Parish Profile 2008

The location of the Priory

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

Contacts Introduction Setting The Parish The Priory Buildings The Priory Team The Life of the Priory Church Services Music in the life of the Priory Finance Priory Strengths Recent Initiatives The issues we need to address Appointment of a Rector 2008 Attendance at Sunday Services Church Organisations Mission Statement

Contacts

The Priory Office, Church Green Bridlington YO16 7JX Tel; 01262 601938 (open Mon & Weds 9.30a.m. -12.30p.m.)

Introduction

Bridlington Priory, founded in 1113, became a significant and wealthy Augustinian monastery. The Priory owned land for many miles around and used its own fleet of ships to carry produce, notably wool, to distant ports or markets from the local harbour. The Prior was authorised by the Pope to wear a ring, mitre and other pontifical insignia as a symbol of his authority and the monastery became a centre of pilgrimage, even attracting royalty on occasion. When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, Bridlington Priory was plundered of its wealth and largely demolished. All that was allowed to remain was the western end of the old Priory in its role as the parish church of the local population. Nonetheless it remains a fine building and, preserved and beautified by careful restoration, continues to inspire those who visit or worship within its walls.

Setting

Bridlington, the best known seaside resort in East Yorkshire, is situated in the broad sweep of Bridlington Bay with Flamborough Head to the north, Hornsea to the south and the Yorkshire Wolds to the west. The town boasts two attractive beaches where traditional seaside activities are to be found alongside more adventurous water sports. The harbour is home to a thriving shellfish industry and numerous pleasure craft. Adjacent to this area is a shopping centre, further enhanced by a street market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The Bridlington Regeneration Partnership is actively engaged in the improvement of the town in order to encourage investment and attract new businesses.

To the north of the town centre is the area known locally as “Old Town” – so called because it was the historic town centre based around the Priory. This part of Bridlington has attracted considerable interest in recent times and the Old Town Association is keen to promote its buildings, character and regenerated facilities. Within this, the Priory has an important and prominent role. Although dedicated to St Mary, the church continues to be known as Bridlington Priory.

The Parish

With a population of approximately 13,000 people, the Priory is one of four Church of England parishes in Bridlington. According to the 2001 census, 49.5% were working, compared to 61.5% in the East Riding as a whole, whilst 36.1% were shown to have no car or van. 43% of the adult population had no academic qualifications, whilst only 8.8% had a degree or other higher or professional qualification. Incomes and expectations are generally low with 31-40% of the parish classed as ‘most deprived’ when taken with the East Riding as a whole. (Source: East Riding Data Observatory) Within the Priory parish are two large council estates and a wide variety of privately owned dwellings. The majority of new housing developments lie beyond the parish boundaries. Four primary schools are within the parish, their pupils progressing to either of the two 11 – 18 comprehensives which serve the town.

Many of the inhabitants of the Old Town have lived there all their lives and feel an affinity for the Priory, even though their attendance is restricted to baptisms, weddings and funerals. The electoral roll of the Priory is currently 268.

The Priory Buildings

The Priory is an historic listed building, the beautiful remnant of a large Augustinian monastery. As such the church building itself has no facilities and consequently depends on the nearby Church Rooms. This building contains a hall, kitchen, toilets and the Parish Office. The Verger’s bungalow is attached to the Rooms. Close to the church gates, and overlooking Church Green, is the Rectory, a four bedroomed detached house with a large south facing garden, built in the late 1960s.

The Priory Team

During a normal year, not in an inter-regnum, Priory business revolves around the Rector and his meetings with the curate, reader and organist to plan the daily services. This involves liaison with the churchwardens, treasurer, administrator and verger. This is particularly focused at the Team Meetings held about once every two months. The atmosphere is collegiate and convivial.

The P.C.C., which meets every month, has the responsibility of supporting the Rector in the broad mission of the Priory in the parish. It has over twenty members and all aspects of Priory life are reflected in its business. Various other committees meet, notably the Standing Committee which has delegated powers to deal with finance and other urgent matters; the Communications Committee deals with social activities, the web site and Priory publications. These committees present their minutes to the P.C.C. and there is further discussion. Problems arise and they are dealt with in a sensible and calm way by appropriate people. The aim is to help things to run smoothly and to respect the many different views of Priory members.

