Chaplain to the Bishop of Coventry
Bishop Sophie was appointed the 10th Bishop of Coventry in 2024 and took up the legal responsibility in February 2025. As the Bishops House is refurbished, she is using this time to prepare well for this new responsibility building on her experience of episcopal ministry over the past five years. She will commence public duties from the date of her welcome service on 7 June 2025.
Bishop Sophie will, in due time, share her episcopal authority and responsibility fully and collegially within the Diocese with the Bishop of Warwick once appointed, but will first take time to form a clear picture of the Diocese before beginning that process of appointment.
She will work closely with the Dean of Coventry, the Archdeacons, and the other members of the Bishop’s Senior Staff Team. This missionary and apostolic oversight is of course shared with every licensed priest, but among them especially, the area deans. Governance responsibility for the Diocese is likewise shared, principally through the Bishop’s Council and Diocesan Synod.
The Bishop’s Chaplain will:
- Work to the Bishop, her agenda and priorities, focused on assisting her ministry, with wisdom, good humour, and steadfast hope.
- Be emotionally intelligent and theologically alert, with a strong ability for reading people and situations, relating well across a diverse range of ages, personalities, cultures and theological convictions.
- Be flexible and adaptable, able to work to tight deadlines, to prioritise, to cope with complex and competing demands, and to assemble resources on a wide variety of subjects.
- Enjoy working as part of a small team, with the spontaneity and natural generosity which interdependence requires.
- Provide pastoral support to the Bishop’s Staff, with a proven capacity to work calmly and effectively through more stressful seasons of ministry.
- Support the Bishop in liaising with colleagues over matters of strategic development in the mission of the Diocese.
- Take primary responsibility, on behalf of the Bishop, for worship and prayer in the life of the Bishop’s Senior Staff Team and to help shape a pattern of prayer in the Bishops House Chapel which is sustainable and life giving, including occasional services of Holy Communion.
Key requirements
- The Chaplain’s main place of work is the Bishop’s Office at The Bishop’s House.
- The expectation is of a similar time commitment as a parish priest. As a general rule the Chaplain will be expected to share in morning worship outside office hours, and to keep office hours of 9.00 am to 5.00 pm with a break for lunch. There is an expectation of some work, and ministry being exercised, outside office hours. There will be some evening commitments. The rest day is generally a Friday or Saturday.
- The post is subject to Safer Recruitment Processes and a satisfactory Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Disclosure.
- This post has attached to it an Occupational Requirement under the 2010 Equality Act, Part 1, Schedule 9.
What we offer
- A salary of £33,058 per annum (equivalent to the stipend of a Residentiary Canon).
- A house (or housing allowance) will be provided to enable the Chaplain to carry out their duties.
- Clergy already in the Church of England Funded Pensions Scheme (CEFPS) will have the option of either remaining in this scheme or joining the PB14 scheme. In addition to the employer age-related contribution (between 8-15% of salary), the employer also matches the employee contributions in whole percentages up to 3%. Employees enrolled into PB2014 will be automatically enrolled to contribute 3% of their pensionable salary. The employee can choose to increase or decrease their contribution at any time.
- 30 days annual leave FTE.
- Access to Occupational Health, and an Employee Assistance Programme.
Click here for the job description and personal specification
Closing date for Applications: Sunday 16 March
Mission Enabling Associate Minister, Fosse Deanery
Based in Northend, we seek an Associate Minister, to join our team to help grow thriving Christian communities across rural South Warwickshire.
Fosse Deanery in collaboration with the Archdeacon Missioner has developed an exciting plan to sustain the ministry and help stimulate growth across our rural parishes.
Licensed as a full-time Associate Minister for the benefices in Dassett Magna (see parish profile in Appendix A), the post holder will spend half their time in parochial ministry serving the parishes and half time as the Deanery Rural Mission Enabler (see below).
The role:
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Half-time as Associate Minister for Dassett Magna
With primary responsibility for mission and ministry in Dassett Magna -
Half-time as Deanery Rural Mission Enabler
Working alongside the incumbent and local leaders from rural churches in the deanery. You will join a team with a heart to see a thriving Christian presence in our rural villages.
The role will evolve as it grows; alongside advice, training and support for churches engaging in mission, it will involve collaboration with churches, incumbents and lay teams, to establish, lead and empower planting new worshipping communities.
