Parish Profile - Christ Church Southgate

PARISH PROFILE October 5th 2014

Charles Holden’s iconic Underground stations provide easy access to central London - less than 8 miles away.

Award winning independent restaurants and the famous Ye Olde Cherry Tree Pub on the picturesque Southgate Green.

The ancient Minchenden Oak, one of England’s oldest trees lies next to the church.

Welcome to Southgate Village Living with London Life Christ Church Southgate is located on Waterfall Road, a short walk from the picturesque Southgate Green with its shops, award winning independent restaurants and the famous Ye Olde Cherry Tree pub. One of the most widely published images of our church is from across the Walker Cricket Ground; described by Arthur Mee as one of the best views in England.

The cricket ground hosts the annual Church Times Cricket Cup Final.

Southgate retains a village feel, despite its proximity to central London (less than 8 miles away and easily accessible by the Piccadilly Line from Southgate or Arnos Grove or National Rail services from Palmers Green or New Southgate). Located close to the Green Belt and the M25, the area is well served by road connections; you can reach the countryside within the time it takes to listen to an episode of The Archers.

The area is well served by excellent schools; two state primaries lie within the parish; Walker Primary School (Ofsted Outstanding 2007) and St Monica’s RC Primary School (Ofsted Good with Outstanding Features 2010). St Andrew’s CE VA Primary School (an improving school) lies just outside of the parish boundary, to the north. The area is well served by excellent secondary schools including Ashmole Academy, The Latymer School, Dame Alice Owens, Queen Elizabeth’s School, North London Collegiate and Palmer’s Green High School. Nearby shopping centres include Southgate, Palmers Green and Enfield Town with Brent Cross a short drive or bus ride away.

Southgate offers an attractive combination of village living with the best of London life.

400 years of Christian worship A potted history of Southgate History The area takes its name from the South Gate to the Kings hunting ground; Enfield Chase, located close to what is now Charles Holden’s iconic Southgate Underground station. A separate settlement “South Street” grew up in the area around Southgate Green and by 1829 the two hamlets had merged. There has been continuous Christian worship on the site of our church since 1615. Next year marks our 400th anniversary as Southgate’s Parish Church.

Originally founded as a Chapel of Ease to All Saints Edmonton in 1615, the Weld Chapel (top left); the precursor to Christ Church, was demolished in 1861 to make way for our present building; the largest in the area and a fine example of the work of Sir George Gilbert Scott (middle), containing an important collection of windows by William Morris & Company, with examples covering over 50 years of their output as well as a unique “self portrait” of William Morris himself, which draws academics and enthusiasts from around the world.

The Parish boundary covers most of the land previously part of the four “Great Estates” of Southgate – Beaver Hall, Minchenden Lodge, Broomfield House and Arnos Grove, formerly home to the Walker family, whose vault lies within the churchyard and to whom our richly decorated Lady Chapel is dedicated (below left). Anne Walker married the Reverend James Baird; the last incumbent of The Weld Chapel and the first Vicar of Christ Church.

The area has seen rapid growth since the arrival of the railway to Palmers Green in 1871 and the extension of the Piccadilly Line in the 1930’s, with estate lands sold off for the development of substantial family homes. Three new churches were established to serve the needs of the growing population; St John’s Palmers Green, St Paul’s New Southgate and St Andrew’s Southgate. The incumbent of Christ Church Southgate retains Patronage over all three.

The Parish Today The church, its halls and vicarage are located on the south western edge of the London Borough of Enfield in the parliamentary constituency of Enfield Southgate. The parish boundary takes in the majority (and more affluent parts) of Southgate Green Ward as well as the southern section of Southgate Ward. The western part of the parish, partly bisected by the route of the Piccadilly Line, lies in Brunswick Park Ward (in the neighbouring London Borough of Barnet and the Parliamentary Constituency of Chipping Barnet). A population of approximately 8,500 live within the parish boundary, primarily in owner occupied accommodation (66%). Southgate Green has an above average proportion of people in managerial classes and an average household income of £43,800; higher than the borough average.

30% of residents are aged between 25 and 44 (source: Local Authority Ward Profile). 15% of the population of the parish is over 65.

Despite the apparent wealth in the area, 11% of pensioners live on low incomes (source: Church Urban Fund). 55% of the population is from a non White-British ethnic origin.

52% of the population identifies as Christian (source: 2011 Census). The area contains a high percentage of Greek and Greek Cypriot families (approximately 10%). Our congregation includes a number of communicants in interfaith marriages.

