vacancies
Associate pastor
Developing Leaders, shaping ministry and strengthening pastoral care
Salary: £40,000 - £47,000 | Full-time, permanent | Bath
Closing date: Friday 11 December 2026
Grace Church Bath began in 2019 with a handful of friends in a living room. Today, we're a thriving evangelical Anglican church with a congregation of 140–180, including many students, young professionals and families. We’re committed to biblical teaching, warm relationships and sharing the good news of Jesus. We meet on Sundays at 4 pm, reflecting our distinctive mission to support and reach Bath's sporting communities.
As we look ahead to the next stage of our development, we want to strengthen our discipleship, pastoral care and leadership. Our Senior Pastor, Revd Michael Farrier, divides his time between Grace Church and a local parish, spending around half his working week with us.
We're looking for an Associate Pastor to work closely with Michael, helping to build a church family in which people are known, cared for and growing as disciples of Jesus, while developing the next generation of leaders. This is a senior role with substantial responsibility for ministry and genuine scope to exercise initiative and help shape the future of Grace Church.
What you'll do
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Care: Provide substantial personal pastoral care and lead and coordinate pastoral ministry across the church.
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Grow: Strengthen discipleship pathways and help people grow in their faith.
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Equip: Develop and line-manage staff, raise up and equip lay leaders, strengthen existing ministries and encourage new initiatives.
Who we're looking for
A mature evangelical Christian with a heart for people, sound biblical understanding, good pastoral judgement and strong interpersonal skills. You'll have ministry and leadership experience and be able to turn ideas into action.
We welcome applications from women and men, whether ordained or lay. Anglican affiliation is not required. Being an evangelical Christian is an occupational requirement for this appointment.
Preaching is not part of the role. Our Candidate Information Pack explains our approach to preaching and other aspects of church life.
What we offer
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Salary: £40,000–£47,000, depending on experience.
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Annual leave: 36 days plus bank holidays.
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Pension: 10% employer contribution on total salary.
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Development: A fully funded annual conference and opportunities for professional development.
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Working arrangements: Flexible arrangements within a 42-hour week, normally over six days, including Sundays and some evenings.
We anticipate the successful candidate joining us during the first half of 2027, with the precise start date to be agreed.
Applying for the Role
We would encourage you to read the Candidate Information Pack and Job Description before deciding whether to apply. These provide more information about our church, the role, our theological position and what we are looking for in the successful candidate.
Application Form
All candidates must complete our application form. It includes details of your education and experience, questions about your suitability for the role, and referee information.
The form is provided as a Word document so that you can complete it electronically. You are welcome to attach a CV as supplementary information, but a CV alone cannot be accepted.
Confidential Declaration Form
In accordance with the Church of England's safeguarding requirements, all applicants must also complete a separate Confidential Declaration Form.
This must be submitted alongside your application, using the confidential submission arrangements explained below.
The form will be handled confidentially, with access restricted to those who need to review it as part of the recruitment process.
Please also read the accompanying Confidential Declaration Privacy Notice before completing the form.
how to submit your application
To apply, please complete the following steps:
Step 1 – Read the information
Read the Candidate Information Pack and Job Description, including the Person Specification.
Step 2 – Complete the Application Form
Download and complete the Application Form, ensuring that you answer all questions and provide the requested employment history and referee details.
You may attach a CV if you wish, but all the information requested must be included in the completed application form.
Step 3 – Submit your application
Email your completed Application Form, together with any supporting CV, to:
Step 4 – Submit your Confidential Declaration Form
For confidentiality, please send this separately from your main application to:
safeguarding@gracechurchbath.org
Please mark your email: Confidential – Assoc Pastor CDF – [Your Name]
Step 5 – Closing date
Please ensure that both your completed Application Form and your Confidential Declaration Form are received by Friday 11 December 2026.
Applications received after this date may not be considered.
what happens next?
Applications will be assessed against the essential and desirable criteria set out in the Person Specification.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in interviews and further assessments, which may include practical exercises and an opportunity to visit Grace Church Bath and meet members of our staff team and congregation.
We anticipate initial interviews taking place during December 2026, with final interviews and assessments during January 2027, although arrangements will depend on candidates' availability.
The successful candidate's appointment will be subject to satisfactory references, safeguarding and other appropriate pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check and verification of their right to work in the UK.
informal enquiries
We recognise that considering a new ministry position is a significant decision, and we would welcome the opportunity to talk informally with anyone who is interested in finding out more.
If you would like to arrange a conversation about the role before applying, please contact:
We will arrange for someone from our leadership team to be in touch.
safeguarding and privacy
Grace Church Bath is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Our recruitment procedures follow the Church of England's Safer Recruitment and People Management Code of Practice.
We are committed to treating applicants fairly and handling their personal information confidentially.
Please see the following information:
If you require reasonable adjustments to the application or selection process, please contact vacancies@gracechurchbath.org. Any requests will be handled sensitively.