ST LUKE'S & ST PAUL'S WALSALL - PARISH PROFILE 2021 - cloudfront.net
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ST LUKE’S & ST PAUL’S
WALSALL
PARISH PROFILE 2021
Mission Statement
“Our aims are to work in partnership with God, to bring about a caring community
of faith where all people are welcomed and valued, where faith is nurtured and
shared in word and action, in service of the wider community”
St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
March 2021
Contents
Parish Details ......................................................................................................................... 2
St Luke’s Chuckery ............................................................................................................................. 2
St Paul’s Walsall ................................................................................................................................. 2
St Paul’s – background information ........................................................................................ 3
The re-ordering of St Paul’s Church ................................................................................................... 4
St Luke’s – background information ....................................................................................... 5
The Challenge........................................................................................................................ 6
Vocational ........................................................................................................................................... 6
Discipleship......................................................................................................................................... 6
Evangelism ......................................................................................................................................... 6
Person Specification .............................................................................................................. 7
The Central Walsall Group Ministry ........................................................................................ 8
St Luke’s Church Life ............................................................................................................. 9
Teams & Uniformed Groups ............................................................................................................... 9
Services ............................................................................................................................................ 10
Community ........................................................................................................................................ 10
Electoral Roll and Occasional Offices .............................................................................................. 11
Finance ............................................................................................................................................. 11
St Paul’s Church Life............................................................................................................ 13
Groups and teams ............................................................................................................................ 13
Services: ........................................................................................................................................... 13
The Memorial Book .......................................................................................................................... 14
Community and The Crossing .......................................................................................................... 15
Electoral Roll and Occasional Offices .............................................................................................. 15
Finance ............................................................................................................................................. 16
St Paul’s and St Luke’s in Plurality ....................................................................................... 18
Messy Church ................................................................................................................................... 18
After School Crafts............................................................................................................................ 18
Youth Group ..................................................................................................................................... 19
Interfaith Engagement ...................................................................................................................... 19
Walsall Town Centre Ministry ........................................................................................................... 20
Beer and Carols ................................................................................................................................ 21
Continuing through COVID ............................................................................................................... 21
The Vicarage ....................................................................................................................... 22
Deanery Profile .................................................................................................................... 23
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021
Parish Details
St Luke’s Chuckery
Diocese: Lichfield
Address 30 Selborne Street, Walsall WS1 2JN
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/St.Lukes.Church.Chuckery.Walsall
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/st_lukes_church_chuckery/
St Paul’s Walsall
Diocese: Lichfield
Address Darwall Street, Walsall, West Midlands, WS1 1DA
Phone 01922 620669
Email crossingchurchoffice@gmail.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stpaulscrossing
Twitter @stpaulwalsall
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stpaulswalsall/
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021
St Paul’s – background information
Walsall is in the centre of the West Midlands, close to the motorway network (M6). It is close
to Birmingham, Lichfield Cathedral and the Diocesan offices.
St Paul’s Church is centrally placed in Walsall serving the commercial and civic district as
well as a residential population on its boundaries. Housing in the parish is mixed with a
variety of privately owned and rented properties, the population is from diverse ethnic and
social backgrounds. The area is served by several general practices and dental surgeries as
well as a large general hospital (Walsall Manor NHS Trust), a Hospice and a psychiatric
hospital (Dorothy Pattison Hospital).
Sister Dora (Dorothy Pattison)
attended St Paul’s whilst working
at the local hospital in the 19th
century. Annually, a Civic
service is held at St Paul’s, in
partnership with the Hospital
Chaplaincy, to commemorate
her birth and contribution to the
improvement of health care in
Walsall. After the service flowers
are laid at her statue in the town
centre.
Within the area there is a variety
of primary and secondary schools. Within the parish there is one primary school, one girls’
grammar school, and one independent school. Schools are welcomed to visit the church for
different events and activities. The town has several parks and within our parish is Walsall
Arboretum which offers gardens, green spaces, play areas and sports facilities.
