St Paul's Church Ansdell and Fairhaven

Who we are

We are a friendly Church of England church on the beautiful Fylde cost.

Our culture and values

We are a Church of England Church serving the Parish of Ansdell and Fairhaven.

Our identity: ‘By God’s grace, we seek to be a loving family of wholehearted disciples making other disciples.’

This identity is founded in our faith in Jesus and feeds our mission, ministry, values and behaviour. Our motivation comes from Christ’s love compelling us and is therefore rooted in our faith in Christ. 

Our faith:   

The ultimate source of authority for our faith is the Bible. As a Church of England Church, our beliefs are those “revealed in the holy scriptures and set forth in the catholic creeds, and to which historic formularies of the Church of England bear witness”.

This faith centres on God’s underserved love in Jesus Christ. This grace forgives us, restores us to a right relationship with God, continues to change us to live Jesus’ way in all of life, and sends us out to tell the world about him. It leads us to express Christ's love to those we serve outside the church and reflect it in our relationships with one another.

Our values and behaviours:     

In line with our identity and faith, we seek to reflect Jesus by living out the following values and behaviours in all areas of church life, including among our trustees, staff and volunteers:

·         Care – We put the needs of others central and serve generously and willingly.

·         Humility – We listen well, welcome appropriate challenge, learn from our mistakes and seek help when it is needed.

·         Respect – We treat one another with kindness, respect and love.

·         Integrity – We are truthful, trustworthy and open in our dealings with one another

·         Stewardship – We use St Paul's resources wisely and take responsibility for what has been entrusted to us.

·         Truth – We address difficult issues honestly and constructively, listening with grace and seeking reconciliation.

Our identity, which essentially comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ, means that for many of our positions (paid and voluntary) it is a genuine occupational requirement that they are filled by committed Christians. To this end, we expect those in such positions to act in good faith, with loyalty to this ethos and to Christian standards of behaviour as taught in Church of England doctrine.

All staff and volunteers must understand and express sympathy with the Christian ethos, mission and ministry of St Pauls and do nothing that would be seen to undermine it.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

All people are made in the image of God and so are valuable and to be valued. The Parochial Church Council of Fairhaven and Ansdell St Paul (the PCC) is a Christian organisation which recognises its obligations under equality legislation and is committed to equality in all aspects of employment, volunteering opportunities and the provision of services.

Notwithstanding this commitment, the PCC also has a duty to uphold and promote its Christian ethos, mission and ministry. It therefore reserves the right to invoke the permitted exemptions under the Equality Act 2010, given its charitable status as a Church of England legal entity. Where an occupational requirement for a specific post is established, it will require the post-holder to be a committed, practising Christian of a recognised denomination.

All staff, volunteers and post holders must understand and express sympathy with the Christian ethos, mission and ministry of the PCC and do nothing that would be seen to undermine it.