curriculum Vitae outlining your experience and expertise. 2. A covering letter explaining your particular interest in this post / reasons for applying and what you feel you could contribute. 3. The names and addresses of two independent persons (i.e. not related to you) who would provide a reference upon request. to The Reverend Carolyn A. James Manston Vicarage, Church Lane, Cross gates Leeds LS15 8JB All applications will be acknowledged and successful applicants will be called to interview. We are seeking to appoint someone from as soon as possible after 4 th September 2016.

4 ST JAMES THE GREAT, MANSTON, LEEDS, LS15 8JB Job Title: Organist and Church Musician at St James the Great, Manston. Description: 1. To prepare for and play at 3 morning Eucharistic Services a month and one evening service a month, and to prepare and play for a number of seasonal / holy day services throughout the year (Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension Day, Remembrance Sunday, Memorial Services, Carol Services, Christmas Eve / Midnight Mass, Christmas Day, Songs of Praise Services ) and the occasional one off deanery / diocesan service / specials. 2. To provide accompaniment for congregational hymns / songs, responsorial psalms and settings etc. 3. To prepare and support a small group of choir members to make their musical contribution in worship i.e. providing a vocal lead for the congregation, singing a simple anthem / hymn / song during the administration of communion on occasions. 4. To liaise with, encourage and support others who offer their musical gifts within worship, or who may be encouraged to do so. 5. To be willing to play on occasions at an extra non Eucharistic worship service, following the Parish Eucharist, in support of, and to provide cover for, those who regularly and voluntarily provide musical accompaniment for this service throughout the year. 6. To co-operate with the Priest in Charge and other team members in the planning of worship and to attend occasional meetings for the purposes of planning and reviewing. 7. To enhance the worship offered at St James Church by valuing the place of music within the church s liturgy and the spirituality of the congregation, and more widely by appreciating the place of music within the mission and ministry of the church. 8. To show care for the church s musical instruments, to advise the PCC on any work requiring to be undertaken and to oversee the organ s programme of tuning and maintenance. 9. To keep in good order the church s other resources relating to music, (i.e. music, folders, robes, and areas within the church used by the musicians) 10. To liaise with the Priest in Charge / PCC regarding any requests for expenditure on musical resources. 11. To organise and pay at your own expense suitable deputies for any services at which you are unable to play, except those within your agreed holiday. 12. To ensure the highest standards of safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults are adhered to at all times, in accordance with Diocesan guidelines /Parish policies. In addition, a suitable candidate would be encouraged to pursue and offer his / her own particular musical expertise / gifts within the wider ministry of the church and of Parish life, if the candidate so desired i.e. through the organisation of concerts, musical events and experiences which others can be drawn in to. This list of responsibilities is not intended to be exhaustive and would be subject to review in consultation with the Priest in Charge.

5 Person Specification:- We are seeking someone to come and share with us, and to play this significant role within the life and worship of St James Church, who - is understanding / respectful of the practices and beliefs of the Christian Church in general, and of the liturgies and worshipping life of the Church of England in particular. is a competent and versatile organist and keyboard player, with musical expertise and sensitivity. is familiar with a wide range of church music appropriate to the worshipping life of St James (traditional, contemporary and liturgical). is a good team player, able to work collaboratively and effectively with clergy and ministry team members as well as to work with, support and enable other musicians. has an awareness of the ability of music to support and deepen the mission of a Parish Church, the discipleship of its members and the spiritual experience of others. is aware of and used to working within the copyright law applicable to church music. Opportunities: 1. Use of the organ both personally, and for the purposes of tutoring others, at agreed times. 2. Use of the organ for preparing for worship and for giving recitals or concerts (if applicable). 3. To earn fees for playing at funerals and / or weddings as available. Leave: Remuneration: Evaluation: The organist is entitled to 4 Sundays off annually. The church is affiliated to the RSCM and remuneration will be in accordance with its guidelines, for a category B church. There will be an initial 6 month probationary period, and there will be a designated annual meeting for the purposes of a shared evaluation and review. Location: Accountable to: Appointed by: Key relationships: St James the Great Church, Church Lane, Cross Gates, Leeds, LS15 8JB Priest in Charge Priest in Charge and PCC Priest in Charge, PCC, Ministry Team members, other musicians, congregational members. We are seeking to appoint someone from as soon as possible after 4 th September The Appointment will be subject to an Interview, References, and an Enhanced DBS Clearance.