Ministry Experience Scheme

About the role

We have benefitted hugely from our participants in the past. The young people who come to us are a core part of our ministry team. You will share in the leading and planning of worship (including alternative services), preaching and teaching, welcoming our many visitors, stewarding at concerts and events, and delivering a range of projects.

Past participants have helped shape our community by:

• Relaunching the medieval tradition of appointing a Child Bishop.
• Planning a playscheme to run in Holy Week.
• Leading a Spirituality In Nature Group.
• Supporting the work of our choirs and developing the church's social life.
• Working on our successful bid to become a sanctuary church.

We are open to the year being shaped by your interests and passions. You are invited to give a year to helping us shape our engagement with the city through involvement in developing our worship, and creative engagement with the wider life of the church.

Civic & creative engagement

As a civic church, Mancroft has a formal role in the life of the city, including the Remembrance Day Service, Holocaust Memorial Day Service, Norwich Pride, Refugee Week, and a range of carol services for organisations across the city.

We have created an Earth Chapel within the church as a place for people to bring their prayers and thanksgiving for the environment. We are working towards our gold Eco Church award, and there will be scope to develop our work in this area.

We also explore more informal and creative services using art, poetry, and literature. Services have included Taizé worship, Iona Community communion, and healing services, and have addressed subjects including #MeToo, Christian Aid Week, migration, praying with Matisse, and Climate Change.

We have close links with our neighbouring church of St Stephen’s and the churches of Norwich East Deanery, and there will be opportunities to explore ministry in different settings through deanery networks.

In addition to areas of ministry you are interested in developing, there is scope for working with music, bellringing, story, and the arts—for example, as one of our Choral Scholars or Organ Scholars. We are keen for you to help us expand the offer of the church building as a creative space for use by the community, for concerts, and art installations. We also work closely with the Mancroft Ringing Discovery Centre and are keen to develop links with the uniformed groups which meet in the Chantry Hall.

Support & development

We offer a committed and enthusiastic staff team, comprising the Vicar (Edward Carter), Associate Priest (Fiona Haworth), Local Lay Ministers (Gill Persicke and Catherine Waddams), as well as many other colleagues including the church wardens, director of music, organist, bellringing coordinator, and a team of vergers.

Theological development will be supported by the Norwich Centre of Christian Learning, guided reading, and regular reflection. We can also support attendance at lectures and conferences.

The Diocese of Norwich offers support through the Diocesan Vocations team. Participants will meet regularly with the vocations outreach officer and, where appropriate, the Bishop’s Officer for Ordination and Initial Training. In addition, a mentor (likely a curate) will be available to meet regularly with participants to offer support and a safe space to reflect with someone unconnected with the running of the scheme at Mancroft.

What we offer

The Associate Priest will coordinate the scheme and provide support to the participants. We provide:

• Housing in a rented property within walking distance of the city centre (all housing costs met).
• A weekly living allowance of £85.
• Coverage of any expenses associated with your role.