Recruiting a Pioneer Priest

This page last updated on 28th March 2024

Update on the appointment: Revd Vanessa was Licesnsed by Rt Revd Paul Ferguson, Bishop of Whitby, in a service at Stainton Church at 2.30pm on Palm Sunday, 24th March 2024

Bishop Paul addressing the congregation             Bishop Paul reading the formal Licence to Vanessa

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Appointment of our new Pioneer Priest

The following announcement was made at the services in each of our three Churches on Sunday 17th December 2023.

The Bishop of Whitby, the Rt Revd Paul Ferguson, wishes to inform you of the appointment of the Reverend Vanessa Kirby as Interim Pioneer Priest of the Benefice of Brookfield and the Benefice of Stainton with Hemlington and Hilton

Vanessa was ordained priest in the Diocese of York in 2021.

She currently serves as Assistant Curate in the Benefice of Middlesbrough St Oswald and St Chad and additionally acts as a mentor for the "Stepping Up, Mustard Seed" programme encouraging people to become Community Ministers in their local churches.

Prior to ordination, Vanessa worked as a Project Worker for Together Middlesbrough and Cleveland, seeing at first hand how local agencies, keen to work alongside churches, can enable both to make a positive impact on the lives of people in the community.  Her prior ministry with the Church Army also included working with vulnerable women in Sheffield. She has continued this ministry into her curacy through her role as Trustee of the "Rubies" charity in Middlesbrough which supports girls in Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland.

A date for moving and the service to mark the beginning of Vanessa's ministry amongst us will be announced at a later date.

A personal message from me [Bishop Paul]:

‘Vanessa has a pioneer heart and a deep desire to build relationships which see people transformed by Jesus.  She will bring a wealth of experience to this new ministry encompassing new and inherited models.  I am delighted that she will be joining us in the Deanery of Stokesley.  I am sure that the people of the parishes will enjoy getting to know her and working with her.’

† Paul Whitby 

Could God be calling you to serve as our new Pioneer Priest?

The parishes of Stainton with Hemlington, Hilton and Brookfield are situated on the southern outskirts of Middlesbrough. Following significant development and growth in our communities, we are looking for a Pioneer Priest to help us see Jesus transform lives.

There are some wonderful opportunities in the Benefice and we are hoping our new Pioneer Priest will work with the incumbent to make Jesus known, with a particular focus on reaching families and young people in areas of new housing in Brookfield and Stainton.

The Plurality is newly engaged in Revitalise - a 2 year Diocesan programme seeking explicit growth - so this is a particularly exciting time in the life of the parishes.

This post is a fixed term post of 3 years initially with the possibility of an extension for a further 3 years.

You can download the "Parish Profile" for the Plurality here; and the Role Description here.

For an informal chat please contact:

Our Vicar, Revd Laura Wild (tel 01642 598 621)

The Archdeacon of Cleveland, Venerable Dr Amanda Bloor (tel: 01642 706 095) and her PA Jacqui Gunter

The Bishop of Whitby, Rt Revd Paul Ferguson (tel: 01642 593 273) and his PA Mandy Robinson

Closing Date: 09:00am Thursday 23rd November 2023

Interviews: Thursday 7th December 2023