	Church Manual - Introduction
	Purpose of this Document This document provides basic information about the way in which our church functions and how it meets the needs of church members and the wider community.�It is hoped that it will help us as we seek to achieve the objectives laid down in our Mission Statement. It is also envisaged that the document will be used in the future by those who take on positions of leadership within the church to help them understand how they fit into the overall picture. The manual is reviewed from time to time and updated as necessary. The Parish Setting Hazel Grove lies some 9 miles south of Manchester. The original village is now surrounded by housing estates and the population is around 19,000. 85% of the houses are owner occupied, there are also some council houses and some privately rented homes. Many people commute daily into Stockport and Manchester, but there are some small factories and an industrial estate within the parish. Shops lie along either side of the extremely busy A6 which runs through the centre of the parish. There are six primary schools (including two RC schools) and one high school. There is a community centre, a youth centre, several nursing homes and low rise blocks of flats for the elderly (with wardens). Norbury Church is situated on the A6 near its junction with the A523. There are six other places of worship. Norbury Church The church, a Grade 2 listed building, was consecrated on 2nd July 1834. It was extended in 1925 by the addition of the present chancel and, in more recent times, following the closure of the church school, rooms have been added to the west end of the building. Over the years there have been several changes made to the interior of the building. A further re-ordering took place at the beginning of 2002, primarily to give more flexibility in worship. The church is surrounded by a churchyard of approximately 4.5 acres. The churchyard is open for new burials, which means that the church still has the responsibility for maintenance. Land adjacent to the churchyard serves as a car park. The vicarage, at 75 Chester Road is some distance from the church as is the Curate's house at 27 Davenport Road. The church owns land in School Street on which the Scout Hut stands and also land off Chester Road used as playing fields. Norbury Parish Church is part of the Chadkirk Deanery in the Archdeaconry of Macclesfield in the Diocese of Chester in the Province of York. Worship Tradition This is middle of the road/evangelical. The Sunday pattern of worship includes at least three services. At 8:30am there is a service of Holy Communion from either the Book of Common Prayer or Common Worship. At 10:15 there are two or three of Holy Communion services from Common Worship, a service of Morning Worship from Common Worship and an all age parade service each month. At 6:30pm there is a range of informal services. Once a month there is a sung evensong service from the Book of Common Prayer at 4pm. There is a midweek service of Holy Communion (BCP) each Wednesday morning except August and a twice monthly Tuesday evening service has recently been introduced. Music for leading worship is provided either by an organist and a robed choir or by a pianist and other instrumentalists and unrobed singers. Hymn books used are Hymns for Today's church and Mission Praise. We emphasise healing, through listening and prayer. Some acts of worship focus on this. The average number of adults attending Sunday Services is about 260 and the Wednesday average is 25. Electoral Roll There are approximately 430 on the electoral roll. Young People's Activities Approximately 100 children and young people attend CYPECS groups. Scramblers, Climbers, Explorers meet during the 10.15 am service, Pathfinders at 6.30 pm and CYFA at 7:45pm on Sunday evenings. The Church Lads and Girls Brigade meets on Friday evenings. There are also Scout and Guide Groups. Church Staff At present the paid staff consist of the vicar, an assistant minister (part time), a curate and a youth worker (part time). Three lay readers and one parish worker provide unpaid assistance. The paid verger/sexton works full time and is aided by part time assistants. Administrative Staff Property and churchyard management is carried out by the part-time Property Manager. Secretarial and administrative work is carried out by the part-time Parish secretary. The total paid time averages 30 hours per week. Occasional Offices In 2000 these were as follows: Baptisms: 56 Thanksgivings: 25 Marriages: 27 Funerals: 112 Confirmations were as follows 1999: 5 adults and 5 young people 2000: 11 adults and 7 young people 2001: 11 adults and 6 young people Ecumenical Relationships Norbury Church is a member of Churches Together in Hazel Grove and is in a covenant relationship with three of the other denominations.
	Norbury Parish Church, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire. Telephone: 0161-483 6325

Church Manual - Introduction

Purpose of this Document

This document provides basic information about the way in which our church functions and how it meets the needs of church members and the wider community.�It is hoped that it will help us as we seek to achieve the objectives laid down in our Mission Statement.

