Special News Updates

UPDATE – DECEMBER 2016

It seems a long time since Linda announced her retirement last year, but finally we have some definite news. 

The interview dates for the appointment of the priest for the proposed United Benefice have been set by the Bishop for 22 - 23 March. The post will be advertised in The Church Times on 3rd and 10th of February with a closing date for applications on 2 March. Shortlisting will take place on 9 March. 

Our representatives, Alan Jobber and Jan Curtis, will be involved in drafting the advertisement, the shortlisting meeting and the interviews. Our Churchwardens and members of the PCC appreciate your continued support at our regular church services as well as the other activities they have worked so hard to maintain during this time of vacancy.

UPDATE – OCTOBER 2016

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of the Parish of Headley with Box Hill have had some challenging decisions to make recently when considering a replacement for our now retired priest Rev Linda Harknett.  Although she gave much more time to us she was paid as a half-time priest in our parish.  The regular income that our parish raises, including standing orders, contributions made in the churches and rent from The Old School is not sufficient to meet the cost of employing a full-time priest.

The Parish of Walton-on-the-Hill is in the same position as us and wish to recruit a half-time priest.

The Archdeacon has advised us that it is nowadays extremely difficult to recruit good quality half-time priests and for two adjacent parishes to be trying to do so at the same time makes little sense.  He is firmly of the view that the two parishes should recruit a full time priest and share him or her.

Following joint meetings of the two PCCs, attended by the Archdeacon, both PCCs have now decided that the best interests of both parishes would be served by our forming a United Benefice and to recruit a full time priest for the Benefice to be shared 50/50% by the two parishes.

The draft proposals for forming the United Benefice have been drawn up and now have to go through a legal process which will take up to three months.  These proposals have to be reviewed by various parties and eventually approved by the Bishop.  It is possible, but unlikely, that the proposals could be amended before final approval by the Bishop.  Included in the proposals is the proposed name of the United Benefice which is The Benefice of Headley and Box Hill with Walton-on-the-Hill and also the proposal that the residence of the priest will be the rectory at Walton-on-the-Hill.  The rectory in Headley will be transferred to the Diocesan Board of Finance for diocesan purposes which, in the short term at least, means that it will be let.  These proposals were made by a Pastoral Committee at the Diocese.

While this legal process as stated could take up to three months we are alongside this able to proceed with the recruitment of the priest for the United Benefice and we will now get on with this as quickly as possible.

In the meantime, while we are "in Vacancy", we are continuing a normal service pattern in St Mary's and St Andrew's and are enjoying the variety of visiting priests that come to take these and also our own worship leaders.  We hope that you will join us for these services as often as possible.