Author: Jo Claridge

The assemblies team performed a special puppet nativity play to a re written version of a Take That classic.

You can watch it here!

Our Family Holy Communion service on 19^th November marked ‘Safeguarding Sunday’. This is a time when churches think about how they are supporting those who have been hurt or harmed and highlight and celebrate all the good work that is being done behind the scenes to protect vulnerable people and create safer cultures and communities for all both now and in the future. Reverend Jacqui, who is a Safeguarding Trainer for the Diocese, provided the reflection which included a Q&A session with one of our Parish Safeguarding Officers about the role.

Jackie also read this poem:

May this place be one of nurture. Where we all may come to know. How your endless love sustains us, As we love and move and grow. May we work to build your kingdom, Full of truth and light and grace, Living life in all its fullness. Held in one divine embrace.

For our negligence and failures. You have called us to repent. Drawing energy for action. From the voices of lament. As the secret hurts long hidden. May at last be brought to light, May the truth unlock the freedom. That is every person’s right.

When the smallest child is valued. And the strong empower the weak, And each human life is hallowed. And the unheard voices speak,  Then your justice stands like mountains. And your mercy falls like rain, And you hold the broken-hearted. Til they learn to live again.

So in gratitude we praise you, And we lift to you in prayer. All the people you are calling. To this ministry of care. Give us wisdom, grace and courage, Holding fast to all that’s good, Seeing Christ in one another. We will love and serve our Lord.

Services were held at each of our churches as our villages paid their respects to the fallen with the two-minute silence being kept at 11.00 am.

In Sandford people assembled at the memorial to lay wreaths and listen to the names of those who died. There were poignant displays of poppies and artefacts in the church as a reminder of those who served in conflicts past and present.

St James’s was decorated with knotted poppies and filled to capacity for the service including over 40 young people representing Girl Guiding and Scouting in Winscombe. Scouts and guides also read the names of the fallen. Wreaths were laid on the altar before being placed on the churchyard War Memorial at the end of the service.

At St John’s the service was led by Rev Warren Williams took at which a poppy wreath was placed on the two war memorial tablets in church and the two boys who lost their lives on Dolberrow Warren were remembered.

Over 80 people gathered in the Church centre of Friday 20th October for St James’s Event Team’s Autumn Supper.

The entertainment was provided by the Fab Twins who soon had everyone singing along to hits from the 60s and 7Os.

After a ploughman’s supper the floor was quickly filled with eager and enthusiastic dancers. It was such fun for everyone that the band were reluctant to finish playing!

Thank you to all who came and supported us raising £800 for Church funds.

Shaun Darley celebrated 60 years of ordained ministry at a special service at St James’s on Sunday 24^th September. 

After Shaun presided over communion and gave the blessing, Reverend Andrew read a letter of congratulations from Bishop Michael and a gift was given to Shaun from our churches, to mark the occasion. Shaun spoke about the special home that Winscombe has been to him and Jill since moving here some 26 years ago and praised Jill for her steadfast support for his ministry. 

Afterwards the congregation were invited to share in the celebrations with a glass of fizz and a slice of a special cake decorated with a picture of St Alban’s Abbey where he was ordained.

On Sunday 10th September all three of our churches celebrated harvest with special services featuring a number of popular Harvest hymns and offering thanks for the bountiful world in which we live. Beautiful seasonal flower arrangements were also on display.

Following its Harvest Service each church held a Harvest Lunch for church members and others in the local community to join together to share food and fellowship.

At All Saints a delicious lunch of homemade soup and crumbles was served.

In Winscombe over 60 people enjoyed lunch together. The spread of cold meats with an assortment of salads was followed by fruit crumbles and cream. It was lovely to see so many people joining together for our first post pandemic Harvest Lunch. ‘Just like the good old days’ was the comment from many.

And St John the Baptist, in Churchill, welcomed parishioners to enjoy a sumptuous lunch to reflect and celebrate  Harvest Sunday.  30 guests attended the event held and catered by the Fund Raising Team.

We remembered those we have loved as we came together at our All Souls’Service on the afternoon of 29^th October. We had a thoughtful time of singing, readings and poems and the opportunity to place stones bearing loved ones’ names on the altar and later place then in the churchyard. 

On Tuesday 25th July we said goodbye and good luck to Iris at Coffee Morning as she is moving to Clevedon.

Iris has been leading Tuesday Coffee Mornings since they restarted after the pandemic. The coffee mornings are a valued and popular weekly event, an opportunity for people from the church and local community to meet each other and socialise over a cuppa.

Iris was presented with a beautiful picture (of an Iris) created by one of the coffee morning team, flowers and a card.

Beth has kindly offered to continue Iris’s good work and lead the coffee morning team together with Chris and Mo.

We have finally heard that the Church Commissioners have approved the transfer of St John’s to Winscombe and Sandford.  We are now officially the Benefice of Winscombe and Sandford with Churchill, as from 1^st July 2023.

We shall be having a celebratory joint service on the 5^th Sunday in October, which is 29^th October.  It will be a Eucharist at St John’s at 11.00 am, with Cheese and Wine afterwards.

What is ‘Fresh Foundations’?

‘Fresh Foundations’ is the newly revealed name for our project to create a new Church Centre in Winscombe to serve the three churches of St. James’s, St John’s and All Saints and their communities.

Our Vision is to create a beautiful centre not only for worship but to fulfil our mission of ‘Putting the love of Christ at the heart of our community’ by continuing to provide spaces for lettings but also for community outreach activities providing some of the services that are currently missing from our villages.

Why ‘Fresh Foundations’?

The colour green represents new life and growth, energy and sustainability. The word ‘fresh’ is about a vibrant, new project. ‘Foundations’ makes the link between our old building with its issues and a new building with fresh foundations. We are also laying the foundations for a new chapter in the life of our churches, the base of our strength and new confidence in building our future.

Over the past few months, we have held a number of consultation events with church members, local residents and other stakeholders, the latest of which took place on Sunday 9^th July when the ‘Fresh Foundations’ project name was ‘unveiled’.

The audience were invited to ‘Just Imagine’ an inspiring new building in a landscaped setting with a myriad of activities for all ages taking place within its walls.

Look out for more information about ‘Fresh Foundations’ on our page Fresh Foundations