Rector, The Orchard Welle Benefice, Cambridgeshire (0.6fte)

THE ELY DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE; Wisbech; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

The Rector of Orchard‑Welle will lead five parishes in a rural benefice within the Diocese of Ely, shaping a sustainable pattern of church life rooted in prayer and community engagement. The post emphasizes collaborative leadership, prudent use of resources, and creative ministry to meet future parish needs.

We seek an ordained priest with proven change leadership, strong pastoral care, and the ability to work with lay leaders and diocesan teams to nurture mission in a fast‑changing context.

Qualifications

• Ordination as priest in the Church of England or Anglican Communion.
• Deep, prayerful faith rooted in Scripture and sacramental life.
• Able to articulate faith accessibly and honestly.

Responsibilities

• Provide Spiritual Leadership and ministry across five parishes.
• Lead change and develop a shared vision for Orchard Welle benefice.
• Collaborate with Associate Priest, lay ministers, churchwardens and diocesan teams.
• Engage with schools, community groups, and mission outreach.
• Oversee stewardship of buildings and resources and promote prudent use of funds.

Skills

Strong communication

Organisational skills

Change management

Team collaboration

Car driver

Education

Ordained priest of the Church of England or Anglican Communion

Job description

Situated in the South of Wisbech Lynn Marshland Deanery in the Diocese of Ely, the newly formed Orchard-Welle benefice comprises a group of five parishes serving a population of around fifteen thousand people in a mixture of large & small Fenland villages. The area is semi-rural, with open fields and big skies and is criss-crossed by the waterways which characterise the Fens.

The Rector of Orchard-Welle is called to lead, pastor, and reimagine Anglican presence and witness across a newly formed five‑parish rural benefice. The post holder will work collaboratively to shape a sustainable, hopeful pattern of church life rooted in prayer, community engagement, and realistic use of limited resources.

This role is about leading change, and enabling the 5 congregations now united as the Orchard Welle Benefice congregation to move forward and continue to develop a service that fits the future needs of the parishioners in a fast‑changing world.

Key Responsibilities

1. Spiritual Leadership & Ministry

• Lead the benefice in prayerful, Christ‑centred discipleship, modelling a grounded faith.
• Preach and teach the Gospel clearly and accessibly across a variety of worship contexts.
• Oversee a balanced and sustainable pattern of worship, respecting diverse traditions.
• Provide pastoral care to individuals and families, with sensitivity and generosity.

2. Leading Change and Developing Vision

• Encourage the congregations to discern and articulate a shared vision for Orchard Welle,
• Lead and manage change thoughtfully by supporting the individual churches through transition with clarity, kindness, and resilience.
• Encourage new, experimental expressions of church, where traditional models are no longer viable.
• Work within realistic personal limits, modelling healthy boundaries.

3. Collaboration and Team Ministry

• Work collegially with: Associate Priest, Licensed Lay Ministers, Churchwardens, & PSOs
• Support, encourage, and develop lay leadership, including nurturing new gifts.
• Engage constructively with the Rural Dean, Lay Chair, Archdeacon, and diocesan teams.

4. Mission and Community Engagement

• Listen and encourage communities, especially those with little church connection.
• Strengthen and deepen links with: Primary schools and academies, Community groups and “Friends of Church” organisations, occasional offices, families and festival congregations
• Support outreach to children, families, and younger adults.

5. Stewardship of Buildings and Resources

• Support churches in discerning appropriate futures for buildings, including adaptation, shared use, or reduced patterns of use.
• Encourage responsible financial stewardship and realistic expectations around parish share.

Essential Qualities and Experience

Faith and Vocation

• An ordained priest of the Church of England or Anglican communion.
• Evidences a deep, resilient, and prayerful faith, rooted in Scripture and the sacramental life of the Church.
• Comfortable articulating faith in ways that are accessible, hopeful, and honest.

Leadership and Ministry

• Experience of leading churches or benefices through change, uncertainty, or transition.
• Able to combine strategic thinking with warmth, humility, and approachability.
• Confident working collaboratively, valuing shared ministry and diverse gifts.

Mission and Context

• Demonstrates a realistic understanding of the opportunities and constraints of rural and semi‑rural ministry.
• Willing to innovate and experiment, without over‑burdening people or resources.

Personal and Professional Skills

• Strong communication skills – preaching, listening, facilitating conversations, and leading meetings.
• Good organisational, time‑management, and change management skills, with the ability to prioritise well within a part‑time role.
• Emotionally resilient, reflective, and able to maintain healthy boundaries.
• Car driver (as public transport is limited)

Desirable Attributes

• Experience of: Multi‑parish or benefice ministry
• Developing lay leadership and Authorised Local Ministers
• Engagement with community groups and heritage bodies
• Openness to diocesan initiatives around simplified governance, hubs, and deanery‑wide collaboration.
• An interest in church buildings, heritage, and creative use of space for mission.

Safer Recruitment in the Diocese of Ely

The Diocese of Ely is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees to undertake safeguarding checks and training relevant to their role and to adhere to the Church of England’s safeguarding policies and procedures. Therefore, this position is subject to an enhanced disclosure from the DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service).

A Diverse and Inclusive Workforce

The Diocese of Ely is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce which represents our context and wider community. We are aware that those of Global Majority Heritage/United Kingdom Minority Ethnic (GMH/UKME), women, and disabled people are currently under‑represented among our clergy and workforce, and we particularly encourage applications from those with the relevant skills and experience that will increase this representation.

Our Diocese

The Diocese of Ely stretches from Cambridge to Peterborough and out towards the coastal areas of West Norfolk. It houses 3/4 million people, which will rise to 1 million in the next 15 years. This area buzzes with energy from the academic, business and medical excellence of Cambridge University to the rich agricultural areas of Huntingdon, Fenland and Norfolk.

Despite the presence of a world leading university, Cambridgeshire is not all affluent. Towns and cities have pockets of poverty and low attainment. Rural areas can be isolated and insular. The churches are strong in some places, but there is much work to be done.

The Diocese of Ely is a good place to live and work: stable finances, good housing, inclusive and warm hearted bishops, coupled with a rich diversity of benefices in all traditions make this a place that clergy stay once they have discovered us. We have just over 100 incumbent status clergy, with a strong Diocesan team, and a real emphasis on lay development and training.

We have welcomed our new Diocesan Bishop, Rt Rev Sarah Clark, in June 2026; we look to continue the steady growth of our worshipping communities in recent years. Our Mission Strategy devolves much decision making to the parishes, benefices and deaneries, so that clergy are able to innovate, take risks and build alliances for the sake of the Kingdom of God and the good of our communities. We welcome applications from clergy who are prepared to work collaboratively and faithfully. We will enable you to flourish and grow in ministry, whilst maintaining a sensible work life balance.