St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane Charity No: SC017654 Diocesan Profile 2017 The Seven diocese of the Scottish Episcopal Church P a g e 2 | 56 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 4 HISTORY OF THE UNITED DIOCESE 5 LOCATION OF CHARGES 6 OPERATIONAL ORGANISATION 7 MISSION AND MINISTRY 9 STATISTICAL DIGEST 12 ROLES WITHIN THE DIOCESE 15 CONGREGATIONAL PROFILES 18 PRIVATE CHAPELS IN THE DIOCESE 54 EPISCOPAL SCHOOLS 55 CHAPLAINCIES IN THE DIOCESE 55 ST FILLAN’S CAVE, PITTENWEEM 56 P a g e 3 | 56 INTRODUCTION The Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane serves a diverse range of rural and urban communities from Perthshire to Fife and from Clackmannan to the Trossachs. It is at the heart of Scotland, and it is central for communications not only to Edinburgh and Glasgow but across the country. The Central Belt has the highest density of population in Scotland, and its growth is clear in the new housing developments and transport infrastructure in the Diocese. Cities such as Perth and Stirling have flourishing business centres, and towns in the south of Fife such as Kirkcaldy are rapidly developing into commuter bases for Edinburgh, especially with the new Queensferry Crossing over the Forth. Universities and colleges in St Andrews, Stirling, Perth and elsewhere provide another attraction to the area and enrich its cultural life. Rural areas have a significantly higher proportion of older and retired population, and are generally more prosperous than other rural parts of Scotland, with a strong tourist industry. However there is hidden poverty in both rural and urban areas of the Diocese, with challenges to both agriculture and some traditional industries that are only partly compensated for by new technology. One of the notable strengths of the Diocese is the warmth and strength of its relationships. It is blessed with widely-distributed congregations that are faithful and committed, willing to grow in faith and discipleship. Ecumenical relations are diverse and creative, and several congregations have established links with civic authorities that have borne fruit not only in corporate events but in missional partnerships. There has been a large number of new diocesan clergy and Lay Readers in the last ten years, who have formed a mutually-supportive body with notable collegiality. They are committed to the opportunities offered for ministerial development, and generally display good morale. The cohesiveness of the Diocese is evident in the way so many come together in the annual Gathering in the Cathedral, to share faith, learn new skills and enjoy one another’s company. There are many opportunities for growth and service in the Diocese, with new areas of population and an ever-increasing complexity of social need to be addressed. The re- shaping of diocesan life to prioritise mission and outreach means that the Diocese is poised to respond from a committed base that has financial stability. Acknowledging that our new bishop will want to express and share their own vision and experience, we hope that the foundation built up over recent years would continue with mission being at the forefront of diocesan life. Such an intention would not only apply to individual charges but also to the whole infrastructure of diocesan boards and committees. There remain some personnel and resource challenges in congregations, but our overall spirit is one of hopeful engagement with the task of growing God’s kingdom in this place. Provincial Website: www.scotland.anglican.org Diocesan Website: www.standrews.anglican.org P a g e 4 | 56 HISTORY OF THE UNITED DIOCESE After the Scottish Episcopal Church was disestablished in 1689, the congregations of the three dioceses, St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane, experienced varying fortunes. th In the south, along with the Forth valley, there were scattered congregations in the 18 Century from Aberfoyle to Clackmannan, all of which ceased to exist by 1800. In Strathearn and Fife, only 2 and 3 congregations respectively survived to 1800. In Perthshire and Strathmore, the pattern resembled more the neighbouring diocese of Brechin, with a greater number of congregations present. The last Archbishop of St Andrews died in 1704 and the diocesan see was vacant thereafter. It was revived in 1731, under the name of the Diocese of Fife, as were the dioceses of Dunkeld and Dunblane whose sees had both been vacant for some years. The succession of Bishops of Dunblane was not secure and the diocese was administered by Dunkeld from 1743 to 1774. A plan to unite Dunblane with Fife in 1792 did not come to fruition and in 1808 the Diocese of Dunkeld and