THE RECTORS JOB DESCRIPTION

Whilst rooting around in the archives in connection with the History Project, itself triggered by St Marks Golden Jubilee, the following was discovered.

When the Reverend Symes retired in 1945 it was, of course, necessary to appoint a new rector. There is a laid down procedure for doing this, the Church of England being the highly hierarchical body that it is. There is an additional complication in connection with All Saints, as it has a patron, who also has to be consulted and agreement obtained. The following was sent to the patron as the qualities the Parish would like to see in the new Rector.

job description

According to the 1931 Census, the population of West Parley Parish was about 500. During the years just before the War there was a considerable amount of Building, and several estates were laid out ready for Building. The present Population according to A. R. P. Figures is between 900 & 1000.
The Parish is over 3 miles long, but not very wide. The Church is on the extreme South Boundary. There is no definite centre of population, but rather a spread-over on the the whole area.
It seems desirable that the Clergyman to be nominated, would be an active man, not much over 50, and able to get about easily. (Several of the Roads are only rough gravel and travel is none to easy.)
A Gentleman with Country Instincts would probably adapt himself best to the parish and one who would appreciate a good garden at the Rectory which has been very well cared for.
The Services during the present Incumbency have been quite central in character, and it is very much hoped that the new Rector would continue much on the same lines. The adjoining Parishes are of two characters :- Hampreston is definitely Evangelical, and West Moors is very Anglo-Catholic, and therefore it would seem very desirable that the present Character of West Parley should be continued, to give those who do not care for extremes a local opportunity for moderate central services.

Added in manuscript at the foot :
copy of Representation to Patron sent to him 10/5/45 on back of BERP4

As of 2007, it is believed that there is at least another 10 years before the present incumbent fulfills the job description in its entirety.

A.R.P. Figures : During the war the Government set up a volunteer organisation called Air Raid Precautions. Their duties were to patrol their allocated area to ensure the blackout was being observed i.e. no house was showing a light. They also had duties in reporting damage and casualties as a result of bombing and therefore kept a record of the numbers of people in their area, which were collated for a larger area hence the reference "according to ARP figures".