Personal Specification:
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A self-starter and team player
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Has the skills to take on responsibility for church growth projects
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Experience in
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Leading a missional church
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Leadership in a rural context
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Teaching and enabling outreach and church growth in our changing community
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A church plant, fresh expression or re-imagining the mission of local church
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Comfortable working in a breadth of traditions and open to all members of our communities
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An engaging preacher and communicator
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Will motivate and inspire worship
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Will balance dynamism and directness with humour and compassion
Click here for the parish profile for Dassett Magna
Click here for the overview of the Edgehill Churches and Moreton Morrell
Click here to download the advert
Click here for the job description
Click here to download the application form
Closing Date for Applications: noon, 4 April
Interviews: 29 & 30 April
Informal conversations very welcome with Archdeacon Missioner, Ven Barry Dugmore, on 07487 578311 (Barry.Dugmore@Coventry.Anglican.org) or Rev Barry Jackson, Rector of the Edgehill Churches on 07515 109252 or (revbarryjackson@btinternet.com)
Please send completed application forms to Debbie Niblett (HR Officer and Archdeacons’ Administrator
Priest-in-Charge, The Offchurch Group
The Offchurch Group (TOG) parish is a rural area, including five villages, close to the attractive and popular town of Royal Leamington Spa and with easy access to Coventry and Rugby.
Formed in 2017 by merging four parishes whose congregations felt led by the Lord to combine their talents and resources. We now have a Parish Church and three Chapels-of-Ease, united with a single PCC.
In vacancy, we have made significant progress, growing in faith and sharing the Gospel.
We are an active and supportive fellowship, welcoming and friendly, with established and effective leaders and outreach groups including Bible Study, Messy Church and Puppet Ministry.
We would welcome applications from candidates who:
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Have a deep love of Jesus Christ and a desire to share that love across our rural communities
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Want to help people of all ages experience God’s love
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Will become actively involved in each of our village communities
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Are empowering leaders and good communicators, able to equip people to serve God in leadership roles, building on the positive foundation already created
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Will support and encourage us to continue growing in faith and make us more confident in sharing it
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Have a passion for leading and guiding attractive and inspiring worship for all ages
Closing Date for Applications: Friday 14 March
Interviews: 8/9 April
Click here for the Parish Profile
Click here to download the Application Form
Informal conversations very welcome with the Archdeacon Missioner, Ven Barry Dugmore, on 07487 578311 (Barry.Dugmore@Coventry.Anglican.org)
Please send completed application forms to Debbie Niblett (HR Officer and Archdeacons’ Administrator): Debbie.Niblett@Coventry.Anglican.org
Vicar, St Alban's, Stoke Heath, Coventry
St. Alban’s Church is entering a new and exciting chapter, and we seek a passionate individual to join us. Known for our welcoming and collaborative spirit, we seek someone who shares our enthusiasm for the Christian faith and community.
We aim to build a joyful, diverse worship community, committed to outreach and engagement.
We seek someone who:
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Brings enthusiasm and excitement for the Christian faith
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Joins us in joyful and fulfilling collaborative worship
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Easy to talk to and a good listener
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Continues our outreach, fostering a diverse congregation
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Works with our Youth & Children’s Team on engaging activities
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Provides leadership opportunities, especially for young people
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Helps the congregation discern and use their spiritual gifts
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Guides personal spiritual journeys
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Develops small holistic prayer groups
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Cares for and visits those unable to attend church
Click here to download the profile
Click here to download the application form
Closing Date for Applications: tbc
Interviews: tbc
Informal conversations very welcome with the Area Dean, Claire McArthur on 07532 260027 (revclairestoke@gmail.com) or the Archdeacon Missioner, Ven Barry Dugmore, on 07487 578311 (Barry.Dugmore@Coventry.Anglican.org)
Please send completed application forms to Debbie Niblett (HR Officer and Archdeacons’ Administrator): Debbie.Niblett@Coventry.Anglican.org
Rector/Rural Pioneer, Heart of England Benefice
The Heart of England Benefice is a group of six parishes in a beautiful part of South Warwickshire, near Stratford-upon-Avon and just north of the Cotswolds.
This post is one of four re-imagined roles for clergy colleagues as incumbents with a creative missional flair. We have appointed to two and are praying in anticipation for the two still to be appointed.
We seek a Rector/Rural Pioneer who is excited by the opportunity to work with a large team of lay and licensed individuals, who serve and lead in all our churches and will:
- Engage with our four church schools who are key connectors to our communities
- Promote mission in our new housing developments, building on and creating new forms of outreach across generations
- Collaborate with our associate minister (a house-for-duty role), our part-time family link worker, and our part-time administrator
- Live in a modern rectory set in lovely gardens in the largest of our villages with a full range of amenities and local transport links
We are looking for someone who will:
- Teach the Bible in a relevant way, inspiring application to everyday life and share our faith
- Communicate and engage well with children, young people and schools
- Identify, encourage, and release the unique gifts of individuals, inspiring dynamic team working
- Serve across the deanery working with colleagues, contributing missional specialisms and expertise in support of one another
This is an exciting moment as we look to rethink how our rural mission and ministry is exercised across the whole deanery, working towards the common vision of ‘growing welcoming communities and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to our villages’.
