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Parish Profile – Benefice of Shepton Mallet, Doulting and Cranmore 31/03/2015

Parish ProfileThe Benefice of Shepton Mallet

with Doulting & Cranmorein the Deanery of Shepton Mallet

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ContentsIntroduction 3

Who we are looking for 6

What we offer 7

The Rectory 8

The Benefice 9

Ministry Team 12

Services 14

PCCs 18

Children's & Youth Work 19

Serving our Community 22

Organisations & Activities 25

Local Ministry Group 28

Buildings 29

Finances 34

Appendix I Healing Wounded Churches report

Appendix II Associated websites and hyperlinks

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Introduction

The BeneficeShepton Mallet, Doulting and Cranmore are situated in the beautiful countryside of mid-Somerset below the south-eastern edge of the Mendip Hills and above the Somerset Levels. This is a lovely part of the world to live in and the people of the town and villages are open and friendly.

As with many benefices around the country the unifying factor, beyond faith in God, is geography rather than common needs or aspirations.

The nature of the parish of Shepton Mallet is rather different from that of the two rural parishes which together form the Benefice.

Shepton Mallet, with 10,500 inhabitants, is no longer the thriving community that it once was. It is sometimes compared unfavourably to neighbouring towns and suffers a little from low self-esteem. On the plus side however, housing is more affordable. The High Street has experienced shop closures, local employers are fewer in number than in the past and the

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prison, which was one of the town's larger employers, was closed in 2013, although it has recently been bought by a company with imaginative plans for redevelopment.

SS Peter & Paul, Shepton Mallet, is the only Anglican church in the town and consequently there is a broad spectrum of churchmanship represented in the congregation. There is a largegroup of eager, faithful souls, some passionate for change and modernisation and others equally passionate that practice and tradition should be maintained and preserved.

Doulting and Cranmore have a strong community spirit, with incomers integrating well into village life. Farms have become bigger with fewer workers and employment opportunities arescarce. Schools, village halls and pubs are very important parts of community life but the loss of village shops and post offices coupled with a reduction in public transport facilities are a hardship for the older-than-average population.

Village church members have had to become relatively self-sufficient over recent years but always welcome input and support from the Clergy and Readers. Each church has a small but dedicated core team.

What is greatly encouraging is that through the ups and downs of recent years a sizeable body of enthusiastic and optimistic church members has remained firm. As the benefice navigates the choppy waters of a second vacancy in four years, we are pulling together once more; people have stepped forward to help with everything that needs to be done.

Whether in town or villages we all faithfully pray that the way is being cleared for the right person to become our new Priest-in-Charge – someone for whom the shepherding of our diverse benefice is the challenge that God has prepared them to take on and made them hungry for.

The PositionOur new incumbent will be appointed as Priest-in-Charge as there is currently suspension of presentation; however, all indications are that the suspension is unlikely to be renewed when it expires in 2016 and the new Priest-in-Charge will, at that stage, become Rector.

VisionThe arrival of a new Priest-in-Charge is a good time to review and restate the vision of the Benefice. Important areas of ministry in recent years will no doubt inform the vision and thesehave included:

Worship. We need to continue creating a structure of different forms of worship that allow people to meet God in a way that suits them well and meets them where they are.

Children & Young People. Shepton Mallet is a youthful and expanding community. We see

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the children and young people of the town and villages as an essential part of the life of the church and a key opportunity for outreach. A number of church initiatives are already under-way.

Outreach to the community. We know that as a church we will only grow as we look outwards and prioritise mission. Church members are involved with a number of community activities in the town centre and on the HillmeadEstate. An Alpha course was run in Autumn 2013;it was decided to postpone the next course untilafter the vacancy.

Effective stewardship of our buildings. SheptonParish Church is fortunate in having a set ofspacious church rooms close by on Peter Street. The two village churches have use of village halls, which similarly provide very agreeable facilities.

A good way of bringing members of the wider community into church is by using the buildings at our disposal more imaginatively and seeing how we could best optimise the space. Plans have been approved at Diocesan level for a modest start to reordering Shepton Mallet church to provide greater flexibility and a range of improved facilities, both for the church members and groups in the town.

Healing Wounded ChurchesIn 2014 at the instigation of our last incumbent and with the support of the Bishop of Taunton, the Benefice went through a programme of 'Healing Wounded Churches', conducted by the Revd Dr Russ Parker and his team.

Many church members past and present were interviewed and the report has highlighted areas of hurt, fear and disappointment from recent years.

However many members have seen this as an opportunity to move forward and we are in thestage of the process of working through some of the issues identified. We hope that our new Priest-in-Charge will help us complete the journey of healing and reconciliation so that we can move on as a church & benefice united in purpose. The re-crafting of a benefice vision will form part of this process.

The whole report is attached to this profile as Appendix I.

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“The children love fun assemblieswhile they’re learning about

Christianity.”

Local Primary School Teacher


Who we are looking forWe seek a priest who will lovingly guide and lead the varied communities in the benefice along a God-given path to wholeness and fruitfulness.

We are looking for a person:

● who is able to demonstrate, nurture andencourage fruitful ministry

● with experience of multi-congregation andmulti-church ministry

● who has a gift of building congregations into a stronger community of believers, with a clear vision into the future

● called to be a pastor to those in the church community and those outside

● with a love for teaching the Word, administering the sacraments and being open to the Holy Spirit

● who wants to work collaboratively withothers, lay and ordained, in the Benefice,the Local Ministry Group and the Deanery

● with an understanding of the civic role of amarket town parish and the community roleof rural parish churches

● who values equally informal contemporary worship and more traditional formal worship and is comfortable in both settings

● with a strong desire to focus, enable and support mission work across the benefice and beyond

We are a diverse benefice, rural and market town, that has seen joys and sorrows in the recent past. The successful candidate will find a mix of people on a journey and a team of ministers eager to move forward with God in mission.

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“A good all-rounder who lovesthe Lord and loves us and looks

outward for the kingdom”

Congregation Member Shepton Mallet

“Thoughtful, resilient, intelligent,well educated, good sense of

humour, unshockable, a friend ofall, a person of prayer”

Congregation Member, Cranmore

“A good speaker; a good listener”

Congregation Member, Doulting


What we offer● The prayerful support of three congregations

● Three churches that are strategically placed to grow the Kingdom of God in their communities

● A significant number of people within the three congregations who have a strong desire to grow in discipleship and mission

● The challenge to unite three diverse congregations and establish a single purpose and vision to inspire all members

● The assistance of an experienced Benefice Administrator (22 hours per week)

● The active support of retired Clergy, Readers and Lay Worship Assistants in carrying out the ministry of our churches

● The support and cooperation of clergy colleagues in a Local Ministry Group and Deanery

● A lively Children's and Youth Ministry run by trained and experienced laity

● A modern, well-appointed four-bedroomed Rectory plus a connecting one-bedroomed annexe with study and meeting room

● The encouragement of the Wardens and PCCs to have at least one full day per week free of church activity and to take all allocated holidays

● All ministry expenses reimbursed from church funds

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The Rectory

The Rectory was newly purchased by the Diocese in 2011 to address the problem of limited space in the previous house.