Since the Local Elections in May 2014, representation is split between Conservative and Labour Councillors (previously all Conservative). The London Assembly Members for Barnet & Camden and Enfield & Haringey represent the Labour Party. The Members of Parliament for Chipping Barnet and Enfield Southgate are both Conservative.

London Borough of Enfield

St Andrew’s Southgate

Brunswick ParkWard LB Barnet

Southgate Ward LB Enfield

1 mile

CHRIST CHURCH SOUTHGATE Southgate Green Ward LB Enfield

St Paul’s New Southgate

2 miles St John the Evangelist Palmers Green

Average attendance 2013/14

229 152 on electoral roll

average Sunday attendance

12% 95

weekly attendees under 16 years old

average Sunday communicants

Welcome to Christ Church An inclusive liberal catholic church We are an inclusive, liberal catholic Church of England parish. We are an established church with a welcoming and supportive congregation.

Average Attendance Average Sunday attendance in 2013/14 was 152, which compares extremely favourably with the parish average for the Diocese of London of 154 (source: Statistics for Mission) in view of the suburban location of the church.

The high quality of liturgy and music and the strong pastoral support are factors which draw people to Christ Church. The average number of Sunday communicants is 95 with 8 regular housebound communicants.

There are currently 229 on the electoral roll.

Pattern of Worship Sunday 8:00am Said Eucharist (Av. attendance 15) 10:00am Sung Eucharist (Av. attendance 110) 6:30pm Choral Evensong (Av. attendance 28) Weekday Eucharist services are held on Wednesday and Thursday during the daytime.

Occasional Offices Average number of occasional offices per annum; Baptisms 8 Confirmation Candidates 8 Marriages 6 Funerals 6

Clergy

PCC & Committees

Our Curate, The Reverend Hazel Miall (nonstipendiary) was ordained as a priest in 2014.

The Parish is supported by a professional and fully staffed PCC. The PCC is supported by a committee structure; Finance & Standing, Resources, Communications, Pastoral and Social Responsibilities Committees and a Parish Centre Management Commmittee. Members of the PCC and Churchwardens hold office for a maximum of six years.

Lay Ministry Three Readers assist the clergy in many areas: they take the sacrament to the sick and infirm; regularly conduct Evensong; and occasionally act as the liturgical deacon at the Eucharist. Each is deeply involved in pastoral care and preaching. We have a large team of Eucharistic lay ministers and servers. There is a well-organised team of visitors who visit the housebound and hospitalised. We also have a trained bereavement counsellor.

Parish Office The Parish has the support of a part time Parish Administrator (a paid position, 1.5 days per week). The church is open during office hours and during service times. The PCC hopes to increase the opening hours of the church.

Music Staff Music is an important part of Christ Church Southgate. There has been a choir associated with the church since the consecration service in May 1862. The Parish employs a Director of Music, who is responsible for directing and training the choir of adults and children for regular Sunday and major feast day services, as well as overseeing the administration of the music department. The parish also employs an Assistant Director of Music & Organist.

Youth Worker Christ Church has long supported and encouraged work with young people. The parish has had several paid youth workers, and currently employs a Part time Youth & Children’s Co-ordinator. There is a Sunday School that takes place alongside the main Parish Eucharist. The Sunday School is divided into age categories to ensure that the teaching age is appropriate. A Youth Group meets on Thursday evenings in the Church Hall. We have begun to explore Messy Church.

Bible Study Groups There are two well-established bible study groups, meeting regularly for bible study and discussion on topics such as doctrine and ethics. Additional groups are formed during the period of Lent. Separate Prayer groups meet weekly and monthly.

Affiliated Organisations There are a number of church groups and affiliated organisations; Bell ringers

Ring at Sunday services, weddings, festivals etc.

Bridge Club

Meeting weekly

Choir

Sing at Sunday Eucharists & Evensong, festivals, weddings and fund raising concerts

Christchurch Association

Responsible for the parish bar & its social nights

Coffee Club

Meeting weekly

Waterfall Group Informal women’s monthly meetings Young Fogeys

Group for the active and retired (though you needn’t be either)

Uniformed Organisations

Scouts, Cubs and Beavers

Supper Groups Meeting regularly apart from the summer holidays

Ecumenical Links

Communications

We support and contribute, where possible, to the work of the “Churches Together” Group (we have hosted the Agape Meal, annual service in Christian Unity Week, and the Walk of Witness on Good Friday).

