WANTED: P/T Children & Families WorkerWE ARE LOOKING FOR someone with strong organisational skills and self-motivation who would be excited to develop creative Christian provision for children in Banstead, and to lead our team in building relationships between the church and their families. JOB PURPOSE is to work with families and children, primarily in Years 1 to 6, plus liaising with the under 5s both within the church family and wider parish to further the church’s ministry to them. To lead, support and develop children’s activities in the church, local schools and the local community. WE OFFER a 2-year fixed term contract with the possibility of extension, a receptive and supportive Vicar, a team and parish eager to grow in our mission to children and with a heart to support local families. A laptop and mobile phone will be provided and occasional use of a working space in a shared parish office in Banstead. You will need to prepare some work from home. Hours of work: 15 hours per week including Sundays. Most work will be during normal office hours although some time at weekends and occasional evenings will be necessary. Pay is £13.50 per hour with 20 days holiday pro rata per annum. Responsible to the Vicar and Churchwardens. For more information, please contact our Vicar, the Rev’d Kate Blake, at vicar@bansteadallsaints.com, or between 3rd and 18th August when Kate is on holiday, the Churchwardens at churchwarden@bansteadallsaints.com Your application should specify how you meet what we’re looking for, and should provide contact details for yourself and two referees, at least one of whom should have recent experience of your work with children. Closing date for applications: 1st September 2025. The role has a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) to be a practising Christian. DBS check at enhanced plus level and references required.
THE BIBLE COURSE: Revd Kate is offering a course giving an overview of the Bible as a whole, on Saturday 25th October and Saturday 15th November at St Columba’s Retreat House in Woking. The cost depends on numbers, but will be about £20 for both days plus £10 for lunch each day. Please sign the list on the church table if you’d like to come.
A church in Banstead was mentioned in Domesday book, but the present building seems to date from the late 12th century, with many changes since. With unusual nave arcades, some ancient stonework, interesting monuments and windows, it repays exploration. On 13th September there will be pictorial displays, a display of historic books and paintings, an illustrated talk about the church's history, and guides will be on hand to provide more information on the windows and memorials. We also hope our bell-ringers will tell us about the art of ringing. An Arts Society (previously NADFAS) Church Trail is available for children and the Banstead History Group will have a stall outside. In the afternoon there will be a tour of the extensive ancient churchyard, which includes listed chest tombs and a listed war memorial. A timetable of the day's events will be downloadable from this site from August.
Do join us in church at 7.00pm in the week starting 29th July for one or some or all of the sessions in which Revd Kate will help us to learn and practise Ignatian Prayer. This way of prayer is based on St Ignatius' classic work, the Spiritual Exercises, which is a compilation of meditations, prayers, and contemplative practices developed to help people deepen their relationship with God. The Exercises often involve imaginative engagement with scripture, for example by imagining yourself in a scene from the Bible, and prayerfully allowing the scene to develop, or by slowing down and reading a very short passage of scripture very slowly. Ignatius also offers various scenarios to imagine ourselves in, and encourages using art or non-scriptural writings. But the Exercises are essentially about finding new ways to listen to God, based on the assurance that God is longing to be in closer relationship with each one of us.
