Church of England

The Bishop of Rochester seeks to appoint Rector (full time) for the Parish of St Peter & St Paul Aylesford "A church united in wanting to grow in faith" Are you a priest who longs to nurture faith, grow community, and lead a welcoming church with deep roots and big hopes for the future? St Peter & St Paul, Aylesford, is prayerfully seeking a new priest to join us on our journey. Set in the beautiful historic village of Aylesford on the River Medway, our church community is warm, friendly and diverse. We are a "non shush" church where all ages are welcome, where questions are encouraged, and where worship is both joyful and reverent. Our Vision: We recognize the opportunities ahead of us: expanding housing, growing families, and a wider community in need of hope, connection, and faith. We seek a priest who will help us reach new people, nurture discipleship, and continue making our church a place where all can belong. What we offer: A supportive, active congregation eager to grow in faith. Strong lay leadership including Readers, an Anna Chaplain, and an excellent Administrator. A spacious, modern 4-bedroom vicarage in the village, within minutes of church. A parish with excellent transport links, outstanding countryside, good schools, and growing local population. A lively programme of worship, music, pastoral care, school links, and community events. We are prayerfully seeking a Rector who will: Help us grow as disciples. Lead collaboratively, working with our dedicated lay ministers, PCC, and volunteers. Engage visibly in the community, building on outreach such as our Community Hub, Food Bank and Dementia Café. Value our heritage, while guiding us sensitively through change and growth. Support families and young people, nurturing our commitment to being an inclusive, intergenerational church. Read the Parish Profile here: Applications via Pathways: If you wish for an informal chat with Associate Archdeacon Rev Wil North before applying, please email the EA to the Archdeacon: . Closing date for applications: 25 March 2026 Tour and interview date: 6 & 7 May 2026

A vibrant local church in Aylesford is seeking a full-time Rector to nurture faith and lead a welcoming community. The ideal candidate will have experience in community engagement and collaborative leadership. This role offers a supportive congregation, strong lay leadership, a modern vicarage, and a variety of worship and community events. Join us in making our church a place where all can belong.

This role presents an exciting opportunity for the right person to play a vital part in the faith filled adventure of church planting! Well City Church launched in September 2024 with a vision to be a Well of Worship, a Well of Life and a Well of Overflow for the sake of the City. As Outreach Lead you will pioneer and lead an evangelistic ministry for children and young people in the community, alongside setting up a parent and toddler group and coordinating the children's work within the church. If you feel called to be part of enabling this new faith community to be established and thrive we would love to hear from you.

This role presents an exciting opportunity for the right person to play a vital part in the faith filled adventure of church planting! Well City Church launched in September 2024 with a vision to be a Well of Worship, a Well of Life and a Well of Overflow for the sake of the City. As Outreach Lead you will pioneer and lead an evangelistic ministry for children and young people in the community, alongside setting up a parent and toddler group and coordinating the children's work within the church. If you feel called to be part of enabling this new faith community to be established and thrive we would love to hear from you.

A Senior Sous Chef position is needed to assist the Executive head chef in the everyday running and organising of the kitchen and to line manage assistant chefs and kitchen porters. Menu planning, food ordering, stock control, and event delivery. This role is a fixed-term contract for one year, and the prospective post-holder is expected to commence in the role by April. Responsibilities Ensure that all the Lambeth Palace kitchen team are fully trained in the food safety management systems and procedures, implemented by the Executive Head Chef. Work under and closely with the Executive Head Chef to ensure that all statutory legislation is adhered to by ensuring that standards and controls for Health & Safety, food hygiene, risk assessments, COSHH, manual handling are carried out as per current legislation. To ensure that the agreed standards of food preparation and presentation are always supervised and adhered to. To maintain Lambeth Palace's five star 'Scores on the Doors' council rating. Maintain and develop a positive and collaborative relationship with all colleagues, giving direction when necessary. Ensure that kitchen timesheets are completed and submitted in a timely manner. Working within the HSE guidelines, the Senior Sous Chef will support the Executive Head Chef to ensure allergen training is provided to all hospitality staff. To ensure that food waste is minimised and Lambeth Palace's sustainability targets are met reducing our environmental impact. To deputise for the Executive Head Chef in their absence. Working with the Executive Head Chef on menu development, to plan nutritious and varied seasonal menus, taking into account special dietary requirements and the seasons of the Church. Ensure that kitchen stock levels are maintained, rotated where appropriate, and that any need for replenishment is identified. Maintain kitchen equipment inventories, and reporting shortages, damage or required replacements in a timely manner. To conduct daily briefings with any additional or agency kitchen staff, ensuring they understand what is required of them, as well as the desired quality and production output for the day. To work closely with the wider Lambeth Palace hospitality team to ensure that we remain competitive and in line with current trends. Essential Qualifications/Skills NVQ Level 3 or equivalent Food hygiene management experience (COSHH, HACCP). Allergen Training Knowledge/Experience Considerable experience operating different sections within the kitchen including pastry & baking. Experience in delivering fine-dining and banqueting catering. Skills & Abilities A 'can-do' attitude and an aptitude for solving problems as they arise. Ability to remain calm under pressure. Demonstrable experience cooking a mixture of 'high-end' à la carte food and home cooking, as required. Considerable experience with catering for events up to 500 guests. Experience of baking to a high standard. Excellent communication skills, both oral and written. Self-motivated with the ability to motivate others. A confident, helpful personality and professional representative for Lambeth Palace. A keen eye for detail and anticipating other people's needs. Personal Attributes Able to work flexibly, particularly evenings and occasional weekends. A sympathy with and interest in the Archbishop of Canterbury's ministry. Ability to support a culture of pride, ownership and desire to exceed expectation. Ability to foster a culture of flexibility. Ability to respond quickly and positively to changing requirements whether within the department or outside in order to meet demands and guest service needs. Discreet with the awareness and emotional intelligence to adapt working style and approach in different situations. This post is subject to a basic DBS check. Desirable Skills/Aptitudes The post holder should have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office for day-to-day office administration. First Aid qualification Closing date for applications is Sunday 18 March at 23:55 pm.