Situated in a quiet, leafy estate on the west side of Shepton the new Benefice Rectory is a 4-bedroom, detached property with a connecting one-bedroom annexe incorporating a study and meeting room with access by a separate entrance to the house.

As well as a sitting room and dining room, the house has a spacious conservatory which looksout over an attractive medium-sized garden with small summer house.

The Rectory has off-road parking and a spacious garage. There is a Church Junior School in town near the church and a good choice of secondary schools in the locality. The excellent Shepton Mallet Community Hospital and Treatment Centre are within walking distance.

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The BeneficeDescription and geography of the Benefice of Shepton Mallet with Doulting and West Cranmore.

The Benefice is situated 19 miles south of Bath, 5 milesfrom Wells, and lies to the south-east of the MendipHills. It has good road connections to Bristol and Yeovilas well as other nearby towns. The nearest mainline railway station is 9 miles away at Castle Cary. Shepton Mallet church’s roll membership totals 94, with Doulting having 33 members, and Cranmore 26 members.

Shepton Mallet Shepton Mallet is a small rural town and civil parish in the Mendip District of Somerset. The town lies on the route of the Fosse Way, the principal Roman road into the south west of England. Shepton’s reliance on the wool trade declined after the 18th Century but it continuesto be a major centre for the production of cider.

The current population is around 10,500 includingdistinct communities from Portugal and EasternEurope. There has been considerable recentinvestment in the town, both housing and commercial.These have increased employment opportunities inrecent years but a significant number of residents alsocommute to Bath, Bristol or Yeovil.

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SS Peter & Paul is the only parish church in the town and the congregation covers a broad range of age and social groupings that mix well. There is good lay participation in readings, intercession and administration of the sacrament. We have a thriving ministry to young families, children and young people and a passion for developing our wider outreach.

The church has a formal sharing agreement with a small group of Methodists, which involves shared use of the building and special services.

Close to the church in all respects is St Paul's C of E VC Junior School, rated “Good” by Ofsted,where there is an active contribution from local clergy at regular weekly assemblies. The school has 280 pupils and groups of them visit the church for major festivals.

The Royal Bath & West Showground is nearby. This regional exhibition facility hosts New Wine, Soul Survivor and Momentum annually. There is every opportunity for individuals or groups to become involved in these gatherings to mutual benefit.

The Glastonbury Music Festival at nearby Pilton brings visitors and international attention to our town. Collett Park Day (June), the Mid-Somerset Show (August) and Carnival Night (November) are important and well supported local events.

DoultingWith a population of around 600 the main village lies a mile and a half to the east of SheptonMallet. The parish includes the hamlets of Bodden, Prestleigh, Beard Hill and part of Waterlip.

The church has two churchwardens, Paul Vagg and John Lees (also PCC Lay Chair). There is a friendly and welcoming atmosphere throughout the congregation, and two groups - 'moving forward' and 'fund-raising', which have instigated several community based activities including coffee mornings and light lunches. A flourishing and successful Messy Church takes place monthly with approximately 40 children attending. The Singing For Fun group which takes place in the church has about 30members from Shepton, Doulting,Cranmore and surrounding areas.Concerts take place throughout the year.See the village website (below).

St Aldhelm's voluntary aided churchschool situated in the centre of thevillage has 214 pupils and very goodlinks with the church. Bibles arepresented to each pupil on leaving St Aldhelm's for secondary education. Although this is mainly a farming community the worldfamous Doulting stone is still quarried here and most of the local employment is with the

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aggregate quarries situated in the east Mendip area. There is also a large international transport company.

The village holds quite a few community events annually in the village hall which are either organised by the church or other village committees.

Website: doultingvillage.wordpress.com

CranmoreWith a population of approximately 450, the village of West Cranmore is situated high up on the east side of the Mendips some four miles east of Shepton and eight miles from Frome. The parish includes the small communities of Dean, East Cranmore and part of Waterlip.

Cranmore has a strong community spirit with many active organisations. The best evidence ofthis can be found on the village website (see below). New residents are made welcome and many soon take active roles in village life.

There is a pre-school nursery which uses the village Memorial Hall during term times. The village school closed thirty-five years ago so children attend the primary schools in Doulting or Shepton Mallet. All Hallows, a co-educational Catholic prep school (4-13 years), provides day and boarding facilities and is located a mile to the east. The local secondary school is Whitstone Academy School in Shepton Mallet.

Bus services have recently been reduced again. Most villagers who work must commute; many travel long distances. There are quite a lot of retired people living in the village, but the new St Bartholomew's Cottages have brought in families with children.

The Memorial Hall and The Strode Arms are important to the community; the latter is renowned for its excellent food. There is a small preserved steam railway which operates fromwhat was once the local railway station.

The regular congregation is around 20-30 people. Young people and children are noticeably lacking, despite the variety of services on offer. After 31st July 2015 both churchwarden posts will be vacant but arrangements are in hand to share out the responsibilities amongst a groupof volunteers.

Website: www.cranmore-somerset.co.uk

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http://www.cranmore-somerset.co.uk/


Ministry TeamOver the years a number of people have heard God’s call through theMinistry of this Benefice. If you were to join us you would have supportfrom:

Revd Capt Richard Priestley, CAMission Enabler for Shepton Mallet LMG (50%) and Priest-in-Charge of Ashwick, Oakhill and Binegar (50%)

Other ClergyRevd Canon Tony Birbeck, former Rural Dean (retired)

Revd Peter Farrell, (retired)

Revd John Ingham, (retired)

Revd Sister Mandy Priestley, CA, (self-supporting priest LMG)

ChurchwardensShepton currently has one Churchwarden, Nick Bennett, assisted by twodeputies.

Doulting has two Churchwardens, John Lees and Paul Vagg.

Cranmore has a number of volunteers who undertake the duties of theChurchwardens.

Benefice AdministratorCatherine Robinson (22 hours per week).

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ReadersThere are four active Readers in the Benefice:

David Dixon Gill Goodall Albert Owen Julian Tucker

One of the Readers is based in Cranmore, a fifth Reader is currently taking a break from ministry and additionally there are two Readers Emeritus.

Two other church members will go forward for Reader Selection in May 2015.

Children's Worker (Shepton Mallet)Wendi Davis. A trained and experienced children's worker who commits 15 hoursper week.

Youth Coordinator (Shepton Mallet)Emma Kendall. Employed by Youth for Christ, Emma voluntarily coordinates youthwork in the church including a mentoring scheme.

Lay Worship AssistantsThere is a group of Lay Worship Leaders in the Benefice and we actively engage with the Diocesan Lay Worship Assistants course.