At St Paul’s:
•God’s grace is the heart of our
church. We seek to provide a place
where people can encounter God
and each other and feel welcomed
and valued
•We worship, explore and share
our faith through both traditional
and reflective services, through
groups and through outreach
•All are welcomed whatever their
age, background or ethnicity
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021
The re-ordering of St
Paul’s Church
St Paul’s Church has undergone
several rebuilding and renovation
projects since the first place of
worship on the site was built in
1826. The church building you
see today dates from 1893 and is
grade 2 listed, so whilst there
were extensive alterations
internally in the 1990s, the
exterior of the building remains
the same.
In the 1960s St Paul’s Church was threatened with closure and demolition due to falling
church numbers and a need for churches to be placed in the local communities. A robust
response from the congregation preserved the church, but it was obvious that re-ordering of
the building was needed and in 1996 this was completed. St Paul’s Church now houses retail
outlets and a chapel of prayer on the ground floor, a coffee shop and offices on the second
floor and the worship area and meeting rooms on the top floor. Management of the building
is through the Crossing Company Ltd, owned by St Paul’s PCC.
Throughout its history St Paul’s Church has strived to adapt to the needs of the community
around it. In working together, St Paul’s and The Crossing demonstrate how the mix of
church and commerce can work for the good of the community. We are a member of the
HeartEdge network.
The name “The Crossing” refers both to the building as a meeting place between the church
and the community, and to the relationship between God and all people.
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021
St Luke’s – background information
St Luke’s is a community church in the heart of Chuckery
Chuckery has a diverse population
with a large South Asian community.
It has many first and second-
generation Pakistani immigrants, and,
since 2004, a growing number of
Eastern Europeans.
Comprising relatively inexpensive housing (predominantly Victorian and Edwardian terraces
and five Tower Blocks), Chuckery is primarily a working-class area.
Historically, the area was home to many Saddlers, with several of the Victorian houses still
having small workshops at the rear. One of the largest employers in Chuckery is the
Chamberlin and Hill iron foundry.
With the growth of trade in the area, consisting of predominantly small metal workshops and
leather goods workshops, the population grew, and the congregation raised money to
purchase land and to have the church built.
St Luke's church was built by its congregation and was
dedicated on the 18th of October 1879 as St. Luke’s
Mission Church. Prior to this, meetings were held in a
room locally, including mission meetings, with open air
services also taking place on the land where St Luke’s
is now built.
Mission has continued to play a key role in the life of
the church from sharing resources and
accommodation with the local community, to beer and
carols and fundraising events to outreach in the local
tower blocks.
The building was also used as a social centre for many local community activities for
example football, cricket and various women’s groups.
In 1934 the church was extended further by enlarging the Chancellery and Sanctuary, and in
1989 the house next door was purchased to create two activity rooms, a kitchen and a
garden area. In 2019 we celebrated the church’s 140th year of serving its community.
As well as St Luke’s church, there are several other Christian churches and a Mosque within
the parish. Chuckery Primary School is in the parish and close by are Mayfield Preparatory
School, Hydesville Tower School and Queen Mary's Grammar School.
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021
The Challenge
Vocational
• As well as being Vicar for both churches, you will be licenced for St John’s Church,
Pleck, and will share leadership in developing the newly formed ‘Central Walsall
Group Ministry’ of St Luke’s, St Paul’s and St John’s
• To respond to the challenges presented to church and community from the effects of
the pandemic, through faith and action
• To structure and support the work of volunteers in the churches, where St Luke’s has
no Church Wardens but has a small team of volunteers to share tasks, and the roles
and tasks of volunteers, including officers, at St Paul’s needs to be reviewed and
restructured
• To review the financial situation of each church and develop strategies for managing
this, and support for volunteers in the Treasury teams
Discipleship
• To discern what in the life and work of the two churches needs to be continued and
developed, and to bring fresh insights and ideas about how to move forward in
discipleship and evangelism
• To develop a more structured pastoral care team between the two churches
• To encourage and nurture members of the congregations to use and develop the
skills and gifts they bring to the life and ministry of the church and community
• To provide opportunities for lay people to grow in their faith and prayer life
• To develop an ethos of being good stewards of God’s world in eco practices in church
Evangelism
• To raise the profile of both churches and their ministry in their parish communities
• To develop how we can ‘be church’ in the wider community
• To review how we communicate our mission both within church and in the wider
community
• To seek ways in which church can engage with children, young people, and families
in the parishes, and further develop the work already going on
• To sustain and grow links with key local groups
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021
Person Specification
• We are looking for a priest who has a heart for multi-cultural Walsall:
• Someone who is rooted in their love for God
• An open, inclusive, and compassionate priest, who will support the existing work of
the two churches.