The Senior Churchwarden is a key figure who co-ordinates all this activity, liaising as appropriate between the Administrator, Verger and the Rector in making sure all the detail of the week’s business is in hand.

The Life of the Priory

Children and Families

A large number of children, their families and carers, are in contact with the Priory during the year. Some of these contacts are through one-off, occasional events; for example special school services and concerts, the REAction days (organised by the LEA and schools, in collaboration with Priory members and involving several hundred children each year). Each year approximately 40 infants/children are baptised at the Priory, bringing large groups of extended family and friends. Families are expected to come to church at least once before and after baptism, but most families still see baptism as a one-off event. The clergy visit the four primary schools in the parish (none is a church school) and take assemblies there. One of the church wardens, who teaches in the local Infants School, has established a school-based Christian group ('Little Fishes') with about 30 children.

There are a number of groups which meet regularly and are integrated into the life of the Priory to a greater or lesser extent. Children are welcomed at the Priory, and there is a well-stocked play area for little ones. The monthly Family Service is increasingly focused on their priorities. At the core is the collection of 'Priory Lights': Sparklers (under five) Stars (5-7) and Torches (8+). These involve children of Priory families, for whom a structured programme has been developing over the last few years; Sparklers meet monthly, Stars and Torches twice a month. The children's leaders also organise three craft workshops each year. Equally central is the choir itself, which brings in boys whose families may have no prior church involvement, provides Christian nurture as well as musical training and involves many parents in the life of the choir and the Priory as a whole. Other groups for children include Mothers and Toddlers, Guides, Brownies, Rainbows, Scouts, Cubs and Beavers all of which meet in the Priory Rooms; some of their leaders are keen to integrate the children and their parents more closely into the life of the Priory.

Moves have been made in the last two years to develop a more strategic approach to the nurture of children and families at the Priory; this should be seen as ‘work in progress'.

Study and Prayer

A number of groups have been developed to meet the needs of Priory members. There is a regular Study Group of about 10 meeting on Thursday evenings throughout the year; there is also a small Fellowship Group meeting fortnightly. In the last year, a weekly Meditation Group, based on the teachings of John Main, has grown out of a Lent Course; and an intercessory prayer group meets monthly. Lent courses, often run in conjunction with other churches, are offered on two occasions each week.

Faith in Action

The Priory has several well-established social action projects. Each week the Lunch Club provides a hot meal in a friendly setting in the Priory Rooms to between 30 and 40 older people at a modest cost. A rota of 35 people is involved in helping with this, in the preparation, cooking, serving and clearing of the meal. The Mothers' Union engages in local and diocesan projects. A recent initiative has brought together a number of pastoral visiting and support activities into a Priory Friends structure which is being further developed. There is a very successful ongoing food project, using contributions of tins and dry goods to meet the needs of homeless and needy people; this is developing, in conjunction with other churches, to a more focused project supporting homeless and rough sleepers.

Fellowship and Social Events

The MU, Priory Ladies Group, Epiphany Group, Handbell Ringers and Walking Group all provide regular fellowship and activities of common interest for their members. The Choir has its own lively social programme. In addition there are regular social events throughout the year - New Year and other family parties, the Summer Fayre in June which is popular in the wider community - and some special events such as a 'travelling supper'. The programme is co-ordinated by the Communications Committee.

Supporting the Life of the Priory

A large number of people and groups support the life of the Priory week by week. During the week, the church is open every day and a team of stewards is on duty to welcome and talk to visitors. The shop is open every day, (6 hours a day in the summer) and conducted tours are organised for visiting groups. This is a challenging programme to maintain.

On Sundays, lay people are involved as sidesmen, in reading and intercessions, as servers and communion ministers as well as in work with children; during the week some lead daily prayers and other offices. The children's leaders share in the preparation and leading of the Family Service. The bell-ringing team is there for all main services. Flowers are beautifully displayed by a team of dedicated, skilled arrangers. The monthly magazine has a wide circulation and effectively reflects the interests and priorities of the Priory.