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ServicesSt Peter and St Paul, Shepton Mallet

Sunday Mornings9:15 am – Parish Communion: a service using Common Worship liturgy, led by clergy, retired clergy and lay readers and with music often led by the choir with organ or piano (robes are normally worn). There is a regularcongregation of about 40 people who particularlyvalue the familiarity, structure and reverence of thisstyle of worship and the opportunity for quietreflection. The hymns and songs for this service aretaken from ‘Anglican Hymns Old and New’.

This service is followed by refreshments, while thenext service is being set up, to promote fellowship between the two services.

11:00 am – Service of the Word (with communion on the 1st Sunday of the month): a relaxedand informal service, led by lay worship assistants, clergy and lay readers (robes are not worn). The service includes sung worship led by our worship group, which includes a number of young people. The service makes use of thedata projector and screen and includes a varietyof elements, including film clips, meditativepresentations and prayerful images. There is aregular congregation of about 30 people whoparticularly value the flexibility and variety in thisstyle of worship.

Both of the morning services provide opportunities for prayer and healing ministry. Both services also have themes based on the Lectionary each week.

There is separate teaching in age-related groups taking place in Peter Street Rooms during the 11 am service, after which the children and young people join the service to share what they have learned and join in sung worship.

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“I find the service liberating,challenging and inspiring. It is

great to see the Holy Spiritworking in people's lives. I love theworship style and the freedom to

be spontaneous.”

“I value the uninterrupted flowof the liturgy with its beautiful

words and music. It enablesme to come into God’s

presence and worship in adeeper way.”


1st Sunday 09:15

11:00

11:00

14:30

Parish Communion

Service of the Word with Communion

Kids' Praise (Peter Street Rooms)

Methodist Service

2nd Sunday 09:15

11:00

Parish Communion

Service of the Word

3rd Sunday 09:15

11:00

14:30

Parish Communion

Service of the Word

Methodist Service

4th Sunday 09:15

11:00

Parish Communion

Service of the Word

5th Sunday 10:00 Benefice Communion (at one of the churches in the Benefice)

3rd Thursday 10:00 Holy Communion (Common worship)

Every Tuesday 09:00 Prayer meeting (in church)

Other Services10:00 – at different festivals, weoccasionally have a joint family service,often led by a team representing both ofthe regular services, with particular inputfrom the youth and children’s leaders.

As the town's parish church, SS Peter &Paul hosts civic services during the year.

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St Aldhelm, Doulting1st Sunday 11:00 Holy Communion (BCP)

2nd Sunday 11:00 Family Service

3rd Sunday 11:00 Holy Communion (Common worship)

4th Sunday 11:00 Family service


Members of the congregation andyounger people are encouraged to readat the family services. After family servicesthere is coffee and fellowship. St Aldhelm's bell ringing team rings for allservices and practice takes place onWednesday evenings. The flower ladiesalways ensure there are flowers in thechurch except during Lent and Advent. Asuccessful flower festival took place inSummer 2014 to commemorate the FirstWorld War and it was well supported bythe whole benefice.

St Bartholomew, Cranmore1st Sunday 10:00 Family Service

2nd Sunday 10:00 Holy Communion

3rd Sunday 10:00 Morning Worship

4th Sunday 10:00 [Dean Methodist Chapel - Holy Communion]


1st Wednesday 15:00 (winter)16:00 (summer)

Prayer Meeting (at church or someone's home)

This regular pattern, which permits some variation of liturgical style, nevertheless attracts

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largely the same regular congregation. The major festivals break the pattern; these include Mothering Sunday, harvest, and our patronal festival, as well as Christmas and Easter.

There is a worship committee which meets monthly to plan forthcoming services.

Music at the services is organ-based. Hymns from various eras are chosen mainly from Mission Praise. One canticle is chanted at Morning Worship; other than that, everything is said.

Members of the congregation read lessons and occasionally lead the intercessions.

After the services there is coffee and fellowship.

Baptisms, weddings and funeralsIn Shepton, baptisms take place in one of the morning services on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. The totals for occasional offices in 2014 are in the table below.

Baptisms Weddings Funerals

Shepton Mallet 20+ 1 thanksgiving

4 14 in church+ 11 elsewhere

Doulting 4 2 5

Cranmore 0 5 3

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PCCEach church has its own PCC.

Shepton MalletThe PCC at Shepton has a lay chair in order to free up the Priest-in-Charge from administration and meets on the first Monday of alternate months.

Each PCC member also belongs to one or other of two sub-groups which meet in the intervening months.

Finance & General Purposes (F&GP), dealing with the administration, buildings and financialhealth of the church.

Pastoral, which is concerned with the church's ministries of prayer, outreach, healing and visiting.

Every member of the PCC acts as a link for a named group of church members in order to improve communications and to act as a conduit for views from the pews.

DoultingThe Doulting PCC meets five times per year.

CranmoreThere is a full PCC at Cranmore which meets every quarter with the Priest-in-Charge as chair.

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Children’s and Youth WorkChildren and young people are an essentialpart of the life and worship of the church. Thevision for the children in our church is to seethem worshipping, ministering, praying andgrowing as disciples so children of all ages areencouraged to help in leading worship,support the spiritual development of youngerchildren, pray for one another and declaretheir faith at home and in school.

We encourage parents and carers to come along to many of our groups and age-related activities, so that we can get to know and support whole families. Twelve dedicated leaders and helpers run the groups. During the past 12 months, following a period of decline, a core group of “older” young people has been established. Groups for young people now run regularly with a team of very committed leaders.

The Children’s and Youth Work in Shepton is divided into 2 groups:

'King's Kids' - for babies, toddlers and children in Year R to Year 4.

'UnLimited' - for young people in Year 5 and above.

Every young person of Year 7 and above is offered an adult mentor from the congregation.

Through the groups and activities run by 'King’s Kids' and 'UnLimited', we are in contact with around 60 families (plus another 20 families at Messy Church in Doulting). There are always events being planned for children and families such as Teddy Bear Abseils, Mother’s Day Breakfasts, Film Parties and various fund raising events.

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Day Group/Activity Target Age Group Average Attendence/ Number on Register

Mon (monthly) Munch BunchAfter school club similar to Messy Church

4-11 year olds & parents/carers

22/30(+ parents)

Tues (weekly) Prams & ToddlersTraditional toddler group with a weekly Bible story theme

0-4 year olds & parents/carers

20/35(+ parents)

Tues (monthly) Messy Church 4-11 year olds (some parents attend)

40 (+ parents)(numbers limited due to space)

Fri (weekly) Friday Night FeverYoung people’s fellowship group

15 – 25 year olds 8/8

Sat (monthly) Cave Youth Club 9 – 15 year olds 10/10

Sun (weekly) Scramblers & ClimbersTeaching and worship alongside 11am service

0-4 & 4-9 year olds 7/16

Sun (weekly) ExplorersTeaching and worship alongside 11am service

9-13 year olds 4/10

Sunday (monthly) Kids PraiseLively worship service for families

0-15 year olds (someparents attend)

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Who Let The Dads Out (WLTDO)We run a variety of activities throughout the year for dads/male carers and their children. Events include Bacon Butty Morning, Lego Master Builders' Afternoon and WLTDO in The Woods. Through WLTDO, we have begun to work with Windsor Hill Wood and we hope to develop this link further over the coming year. WLTDO has been running for 2 years and is proving to be one of the most successfulforms of outreach for our church. TheKing’s Kids team have a heart for seeingwhole families playing, worshipping andeating together. Developing relationshipswith the dads has been crucial and overthe past 12 months we have seen moredads attending Nativity services, partiesand church events.