• A priest who will encourage and nurture children and families, by engaging in Messy
Church, youth work and the uniformed groups.
• A Community minded individual, who will build links with schools, alongside various
community activities such as street ministry and supporting the food bank.
• A collaborative and pastoral individual, who will encourage and enable others to find
their gifts, supports lay involvement in church and and will work collectively with
churches through the Town Centre Ministry
• Someone who recognises the importance of The Crossing as an extension of the
church and seeks to keep the Crossing and the church working together.
• An inspiring communicator, who will nurture, encourage, and challenge both inside
and outside the church.
• Someone who embraces a variety of worship.
• Somebody who can manage their time well, looking after others alongside their own
self- care.
• Be enthusiastic and able to laugh with us.
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021
The Central Walsall Group Ministry
St Paul’s and St Luke’s have recently joined with St John’s Pleck to form The Central Walsall
Ministry Group. The churches have enjoyed a closer working relationship since 2018 and have
consequently been supporting and working together since, which has proved particularly useful
during the period of lockdown.
We are moving towards forming a joint council, made up of representatives from the three
churches. The purpose of the joint council will be to pool our resources in mission and outreach,
to work together on big services and festivals, as well as being a prayerful support to one
another.
It is hoped the new vicar of St Paul’s and St Luke’s will
also be committed to working with St John’s, helping to
shape the joint council and continue to build on the
positive relationship between the three churches,
particularly through a commitment to praying and
meeting together in a fortnightly team meeting.
St John’s has a full-time vicar, Revd Emily Reynolds,
Revd Bonnie Beckett (PTO) and a Reader in training,
Debbie Parkes.
St John’s is a small, diverse church with an open and
relaxed atmosphere. Our congregation includes people
from many parts of Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and
India. We have a warm welcome for people of all ages
and abilities, those with learning difficulties are a regular
part of our congregation.
Anita Edwards is our licensed reader who works across both St.
Paul’s and St. Luke’s and plays a central role in leading and preaching
at our parade services. Anita has been instrumental in enabling
church services to continue at both churches (when permitted) during
the pandemic and the interregnum.
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021
St Luke’s Church Life
Teams & Uniformed Groups
Members of the congregation work together to fulfil a variety of roles within the church, with
some people being involved in more than one weekly activity. Rotas are coordinated by
congregation members.
Team membership is as follows:
• One regular musician who plays at all services,
both organ and piano
• One social media editor
• Two paid part time cleaners (3 hours per week)
• One paid part time caretaker / handyman
• One part time children’s worker
• Finance support including a treasurer and gift
aid secretary
• Two sacristans
• Eight lesson readers
• Five communion servers
• One Deanery Synod representative
• Coffee and tea rota
As a church we have had some challenging times in the last 4
years with some very tragic losses of members of our
congregation who were actively involved with the running of the
church and with church life in general. We have proved to be a
church of strength and support, and we continue to not only
support our congregation members but also look to how we can
serve our community and sister churches of St. Paul’s and St.
John’s.
In 2019 the 12th Walsall Scout group
celebrated their 70th anniversary.
The thriving Scouts group has been
using church facilities on a Tuesday
night for many years and attending
monthly parade services. The leader
of the Beavers is on our PCC.
An annual contribution is made to
Church funds by the group which has
Beavers, Cubs and Scouts sections
that admit both boys and girls.
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021Services
• Weekly Holy Communion services are held at 9.30
on Sunday. The average attendance is 18
• The second Sunday of each month is a Parade
Service attended by the uniformed groups, which
is aimed at families where many parents attend
with their child. Parade services are often
scheduled to coincide with church calendar events
such as Mothering Sunday and Harvest festival
• A prayer service is held in church every Thursday morning, usually attended by
between four and eight people. Prayers are said for those in need and for our
community. We have a prayer book which people are invited to contribute to, and
these prayers are offered during this service
Community
St Luke’s is keen to provide a resource to the local community for safe meeting spaces and
currently accommodates:
• Local Scout Group (Beavers, Cub and Scouts) on a Tuesday evening during school
term time
• Resources for Autism – Thursday evening and Saturdays 10am to 4pm
• Gateway on Wednesday Evening
• Youth Connect (previously Muslim Youth Group)
• Paddock Labour party
Until recently, Val McCormack (previously church warden)
was a member of the hospital team and every Monday
would attend the Manor hospital to visit people on the
wards. Unfortunately, she was unable to continue with this
support, but continued to provide pastoral care to several
members of the congregation who have not been able to
attend the church for several years and offered home
communion until the lock down.