Dunblane was formed under Bishop Torry. The Diocese of Fife was united to Dunkeld and Dunblane in 1837. The restoration of the ancient name of St Andrews led to the diocese being renamed St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane in September 1844. Nineteenth century mission activity saw the restoration of some of the congregations th which had died out during the 18 Century, such as Blairgowrie, Doune, Dunfermline and Auchterarder. New congregations sprang up in most of the main towns in the diocese and in places frequented by Anglican tourists. St Ninian’s Cathedral was th opened in 1850, the first new cathedral to be built in Scotland since the 14 century. Two congregations were transferred from the Diocese of Edinburgh: the congregation of St John’s, Alloa in 1964 and Holy Trinity, Stirling in 1991. P a g e 5 | 56 Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane: Location of Charges Kilmaveonaig (Blair Atholl) Kinloch Rannoch Ballintuim Pitlochry Kirriemuir Glamis Forfar Strathtay Alyth Blairgowrie Dunkeld Coupar Angus Killin Stanley Glenalmond Tayport Lochearnhead Comrie St John’s, St Ninian’s Newport-on-Tay Crieff Perth Cathedral, Perth All Saints’, St Andrews Muthill Cupar Auchterarder St Andrew’s, St Andrews Callander Ladybank Doune Kinross Glenrothes Pittenweem Dunblane Elie Aberfoyle Dollar Leven Bridge of Allan Lochgelly Alloa Kirkcaldy Stirling Dunfermline Rosyth P a g e 6 | 56 OPERATIONAL ORGANISATION The diocese is centred on Perth where St Ninian’s Cathedral and the Diocesan Office is situated. The Bishop’s house is in the Diocese but currently not situated in Perth. The Trustees of the diocese are the Bishop, the Dean, the Diocesan Chancellor and Diocesan Registrar. The Diocesan Secretary, Treasurer and the Convener of the Administration Board also assist in the administration of the diocese. The Standing Committee comprises the Bishop as Convener, the Dean, the Chancellor, the Registrar, the Diocesan Secretary, the Convener of the Administration Board and representatives of both lay people and clergy. The Conveners of the Mission Committee and Congregational Growth Group are in attendance. This committee acts on behalf of the Diocesan Synod and oversees the work of its pendant committees. The Administration Board is concerned with managing the administration and finances of the diocese. The Diocesan Buildings Committee is a pendant committee of this Board. The Mission Committee oversees the Casting the Net initiative, which provides the focus of the diocese in mission. The Mission Committee is served by the Congregational Growth Group, which looks after missional development in congregations; the Ministry Development Group, which is responsible for ensuring the training, support and development of clergy and Lay Readers, and the Clergy and Charges Development Group. It comprises the Bishop as Convener and the Conveners of the Congregational Growth, Ministry Development Group and Charges and Developments Group. The Convener of the Administration Board is in attendance. The diocese has recently appointed a part-time Mission Enabler Resourcer and Resourcer who will report to the Mission Committee. The Diocesan Overseas Committee supports international partnerships, especially the link with the Diocese of Calcutta. There are four Area Councils (Dunblane, Dunkeld, St Andrews East and St Andrews West). Members of each Area Council are the Clergy and Lay Representatives from the Charges within its boundary, but meetings are open to all. They meet throughout the year to share good practice and to discuss strategic issues that arise within the wider life of the Church. P a g e 7 | 56 Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane: Diocesan Structure 2013 Onwards Cathedral Chapter BISHOP Diocesan Trustees DIOCESA N SYNOD STAND ING COM MITTEE MISSION Standing Committee ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE on Boundaries BOARD COMMITTEE Buildings Diocesan Commit t e e Staff MINISTRY CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GROWTH Area Councils Overseas Committee Mission Enabler Resourcer Young Church Leaders Lay Ministries CTN Facilitators CTN Liaison Officers P a g e 8 | 56 MISSION AND MINISTRY During the last twelve years, the diocese has been on a journey of shaping for mission. That journey has been carried out under the banner of the Casting the Net initiative. Casting the Net is a holistic vision within which congregations have been encouraged to undertake strategic planning for mission. A comprehensive pattern of support and development has been provided for clergy and Lay Readers. The Gathering - an annual festival day of activity and learning - has drawn the whole diocese together in the Cathedral. Work has been done to welcome and encourage children and young people, and discipleship programmes are becoming a growing focus. THE DIOCESAN REVIEW The journey began with the Diocesan Review, a comprehensive exploration of the state of the diocese, which was completed in 2007. 