The Personal Assistant (Diary & Events) works closely with the Bishops, the Bishop's Chaplain & Executive Assistant and the Finance & Associate PA. The post-holder will need to have (or be able to quickly develop) a thorough knowledge of the many facets of a Bishop's roles, the workings of the Diocese of Liverpool and the Church of England more widely. As well as having excellent organisational, administrative and diary management skills, the post-holder must have the capacity to respond quickly often working independently and calmly to rapidly changing circumstances and effectively manage competing demands. This role demands initiative, discretion and creativity. It is ideal for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment, is passionate about the Church's mission, and is confident in managing both strategic and operational responsibilities. It requires someone who is proactive and can organise their work so that they are one step ahead in order to anticipate issues and influence positive outcomes. The post holder will also be an excellent communicator, able to handle difficult conversations and be highly collaborative in order to build highly effective working relationships with a wide range of individuals and organisations. The role will be primarily based at Bishop's Lodge, Woolton Park, Liverpool. There is a requirement to be flexible and, on occasion, to work from the diocesan office at St James' House. These relationships will be vital as everyone in the bishop's office must have a good awareness of each other's work and the capacity to allocate tasks and support each other's workstreams according to the particular demands. Holidays must be agreed between staff to ensure that the office is well staffed. The PA (Diary & Events) will not normally be away from the Office or on holiday at the same time as the Finance & Associate PA. Any given day is varied and therefore likely to produce a range of demands both foreseen and unforeseen; the Personal Assistant needs the flexibility and initiative to respond appropriately as and when matters arise. The following are, however, the focal responsibilities of the role: Diary Management Working with the Bishop's Chaplain & Executive Assistant, to have overall responsibility to plan, organise and coordinate all elements of the day-to-day diary management for the bishops and the Bishop's Chaplain. This includes but is not limited to: Book, manage and adjust appointments, engagements and meetings. Organise the diary and schedule the bishops' day in a way that enables and sustains their ministries. Take the lead on making travel and accommodation arrangements Ensure the bishops have all necessary paperwork or information in advance of meetings or engagements Liaise with parishes, clergy and all key stakeholders both internal and external where required. Be pro-active in drafting appropriate responses to all requests and invitations. Protect the bishop's diary by setting criteria to manage all diary demands including pushing back on requests to ensure that the number of commitments is sustainable. Administrative and operational support Managing the administration for Readers in the diocese including liaising with the Diocesan Team and the Warden of Readers. From time to time as and when required to serve as clerk to the meetings held by the bishops and to take notes, co-ordinate agendas, actions and follow-ups. Oversee the maintenance of the Clergy Personal Files ensuring that they are up to date and stored and organised correctly. Collaborate with the Bishops' Chaplain & Executive Assistant and other members of the team to provide administrative support to enable the smooth running of the Bishop's Office and is also crucial to the Bishops' work. Develop and maintain highly effective electronic and paper filing systems, data, databases, and other records storage in line with Safeguarding and GDPR principles. Undertake other appropriate duties as commensurate with the role as requested by the Bishop Event management Lead on planning and delivery of events, both large and small, hosted by or involving the bishops as required and share in welcoming visitors to the Bishop's Office. Plan, coordinate and manage logistics, invitations, guest communications and event materials, liaising with both internal and external contacts and be the lead contact for such events. Ensure events reflect the bishops' priorities and are delivered with professionalism and warmth. Developing and maintaining relationships Build excellent working relationships with all those with whom the Bishops come into contact by responding to a wide range of enquiries in a warm and friendly manner, either in person or by directing enquirers to the appropriate sources of information. Establish, maintain and improve ways of working and consistent information flow, including liaising with the bishops' staff, Diocesan Offices, other bishops, external civic contacts, dioceses and clergy nationally; the Bishoprics and Church Commissioners. Skills/Aptitudes Demonstrates thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a very high standard. Efficient and quick at dealing with requests. Ability to handle confidential information and to act with discretion Able to work flexibly, both in terms of time and responsibilities Content to work to the bishop's agenda, adjusting work style to the Bishop's preferences and requirements. Ability to organise own workload, to set priorities and to work to deadlines Ability to show initiative and creativity and to work without direct supervision IT proficiency, including Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel Strong communication skills, both oral and written including excellent report writing skills. Ability to work effectively as part of a team. Experience Significant demonstrable experience as a highly performing administrator/personal assistant/diary manager in working with senior members of staff Demonstrable experience of providing Personal Assistant/Diary support to senior staff Proven interpersonal skills with the ability to quickly establish and maintain excellent working relationships with officers/post holders and other key stakeholder groups Proven stakeholder management skills to manage competing demands. Experience of managing expectations, conflicts and difficult conversations whilst maintaining productive working relationships. Familiarity with the Church of England's structures and mission Personal attributes Ability to work calmly under pressure and solve problems efficiently and effectively Calm, confident and adaptable under pressure Self-movitated, punctual and organised Compassionate and patient To be a person in sympathy with the mission and ethos of the Christian Church, the Church of England and the Diocese of Liverpool The closing date for applications is 26 February 2026 at 23:55 pm.