Julie Rathbone also volunteers with Gateway Club.
This is an external social club for adults with a
learning disability and is held weekly at the church.
Every September there is a fete on Chuckery Green
which engages with the local community. This is not
just an opportunity to raise funds through traditional
stalls such as cakes, books, and raffles, but also
facilitates more meaningful engagement with the
people who live in the neighbourhood of the church.
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021Electoral Roll and Occasional Offices
As of Feb 2021, there are 30 people on the electoral roll, with around half living in the parish.
Average Sunday morning attendance for communion services is 18.
A breakdown of attendance over the year (as
submitted to the diocese) that includes weekly
communion services, monthly parade services, youth
group, messy church and takes into account those
who are unable to regularly attend the building, shows
that 56 people, adults and children attend some form
of church activity. 41% are under the age of 18
reflecting the significant role that the uniformed
groups, messy church and the youth group play.
Occasional Offices over the past 18 months:
▪ One wedding
▪ One funeral service
▪ Two baptisms
Finance
In the year 2019, income of £43,811 was received, broken down as follows:
Income
£1,921 , 5%
£10,000 , 23% Legacies
£12,387 , 28% Church giving
Chuckery Green Funds
Income from lettings
£2,774 , 6%
£16,729 , 38% Other
The most significant sources of income are from church giving, including gift aid, and income
from letting facilities to community groups. In 2019, a substantial legacy of £10,000 was
received. Chuckery Green funds relate to a grant which was given to the Chuckery Green
Action Group by the Council.
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021Expenditure during 2019 was in the following key areas:
Expenditure
£1,833 , 6% Parish Share
£5,321 , 18% Church running expenses
£11,958 , 40% Mission giving
£2,581 , 8% Messy Church/Children's activities
£1,390 , 5% Repairs and maintenance
£6,940 , 23% Other
40% of expenditure is on the Parish Share, with running expenses for the church being the
next highest area of cost. This includes utility and insurance as well as sundry administration
costs. Repairs and maintenance include caretaker and cleaning and routine maintenance,
with no major projects being undertaken during the year.
The quinquennial review was due in March but did not take place because of lockdown.
Pending its completion, priorities that have been identified for future investment include:
• Refurbishment of the hall and toilets
• Refit of the kitchen to improve cooking facilities and ensure that food and hygiene
standards are properly met
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021St Paul’s Church Life
Groups and teams
St Paul’s Church seeks to provide a range of
ways in which people, whether they attend
church or not, can access support and nurture
in their journeys of faith and spirituality. To do
this we have developed various groups and
discussion formats open to all. We provide faith
literature, accessible equally to those visiting
our Day Chapel, passing through the shopping
Mall, or attending church.
There are prayer boxes in both the Mall and the
Day Chapel, where prayers are regularly left
and susequently remembered by the congregations in that week’s services. There is also
space for people to leave their contact details should they want a member of the ministry
team to contact them.
Groups include Biblical Literacy, ‘Soul Space’ (Bible study), and Thinking Allowed. Lent
Groups have taken place both at St Paul’s and in House Groups. There is also a welcoming
House Group and a Friendship Group
Services:
• Sundays: 11 a.m. Follows a monthly and 3 monthly pattern incorporating: Holy
Communion, Service of the Word, Reflective Service (monthly), and Healing Service
(three monthly, replacing the Reflective Service) – average attendance 42.
• Tuesday 9.30 a.m. Morning Prayer – using either traditional liturgy, or a Celtic type liturgy
• The deaf church community have long been a part of St Paul’s, and this continues in the
present day. We share Holy Communion with Signs for Worship, who provide an
interpreter, on the 2nd Sunday of every month
• Reflective Services were introduced in
2019. Each Reflective Service is different
and has a different theme, for example:
Healing and Wholeness Service, The
Psalms, and Our Stewardship of God’s
World. These services can be both
traditional and creative, using liturgy,
poems, prayer stations, and other creative
ways of worship. There are also
opportunities for silent reflection
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021St Paul’s encourages lay people to be involved in
services and there is a team from members of the
congregation, led by the Lay Reader, who meet to
plan the Reflective and Healing Services, and
take on tasks to provide the liturgy, materials and
presentation of the services.
