The Wider Church
History
The parish is part of the Deanery of Huntingdon and the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon and Wisbech in the Diocese of Ely, but the patronage is held by Westminster Abbey.
The Current Situation
In the Deanery there are currently ten and a half stipendiary posts, four curates and two non-stipendiary ministers.
Our Deanery activities activities include:
- joining with other churches in the Deanery for Confirmation services;
- three Deanery Synod representatives;
- one of our churchwardens as Deanery Treasurer.
The Future
The Diocesan Report “All Good Gifts”, published in 2002 recommends:
- the formation of “Mission Communities”, which involve creating ministry teams to operate across parish boundaries;
- an extension of lay ministry to create Authorised Lay Ministries;
in response:
- the parish has been involved in establishing links with four other parishes south of the river Great Ouse, St Peter & St Paul, Fenstanton; St Margaret of Antioch, Hemingford Abbots; St James, Hemingford Grey and St Mary Magdalene, Hilton, to become the “Michaelmas Network”;
- we have six candidates for training in Authorised Lay Ministries.
Activities of the Michaelmas Network so far involve:
- meetings of clergy and churchwardens;
- joint events and services;
- informal sharing of resources for youth ministry (e.g. Confirmation preparation), especially with Fenstanton and Hilton.
By 2017 the Deanery expects to operate with nine stipendiary priests, three curates and four non-stipendiary ministers. Current expectations are that the reduction of one stipendiary priest will come from the Michaelmas Network, probably from Fenstanton and Hilton, but no firm decisions have yet been made.
