West Monkton Church

Meditation Group

Rev Jim Cox will be running a meditation group on Thursday mornings in February.

A time of reflection and prayer.

10.30am – 12noon

Starts Thurs 6th Feb

At Tricia Cavill’s (address supplied)

Please let Michele know in the office if you would like to attend.

Towards the end of last year we ran a series of ‘taster’ sessions on a meditation group. We worked out what we found helpful and what we didn’t, so this next short series will draw on that experience. We all found it a very renewing and refreshing experience and I would warmly commend it to you all.

Jim Cox

Contact 01823 451257 or email office@southquantockbenefice.org.uk

Click above for full details on the South Quantock Benefice website.

The Want to's

Another year passes and a new one begins

We all want to live in picturesque surroundings, a friendly community knowing where you reside is a joy. A community that's crime free and your children can play safe out in the park.

A neighbour who happily takes in a parcel when your not home or comes to aid in an emergency.

These places do not appear through governing bodies and local authority, they only assist them.

Our communities grow and prosper because of the people within them.

People who support initiatives, participate in activities, give their time to help in whatever aspect of the community is benefiting you as well as the area in which you live.

As our communities grow physically in Bathpool, Monkton Heathfield and West Monkton and existing residents leave us, it's important to make our new neighbours feel welcome and part of our neighbourhood.

This past year our church has seen it's part in our community grow. More people coming to Sunday services and Festival services alike. Our fundraising events have been supported and well received where we have staged new events along side our traditional fundraisers.

Local people have got behind our church to raise funds for repairs and maintenance and are enthusiastic about re-ordering parts of the church to provide a more accessible usable space for all.

Your church is over 600years old, yet still growing, reaching out and intertwining across your area. Bringing people together and supporting the place you live.

Before we thank those who 'wanted to' help keep our church relevant and growing for us and your future generations to come in 2024. How about you help us out in 2025 or any other community project, charity or club in the parish, not just to make it a success or better place to live, but because you want to.

Our much loved thanks to...

The amazing volunteers who make up the Fundraising Committee, Churchyard working party, flower arrangers, bellringers, choir, clock keeper, service readers, PCC members, church wardens, mouse catcher, cake makers, refreshment team, Kate's Pause for Thought boards, organists, Our Open Garden hosts, BBQ chefs, Christmas Fayre volunteers, Coffee & More Guest speakers, Wedding Dress Festival team and donors, SAW team and exhibitors, Christmas Tree Festival Entrants, Grant applications team and donors, St Augustine's Angels, raffle prize donors, Acorn Innovations, Yvette Stalens & Community Choir. Wiveliscombe Town Band, Colin Ayres, Graham Hillman, Mark & Mary Thomas, Tess & Mike Spurr, Bethan Turner, Annie & Leon Sutherby, Connor Harding, Michelle Harding, West Monkton Parish Council, West Monkton Village News, South Quantock Benefice Office, our clergy team, everyone who donated and supported our services and events.

Happy New Year

It was lovely to see you all at Christmas

West Monkton Church was bursting at the seams with people singing along to their favourite Christmas carols at our annual Carol service.

It was wonderful to see so many people fill the church, lots of new faces, young and old.

Whether reminded of school days singing Away in a manger or We three kings amongst others or those who are reminded of the real meaning of Christmas either way it was so warming to see the church so full at this special time of year.

Christmas Tree Festival

Let there be light

There was much coming and going around the church on Friday by people preparing their entries for the Christmas Tree Festival. Eighteen Trees were presented for the festival, whilst a further 90-plus occupied every windowsill, nook and cranny.

Later in the afternoon the delicious aroma of mulled wine crept around the building, and everyone started ‘to feel a lot like Christmas’.

As 7.00pm drew near, the lights of the church dimmed, and the sounds of angelic choral singing filled the air. The tree owners, on the stroke of 7.00pm switched on their lights. Wow! The church was transformed.

And then… the magic was shattered by every phone in the place screaming out the siren warning by the government of the Storm Darragh alert. People desperately scrambled into pockets and handbags to switch off their phones. Phew: amidst much laughter, joy in the moment returned – that alert was VERY loud!!

But, with alarms silenced, the magical atmosphere inside the warm church quickly restored, lights twinkled, carols played, mulled wine and mince pies were enjoyed, children found lollipops and chocolate, anxieties dissipated, and everyone enjoyed a rare, shared moment of beauty and peace.

Thank you to all our entrants, Sally's team and the visitors who braved the weather to support a wonderful illuminating event.

The trees receiving the most votes were as follows - Children's category - Won by the Brownies. Winner for the adult entries was the Book Club There were 102 trees hidden in plain sight and if you would like the answers to the Christmas Quiz please contact us.

If you missed it, some of the photos are below.

A reel tree

Fundraising Video

Why have we created this video?

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.

We can use your skills

We welcome everyone to help in whatever way they can with this massive fundraising effort.

No matter your talent, how big or small, there is a place for you amongst our passionate friendly volunteers.

We would love to hear from you.