PART TWO: DEANERY MISSION PLANS

2.3 Bassaleg Deanery
(Allocated 9 stipends)

Like other deaneries, Bassaleg saw its primary task as a search for a way forward in mission and to put in place a structure and pattern of ministry that would serve that task. The plan they submitted was seen as the first part of a two-part Deanery Mission Plan. The idea was that the agreed groupings should work together to build relationships and to come forward with their own mission plan out of which a firmer Deanery Mission Plan could then be devised. This process they said “..will allow us to see how parishes will naturally relate to one another and where co-operation in mission will be most fruitful”.

The Deanery has produced statistics for each benefice with an age profile for each church. They attempted to set out how many stipendiary, NSM priests and Deacons and Readers they would require to pursue the mission of the Church in their area. In response to the deanery plan it was suggested that the parishes of Marshfield with St Bride’s should have a house-for-duty priest.

Serious thought was given to boundaries with other deaneries and the neighbouring diocese of Llandaff. This eventually resulted in the agreement to transfer the Parish of Risca to the deanery of Bedwellty. The parishes of Cyncoed, Llanrumney, St. Mellons and Rumney expressed a preference for being in a deanery with other Cardiff parishes. If diocesan structures are reviewed, consideration should be given to the parishes of Bedwas with Rudry and Machen becoming part of the Caerphilly deanery. The remaining parishes in the Bassaleg deanery would then need to be added to the Newport deanery.

The Deanery also raised the matter of which parishes should be identified or regarded as suitable ‘training’ parishes.

Proposed Benefice Structure & allocation of Stipendiary clergy, NSMs and Readers