Click here for the parish profile
Click here to download the advert
Click here to download the application form
Closing Date for Applications: tbc
Interviews: tbc
Informal conversations very welcome with Archdeacon Missioner, Ven Barry Dugmore, on 07487 578311 (Barry.Dugmore@Coventry.Anglican.org) or the Area Dean, Revd Katie Cross, 01789 764261, rector@alcesterminster.org
Please send completed application forms to Debbie Niblett (HR Officer and Archdeacons’ Administrator
Associate Minister/Pioneer, based in Lighthorne
Licensed to Wellesborne, this role offers an exciting opportunity to pioneer a New Worshipping Community in a growing housing development, embracing the existing church in Lighthorne Village, valuing diversity and moving forward together; blending rural charm with urban expansion. Working closely with local people a supportive priest, and the wider team within Fosse Deanery.
We are looking for someone to:
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Church plant in the new development
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Engage with the local school, ministering to children and families; supported by recruitment of a Children and Families Worker
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Build cohesion and work creatively to cultivate spiritual growth and care within both the church and the wider community
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Develop new ways of worship that engage the evolving community
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Model discipleship, nurture relationships and foster a culture where the gospel is experience in action; where everyone, young and old, actively grows in faith in Jesus
This role suits someone passionate about community engagement, innovation and collaboration in mission.
Click here for the parish profile
Click here to download the application form
Closing date for Applications: tbc
Interviews: tbc
Informal conversations very welcome with the Archdeacon Missioner, Ven Barry Dugmore, on 07487 578311, (Barry.Dugmore@Coventry.Anglican.org) or the Revd Greg Bartlem, Vicar of Wellesbourne gregjbartlem@gmail.com, 01789 840866
Please send completed application forms to Debbie Niblett (HR Officer and Archdeacons’ Administrator): Debbie.Niblett@Coventry.Anglican.org
Associate Minister, Ansty & Shilton (House for Duty basis)
St James Ansty and St Andrew’s Shilton serve two picturesque and community-focused Warwickshire villages north of Coventry, with a range of local amenities and excellent transport links to the majority of the country.
We are seeking a House for Duty priest who will enjoy focusing on the heart of parish ministry and become an integral part of life in the two villages. We wish to appoint a priest who will:
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Be a visible and known presence in the local and wider communities, within and beyond the Church
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Be able to build relationships with people of all ages and experiences
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Recognise and encourage potential in lay ministry, leading us in worship, spiritual growth, and outreach in our parishes
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Be creative, and comfortable within a range of worship styles and a broad expression of faith
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Embrace the vision of the Church communities, and build on them using their own gifts, in their own way
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Collaborate with partner Churches across Bulkington, Ansty and Shilton
The Vicar of Bulkington will become Priest-in-Charge of Ansty and Shilton, releasing our House for Duty colleague to focus on the heart of parish ministry unincumbered by some of the administration.
Informal conversations very welcome with the Archdeacon Missioner, Ven Barry Dugmore, on 07487 578311, (Barry.Dugmore@Coventry.Anglican.org) or the Revd Charles Higgins, Vicar of Bulkington on 07954 072164 vicar@stjameschurchbulkington.org.uk
Click here for the Parish Profile
Click here to download the Application Form
Click for the House for Duty Working Agreement
Closing date for Applications: tbc
Interviews: tbc
Please send completed application forms to Debbie Niblett (HR Officer and Archdeacons’ Administrator): Debbie.Niblett@Coventry.Anglican.org
Associate Minister House for Duty, South Warwickshire Seven Benefice
Gospel Ministry in the beautiful North Cotswolds! The South Warwickshire Seven (SW7) is a benefice made up of seven small parishes in rural South Warwickshire. We wish to appoint a House for Duty Associate Minister (know locally as Assistant Minister) to support the Rector as together we seek to realize our vision of ‘rediscovering Jesus as our ultimate treasure and giving everyone in our benefice the opportunity to do the same.’
We are looking for someone who:
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Loves and knows the living Lord Jesus as revealed in the Gospels
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Empowered by God seeks to live up to the qualifications for church leadership as set out in the pastoral epistles (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1)
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Has a deep passion for the scriptures and a proven track record of communicating them faithfully and engagingly at different levels of ministry
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Has a pastor’s heart, knowing the grace of God in their own lives and communicating that grace to others
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Does not ‘despise the day of small things’ but is willing and able to celebrate the small signs of the Holy Spirit at work
The post will consist of three days a week including Sundays. The well-appointed house is set in the scenic village of Cherington and Stourton
Click here for the parish profile
Click here for the role and personal specification
Click here for the House for Duty ministerial working agreement
Click here to download the application form
Closing Date for Applications: tbc
Interviews: tbc
Informal conversations very welcome with Rev Ben Dyson, Rector of South Warwickshire Seven Group, on 01608 628229 (vicarsw7@gmail.com)
Please send completed application forms to Debbie Niblett (HR Officer and Archdeacons’ Administrator