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Serving our communityListed below are some of the activities in which we are involved, many as part of 'Christians Together in Shepton Mallet'. CTSM work throughout the year to bring God’s love into the heart of our Community:

● Open Door Café: lunch every Tuesday at the Salvation Army.

● Coffee Mornings fortnightly at St Michael’s Catholic Church.

● Winter Months Sunday Lunch. This is a Methodist initiative with Anglican support forthose who would otherwise be eating alone.

● Joint Good Friday Worship in the Market Place followed by hot cross buns give-away.

● Women’s World Day of Prayer:Churches take turns to host and takeresponsibility for this annual eventwhich in recent years has been held inSt Paul’s School.

● Collett Day: Refreshment tent andchildren’s activities at our annual parkfestival in June.

● Save our Beds: Support for theCommunity Hospital.

● School Governors for Bowlish, St Paul's and St Aldhelm's.

● School church visits from Shepton Mallet Infants & St Paul's.

● Monthly services at Pullen Court sheltered housing complex and Field House Care Home.

● Christmas Tree Festival at the Baptist Church.

● Switching on of the Shepton Mallet Christmas lights.

● Carol singing around the town pubs.

● Hand bell ringing around the town’s residential homes and to raise money for Red Nose Day/Comic Relief/Children in Need.

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“Avon and Somerset Constabularyare committed to making our

communities safe, and to ensure thatour residents feel safe. We do so

through working with many partneragencies and we look forward to the

vacancy being filled”

Local Police Inspector


Other notable partnerships

Love SheptonA joint initiative between the churches ofShepton Mallet and the New Wineorganisation which holds its annualconference at the Bath & West Showground. Love Shepton aims to bring God’s love topeople who seek assistance or who arenominated for support in the areas ofgardening, litter picking, decorating, prayerand work at Windsor Hill Wood.

Windsor Hill WoodWindsor Hill Wood is a refuge offering traditional Christian hospitality to people going through a period of crisis in their lives – typically addiction, bereavement, depression or homelessness. It is based on the Pilsdon Community in Dorset. They run a common purse, share all meals, keep livestock, grow vegetables, and make furniture.

Website: www.windsorhillwood.co.uk

Fun In School Holidays (FISH)FISH grew out of a prayerful conviction that something could be done to support the Hillmead Estate, an area of Shepton Mallet which previously had a poor reputation. It is a Methodist/Anglican project which is now a regular feature of school holidays. FISH days happen every holiday including half term for between 1 and 3 days. Activities include arts andcrafts, outdoor play and a cosy story corner helping children explore Christian living. Up to 30children, many from minority groups, take part in the sessions.

Local police commend FISH as an initiative which has helped to foster better community relations.

Youth With A Future (YWAF)Youth With A Future (YWAF) is a registered charity that was launched in 2003. YWAF’s origins go back over 20 years when Shepton Housing Association Ltd (SHAL) was formed by a group of Christian volunteers from the Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul in Shepton Mallet, who were responding to the growing issue of youth homelessness.

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http://www.windsorhillwood.co.uk/


YWAF work alongside other organisations to support young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or threatened with homelessness and those in supported housing projects in the Mendip area, and supports local positive youth initiatives and activities.

Each of the Trustees is a Christian and driven by their Christian faith to care for people in distress and difficulty – to be the hands and feet of Jesus – to bring the compassion of God into people’s lives. Parishioners continue to support the charity. Glastonbury Festival employs YWAF members and offers a charitable donation in remuneration. Mrs Angela Yeoman is the charity’s President and the Bishop of Bath and Wells is a Patron.

Website: www.ywaf.org.uk

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http://www.ywaf.org.uk/


Organisations and ActivitiesHouse Groups Although the number of house groups has declined in recent years there are still a few that meet informally on different days during the week. One of the initiatives that Shepton church is undertaking during the vacancy is to review the small group situation and encourage more to set up, particularly for new members of the 11:00 am service.

During Lent in previous years groups and individuals have come together in Peter Street Rooms to undertake a course of study.

Music The diversity of Shepton church isreflected in the music we enjoy, both inworship services and the various concertswe host throughout the year. Visitingperformers make use of our grand pianoand organ, and the church's naturalacoustic makes it popular with choirs,small ensembles and soloists of all musicaltraditions.

Our traditional services make effective useof our two-manual pipe organ, which isplayed by local and visiting organists. Thechoir leads worship at the 9:15 serviceonce a month, and we have an active andenthusiastic handbell ringing group.

The more contemporary services areusually led musically by a worship band,often including piano, guitar and various instruments with a significant inclusion of young people. The group is often increased for the larger celebrations. We have a sound system anda projector and screen which is used for some services.

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The Choir There has been a choir at St Peter and St Paul’s Church for many years although in recent years it has suffered from retirements, a lack of young members and a move north last year by the retained organist and choir master.

Benefice WeekendIn 2014 a residential 'Gathering Together'took place at Quantock Lodge in WestSomerset over a May weekend for two daysof fellowship, study, prayer and recreation. Itwas an opportunity for inspiration andrefreshment enjoyed by members of thebenefice and wider LMG which is to berepeated in May 2015.

Wives' Group The Wives’ Group is an active group that welcomes anyone, married or not, to their meetings.Talks and entertainment activities take part throughout the year and help to raise awareness of each other’s differing roles in the community.

New WineEach year an enthusiastic group of parishioners camps at New Wine, Shepton Mallet for a week of worship, Bible teaching and seminars. Those who prefer not to camp attend as day delegates. Some of our younger members also enjoy sessions at Momentum and Soul Survivor which follow on after New Wine.

Bell Ringers In 2006 we launched a two-year project at SS Peter& Paul to refurbish our bells and repair andredecorate the three rooms in the tower.

Shepton Mallet Parish Church Ringing Members are listed and fully paid up members of the Bath and Wells Diocesan Association of Change Ringers.

St Aldhelm's and St Bartholomew's both have an enthusiastic bell-ringing team.

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“I would like our new vicar to beyoung or old but open-minded,

ecumenical and inclusive”

Congregation Member, Cranmore


Flower Guild The work of the flower guild in Shepton is long established and widely appreciated; there are always flowers in the church except during Lent and Advent. Members of the Guild ensure that there are arrangements at the altar and the two cross-aisle pillars and many more arrangements during Church festivals. Doulting and Cranmore also have enthusiastic groups of flower ladies whose work is very much appreciated by the congregations.