The parish publishes a monthly magazine, 150 copies are circulated. Notices and weekly diary notes are included on the Sunday notice sheet.

We also have a website and can be contacted by e-mail. The Choir has a Facebook and Twitter Page. We plan to develop a Facebook and Twitter Page for the Church as part of our 400th Anniversary. The focal point of our anniversary year will be a special service on Pentecost Sunday (24th May 2015) which will be celebrated by The Bishop of London.

Church School There is not a Church of England School in the Parish. However, Christ Church maintains links with St Andrews CE Primary School, Southgate but does not nominate Governors to its Governing Body. Christ Church has strong links with Walker Primary School, although it is not (and has never been) a Church of England School. The school lies opposite the church adjoining the Parish Centre. Examples of close working include assemblies, after school services, Harvest Festival, Easter and Christmas Services.

Links to other local churches The Vicar of Christ Church Southgate is Patron of St John the Evangelist, Palmers Green; St Andrew’s Southgate and St Paul’s New Southgate. As part of our 400th anniversary celebrations in 2015, our daughter churches will join us for a mini pilgrimage to our mother church; All Saints, Edmonton.

Financial Resources The Parish has well managed financial resources. The Parish has operated with a balanced budget for over 10 years. The Parish makes above average annual contributions to the London Diocesan Fund. The Parish has an established Stewardship Scheme with 124 members giving regularly by Direct Debit or in an Envelope Scheme. The Parish has benefitted from legacy income. A Legacy Awareness Day was held in 2014. Over the past ten years major funds have been raised to cover the cost of repairs to the roof and spire. An Organ Appeal is currently underway.

Parish Centre

Christ Church

Church Building

Other Property Assets

The Church is situated in the Southgate Green Conservation Area, in which the spire features as the focal point. Christ Church was built in 1862, designed in the early English architectural style and has a large chancel which is integrated with the nave by a high chancel arch. It is noted as a good example of Victorian architecture, designed by Sir George Gilbert-Scott and includes Pre-Raphaelite stained glass windows by the William Morris studio. The building, which seats about 500, is grade II* listed. It has wheelchair access and limited toilet facilities.

The spire has a peel of ten bells. The parish office is located on a mezzanine floor under the spire.

The Parish Centre Complex also includes two flats. One is currently let to the Organist, the second is let commercially. The parish also owns a four-bedroom house in Oakfield Road, which is a short distance from the Church and occupied by long-term tenants.

The Parish Centre

The vicarage was built in 1970 and is close to the Parish Centre and within 200 metres of the church. It has 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 reception rooms and a study. It is centrally heated, in good condition, and has recently been double-glazed. It has a walled garden and a garage.

The Parish Centre, 100 metres from the Church, was built in 1970. It consists of three halls.

The largest hall has a stage and the building contains a licensed bar. A second building on the site contains two smaller halls. The Centre is self-financing and is managed by a committee of the PCC. The PCC has been conducting an extensive review of the use and impact of its property assets.

Churchyard The churchyard has been closed for burials for several years; however ashes are often interred there in the Garden of Remembrance.

Vicarage

Vicarage

Financial Resources

£350,571

Net Current Assets 2013

£216,321

Consolidated Annual Income 2013

£90,496

Voluntary Income & Gift Aid 2013

£75,250

Diocesan Fund Contribution

The Annual May Day Fair organised by Christ Church Southgate is Southgate’s largest one day fundraising event. Each year, the fair raises over £6,000 for good causes. The event brings together the ATC Squadron, Scouts and Cubs and other local organisations.

Mission and Outreach A church in the community Mission Statement The mission of Christ Church, is to love, worship and serve God; to spread the Gospel through Word and Sacrament; and to provide care and support to the parish and local community.�.

Mission Action Plan Summary The Archdeacon of Hampstead’s Visitation in September 2013 afforded us a valuable opportunity to review our strengths, weaknesses and opportunities and to benefit from the appraisal of someone from outside our community who is familiar with all the other parishes in the Edmonton Episcopal Area.

This summary of our Mission Action Plan draws upon his Visitation report, which itself reflected the conclusions of the continuing review that the PCC had undertaken in the past year about the use of our buildings and how they meet the needs of our mission and vision for the future.

The Archdeacon noted that Christ Church is an unusual parish in that we successfully maintain a style of mission that was once normative for Church of England parishes but is now uncommon in the Edmonton Area. He agreed that this offers considerable potential to reach out to those living both within and beyond the parish boundary and a strong basis for further mission outreach.