St Paul’s Day Chapel is available to all who are
seeking a sense of God’s peace and a quiet place
of prayer and is open to the public 7 days a week.
Services held in the Day Chapel:
• Wednesday 11 a.m. Said Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) – average
attendance 23
• Wednesday 1.p.m Quiet Time – average attendance 8
Up until the 1970s the Day Chapel was called both the Lady
Chapel and the Chapel of Unity. On 18th January 1973, at a
Service of Unity led by the Bishop of Stafford, it was
dedicated as “The Chapel of Prayer for All People”, and it is
visited by many people throughout the week, including
sometimes people from other faiths.
Today the Chapel continues to promote peace and unity,
and vigils have been held there following national atrocities.
There is also an annual vigil service, led by the Vicar and
organised by Walsall Pensioners Convention, to remember
the number of excess winter deaths due to cold weather.
The Memorial Book
The Memorial Book is held in the
Chapel. Those named in the
book, and their families, are
remembered during the Sunday
and Wednesday services nearest
the relevant date. People also
sometimes leave flowers in the
Chapel in memory of loved ones.
There is an annual Memoriam
Service at St Paul’s and all are
invited to attend to remember and
give thanks for those they have
lost.
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021Community and The Crossing
The organisation of the building and the financial arrangements between The Crossing
Company and the Church helps to explain how the mix of church, commerce, charity
organisations, and voluntary groups is working here at St Paul’s Church.
Floor 2 – Church “The Upper Room”
Worship Room North Room
Vestry East Room
Sacristy
Floor 1 – Crossing Coffee Shop
Church Office The Crossing Office
Meeting / Pastoral Room Carers Association
Ground Floor
The Mall – retail outlets Podiatrist
Employment Support Unit Day Chapel
Young Carers Group Bereavement Support Services
The Crossing Company Ltd was formed in 2006 – 2007.
This was an amalgamation of St Paul’s Development
(Buildings) and St Paul’s Enterprises, formed in the
1990s to oversee the building works and to establish the
building’s activities in the Centre.
One of the main functions of The Crossing Company is
to maintain the church building, enabling St Paul’s
Church to continue as a place of worship and church
community, thereby serving the wider community.
As part of the reordering of St Paul’s Church in the
1990’s, the church was made Redundant, and therefore
the building is owned by Lichfield Diocese and leased by
the Diocese to St Paul’s Church, at no cost. St Paul’s
Church then subleases the building to The Crossing
Company Ltd, at no cost, apart from church areas,
The Board of Directors is currently being reviewed by the Diocese to create a more appropriate
business management system.
Electoral Roll and Occasional Offices
There are currently 52 people on the electoral roll, and from January to December 2019 the
average attendance at Sunday services was 42. In addition, Home Communion is taken to
those who cannot attend church due to health difficulties or other reasons.
The average attendances at services in the Day Chapel on Wednesdays were 23 for Holy
Communion and 8 for Quiet Time.
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021Prior to the pandemic, The Day Chapel, as it is known, was open 7 days a week. During the
pandemic last year, we were able to reopen the Day Chapel for individual private prayer at
certain times, supported by church volunteers. Though now closed, we hope to reopen the
chapel as restrictions and the effects of the pandemic improve. The Day Chapel provides a
quiet place for silent prayer and reflection, and people, whether from churches or passing
through town, have always visited there throughout the day.
The nature of the building and the different organisations it houses means that our ministry is
to people who use The Crossing building and the facilities here, as well as those who attend
church services. In addition, until the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, church
volunteers issued Food Bank vouchers Mon – Fri, and we remain a venue for donations of
food and necessary items for the local Food Banks.
Outside St Paul’s, including the car park, is also the meeting place on Friday evenings for
local churches to operate the Walsall Street Ministry Team, offering hot and cold drinks,
snacks, and chat to homeless people and those out socialising in the town centre, (this too is
currently closed subject to the restrictions resulting from the pandemic).