Handbell GroupShepton Mallet has an accomplished group of handbell ringers who perform regularly in the community.

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Local Ministry GroupLMGs are one of the ways in which Bath and Wells Diocese encourages parishes, clergy and benefices to work together, and to minister collaboratively whenever possible.

One of the key themes of Bath and Wells Diocese in recent years has been “No-one alone”, and this has been widely welcomed and interpreted in practical ways, principally amongst theclergy of the Diocese.

A few years ago it was proposed at Deanery level that the parishes of this benefice should work towards the establishment of a formal Team Ministry with two neighbouring benefices. This proposal was not in line with Diocesan policy on Team Ministries, proved unpopular locally, and has now been officially rescinded.

Instead the vision of Diocese and Deanery is for the person appointed to this benefice to work collaboratively in a free association of equals with their neighbouring two benefices as aLocal Ministry Group.

The Revd Capt Richard Priestley CA is half time Priest-in-Charge of one neighbouring benefice, Ashwick, Oakhill and Binegar, but is also half time Mission Enabler throughout all the parishes of the LMG, and will work closely with whoever is appointed here.

The recently appointed incumbent of Pilton, Croscombe, North Wootton and Dinder is the third incumbent within this LMG. Revd Christine Butler is keen to work to build collaborative ministry and good working relationships between clergy and parishes, and is looking to develop further the growing fellowship and mutual support in the LMG.

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BuildingsSt Peter & St Paul, Shepton Mallet

The Grade 1 listed parish church of Shepton Mallet has existed on its present site for more than a thousand years, developing from simple origins to the present fine building. Originally Saxon, it has developed with Medieval and Victorian changes. Of particular note are the wagon roof dating back to 1450 and the pulpit, dated 1550, carved out of one piece of Doulting stone. Fifteen years ago, a fine stained glass window commemorating the Millennium was installed. In the early '90s a restoration programme left the church in good condition and the 2012 quinquennial inspection has confirmed this.

The church is a light and airy building, with a large stained glass window on its west front. It can seat about 450 people mainly in solid oak pews. There are areas in the south-west and north-west corners used for children's play and prayer respectively.

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A project to restore the eight bells, clock and tower chambers was completed in 2008 and more recently nave floodlighting has been installed to illuminate the famous carvings of the wagon roof.

We have explored the feasibility of reordering thechurch building to incorporate modern seating, anupdated AV system and improved catering facilities.This is currently being considered by the PCC.

The church stands in a closed churchyard; however,on the east side is a recently extended andrefurbished garden of remembrance for theinterment of cremated remains.

The church is recorded in Simon Jenkins’ book'England’s Thousand Best Churches'.

Parish Rooms (Shepton)One hundred metres to the north west of the church lie our parish rooms – Peter Street Rooms. They can be approached from the church or directly from Peter Street itself. These rooms cater for meetings of up to 40 people on the ground floor with further office and meeting space on the third floor. There is a large kitchen, first-floor toilets, storage rooms anda ground floor toilet. The Kids' Den on the second floor is home to our Children's work whilst the young people hold their activities in 'the Cave'.

The rooms are available at subsidised rates for community use and may be used for meetingsand events by a range of organisations as well as the Church itself.

The parish office is situated in Peter Street Rooms and our part-time, salaried Benefice Administrator is there on Tuesdays and Fridays.

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“The service helps me connectwith God through the worship,

the Word and prayertime. Byfocussing on the words of theworship songs, hearing God’s

Word and spending time inprayer, it gives me an

opportunity to separate myselffrom the routine of life and

centre on God. The service givesme a feeling of being in touchwith the reality of God today.”


St Aldhelm, Doulting

There has probably been a church building on this site since before St Aldhelm first came in 700AD. There was major restoration in 1869 when the incumbent took most of the church down, rebuilt and extended it; it is Grade 1 listed. The two transepts pre-date this time and there are fine carved wooden angels in the roofs. The oldest part of the present church is the Norman arch of the north porch door.

The church seats about 120 in the nave and, when required, a further 80 in the transepts. Kitchen and toilet facilities have been installed in recent years. The bells were re-tuned and the bell frame renewed in 2002. Preservation work on the spire was carried out in 2010. The adjoining churchyard is open for the interment of cremated remains and burials. The oldest legible grave stone in the churchyard belongs to E Clipson who died in 1659.

The church building is in a good state of repair.

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St Bartholomew, Cranmore

The church was built in 1470 with the chancel being rebuilt in the 19th century and restored inthe Early English style. The windows are particularly fine examples and were restored in 1986. The funeral bier was constructed in 1597. The bell frame was renewed in 1999 and the tower now has a peal of six bells which are rung for 10:00 services. The church has recently completed its re-ordering programme. The adjoining churchyard is open for the interment of cremated remains and the churchyard extension is open for burials.

The Grade 1 church building is in a good state of repair. It has been reordered with a nave altar and disability handrail. The heating system is in good order. It has a delightful small organ.

Thanks to a determined and dedicated group of village people there is now a ring of six bells (restored and upgraded in time to ring in the Millennium) which is the envy of many local parishes. The band of ringers at Cranmore has become quite accomplished and is frequently joined by ringers from other towers to try complicated methods. Recently a new and previously un-rung method was devised and named 'St Bartholomew's Surprise Minor'.

The church flowers are provided and arranged by a talented and artistic group. Members of the congregation and others from the village make sure the church is always clean and welcoming.

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There is a lively desire to make more use of thebuilding within the community, but the lack ofrunning water and toilet facilities currently limitwhat can be offered.

Other Churches There is a Baptist Church, Roman CatholicChurch and Salvation Army Citadel in SheptonMallet; the Methodist Church shares thebuilding of St Peter and St Paul. There is also ahouse church congregation called 'Just Church'.A healthy ecumenical spirit is enjoyed in the town with close and respectful working relationships amongst the ministers. Members of the congregations regularly come together as part of the Christians Together initiative.

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“I value the opportunity for quietreflection and more time to hear

from God in the traditional serviceand I also value the opportunity to

worship freely in a more relaxedatmosphere at the Service of the

Word. This is where I feel at homeand have found my church family

and where I have the opportunity tobe fed emotionally and spiritually.”


FinancesGenerallyAll three churches have stable finances although they face the pressures that many Anglican churches currently experience; all have historic buildings so inevitably face demands on their resources. The parish share is fully paid-up to 2014. Whilst the three churches have successfully responded to the urgent and immediate issues arising from their most recent quinquennial inspections there will inevitably be expenditure required on upkeep; the most significant of these being the roof at Shepton Mallet. Whilst not urgent this needs work in the next ten years and we have taken advice on sources of grants to help with these expenses. Good responses to fund-raising for specific building repairs or for significant building projectshave occurred in the past.