The Priory and the Wider Community

Within and beyond the parish boundaries, the Priory takes part in a range of activities. Some of these reflect its historic role as the only, or major, church in Bridlington; for example civic services take place at the Priory. We are active members of Churches Together in Bridlington, which last year ran an outreach project in the town centre, as well as the more usual joint services. Some members have taken part in Bridlington- wide Christian musicals produced at Christ Church. As the parish church for the Old Town, the Priory now works closely with the Old Town Association in the two annual Festivals - the Dickensian Festival (a Christmas street fair which also includes a very successful mass Carol Concert by primary schools at the Priory) and the week-long Summer Festival in July, embracing, art, music, gardens and food; all the concerts and some other events take place in or around the Priory.

Church Services

Sundays

Weekdays

Variations occur on special occasions such as Civic Service and Remembrance Sunday. At major festivals (Easter Day, Pentecost) the pattern is changed: 10.30am Sung Eucharist (CW) and 6.30pm Choral Evensong (BCP). There are additional services on Ash Wednesday, during Holy Week, on Ascension Day and at Christmas (e.g. Christingle & Midnight Communion).

On the fifth Sunday evening there have been recent experiments with different styles of service including Plainsong, Taize and ‘Songs of Praise’.

During the course of the year there are a number of special services in the Priory:

• Military Services (The Combined Ex Services Association and British Legion)
• Civic Service
• St George’s Day Service for the uniformed organisations
• A Service for the Bereaved
• The Great Gale Service attended by the lifeboat crew
• The Arts Festival Service
• Carol Services (including Headlands School, Bridlington School and Burlington Infants School)
• ‘Churches Together’ united services (e.g. Pentecost Praise, Harvest Praise & during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity)

Music in the life of the Priory

Music in Worship

Music plays an important role in enhancing the worship at the main Sunday services. The music is led by the Priory’s highly-regarded robed choir, under the direction of the Organist & Master of the Choristers supported by the Assistant Organist. The choir has an extensive repertoire of anthems, introits, settings of the communion service, canticles and responses, and contributes choral items to both the main Sunday services.

Congregational singing of hymns and psalms is led by the choir and organ, with occasional use of the piano and other instruments in the Family Service. The main hymn book is Hymns Ancient & Modern (New Standard Edition) with Mission Praise being used for Family Services. The psalms and canticles are sung to Anglican Chant with occasional use of responsorial psalms, in particular at the 5th Sunday evening service. A congregational setting of the communion service is used for the Parish Communion.

The Choir

The RSCM affiliated choir is made up of 28 boys and young men, recruited from local state schools, and 14 adults. It is one of the few choirs remaining in the Diocese to maintain the tradition of a boys-only treble line and it forms the largest group of young people within the Priory. As well as its role in the Sunday services, the choir gives occasional concerts, visits Cathedrals to sing evensong and every three years makes a concert tour to Germany (the next one is planned for 2009). The choir has made two CD’s and a number of radio broadcasts, including Midnight Mass on Radio 4 and the World Service at Christmas 1995.

A number of choristers learn to play the organ and in recent years provision has been made for an organ scholar (usually a chorister in their A level year). Two previous Scholars have passed the ABRSM grade 8 organ exam during their year and have gone on to University to read music.

The choir is actively involved with the local RSCM and choristers regularly attend the Area Festival Service and training days. Priory choristers regularly achieve success in the RSCM Dean’s & Archbishop’s Awards and over the years the Priory has provided many members of the RSCM Northern Cathedral Singers. The Priory’s organist is a member of the Area Committee, an examiner for the chorister awards and a past Chairman of the North East Yorkshire Area. He has recently been made an Associate of the RSCM in recognition of his work at the Priory.

The choir has an active social life organised by an enthusiastic Choir Committee made up of parents and choir members. Termly outings are organised for the boys and there are various social and fund raising events throughout the year. The annual Choir Camp is one of the highlights of the boys’ year.