St Paul’s church tries to be an inclusive church, where everyone feels valued and respected.
Figures are from 2019:
• No Weddings
• No Baptisms
• Two Funerals in church
• Eleven Funerals at the Crematorium
Finance
Accounts for the financial year ending 31st December 2019 show our income covered our
necessary expenditure on utilities, charitable activities and administrative costs. No doubt this
year the Covid 19 pandemic will impact on our finances.
Our income in 2019 year came from direct giving from church members – either by direct
debit or through our envelope scheme – collections, and through the gift aid refunds
recovered from HMRC. Further income came from the recently purchased properties we
own, room rent charges and secretarial services i.e. for St Luke’s. This gave us an income of
£84,000 in 2019.
To live within our means a careful check has been kept on expenditure. Not surprisingly our
greatest expense was the Parish share, which amounted to £31,200 in 2019. We hope that
we can negotiate a lower figure in the future. Obviously, with the Covid 19 outbreak some
adjustment to payments have been made to our monthly payment reducing it in May to
£1,000 per month from £2,428 per month. The shortfall being created will have to be repaid
in the future. Other major expenditure concerns the utilities, charitable giving and staffing
expenses. This meant our outgoings in 2019 were £75,000.
During 2018, the church purchased from its reserves, together with an interest loan from the
diocese, six flats (one is held jointly with St Luke’s). The administration and servicing of
these has been undertaken for a fee by The Crossing Ltd. After finance costs, service
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021charges and maintenance costs are taken into account a surplus of about 50% of the rents is
paid into the Church Property account.
The present balances on our accounts are £20,000 in the current account; £5,900 in the
property account; and £95 in our London COIF accounts.
In 2019, the church received a grant of £10,000 to cover expenses to purchase equipment
and to run a series of films for the ‘Cinema for all in Walsall’ programme. Our accounts hold
the surplus of this grant amounting to £3,100, which has to be repaid to Walsall Council
shortly.
Having reviewed our
charitable giving,
and with the aim of
working towards
active involvement in
fundraising by the
congregation, the
PCC proposed that
fundraising for a
specific charity could
be linked with the
allocation of money
for that charity from
our unrestricted
income.
The PCC consulted the church to discover which four charities should be their focus for 2020.
Each charity chosen would have a link person who is responsible for initiating fundraising,
and if possible a link with the charity would be created, informing the congregation of their
work during a service.
For this year 4 charities were identified, with volunteers willing to coordinate the fundraising:
Walsall Bereavement Support Services, Mission to Seafarers, Christian Aid and Ablewell
Advice Centre (a local money advice unit that St Paul’s has regular contact with).
Due to the Pandemic, we have only been able to fundraise for Walsall Bereavement so far
this year. However, links with this charity through fundraising for the first three months of
2020 have been further strengthened by them moving into vacant office space in The
Crossing building.
In addition to the four charities, collections
from particular services are given to both
local and national charities: To the Sister
Dora nursing post at Walsall Hospice from
the Sister Dora Service, to The Children’s
Society from the Christingle Service, and
Walsall Samaritans.
We strive to make a difference to the lives
of people in our town, as we continue to
share the resources God has given us with
those around us.
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021St Paul’s and St Luke’s in Plurality
St Paul’s and St Luke’s became two Benefices in
plurality, working together under one vicar, in 2011. Both
churches work to share ministry, services, experience,
and resources.
We work collaboratively with each other as part of our Shared Ministry ethos, and prior to the
pandemic this way of working included the following:
Messy Church
Messy Church is a time of fun, faith, families
and food for children and their parents/carers.
We meet once a month on Sunday afternoons
in St Luke’s. We have a time all together for
singing and a story. Then we have about
three activities, mostly crafts, but often
including a game. Adults are encouraged to
join in everything, either supporting their
children or doing their own activity. We come
together again for a simple prayer/talking to
God time before sharing a light meal.
We do a nativity as part of a church carol service, and a garden barbecue in the summer.
Most of the families who come have limited links with church apart from Messy Church. Few
make it a priority commitment, so numbers fluctuate, usually between three and ten children.
We have contact with over 20 families.
It is much appreciated by those who attend, and we aim to keep in contact with families and
give pastoral support as appropriate. We have a ‘Messy Church family support worker’ which
is a paid role for five hours per week. As well as clergy, there are four adult and one teenage
volunteer.
