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As the UK comes together to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we at the Church of St Augustine in West Monkton invite you to join us in remembrance and reflection. Our church holds a deeply personal connection to the past, with the Rolls of Honour memorials detailing those from our local community who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars. Wonderful detail about these brave members of the armed forces can be found here: http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Somerset/WestMonkton.html

For those with an interest in family history or exploring their roots, our church offers a rewarding and meaningful visit. Inside, you’ll find an information leaflet providing information about the history of the church, and if you’re seeking more detailed or specific insights, we welcome enquiries via email, through our website, or by messaging us on Facebook. Our volunteers are always pleased to assist and can help direct you to additional historical resources relating to both the church and the wider parish community. 

To mark this significant anniversary, our church will feature some poppy displays, as well as our remembrance altar cloth with poppy design. These visual tributes serve as quiet but powerful reminders of the courage and sacrifice of those who served.

One of the most stirring parts of our commemoration will be the sound of our cherished bells ringing out across the village on the evening of 8th May. Our bellringers will be joining others across the country in a coordinated peal, echoing the joyful sounds that marked the end of the war in 1945. Back then, bells rang from churches, cathedrals, and even from naval ships like HMS Ocean, as a national expression of relief, victory, and unity.

Today, the ringing of the bells continues to symbolise both celebration and solemn remembrance. It’s a way to honour the bravery of those who never returned, and to reflect on the lasting peace their sacrifice secured. This tradition has become part of our collective memory - an enduring tribute that resonates across the years.

We warmly invite you to visit us during this special time. Whether you come to explore your family’s connections, learn more about our community’s history, or simply pause in quiet contemplation, we hope you’ll find a sense of connection, gratitude, and peace within our church walls.

Our West Monkton church community went off on it’s annual coach trip to Salisbury Cathedral this year for a guided tour of the cathedral.

Beautiful windows, figurines and architecture old and new complimenting the mammoth structure of stone pillars and vaulted ceilings.

The photos below do not showcase the beauty of the cathedral as in person. Worth taking a trip out to see it in all its glory.

 The Parochial Church Council are invited to tell our meaningful story and mission in order to apply for grant funding for the re ordering project within St Augustine’s Church.

The Trustees of the charities we apply to suggest we cover areas such as : What we are doing , Why we are doing it , What we aspire to do differently , What are our aspirations , Who is benefitting from our missional outreach and how we will ensure the sustainability beyond charity funding.

The Joseph Rank Trust , amongst others we are applying to , as recommended by the Bath and Wells Diocese,  recommends we place a short video on our website which explains our work, as a video can really add value to an application and highlight our objectives.

A small team from the PCC are carrying out this work of making grant applications and have produced our video which we can add to our applications and ensure our success . 

Thank you for watching.