The Organ

The renowned four-manual Anneessens organ was installed in 1889 and was rebuilt in 2005-6 by Nicholson & Co of Malvern at a cost of £600,000. The instrument is voiced in the French Romantic style and Nicholson’s recent work has been highly acclaimed. The instrument attracts leading international recitalists to the Priory and there have been numerous visits by various Organist Associations since the work was completed, including a visit by the Institute of British Organ Building in October 2007. Carlo Curley, a leading international concert organist, described the organ as one of the finest liturgical organs in the UK and one of the greatest concert organs in the world.

Concerts

The Priory is an attractive venue for concerts and welcomes various outside groups during the course of the year, including Bridlington Choral Society. It is also used as a venue for concerts during the Bridlington Arts Festival and the Old Town Summer and Dickensian Festivals.

Bridlington Priory Concerts is a Charitable Trust set up to promote the Priory Organ. It arranges an annual series of 6 organ recitals (monthly from April to September) including such internationally renowned performers as Carlo Curley, Thomas Trotter and David Briggs.

Finance

In general terms expenditure exceeds income each year as the Priory strives to pay its Parish Share. In 2005 and 2007 it was not possible pay the full amount, though we were able to so in 2006 by drawing on reserves. There is in place a recent initiative to increase regular giving. In the past the Priory was able to use legacies to cover any shortfall, but this source of funds has reduced over the years.

Following a successful Church Restoration Appeal, combined with the receipt of a generous legacy, substantial repairs were made to the fabric of the Church over a twenty year period; the building is now in an excellent state of repair with no work outstanding. There are sufficient funds in reserve should work be required following our next Quinquennial Report.

Priory Strengths

• Quality and variety of worship
• A magnificent church with a fine Early Gothic nave and many other unique features
• The Guardians and shop-keepers who, with the sidesmen, make all visitors and parishioners feel they belong
• A robed choir, RSCM affiliated, under the direction of an experienced professional musician
• A wonderful newly renovated organ which is visited by organ enthusiasts from all over the country. Summer organ recitals are an annual event
• Lay participation in worship
• A wealth of organisations and groups that involve all ages
• An ability to stage impressive civic services
• A venue for many events, our own Summer Fayre, concerts for the Old Town Dickensian and Summer Festivals

Recent Initiatives

• Great progress has been made in the last year in encouraging the involvement of young people and their parents but more development is needed
• Priory Friends has recently been established to co-ordinate visiting. This has had an encouraging start
• The Living Churchyard project has seen the church grounds become a sanctuary for wildlife
• Social activities are becoming well supported but we want to involve more people
• A Church Magazine that is developing a new style
• Improvement of our current website; planning a modern replacement

The issues we need to address

• To discover ways and means of reaching out to parishioners who are not regular members of the congregation particularly in respect of young people and young families
• To increase giving
• To develop a programme of lay training for all member ministry
• To foster closer relations with schools and uniformed organisations

Appointment of a Rector 2008

The qualities we seek in a new incumbent

• To be an experienced spiritual leader, a person of prayer who, knowing their own need of God, is able to lead others to a fuller knowledge of Him: someone who will make God real for us through effective teaching and preaching
• To continue the development and tradition of the Priory as a source of Christian teaching, evangelism, healing and outreach, offering warm fellowship to all parishioners and to the many visitors to our magnificent historic church
• To be a leader with vision, enthusiasm and warmth encouraging full use of the wide range of talents and abilities throughout the church family
• To be fully committed to implementing the Priory Mission statement, working as the leader of a team alongside the curate (s) reader(s) and lay leaders
• To fulfil a caring pastoral role, nurturing the present congregation and reaching out to those who don’t worship at the Priory
• To appreciate the traditions of the Priory particularly its strong choral tradition and the structure of the services
• To be an effective manager and, as appropriate, creative and diplomatic in managing change
• To relate to the diverse groups within the church and the needs of the wider community
• To promote the organ as a means of widening the appeal of the Priory as a venue

Average Attendances at Sunday Services

Church Organisations

MISSION STATEMENT

The Priory Church of St. Mary, Bridlington exists:

• to worship God, through Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit
• to provide a warm welcome for all who come through its doors
• to be a witness in the local community to God’s redeeming love in Christ
• to serve that community in love
• to work wherever possible with partner churches as members of ‘Churches Together in Bridlington & District’