He noted that Occasional Offices (Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals) form a significant point of contact with the wider community, as do concerts and cultural activity and the May Day Fair, which has become a much-loved institution in the locality.

Our fine music leads to liturgical mission and newcomers are drawn by it; it could, if we were to employ commercial idiom, be described as our unique selling point and therefore something that we should cherish and maintain.

We should also recognise that our remarkable building (English Heritage II*) has an aesthetic appeal that attracts people. The combination of fine music and a beautiful building combine to create a sense of affinity to Christ Church in the wider local community, which manifests itself in offers to help clear the Church grounds and the surge in church attendance at Christmas and Easter, which is more marked here than in many other areas. He remarked that a numbers of factors – renovation work done to the building (and attendant appeals to the wider community), effective use of databases of people who come, advertising of the music and other activities – have all contributed to this.

But pastoral care, teaching and nurture around this structure are what allow the congregation to be drawn into faith, and into a more serious discipleship that is committed to Christ and not simply to fine music and a beautiful setting.

(Above) Our choir and visiting orchestra rehearsing for our Patronal Festival Concert in 2013. Music at Christ Church leads to liturgical mission. Hundreds attend our special services and concerts. Over time, pastoral care, teaching and nuture help draw these people into faith.

The parish also demonstrates its concern for those beyond its bounds through the level and variety of its charitable giving (£12,000 last year and £16,000 the year before).

The needs of the worshipping congregation are continually changing, sometimes as the result of successful initiatives in one part of its life which then impinge on others and produce new challenges. For example, although the Sunday school - a significant serious place for nurturing the faith of children (catechesis) and having a Missional purpose - has to compete with the very successful and well-supported Junior Choir which sings twice a month (and the Junior Choir is also an important catechetical and Missional tool). Resolving these dilemmas often takes time and a light touch. However, they may also prompt further initiatives: for example, reviewing our mission to young people and their families, has led to considerable interest in establishing Messy Church in the parish.

Our scrutiny of youth activities is a part of a wider ‘community audit’ and review of the use made of all our buildings and resources. We recognise that we need to build on our strengths of fine music, good liturgy, inclusive approach and welcome. We also need to ensure that we make the best use of our buildings and human resources. In particular, we need to recognise that some of our buildings may no longer be appropriate to our use and that we may need to drop or change some of the things that we do and introduce new ones.

We are particularly concerned that the Church House site, while it pays its way, is not particularly useful to the parish’s mission (the Archdeacon wrote, ‘the Halls are Money and Mission neutral now’). There is no guarantee that this will continue and the question remains of what is the best use to make of the value locked in them: How should this be released and used elsewhere? If so, how best?

We are aware that the Church is an outstanding resource but its configuration may not be best suited to the use we need to make of it or serve possible extended use. Consequently, we have worked with Colin Kerr, our architect, in planning a re-ordering of the West End. However, the outcome of this is that we wonder whether we should be adding to the Church by building in the Church Garden.

There are also maintenance and ‘enhancement’ issue concerning the Church. The East End, as the result of generous donations, has been re-lit. The rest of the Church is gloomy and on a winter’s evening it is difficult to discern the faces of the congregation when viewed from the well-lit sanctuary! Moreover, the organ – central to our successful ‘music ministry’ – is overdue major works. At a minimum, it needs substantial maintenance work but more support and attendant fund-raising would come if opted to enhance it. We should note also that the earliest that we can arrange for work to be done would be 2017 and such work has to be booked soon.

(Above) We are facing the challenge of how to manage competition between our Sunday School and Junior Choir.

Fortunately, we are not dealing with this diverse range of issue in the dark. We can draw on expertise about youth provision and Messy Church from the Diocese. Colin Kerr has worked extensively with us about possibilities for re-ordering the West End and has drawn up detailed plans. We have had three expert reports about the organ and our Director of Music and Organist are committed to helping us to achieve a good outcome. Further, as a PCC, we have been able to analyse the use that other parishes make of their buildings (particularly their halls) and how they have re-developed them or used resources released by their sale. This is essential because we cannot undertake any major project without establishing a rigorous connection between needs and resources.

We hope that our new incumbent will help us maximise our impact whilst ensuring our sustainability as Southgate’s Parish Church for generations to come.

Strengths • We are a church that is accepting and welcoming to all.