It is also envisaged that the document will be used in the future by those who take on positions of leadership within the church to help them understand how they fit into the overall picture.

The manual is reviewed from time to time and updated as necessary.

The Parish Setting

Hazel Grove lies some 9 miles south of Manchester. The original village is now surrounded by housing estates and the population is around 19,000. 85% of the houses are owner occupied, there are also some council houses and some privately rented homes. Many people commute daily into Stockport and Manchester, but there are some small factories and an industrial estate within the parish.

Shops lie along either side of the extremely busy A6 which runs through the centre of the parish. There are six primary schools (including two RC schools) and one high school. There is a community centre, a youth centre, several nursing homes and low rise blocks of flats for the elderly (with wardens). Norbury Church is situated on the A6 near its junction with the A523. There are six other places of worship.

Norbury Church

The church, a Grade 2 listed building, was consecrated on 2nd July 1834. It was extended in 1925 by the addition of the present chancel and, in more recent times, following the closure of the church school, rooms have been added to the west end of the building. Over the years there have been several changes made to the interior of the building. A further re-ordering took place at the beginning of 2002, primarily to give more flexibility in worship.

The church is surrounded by a churchyard of approximately 4.5 acres. The churchyard is open for new burials, which means that the church still has the responsibility for maintenance. Land adjacent to the churchyard serves as a car park.

The vicarage, at 75 Chester Road is some distance from the church as is the Curate's house at 27 Davenport Road. The church owns land in School Street on which the Scout Hut stands and also land off Chester Road used as playing fields.

Norbury Parish Church is part of the Chadkirk Deanery in the Archdeaconry of Macclesfield in the Diocese of Chester in the Province of York.

Worship Tradition

This is middle of the road/evangelical. The Sunday pattern of worship includes at least three services. At 8:30am there is a service of Holy Communion from either the Book of Common Prayer or Common Worship. At 10:15 there are two or three of Holy Communion services from Common Worship, a service of Morning Worship from Common Worship and an all age parade service each month. At 6:30pm there is a range of informal services. Once a month there is a sung evensong service from the Book of Common Prayer at 4pm.

There is a midweek service of Holy Communion (BCP) each Wednesday morning except August and a twice monthly Tuesday evening service has recently been introduced.

Music for leading worship is provided either by an organist and a robed choir or by a pianist and other instrumentalists and unrobed singers. Hymn books used are Hymns for Today's church and Mission Praise.

We emphasise healing, through listening and prayer. Some acts of worship focus on this.

The average number of adults attending Sunday Services is about 260 and the Wednesday average is 25.

Electoral Roll

There are approximately 430 on the electoral roll.

Young People's Activities

Approximately 100 children and young people attend CYPECS groups. Scramblers, Climbers, Explorers meet during the 10.15 am service, Pathfinders at 6.30 pm and CYFA at 7:45pm on Sunday evenings. The Church Lads and Girls Brigade meets on Friday evenings. There are also Scout and Guide Groups.

Church Staff

At present the paid staff consist of the vicar, an assistant minister (part time), a curate and a youth worker (part time). Three lay readers and one parish worker provide unpaid assistance. The paid verger/sexton works full time and is aided by part time assistants.

Administrative Staff

Property and churchyard management is carried out by the part-time Property Manager. Secretarial and administrative work is carried out by the part-time Parish secretary. The total paid time averages 30 hours per week.

Occasional Offices

In 2000 these were as follows:

Baptisms: 56
Thanksgivings: 25
Marriages: 27
Funerals: 112

Confirmations were as follows

1999: 5 adults and 5 young people
2000: 11 adults and 7 young people
2001: 11 adults and 6 young people

Ecumenical Relationships

Norbury Church is a member of Churches Together in Hazel Grove and is in a covenant relationship with three of the other denominations.