After School Crafts
For some time, it was felt that it would be a good idea to have contact with the flats in
Chuckery, and this was a matter of prayer. It took a while, but efforts made to contact the
residents’ association proved successful and two years ago it was agreed we should have a
summer holiday club in the community room at the flats.
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021This proved successful, and after further discussion, it was agreed to try running an after-
school club, focused on doing crafts, which would meet every two weeks.
The residents’ association provide the room and simple
refreshments, and two members of the committee are there.
Both Chuckery and Blue Coat Primary Schools encourage and
advertise our activities. From church we are a team of three plus
clergy/ordinand. At first, we had almost too many children for the
small room, but now we have up to ten, which works very well.
Everyone knows it is the church who run the group, but we
rarely include specifically ‘Christian’ activities. Our aim is to build
relationships with the community, offer a listening ear and invite
them to church activities as appropriate. A few have occasionally
come to Messy Church and the Nativity service.
Youth Group
Youth meet monthly for games, food,
fellowship and fun. There are around
8 regular members who are school
Year 6 and above. Several guest
speakers have been invited to join the
Sunday night meetings including the
Samaritans and a Mosque leader
which has led to some open and
thought-provoking discussions.
Since Autumn 2018 the Youth group have had two residential weekends away together at
the Christian conference centre at Quinta in Shropshire. This has involved several leaders
too from St. Paul’s, St. John’s and St. Luke’s and has been a thoroughly enjoyable
experience for everyone involved. It is hoped that another trip can be planned as soon as
possible.
Interfaith Engagement
Interfaith work is often a natural
outworking of our engagement with
the local community, and the
relationships we have developed with
faith and community action groups in
the area have enriched our ministry
and allowed us to become a more
effective presence in the community
as whole.
For several years now, St Paul’s has
hosted Holocaust Memorial Day
events in partnership with other
community organisations
19
St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021Both churches have developed a close friendship with our local mosque, Masjid Al Farouq.
We have visited the mosque during Ramadan to share in an Iftar, participated in group
discussions and have also played the mosque in an interfaith cricket match.
Having strong links with other faith leaders in our area has enabled us to organise vigils in
the wake of terrorist attacks, to hold unity events when the EDL came to Walsall, and to
stand in solidarity with all the members of Walsall’s community.
In a letter to St Paul’s in April this year Mehmud Ismail Patel, Vice President of Masjid Al
Farouq wrote:
“We are truly living in testing times and the support we are giving to each other and to the
wider community of Walsall shows the bonds of friendship, empathy and support between St
Paul’s and Masjid Al Farouq…
…As we have ended the Easter period and are about to begin the Holy month of Ramadan –
both festivals are all about compassion, forgiveness and being grateful for what we have. I
pray the Almighty answers our prayers and we overcome this COVID19 pandemic much
stronger, much better, and more united than ever before to help serve our communities and
Walsall as a whole.”
Walsall Town Centre Ministry
Anne Elledge, St Paul’s Church Town Centre Ministry Rep writes that the Town Centre
Ministry is:
“An ecumenical partnership of churches, working together to make God known in Walsall
Town Centre, through a ministry of care, celebration and community”
St Paul’s and St Luke’s are active members of
Walsall Town Centre Ministry, along with five
other churches. The committee meets bi-
monthly. St Paul’s is represented by three Lay
people plus clergy. There is a variety of activities
throughout the year:
• Advent schools’ carol festival
• Lent Lunches
• Good Friday Walking the Way of the
Cross
• Party at the Crossing (community event)
• Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph,
jointly with the local council.
20
St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021St Paul’s takes a leading role in the planning and running all of these, especially Lent
Lunches and Party at the Crossing as they are held at St Paul’s
Beer and Carols
At Christmas we visit several local pubs in our
parish for an evening of ‘Beer and Carols’.
This is an opportunity to be visible in the
community whilst uniting everyone in singing
carols and the telling of the Black Country
nativity. In recent years these events have
raised several hundred pounds for local
charities.
Usually in May we do a Christian Aid pub crawl
through town on a Friday night to raise funds.
Continuing through COVID
Our previous Vicar left within weeks of the
first lockdown so the situation has been
managed by Churchwardens and others.