331 lay people and 25 clergy completed questionnaires and there were meetings with 28 groups across the diocese. The key aspiration which the Diocesan Review revealed was that people wished to be part of a Church which was moving from decline to growth. The Diocesan Review acknowledged significant decline amounting to 15% between 1988 and 2005. Ageing membership and resource challenges revealed a Church which needed to find ways to restore spiritual vitality and establish patterns of growth. DEVELOPMENT OF CASTING THE NET Casting the Net is an initiative that grew out of the Diocesan Review, and has been refined, refocused and refreshed by regular reviews to ensure the best use of modest financial and people resources. Initially there were five Policy and Action Groups: • Congregational Development carried forward Mission Action Planning in the congregations of the diocese • Ministry and Education shaped work in ministry training and Christian education • Children and Young People helped congregations to reach out to younger members and to address the issue of congregational age profile • Charges and Groupings reviewed the deployment of clergy so as to prioritise missional opportunities • Administration sought to ensure resources for the mission and ministry of the diocese and to offer high quality administration that supported its life and relationships We have always recognised the need for a co-ordinating group - most recently called the Mission Committee. This has been responsible for overall strategic focus of Casting the Net. It has ensured internal cohesion in the initiative and prevented the P a g e 9 | 56 tendency of such movements to fragment into a number of individual projects. It has also been responsible for ensuring that the overall decision-making processes and administration of the diocese have also been consonant with the mission policy. Obvious examples of this have been the readiness of diocesan administration and budget-setting to prioritise mission. The enlarged Diocesan Standing Committee spends the first part of each meeting discussing aspects of mission in the diocese before moving to discuss more particular administrative matters. Successive reviews have refined the focus and direction of Casting the Net. At present, the initiative is supported by: Growing Congregations Group This group has developed a revised, simplified and more congregationally-based pattern of congregational mission planning. Over half the congregations in the diocese completed Mission Action Planning in its earlier form. Significant recent change in clergy leadership in our congregations suggests that this is a good time for the renewal of this work. Ministry Development Group This group oversees the support and development of our clergy and Lay Readers. We have a residential Clergy Conference each year and Study Days during the year. There is a network of Peer Support Groups, a buddy system for clergy new to the diocese and a pattern of Ministerial Review with the bishop. The Gathering The Gathering is a well-established opportunity for church members of all ages and from all corners of the diocese to get together in the Cathedral for a day in late spring or early summer. Its aim is to encourage the development of relationships as part of a warm diocesan family, to facilitate the sharing of experiences and ideas, to introduce and give an opportunity to try out new experiences and to provide inspiration and an opportunity to grow in faith. Around 150 people attended this year’s event which featured John Bell of the Iona Community who led interactive sessions on the theme ‘The Grace of Diversity’. There was also a range of workshops and prayer activities led by various congregational and diocesan groups culminating in an informal eucharist. A team of young people spent the day collecting material for ‘A Taste of the Gathering’, a film presentation to be shared with those who could not attend, whilst the children enjoyed games, crafts and all-age activities. One person described it as “A wonderful celebration of our strength in diversity”. A parent commented, “The children’s activities gave me space and time to be nourished. As a mum and a Young Church leader, looking after my own faith is a rare privilege”. Others said that it had been a very enjoyable, memorable, grace-filled day with plenty of food for thought. P a g e 10 | 56