Come Join Us
Based on the beautiful Suffolk coast, The Sole Bay Ministry serves a vibrant and welcoming community across our local churches.
We believe in working together to serve our community with compassion, faith, and purpose. Whether you're exploring a new calling, seeking a fresh challenge, or hoping to offer your skills in a meaningful way, we’re delighted you’ve found us.
Join the Sole Bay Ministry Team
On this page, you’ll find a variety of opportunities to join our team—each one playing a valuable part in the life and mission of our church. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds who share our vision and values.
Take a look through the current vacancies below, and if something feels like the right fit, we’d love to hear from you.
Team Rector and
Team Vicar posts
We're seeking both a Team Rector and Team Vicar to join The Sole Bay Ministry
Love, opportunity and talent. Three words sum up the Sole Bay Benefice.
In any of our eight churches you’ll be met by a warm and generous welcome, from people who have long cared for each other with love, kindness and acceptance. We believe that there’s a real opportunity here to sustain and share that love, to see our churches grow, and to see lives changed in our communities.
For further Information*:
Find out more about the role here »
Download the Parish Profile here »
Download the Role Description here »
*please note that these are from the 2025 advertisements.
The new profile and role descriptions are awaiting sign off and will be published at the end of April 2026.
If you would like information about either role, please contact archdeacon.rich@cofesuffolk.org.
How the process works:
The recruitment process for any clergy position is designed to allow for prayer, reflection, and consultation, so is not to be rushed, although not to be delayed unnecessarily. We would hope and pray that a new Team Rector and/ or a Team Vicar might be in place by the Autumn. We can pray for Jesus to lead the right person to the role.
Key dates for information and prayer:
26th February - Section 11 meeting
Key items: The Parish Profile (the document of statement of needs and role description for both Team Vicar and Team Rector) - will be discussed at this specially convened Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting.
Also, the PCCs will seek to select 1 or 2 lay parish representatives who, together with the Bishop, have a veto over any candidate proposed by the Patronage Board (see below).
28th April - Section 12 meeting
The PCC meets with the Bishop and Patrons (parties with a historic ‘say’ in who is chosen) to exchange views on the Parish
Profile, Advertising, Interviewing arrangements
Advertising - 22nd May - 13th June
Closing - 17th June
Interviews - 7th & 9th July
Interviews will be undertaken by the Patronage Board together with the PCC reps selected at the Section 11 meeting.
The Patronage Board is comprised of:
Bishop Joanne - represents the Diocese and chairs the Board
Historic Patrons
Archdeacon Rich Henderson - representing the Team Vicar
Up to 8 lay members of the PCC selected
On completion of the interviews the Board will vote and if appropriate ‘propose’ a candidate(s) for the role(s).
The lay parish reps and the Bishop must be unanimous in accepting the proposed candidate(s) as they each have a veto.