This has required following Government and
Church instructions, maintaining office
functions and providing church members
with news, opportunities for worship and
pastoral care.
Using email and mobile telephone links it has been possible to send out to members of both
churches a weekly newsletter and a Home Worship service sheet. Also there have been two
weekly zoom services on a Sunday and Wednesday. Both St Luke’s and St Paul’s have held
socially distanced and masked services with Holy Communion when possible. St Paul’s has
opened its Chapel of Prayer on the ground floor when the Crossing has been accessible.
Meetings such as Annual Parochial church meetings and PCC meetings have been held via
zoom or when possible in a socially distanced environment.
Our uniformed groups have continued to meet via zoom
Where possible church life has been maintained throughout the interregnum coinciding with
the pandemic.
We were able to worship together over Christmas, and we are now making plans for Easter.
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021The Vicarage
The Vicarage is located to the
east of Walsall Town Centre
and is a 20-minute walk away
from the church.
The front of the property has an
in/out driveway, with spacious
parking and a detached side
garage. The front garden has a
small lawn area and borders.
The property is double glazed,
and the entrance has a porch.
The internal accommodation is
spacious. Downstairs there is a
living room, dining room, and a
smaller room which can be
used as a study.
The kitchen has room enough for a family dining table and chairs. There is also a downstairs
toilet and a cloak room.
Upstairs there are five bedrooms. The family bathroom includes both a separate shower and
bath, and there is a separate toilet.
The Vicarage is a 1950’s brick-built detached property with a large mature garden to the rear.
The garden enjoys good privacy surrounded by trees and shrubs. There is a large lawn and
herbaceous borders down each side and surrounding patio area. There are patio doors
leading from the back of the living room to the garden.
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021Deanery Profile
The Walsall Deanery is interesting because of its many expressions of worship and spirituality.
• Urban Priority Areas
• Parishes which seem to have much and parishes which seem to have little
• Evangelical
• Modern Catholic
• Parishes of the Society of St Wilfred and St Hilda
They all add to the active and vibrant life of this community and, numerically, Walsall forms the
largest single Deanery in the Diocese of Lichfield.
Parishes are divided into six Clusters with the idea of each group working closer together and
sharing each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Synod meets up to five times a year to discuss local, national and, sometimes, international
issues. We make a point of meeting for prayer twice each year at a Deanery Eucharist and
Social in July and an evening of Spiritual Reflection in Advent. Both events are always well
attended.
There are excellent Church of England Primary and Secondary Schools in the Deanery.
Clergy Chapter meets every month and is generally well supported. Meetings vary from having
invited speakers to informal sharing of each other’s ministry, and to pray together for both the
joys and sorrows of ministry
As required by Canon Law each church receives a triennial Visitation from the Rural
Dean/Assistant Rural Dean and Lay Chair. This provides the opportunity to meet each
Parochial and/or District Church Council to discuss their vision under the Diocesan direction of
Discipleship, Vocation and Evangelism.
The two full time Anglican Chaplains based at the Manor Hospital in Walsall work within an All-
Faiths Hospital Team, and there is a part time Anglican Palliative Care Chaplain, all of whom
take an active part in the life of the Deanery.
Within the Deanery is a thriving Asian Christian Community and the Black Country Industrial
Urban Mission Ministry is active in the Wolverhampton Episcopal area. The Deanery is also
one of two in the Lichfield Diocese exploring the Greenhouse opportunities for starting and
developing new Christian communities and congregations.
As a Deanery we endeavour to listen to each other and celebrate the fact that we serve in
different places with diverse communities, traditions and cultures.
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021Fr Preb Mark McIntyre,
Rural Dean St Gabriel’s Vicarage
85 Walstead Road
Walsall WS5 4LZ
Tel: 01922 622583
email: stgabriels.frmark@gmail.com
Mr Nigel Beck,
Lay Chair 100 Lazy Hill Road
Aldridge WS9 8RR
Tel: 01922 452830
email: nigel.beck@live.co.uk
Mrs Valerie Benford
Secretary 18 Shire Oak Close
Walsall Wood
WS9 9PG
Tel: 01543 322671
email: valeriebenford2@gmail.com
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St Paul’s and St Luke’s Parish Profile
April 2021You can also read
