Chasetown St Annes

• St Anne’s Chasetown is part of the Burntwood Chase Benefice which also includes
• St John the Baptist Hammerwich
• St John’s Community Church Chase Terrace
• Christ Church Burntwood

There are good relationships between all the churches in the team

Training Incumbent
The Revd Richard Westwood

Trained: St John's Nottingham. Deaconed: 2004

Richard is married to Rose and they have four adult children.

Before ordination Richard was a secondary school teacher for 16 years. He is keen for the church to grow its work amongst children, families and young people.

Richard believes in the importance of community partnerships in mission and helps to lead Burntwood be a Friend, a community mutual aid charity in Burntwood. Richard also works with Link for Life Project to help local young people partner with communities in southern Africa

The context

Chasetown has a strong community identity, built upon its proud mining heritage from the 19th and 20th centuries. It is a good place to live and work with Chasewater Country Park nearby. However, like many former industrial areas it has its challenges. Within the community there are pockets of deprivation and some people face real hardships in their lives. Issues include relationships and isolation, wellbeing and mental health or simply making ends meet.

St Anne’s is learning to minister in this context and has developed excellent community links and partnerships. A good example is Burntwood Be A Friend, which started in Covid 19, has adapted as needs have changed and is now based at St Anne’s. St Anne’s is a welcoming and kind church. It is also busy community-based hub with activities taking place in the church building each week. St Anne’s has been a supportive church family for previous curates and a curacy here would give good experience to anyone who hopes to lead churches in community partnership and mission.

Our Sunday worship is varied (including a Café Church) and involves a wide range of people with a strong emphasis on every member ministry. St Anne’s seeks to make of disciples of Jesus whilst partnering with the local community in social concern and action. Like many churches, most of St Anne’s members are retired and so a key challenge for the church is to reach the next generation with the good news of Jesus. Our Mission Statement is … ‘St Anne’s Church is called by God to be … an inclusive church, filled with love and trust in Jesus, which listens to and serves the different people who live and work in Chasetown. We seek to nurture faith, offering hope, help and God’s unconditional welcome to all’

Mission statistics (2024)