This is a parish profile for Castle Church, Stafford. My name is Philip Sowerbutts and I’ve been the Vicar of Castle Church for almost 19 years. Here’s a few introductory things:
If none of this scares you off, then do browse around and see whether you think this would be a suitable place for you to serve your Curacy.
Philip
Philip is married to Claire and they have two grown up children. Before ordained ministry he was Deputy Head of a Primary School. He trained for ministry at Oak Hill Theological College and served his Curacy at St Andrew’s, Kirk Ella in East Yorkshire. Philip has previously taught music and spirituality at Oak Hill and now is also on the team of Keswick Ministries working as their Historian and Archivist. Philip has also been a speaker at the Keswick Convention. His hobbies are mainly centred around music, he owns a retro Vinyl Juke Box a Recording studio set up where he occasionally writes music to commission and produces other artists.
Philip has a long track record in competency based training having worked as a Teacher Training Tutor for St Martin’s Lancaster and has trained several Curates and Ministry Trainees.
Castle Church is a Conservative Evangelical Anglican Church on the western side of Stafford, the county town of Staffordshire. Castle Church has strong links with the ReNew Network and Church Society. [The Associate Director Of Church Society is a member of the church family.]
The church family has a membership of around 120 with an ASA of around 90-100 with representation of every age, social class and background. The church family is regarded as a very warm caring community who genuinely love each other (and their ministers!) During term time we have a small number of students from Harper Adams University, mainly veterinary and agricultural students. We also support the UCCF CU practically and Philip is on their list of regular speakers.
Although unashamedly Anglican, being the only Reformed Conservative Evangelical Church in Stafford, Castle Church attracts people from many other denominational backgrounds including FIEC, Baptist, Presbyterian and Brethren.
On Sundays, the corporate worship style takes place in the Church Hall. It is relaxed and music is led by a music group. Words and liturgy are on two big screens. The main service is at 10.30am and is repeated on a much smaller scale at 5pm. The Lord’s Table is alternated between 10.30am and 5pm each week. The 10.30 service is Livestreamed on Youtube and Facebook with a multi-camera feed. Examples can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@castlechurchstafford/streams
On alternate Tuesdays we have a Midweek BCP Service Of Holy Communion. In the summer months we use our old Victorian Building.
The teaching ministry is systematic expository with occasional thematic and/or doctrinal series. There are several midweek home groups of different styles and a monthly prayer meeting. A Sunday School meets every Sunday where the children leave for their groups after around 20-25 minutes. Regular Christianity & Life Explored Courses are run.
Castle Church has a big online presence on all the major Social Media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & Youtube.
Castle Church is in partnership with OMF Missionaries Tom & Jasmine Heaton serving in Vietnam. We also support a self-supporting Pastor and his wife, Illie & Rita Razouk, working in Beirut.
What is Castle Church parish like?
Castle Church parish has an extremely broad and diverse parish demographic, based around 4 areas.
What is Castle Church parish like?
Castle Church parish has an extremely broad and diverse parish demographic, based around 4 areas.
Highfields Estate
Highfields is the largest area of the parish and contains a large number of social housing homes including 2 major sheltered accommodation complexes. It is generally regarded as an area that has significant social problems. There is a small number of shops. 3 of our 4 schools are on Highfields.
Rowley Park
Rowley Park is a gated private estate. It contains large detached properties owned by wealthy professionals or retired professionals.
Castlefields & Western Downs
Castlefields & Western Downs are both suburban housing estates comprising of a small number of larger homes and a greater number of starter homes. Western Downs also contains a large sheltered accommodation complex, Oxleathers Court. Castlefields is also home to a health centre and a McCarthy Stone Complex.
A518
On the eastern side of the parish is the A518, one of the main artery roads into Stafford and out towards Telford. The church buildings and Castle are on this road and it contains significant housing, ranging from large expensive houses through to smaller houses on tiny housing estates.
Burleyfields Development
Work is well established on a new 3000 home estate in the parish which will take the parish population up to around 24-25,000.
The Castle Church Family has members from each of these four areas and a significant number who commute in.
Future Plans
Because we are outgrowing our facilities and so much new housing development is planned in our parish, Castle Church is in the process of submitting planning permission for a new major extension to the church hall comprising of a new worship centre. This is known as “The King & Castle Project”.
