Quantock Villages Benefice
Welcome to the Quantock Village Benefice which lies at the foot of the Quantock Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset. Like a nine-mile lozenge just below the wooded coombes, it consists of six picturesque parishes which are largely agricultural. The Bristol Channel lies a few miles to the north and can be seen amongst the beautiful views from the hills around us with Wales beyond. Our local centre is the expanding town of Bridgwater (8 miles from Nether Stowey) and Taunton is the other side of the Quantocks (13 miles away), both close to the M5.
Each community and church has its own unique character and rich mix of worship offering something to satisfy a range of spiritual needs, not just to our villagers but to others as well. Some services are open air. There are Taize services and Celtic Prayer as well as joyful family worship services, and Communions designed for the young. On the following page there are links to, or details of, each individual church while the central information can be found by clicking on the relevant subject to the left of this page.
As a benefice we rejoice in the diversity of our six parishes while strengthening the bond of unity between us. As part of this we meet as a Benefice for one service a month to enjoy worshipping together, sometimes followed by a bring ‘n’ share lunch. We also share a Benefice Weekend together on the Devon coast once every 2 years or so. As a group and individually we strive to be creative and encourage new ways to reach out to all groups in our communities, recognising the strong rural connections as well as the needs of our youth and elderly in particular. We have a strong link with the local schools and families through our youth groups and Messy Church. There is a lively Holiday Club and our strong youth leadership team also takes Open the Book into school once a fortnight which is hugely popular with the children.
We are developing a pattern of ministry where parishioners in each parish may instinctively know where to turn to for pastoral support without being solely dependent on the Rector. All things we try to do while opening our minds and hearts to Jesus.
Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
Glenys Armstrong tel: 01749 685135 mobile: 07834 514842 email: glenys.armstrong@bathwells.anglican.org
Safeguarding Officers in the Benefice:
Parish Safeguarding Officers in the Benefice:
Aisholt: Peter Baker tel: 01278 671311 email: pete.baker6@btopenworld.com
Goathurst: Brenda Smith tel: 07790 825207 email: gsafeguarding@gmail.com
Enmore: Debbie Coles tel: 01278 671779 email: coles.bellevue@hotmail.co.uk
Nether Stowey: Gerry Wright tel: 01278 734 584 email: NSsafeguarding@gmail.com
Over Stowey: Peter Higginson tel: 01278 732102 email: OSsafeguarding@gmail.com
Spaxton: Mel Moore tel: 07799802240 email: melmoorejjsg@gmail.com
For further information regarding safeguarding and to view the full safeguarding policy please see the safeguarding button at the bottom of the page.