All three churches continue to trust in God’s wonderful provision and are in reasonable financial positions. However with significant parish share and the current economic situation, it is probable all three PCCS will have budgetary challenges in the next three years.

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Shepton MalletThere are a committed group of families and individuals who regularly give to the church’s work. We have received an income of £100,000 or more for the last three years. Prior to this the church faced significant financial pressures. There was a general decline in income over the last five years as church attendances dropped but there remains a strong faithful group ofcommitted givers.

We employ an office administrator for 22 hours a week. In addition we have a verger who is paid a small honorarium and a cleaner for the Church Rooms. Following a period of limited giving, the PCC has decided this year it is important to commit to give a minimum of £5000 to God’s wider work with an aim of giving 10% for work outside the Parish in due course.

2012 2013 2014

IncomeRegular income from members 94,448 86,477 83,238

Legacies 0 0 6,000

Other income 10,241 15,004 11,500

Total Income 104,689 101,481 100,738

ExpenditureParish Share 62,262 61,859 55,959

Mission 5,999 4,017 1,567

Church Repairs and Improvement 2,570 1,275* 0*

Church Expenses 44,084 44,875 45,423

Total Expenditure 114,915 112,080 102,949

Net Surplus/Deficit -10,255 -7,211 -2,241

Church Funds – including restricted funds 44,956 37,743 35,528

* Church day-to day maintenance and repair costs are included in Church Expenses

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DoultingDoulting has a steady income and almost £20,000 in unrestricted funds.

2012 2013 2014

IncomeRegular Income from Members 8,976 9,452 10,418

Legacies 500 5,000

Other Income 13,304 12,057 13,549

Total Income 22,780 21,509 28,967

ExpenditureParish Share 11996 10796 10387

Mission 998 991 1024

Church Expenses 9,061 10,054 14,305


Net Surplus/Deficit +725 -333 +3135


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CranmoreIncome has been variable over the last three years with a particularly low income in 2013. Thiswas partly caused by the loss of some regular members of the congregation and significant building repairs being required. Weddings are a significant element of the other income.

2012 2013 2014

IncomeRegular income from members 10,428 6,092 10,498

Legacies 2,000 0 300

Other income 5,310 5,085 6,573

Total Income 17,729 11,177 17,371

ExpenditureParish Share 10,043 10,611 9,972

Mission 600 1,280 282

Church Repairs and Improvement 2,309 6,632 1,256

Church Expenses 2,383 2,517 2,720


Net Surplus/Deficit 2,394 -9,864 3,141


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Russ Parker

Healing Wounded Churches A Resource for Renewal

Profile Report on

The Benefice of Shepton Mallet

St. Peter and St Paul’s, Shepton Mallet St. Aldhelm’s, Doulting St. Bartholomew’s, Cranmore August 2014

Rev. Dr. Russ Parker: Project Director Pinewood House, Black Pond Lane, Lower Bourne, Farnham,

Surrey GU10 3NW [email protected] Tel: 07919335291

mailto:[email protected]

Introduction This Report forms a central part of a process called Healing Wounded Churches. The process is the result of an initial enquiry from the Priest in Charge of the Benefice, the Rev David Williamson. David shared his concerns regarding the difficulties he was encountering as Incumbent and the effects they were having upon the ability of the church to move forward in its God given mission. He included reflections on the various stories and issues shaping the Benefice and also the town of Shepton Mallet. He had come to the conclusion that some of the issues predated his arrival and that he had come to the conclusion that there were wounds affecting the health and forward moving of the church. We agreed that he would only invite me to host the process of Healing Wounded Churches following a discussion with Bishop Peter of Taunton and his agreement to this process. In addition he would seek the approval of the PCC before taking any action. The PCC duly approved this invitation and I also received a letter from Bishop Peter authorizing me to commence this process. Consequently I met with the Clergy and Wardens in April where I outlined the various stages of the process and agreed a timetable for the process to begin. I met with the joint PCCs of the Benefice on June 21st to offer an evening of teaching and an explanation of what the Healing Wounded Process would be. The evening involved some questions and answers and a full agreement of those present to support this process. I also preached at the Benefice Service on June 22nd and addressed the issue of Jesus speaking to churches in order to encourage those churches to take ownership of the blessings that enriched the church and the wounds that harmed the church. In addition I explained the importance of as many people as possible taking part in the process and volunteering to come forward for a listening session with one of my professional church listeners. This invitation was extended to former clergy and parishioners who had left the church for whatever reason. A total of 81 people took up the

offer to have a 50 minute listening session and others sent in emails or letters or talked with me on the telephone which brought the final total to 86 people. This Report is a summary of the majority issues raised in those listening sessions and therefore comprise the heart of this Report. No agenda has been added to this document other than those raised in the listening sessions. As far as possible, the personal opinions of all those who have taken part are not included and there is minimal mention of individuals as this would invite a polarization and deepening of divisions between those opinions. The nature of this process is to find good and honourable and healing ways for the church to own its stories and issues and not seek to apportion blame or accusations upon individuals in the mistaken conviction that this will help to heal the church of its wounds. Naturally each person is responsible for his or her own actions and there will be opportunities to address these in the concluding part of this process in September. I would like to record my thanks to all those who came forward to be listened to either directly or over the telephone or who submitted correspondence. How Best to Respond to this Report? The first response is to ask God “What do you want me to do in response to this Report that enables me to help my church move forward in the renewal of its life and flourish in its calling?” The second response will take the form of being given opportunities to appropriately take collective ownership of the church stories that are to be celebrated as well as those which are to be confessed and healed. The ethos of this part of the process is not to focus on individuals whom we consider to be at fault but

to take ownership of the legacies that remain in the church life. However, it is hoped that all individuals will take appropriate responsibility for their own actions and find the forgiveness and restoration they need. These two responses will be the agenda for the meeting on September 6th at 6pm when everyone will have had an opportunity to read this Report and decide what is a good response for them to make. The Listening Sessions Each session lasted 50 minutes and was led by a professional listener trained by the Acorn Christian Healing Foundation. With the permission of those taking part, notes were made of the conversations that form the heart of this Report. The sessions were based on 3 open questions that were asked. By ‘open’ we mean that we did not specify what kind of material the speaker should share. They were free to tell us all that they found good about their church, or anything they found to be a problem: it was their choice and whatever they said was welcomed. The 3 questions were as follows:

� What are the most important stories or issues currently

shaping your Church? NB Note the word current; this underlines the fact that we are interested in the live agenda of the church and if people chose to refer to the history of the church in order to connect to the present day agenda then it was their choice to do so.

� How are these stories or issues affecting you and the Church?

� What do you think you could do to help the Church move forward towards healing and reconciliation?