Although a reasonably small town (population 65,000), Stafford is surrounded by three major cities; Stoke-On-Trent, 18 miles to the north, Wolverhampton 14 miles to the south west and Birmingham 25 miles to the south east. The town sits between Junction 13 and 14 of the M6. New housing developments (including a significant number in Castle Church Parish) will bring the population up to 90,000 by 2030.
Stafford is on the edge of the Peak District to the east and Cannock Chase to the South. The famous Shugborough Hall, home of Lord Lichfield is on the outskirts of Stafford.
Stafford town Centre is full of character containing some very old buildings including the ancient High House and the Shire Hall. Stafford has a major railway station on the West Coast Line and London Euston is 1 hour and 15 minutes away by train.
The Castle Church Parish sits on the Western side of Stafford and is broadly a suburban population. As the name suggests, Stafford Castle is very close by and the old church building sits within the ancient motte and bailey. The castle hollow way and marl pit are within the curtilage of the church yard. Stafford Castle is not a major tourist destination, however many larger events are held within the grounds each year. A great deal of money has been ploughed into the re-generation of the castle grounds including woodland walks and a small visitors centre telling the history of the Castle.
Victoria Park is the municipal park and has undergone extensive regeneration. It has a traditional band-stand, river running through, bowling greens, aviary, café, large children’s play area and skate park.
The Stafford Gatehouse Theatre is a thriving provincial theatre attracting some ‘big names’ to perform in the annual Shakespeare Festival in June/July and familiar names from TV on the comedy circuit.
Catherine manages all things admin for the Church.
A retired missionary minister with Intercontinental Church Society having served in France, Lithuania and Netherlands.
[Non-preaching] Chris is a retired NSM having served all of her ordained ministry at Castle Church.
Former Baptist Pastor having served in South Wales, Brighton and Scotland. Alan is an academic with his Phd in the book of Hebrews.
Val is a licensed lay reader and occasionally helps out in leading services. Married to Martin (above)
A retired minister who has served most of his ministry in Lichfield Diocese. He is a prebend of Lichfield Cathedral.
Ros is associate Director Of Church Society and teaches the Priscilla Course for Union School Of Theology. She writes of IVP and is currently writing a Commentary for Hodder on Song Of Songs (the subject of her Phd.) At Castle Church, she leads a group of women undertaking theological study and teaches occasional midweek courses.
Other Lay Leaders
Gary Roberts (Churchwarden) Retired aerospace engineer.
Rosemary Cage (Churchwarden) Retired Nurse Trainer
Catherine Morris – Church Operations Manager
There are a team of four overall Sunday School Leaders who rotate each week teaching Sunday School.
They are supported but a team of 10 rotating assistant leaders.
NOTE
All church leaders have signed documentation to state that they are orthodox in their views of Scripture including gender and sexuality.
Lichfield Diocese owns a 3-bedroom detached house on Western Downs around 10 minutes walk from the church. It has an off-road drive, converted garage for study, Kitchen diner, conservatory, decent size back garden. It is on a major bus route into town.
Lichfield Diocese is one of the largest in the country, covering an area of 1744 square miles and serving a population of more than 2 million. The Diocese consists of three episcopal areas with three Area Bishops (of Wolverhampton, Stafford and Shrewsbury) ministering alongside the Diocesan Bishop, each overseeing a different geographic area. This indicates the Diocese’s commitment to its different contexts, and to the pastoral care of our clergy.
Lichfield Diocese has everything but the sea. For walkers and climbers, there’s an extensive network of canals, Cannock Chase, The Roaches, and the Shropshire—Welsh borders (for example). If you’re into more organised fun, Alton Towers and Drayton Manor Theme Park can provide it. And then there’s many museums including Walsall’s New Art Gallery and the RAF museum at Cosford; not to mention excellent sporting options for both watching and participating – from premiership football to the Tamworth Snowdome. Along with Wedgwood, theatres and cinemas, restaurants and superb tea shops just begging to be discovered…
Castle Church has strong links with the Diocesan Conference & Retreat Centre, Shallowford House. Several of the church family work there either full or part time. The church family use the house for church mini-breaks and weekends.