• A supportive, caring, intelligent and active congregation, a fully staffed PCC and well established committee structure, a ministry team consisting of a self-supporting Curate (ordained as a priest) and three experienced Lay Ministers, as well as paid support staff including part time Parish Administrator and Youth Worker as well as a Director and Assistant Director of Music.

• Well managed finances with an established stewardship scheme • A strong and well-established choral tradition which supports and enhances our worship and draws young people and their families to our church.

• A charitable ethos, with targeted fundraising supporting lesserknown charities as well as specific overseas aid and a popular May Day and Christmas Fair.

• A fun and lively congregation who enjoy socialising together.

• Buildings that are in a good state of repair, with recent work on the spire and roof.

• A parish centre that is well run and in a good state of repair, which provides a community asset.

Opportunities • An established church and proud of its traditions, but one that is open to change where this helps us to reach out to others, to encourage them to join us and share in God’s love.

• Drawing together and building on our strengths and talents to maximise our reach and impact as Southgate’s Parish Church.

• Further development of our youth ministry, including Sunday School and Youth Group.

• Further development of our communication and outreach, maintaining contact with those with whom we engage through pastoral interventions, baptisms, weddings and funerals and as visitors to our building; as well as those who are not able to attend church regularly due to illness or disability.

• Development of our presence in the community, including (but not solely) our ecumenical relations.

• Build on the recent successful lent and ethics courses to extend our education and bible study programme.

• Physical improvements to our church to enhance its suitability as a space for Christian worship and fellowship that is accessible for all.

A leader, who is strong in faith and driven in purpose.

An ambassador in the community Someone who will inspire and delight us

What kind of Vicar does Christ Church need now?

We have been blessed with previous incumbents who have shown sensitivity, compassion and wisdom through their leadership; many of whom have gone on to continue God’s work in other parts of the church. Each incumbent has added greatly to our church and we hope that our new Vicar will do the same. In light of the opportunities ahead, we are praying that our new Vicar will be;

A leader who is strong in faith and driven in purpose We hope that our new Vicar will be a leader who is strong in faith and driven in purpose.

We are an established church and our new incumbent will benefit from the support of a hard working congregation, PCC and ministry team who are passionate about reaching out to others, to help them to share in God’s love.

Christ Church Southgate is a place where you can plant a seed and it will flourish!

Our finances are well managed. We boast an intelligent and active congregation, a fully staffed and professional PCC and well established committee structure covering pastoral, finance and outreach issues; a ministry team including a self-supporting Curate (an ordained priest) and three experienced Lay Ministers, a trained bereavement counsellor as well as paid support staff including a Director and Assistant Director of Music and Parish Administrator.

Whilst we are an established church, proud of our traditions, we are not averse to change.

We hope to find a leader who will be hands-on when needed – someone who can encourage, teach and stretch us; someone who can help to grow our church both spiritually and physically whilst maintaining our traditions and drawing together the best of what we do.

Our new vicar will therefore be an intelligent and stimulating preacher and teacher, capable of engaging a diverse audience, with a love of choral music and a good singing voice.

Experience working with young people will be essential, as our new Vicar will lead the further development of our youth ministry.

We hope that our new incumbent will have the experience to guide us in taking (sometimes once-in-a-lifetime) decisions; someone who is prudent but not risk averse. Our new Vicar will help us to conclude and deliver on our wide-reaching asset review; helping us to use our resources rightly in the service of others, maximising our impact whilst ensuring our sustainability as Southgate’s Parish Church for generations to come.

An ambassador in the community Southgate retains a ‘village’ feel. It is a diverse yet strong community. 2015 marks our 400th anniversary as Southgate’s Parish Church. We are using our anniversary year as an opportunity to reach out to local people and organisations, including those of other faiths and none.

Our church building is visible for miles around.

We want our church to be as recognisable for its actions; seen as an important thread at the heart of our close-knit community. We hope that our next Vicar will be instrumental in developing and maintaining this. They will become a strong presence both inside and outside of our church, taking an interest and involvement in church events and activities as well and helping us to extend our outreach to the parish as a whole, perhaps working with our ecumenical partners.

They will have the ability to capitalise on the talents, connections and influence of those in our congregation and others in our community, to help realise this vision.

Someone who will inspire and delight us We hope to find a new Vicar who will inspire and delight us with their knowledge and love of God. They will be creative and innovative and have the ability to see opportunities that we have overlooked to further develop the reach and impact of our church.

Could this be you?

Christ Church Southgate 1 The Green Southgate London N14 7EG www.christchurch-southgate.org