The 5folds Benefice is part of the North
Stowe Deanery and, in common with many parts of Cambridgeshire, is growing
fast.
The Deanery is made up of 13 rural villages
and includes Northstowe - a rapidly growing new town. It is led by the Rural
Dean, the Revd Canon James Blandford-Baker and has six full-time and two
part-time stipendiary clergy, together with Self-supporting Ministers, retired
clergy, Readers (known in the Diocese of Ely as Licensed Lay Ministers) and
several Authorised Lay Ministers.
Pastoral reorganisation in 2016 brought
together the villages of Longstanton, Over, Swavesey, Willingham and Lolworth.
However, it quickly became clear that the geographical location of Lolworth, to
the south of the A14, meant it was better aligned with the Papworth Benefice.
In 2018 the new town development of Northstowe was added into the 5folds
Benefice but see the paragraph below about this. In 2021 the 5folds Benefice
was legally constituted.
The recently agreed Deanery Pastoral Plan
continues to provide for two full-time stipendiary clergy posts to support the
four village churches in the 5folds Benefice.
Northstowe Northstowe is not yet a parish
in its own right and the Pathfinder Church which meets there is currently run
under a Bishop’s Mission Order and will not form any part of the Team Rector’s
responsibilities.