The Written Report The written Report will profile the main stories and issues raised offering observations and recommendations for resolving and reconciling differences where possible. Let me emphasize a point once more; the Report focuses on issues rather than opinions and individuals. The way forward for the church is not to discuss the many possible interpretations of how we got here but to find good ways to own the issues “as ours” and offer them to God. It is here that we find God’s power to change and be renewed. The Report will detail therefore those good issues, which we celebrate, and those painful or harmful stories which wound and which we own and confess as a church. This Report is to be made available to all the membership of the church plus everyone who took part in the interview process. The Shared Benefice Although the Benefice consists of three churches, the vast majority of people who attended the listening sessions came from Shepton Mallet. Six people came from Doutling and four from Cranmore. Whilst this does not lessen the significance of either the Doutling or Cranmore churches, I have chosen to consider them separately from the main focus whilst acknowledging that they will have common issues reported by the people from Shepton Mallet.

A general observation is that both St. Aldhelm’s and St. Bartholomew’s are happy to be in the Benefice with each other and Shepton Mallet. They have appreciated and valued the services of Clergy and Readers over a great number of years. Those who shared reported that both church communities more or less “get on with being church” as best they can. St. Aldhelm’s Doulting To Celebrate

� A good and friendly community who report being OK. � A successful Messy Church with over 30 children

attending. � A successful Flower Festival appreciated by the village. � A thriving Church Aided School. � They like and support their Incumbent. � A popular Voluntary Aided Church School.

To Heal

� An ageing population with not many volunteers to take on the work needed.

� Feel the lack of clergy at their services. St. Bartholomew’s Cranmore To Celebrate

� Friendly community. � Set up a Moving Forward Group to build the mission of

the church.

To Heal

� Church is declining in number as people leave the village. � Would like an increase in Clergy presence in the village. � Need to have better dynamic of leadership partnership

between Reader and Incumbent. � Need to find an additional Church Warden.

St Peter and St Paul’s, Shepton Mallet The Most Important Stories and Issues Please note that the items listed below are those that were shared by the majority who were interviewed. They in no way invalidate or reduce the significance of the other subjects raised. The major issues to emerge from the listening sessions were as follows:

1. The stories and legacies of the town of Shepton Mallet 2. The Church’s Character 3. Church Leadership 4. The Church’s relationship with Diocese of Bath and Well

1. Stories and Legacies of the town of Shepton Mallet To Celebrate

� Many reported that they liked living in the town and mentioned the good schools and in particular St. Paul’s Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School.

� Praise for the work of the Rev David Williamson in

building connections with the Town Council and Town’s Chamber of Commerce. The Rev Liz Smith was elected Woman of the Year by the town in recognition of her efforts.

To Heal

� The town struggles with a negative sense of self-worth. It was once prosperous but now considers itself to be eclipsed by Wells , Frome and Street. The advent of the nearby Retail Park has affected business in the town centre with the subsequent closure of shops in the High Street which looks neglected.

� The erecting of the Amulet building has had a negative effect on the appearance of the High Street as well as affecting a sense of isolation of the church to the town.

� Mention was made of the following historic and

contemporary events which together undermine any sense of well being in the town:

9 The Civil War violence. 9 The Monmouth Rebellion and the executions in the

Market Square. 9 The biggest Workhouse in Somerset. 9 The local prison with its execution of American

Servicemen at the end of the Second World War. NB. It should be noted that the Rev John Woolmer along with the Abbot of Downside and two Chaplains prayed over and within the prison and its effects and it was later remarked that the atmosphere in the town had improved.

2. The Church’s Character To Celebrate

� Mums and toddlers work and after school club.

� Good church weekend which encouraged those who attended.

� A legacy of good preachers.

� Good involvement with Churches Together. Alongside of

this must be mentioned the partnership with the Methodist community in the town who were welcomed to conduct their own service in the Parish Church.

� A church with a vision for reaching out to the community

and engaging in a range of social activities.

� A love and appreciation for the traditional form of services and liturgies.

� Attracting newcomers and non-churchgoers at the 11am

service. To Heal

� A strong awareness of being a divided community. This is largely focused upon the movement towards two different morning services, a traditional service and a more contemporary form of service with strong lay participation and leadership. There is the perception that the new service is better supported by the Incumbent and a subsequent conviction that the “traditionalists” feel

neglected. This has been enhanced by the stopping of the 8am 1662 Holy Communion service. However, it must be appreciated that the ending of this particular service was due to the to greatly reduced staff levels current in the church and was only carried out following consultation within the church and discussions within the PCC.

These divisions were also apparent in the church prior to the present Incumbent’s arrival.

� A critical spirit. Many reported that there was a strong

level of verbal hostility towards both the present and previous Incumbent. There is still a strong level of hurt and confusion regarding the manner in which Liz Smith resigned from the church.

� Declining numbers attending the services. This is long

term and began during the last few years of John Woolmer’s Incumbency.

� A decrease in people available to share in church

responsibilities, ministries and management. Shepton Mallet has only one Warden to support their Incumbent and church.

� Finances. With the decreasing number attending there

has been a decrease in income plus some people are said to have withheld their giving.

� Communication. A sense of confusion about where the

church is being led. Although the Church Vision Statement makes it very clear that the church is committed to change and moving forward to reach others this does not seem to be understood or owned by some of the church attenders. Many of the comments focused

upon the style of communication and the desire to have a more personal way of sharing the challenging and radical changes within the church rather than via emails and church notices.

� A perception that in moving the Methodist service to the

afternoon that they feel displaced in their connection with the Parish Church.

3. Church Leadership To Celebrate

� Rich legacy of healing ministry and informal services that attracted many people and involved a high degree of lay involvement.

� A team of Readers and retired clergy who have served the churches well especially during two interregnums.

� Present Incumbent welcomed to carry through the

objectives set down in the Parish Profile. Many shared their support for David in his leadership and his commitment to move the church forward into renewal and growth.

� David Williamson is a good preacher as are his associates

Richard and Mandy.

� Many reported on how they had been helped in times of need by their Incumbent.

� Appreciation for the work that David Williamson is doing

to build links with the Town Council, The Chamber of Commerce and other opportunities.

To Heal

� The levels of criticism and hostility towards the present Incumbent. Many have mentioned the noticeable decline in David’s health and wellbeing since coming to Shepton.

� The team of Clergy and Readers was greatly reduced upon David’s arrival in the Parish which has meant a serious reconsideration of duties and services as well as increased pressure upon the Incumbent.

� A lack of ownership of the goals set out in the Church

Vision Statement. This has been principally demonstrated in the amount of criticism leveled at the Incumbent for changing things without appreciating that all such changes were first discussed with the PCC before being implemented.

. � Many feel a lack of pastoral support from their Incumbent

and would like more time to be given to visiting them. Again, this must be considered in the light of the reduced staff and the lack of volunteers to join the pastoral visitation scheme.

� A sense of disconnect amongst the Readers who no longer

attend the staff meetings. It does need to be stated that there is a monthly wider staff meeting to which all Readers were invited to attend. At present one Reader attends and conveys the relevant issues discussed to the other Readers.

� A general feeling of hurt amongst some who have left

coming to church because the services they enjoyed have been cancelled or changed.

