St Gabriel's Fulbrook

• St Gabriel's Fullbrook and the Annunciation Church Yew Tree

Training Incumbent
The Revd Mark McIntyre

Trained: Mirfield. Deaconed: 2008

I have served in the parish of St Gabriel's Walsall for the last 14 years. I am Area Dean for Walsall, supporting clergy and parishes across the diverse traditions of the Church of England. I am also Regional Dean for the Bishop of Oswestry in the West Midlands. I trained for the priesthood at Mirfield. I have enjoyed being part of the formation of two curates so far. It has been a time of challenge and excitement. I believe that incumbent and curate can work together as colleagues, enriching each other's ministry for the benefit of the parish.

The context

The parish lies to the south west of Walsall town centre, and includes the section of the M6 from just below junction 9 to just above junction 7. The part of the parish in Walsall is suburban with a mixture of semi-detached and detached housing. Some is traditional community and other parts commuter housing for Birmingham. The Yew Tree is a re-developed housing estate, where multi-storey flats have been replaced by new social and private housing. This part of the parish is in the Borough of Sandwell. The Yew Tree is served by a multipurpose church, the ‘Church of the Annunciation’. This is a prime mission opportunity and we are looking to work with the local community in mission and outreach, opening the place up again as a community focus in the next 12 months.

There are two schools for children of primary school age and also one high school. Walsall is served with other schools including a Church of England High School and Queen Mary’s School which though not in the parish are nearby.

Once a month, there is a Songs of Praise type of service, held in a local nursing home and then again in a sheltered housing complex. Holy Communion is also offered to those who wish to receive the sacrament. This is provided for on an individual basis and corporately at the end of the Songs of Praise.

In the original grounds of the church there is a very good children’s hospice and we are building new links with the staff and children there. The hospice is keen to develop a programme of spiritual, as well as medical care, and the church is fully involved in this development.

Our approach to PLF is to reach out pastorally and honour the relationships that present themselves to us. Basing our understating of human love and relationship on God's desire to live life in all its fullness. The pastoral need is approached on a case by case basis. 

Mission statistics (2024)