Information for Parishioners
Last year, Bishop Richard Moth published a Diocesan Pastoral Plan:
`The Word Who is Life: The Call to Mission‘, which outlined proposed changes to the structure of our parishes. This leaflet explains what to expect as we implement these plans.
Our Mission
We are a family of churches that welcome everyone
and work together in Christ to build a strong community
of Catholic faithful, who are rooted in prayer
and empowered by the Holy Spirit,
so that we can live out God’s call to proclaim
the Good News to all, today and tomorrow.
“The parish is the presence of the Church in a given territory, an environment for hearing God’s Word, for growth in the Christian Life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship and celebration…It is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey and a centre of constant missionary outreach.”
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel #28)
The establishment of a new Parish of North West Sussex
Why is this taking place?
Given the falling number of ordained priests, in order to continue to carry out our mission effectively we must adapt our structures and better support our clergy.
Bishop Richard’s hope is that by linking our existing communities in one new ‘canonical parish’, we can create more integrated, collaborative and flexible ways of working across the seven church communities in our current deanery.
The current Deanery of Crawley is set to become a new canonical parish which includes the churches of:
- St. Francis & St. Anthony, Crawley
- St. Bernadette, Crawley
- Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Crawley
- St. Edward the Confessor, Crawley
- St. Theodore of Canterbury, Crawley
- Christ the Lord, Crawley
- St. Gabriel, Billingshurst
- Our Lady & St. Peter, East Grinstead
- Corpus Christi, Henfield
- English Martyrs, Horley
- St. John the Evangelist, Horsham
- St. Bernard, Lingfield
- Our Lady of Consolation & St. Francis, West Grinstead
- The Abbey of Our Lady Help of Christians, Worth
The name of the new parish has yet to be chosen by Bishop Richard.
This transition represents:
- Greater pastoral cooperation among our church communities, with a shared identity rooted in prayer and worship.
- A freeing up of clergy to focus on their responsibilities to preach the Word, celebrate the Sacraments and provide pastoral care by rationalising administrative demands.
- Providing formation and training, so to enable all our people to engage in the local mission as baptised members of the church.
As the Bishop says:
“…it will give us the flexibility to respond to current challenges in a way that is resilient, sustainable and adaptable. Without such a bold step, the pressure on the priests that
we do have will become impossible for them to bear.”
What will happen?
For the most part, the familiar rhythms of church life will continue, albeit with adjustments. Inevitably, change can be challenging. So it is important that, as plans are developed, we continue to listen to and support each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. On the road ahead, let us remember the purpose of Bishop Richard’s plan and of all that we undertake together:
“I invite everyone in the Diocese to join with me in forging our parishes into communities of saints, into strong, lively and welcoming schools of discipleship.”
Bishop Richard Moth
- Our priests will continue their work, living in the same house, with the same administrative support.
- Bishop Richard has appointed Canon Tim Madeley to serve as Moderator for the new parish.
- As Moderator, Canon Tim will lead the clergy and a dedicated Leadership Team, ensuring the vision of the pastoral plan meets local needs and priorities.
- Individual church names will remain the same.
- There is no immediate effect on the use of our buildings.
Priests will continue to celebrate the Eucharist and the other sacraments, but the greater sharing of pastoral ministry should enable priests to call more easily on each others’ expertise and to allow priests with particular gifts to share them more readily across the local Church in order to support our mission. Our deacons also will continue to officiate at baptisms, weddings and funerals as far as they are able and do other
tasks as and when needed in the new parish. Having a strong sense of fraternity and a shared vision should be a real support to our clergy as they support the lay faithful in living out their calling.
What has happened so far?
- The clergy have come together prayed and started to outline a structure and plan. They have met and shared out responsibilities in the new parish.
- Areas that can start to benefit from mutual support have been identified Including schools, care of the poor and sick, sacramental preparation.
- Clergy and heads of the individual parish finance committees have met to discuss the future with Sarah Kilmartin, Chief Operating Officer of the Diocese.
- The individual churches have been divided into two geographical hubs:
Horsham Hub
- St. John the Evangelist, Horsham
- Corpus Christi, Henfield
- St. Gabriel, Billingshurst
- Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation & St. Francis, West Grinstead
Crawley Hub
- St. Francis & St. Anthony, Crawley
- St. Bernadette, Tilgate
- Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Langley Green
- St. Edward the Confessor, Pound Hill
- Christ the Lord, Broadfield
- St. Theodore of Canterbury, Gossops Green
- Our Lady & St. Peter, East Grinstead
- English Martyrs, Horley
- St. Bernard, Lingfield
- The Abbey of Our Lady Help of Christians, Worth
What will happen next?
- A leadership team made up of clergy and parishioners will be established.
- A proposal will be sent to the Council of Priests, in October 2025, to establish the new parish.
- A new finance committee will be established on the erection of the new parish and existing finance committees will continue as ‘Stewardship Committees’.
- A new enhanced website will be developed using a platform proposed by the Diocese, alongside other communication and data-management tools.
Can you help? Do you have questions?
- Talk to your parish priest
- Email the moderator of the new parish: tim.madeley@abdiocese.org.uk
- Send representatives to attend a Deanery Congress on Saturday 18th October