4. The Church’s Relationship with the Diocese of Bath and Wells A continual comment was that the church did not feel adequately supported from within the Diocese. However, not much content was given as to why this was felt. In part it reflects the overall sense of not being cared for which seems to be one of the major self -perceptions within the town. It also reflects the distress felt by the church during the lengthy interregnums as it proved difficult to attract people to the post of Incumbent. Another element of this is the conviction that not enough information was given to prepare the incoming Minister as to the ongoing problems concerning the town and the divisions within the church. Some reported that although Diocesan staff were informed of the serious decline in the Incumbent’s health and the extent of unrest within the church, this was not acted upon sufficiently. Recommendations for moving forward The following are to serve as points for reflection for the church and its leaders to consider. They are by no means binding and are only offered as an objective source for considering some ways of responding to the issues raised by the church. Building Community The church of St. Peter and St. Paul’s is in some pain as it finds itself a divided community. For the last thirty years it has been a church with a combination of traditional services and evangelical Bible teaching and charismatic life in the Spirit. These must not be played off against each other but honoured and brought closer together. Ways must be found of celebrating the differences of

churchmanship and giving appropriate care and nurture to both morning services. Many made reference to the thriving children’s and toddlers’ work. Two of those who came to the listening sessions were children and they described how well they liked the services provided for them. However, the children also attend various adult services and some people made mention of how they do not feel welcomed. I appreciate that children can be boisterous at times but I would encourage an attude and spirit of celebration and welcome. The church needs to value the vitality and potential of the young as well as the experience and wisdom of the older members of the church. There is a place for separate development but there is also a need for coming together as a family and this could prove very fruitful if explored imaginatively and embraced positively by all ages. The church is in great need of finding hope for its future and one of the steps in that direction is to encourage all ages to find ways of worshipping together if the church is truly going to grow itself as a family and faith community. Building Team By the time David Williamson had arrived his Clergy team had been reduced. As a result, it proved impossible to continue the same level of clergy ministry. There is a need therefore for more consultation with the Diocese to address this situation including any proposed changes in the Benefice. The church still enjoys the services of a number of Readers, some of whom may be retiring and some new ones who will be appointed in the future. I would encourage Readers to attend the monthly wider staff meeting in order to build a sense of collegiality and ownership of the Incumbent’s leadership in achieving the vision and goals laid out in the Church Vision Statement.

In the past the church has had a rich involvement of lay sharing in the day to day running of the church and its growth and outreach. This has noticeably dwindled over the last five years. Consequently there is a need to encourage more lay participation and especially to provide a full team of Wardens. Communication One of the constant issues to emerge in this process is the two way lack of communication between the leadership and the congregation about changes in direction, mission and governance in the church. This may be due to the very difficult and divisive times the church has recently passed through or it may signal the need to change the style of communication. Although there was a clear process of discussions, study days and written communications detailing the proposed changes in the minsitry of the Parish, the felt need in the church is to have a more personal connection when changes are happening. This promotes both a better understanding of the issues surrounding change and often decreases the level of complaint or gossip. Many who shared showed no sign of understanding the Church Vision Statement and the objectives set down within it by the PCC. It may help the church to move forward if the Church Vision Statement was given more opportunities to be shared and explained. On the other hand I do think it needs to be stated that everyone must show real commitment to attending these meetings and sharing their reflections of them. This would also help to eliminate the culture of gossip and hostility that has grown in the church. Connecting with the town of Shepton Mallet Much has been made of the sense of depression or lack of self-worth Shepton Mallet seems to convey. There have also been

suggestions of a hostile spirit influencing the town through its wounded history. As the church finds ways to rebuild its connections with the town it may well want to explore possible partnerships within the town to bring healing and renewal to the way the town perceives itself. Conclusion On behalf of my team of listeners, we want to say a big thank you to David Williamson and his Clergy staff and Wardens for their full cooperation in facilitating this programme. I wish to say a big thank you to Catherine Robinson and Nick Bennett for their assistance in this process and for being so cheerful and practical in ensuring that we had the privacy we needed to do our work and in keeping us well supplied with hot drinks and excellent meals supplied by Peppers! Finally, I want to say a massive thank you to all who came forward and shared their stories. This Report is the summary of what you have said. It is our hope and prayer that, in taking responsibility for the story that is your Church, God will pour out his healing and renewing grace and empower the churches to go forward and flourish in the ways that God intends it to do. Yours sincerely,

Rev. Dr. Russ Parker

People who had Listening Appointments Barry Newman Mike Gould Edwina Gould Joan Dixon David Dixon Wendi Davis Phil Hopper Tony Birbeck Sandra Freeborn Ivor Hughes Alison Maidment Mary Tester Emma Kendall James Kendall Martin Davis Vivien Goode David Crisfield Albert Owen Matthew Dawkins Nick May Sue May Sophie Wareham Richard Brook Jan Minchin Ellie Dawkins Rose Longman Sylvia Ingham John Ingham Judy Dear Mandy Priestley Sheena Brook Nick Bennett Helen Bennett Matt Dury Sheila Bays Adrian Candy Brian Neill Pam Neill Sylvia Birbeck Paul Vagg Alan Baker Molly Underwood Chloe Baker Roger Male Catherine Robinson Di Male Clive Pearson Richard Priestley Maggy Massey Paul Massey Ruth Lyde Vaughan Ives Alan Hodgson Joyce Hodgson Kirsteen Heselton Pat Penn Branden Heselton Samuel Davis Martha Davis John Lyde Betty Craig John Lees Joy Lees Rae Fulford Liz Smith Penny Farrell Ian Phillips Tom Handy Tony Cook Stephen Smith Mark Parsons Diane Parsons Elaine Brightwell Ros Baldwin David Williamson Julian Thompson Stella Schwarz Pat Williamson Sue Crisfield Gill Goodhall Jeff Petch-Harrison Rosemary Smith Telephone Conversations Bishop Peter Maurice Archdeacon Nicola Sullivan John Woolmer

Letters and emails received: John Woolmer Alan Baker Alan Eckroyd Andrew Rainsford Jeffrey Patch-Harrison A Total of 86 people took part


APPENDIX II

Associated websites and hyperlinks

SS Peter & Paul, Shepton Mallet www.peterpaul.co.uk

SS Peter & Paul, Facebook www.facebook.com/peterpaulshepton

Shepton Mallet Tourist Information visitsheptonmallet.co.uk

Doulting doultingvillage.wordpress.com

Cranmore www.cranmore-somerset.co.uk

Windsor Hill Wood www.windsorhillwood.co.uk

Youth with a Future www.ywaf.org.uk

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http://www.ywaf.org.uk/

http://www.windsorhillwood.co.uk/

http://www.cranmore-somerset.co.uk/

https://doultingvillage.wordpress.com/

http://visitsheptonmallet.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/peterpaulshepton

http://www.peterpaul.co.uk/

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