Incumbent of Batley

Church of England; Batley; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Diocese of Leeds invites applications for the Incumbent of Batley, a four-church benefice. The vicar will lead growth of congregations and deepen discipleship, work with lay leaders, schools and community organisations, and foster stewardship and outreach.

The post requires joyful, confident faith and collaborative leadership across clergy and lay teams, within a supportive diocesan framework. Informal discussions can be arranged with the Archdeacon; closing date 6 December 2026; interviews

Qualifications

• Clergy with joyful and confident faith and a track record of church growth.
• Ability to lead four parishes and work with lay leaders, schools and community organisations.
• Commitment to stewardship, outreach and inclusive community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead growth across the four-church benefice in Batley.
• Develop and deepen discipleship within the congregations.
• Collaborate with lay leaders, schools and community organisations.
• Foster stewardship, outreach and community engagement across the benefice.

Skills

Community engagement

Leadership

Discipleship development

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Theology or equivalent

Job description

Incumbent of Batley

INTRODUCTION

Our vision as the Diocese is about confident clergy equipping confident Christians to live and tell the good news of Jesus Christ. For all our appointments we are seeking clergy who have a joyful and confident faith which has inspired a track record of church growth.

This well-established benefice of four churches looks forward to welcoming a new incumbent who can lead them into growth, both in numbers and in depth of discipleship, over the coming years. There are welcoming and friendly congregations in all the churches, ready to work with their vicar in reaching out to the communities around them with the love of God.

As the next vicar, you will bring passion and skill in community engagement and congregational growth, in developing and deepening discipleship, and in encouraging stewardship and outreach. You will work collaboratively with lay leaders in the parishes, and with schools and community organisations, including those of other faiths in this multi-cultural benefice. You will be blessed with the support of congregations that have a willingness to grow and develop, with excellent deanery colleagues, and with diocesan resource teams who are ready and willing to help.

Informal conversation about the post can be arranged with the Archdeacon, Ven Bill Braviner. To arrange this, please email [e-mail]

The Diocese of Leeds is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holdersare expected to share this commitment. All appointments to roles undertaking regulated activity are subject to pre-appointment checks, including references and a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check.

The closing date for applications for this post is 6th December 2026

Interviews will be held on 14th January 2027

The Diocese of Leeds

The Anglican Diocese of Leeds comprises five episcopal areas, each coterminous with an archdeaconry. This is now one of the largest Dioceses in the country and its creation in 2014 is unprecedented in the history of the Church of England. It covers an area of around 2,425 square miles with a population of around 2,642,400 people. The Diocese comprises major cities (Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield) large industrial and post-industrial towns (Halifax, Huddersfield and Dewsbury), market towns (Todmorden, Harrogate, Skipton, Richmond, Ripon and Wetherby) and deeply rural areas especially in the Dales. The whole of life is here, along with all the richness, diversity and complexities of a changing world.

Five area bishops (of Bradford, Huddersfield, Kirkstall, Ripon, and Wakefield) and five archdeacons (of Bradford, Halifax, Leeds, Richmond & Craven, and Pontefract) assist the Diocesan Bishop (The Rt. Revd Toby Howarth is Bishop-elect).

This Benefice is in the Dewsbury & Birstall Deanery of the Huddersfield Episcopal Area, in the Archdeaconry of Halifax. The Bishop of Huddersfield is The Rt. Revd Smitha Prasadam. The Archdeacon of Halifax is The Venerable Bill Braviner.

Our vision as a Diocese is about confident clergy and laity working together, equipping confident Christians to live and tell the Good News of Jesus Christ, to grow our churches and transform our communities

For all our appointments we are seeking clergy who have a joyful and confident faith, and a passion and commitment to work with their lay and ordained colleagues to foster church growth, both numerical and spiritual