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The Diocese of
Monmouth

PART TWO: DEANERY MISSION PLANS

2.8 Newport
(Allocated 11 stipends)

“The Deanery of Newport commits itself to being a vital witness and presence in the City to the glory of God. We seek by our common life to be a sign of God's kingdom and a spiritual home for all. We aim to reach out with the good news of Jesus Christ that by the power of the Holy Spirit, God's Church may be a transforming presence in the city. We base our vision on God's promises—John 15:5; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8 and 1 Corinthians 12:27.”

The deanery set out five aims.

  1. We commit ourselves to the primary goal of spreading the Gospel and bringing new members into the Body of Christ .

  2. We commit ourselves to unity and the expression of diversity in worship and traditions across the deanery and in local variations.

  3. We commit ourselves to releasing all the gifts of all God's people within his church.

  4. We commit ourselves to the local church as the primary vehicle for mission and discipleship.

  5. We commit ourselves to the Anglican aim of serving a parish community.

The Mission Plan shows a particular concern for mission to very large post-war housing estates with the appointment of a stipendiary youth and community worker at Alway funded by other parishes in the deanery. There is support for the Youth Church based at St. Paul's, and closer co-operation in youth work is envisaged in the parishes of St. Julian's and Maindee in a desire to break down parish boundaries and share resources.

It is the intention to set up a deanery planning group to consider innovative mission ideas. In the meantime each parish is devising its own mission plan.

The special ministry of the Cathedral is acknowledged in the Mission Plan, as is a city-centre chaplain and university chaplain. The three parishes of St. Mark, St. Paul and All Saints have agreed in principle to come together to form a cluster in Central Newport. With the proposed developments in the City of Newport, there needs to be ongoing consultation between diocesan staff and the deanery.

There is a commitment to continue sharing Sunday Evening services, one in each half of the deanery, to provide a variety of worship with larger congregations.

Three extra-parochial posts funded by the Diocese were identified; the Dean of the Cathedral, a Residentiary Canon and the post based at St. Paul's. The Parishes of Malpas, Maindee, Caerleon and St. Woolos were considered suitable for the training of curates.

The proposed new benefice structure is:
Bettws and Malpas (2 stipends)
All Saints, St. Mark's, St. Paul's (1 stipend)
St. Stephen and St. Teilo (1 stipend)
Maesglas and Duffryn (1 stipend)
Cathedral and St. John Baptist (1 stipend)
Christchurch (1 stipend)
SS. Julius and Aaron (1 stipend)
Maindee with St. Matthew (1 stipend)
Lliswerry (1 stipend)
Caerleon with Llanhennock and Llanfrechfa (1 stipend).