St Mary's is one of eleven Parish Churches within the Bride Valley and Chesil
Benefice. Other members are:
St Mary The Virgin, Burton Bradstock
St Michael and All Angels, Little Bredy
St Peter, Long Bredy
Chilcombe (dedication unknown)
St Mary The Blessed Virgin, Puncknowle
St Martin. Shipton Gorge
Holy Trinity, Swyre
St Nicholas, Abbotsbury
St Peter, Portesham
St Peter, Langton Herring
Rector: Reverend Andrew Rawling
Associate Priest: Reverend Margaret Preuss Higham
The Ministry
ST MARY’S CHURCH
Church business is dealt with on a day to day basis by the standing committee of the Parochial Church Council:
Chairman: The Rector
Churchwarden: Vacant
Secretary: Wendy: Firrell
Treasurer: Freddie Spicer
The full Parochial Church Council meets four times a year including the Annual Church Meeting in April.
The Council has adopted a policy whereby the church will embrace
community use. To that end the pews at the rear of the nave have been
removed and the floor there levelled to provide an open space for social
occasions. As a result of the generosity of many villagers, 50 upholstered
chairs were purchased to provide additional seating when required. A
hearing loop and sound enhancement system have been installed and a
professional recording of our organist Paul Cheater made so that a library
of hymns and other music can be played at St Mary’s, and other churches
in the Bride Valley, in the absence of an organist.
To complete the policy the redundant hall was demolished to provide some
car parking space and to create a vehicular access to the churchyard,. The
tower has been reordered, to provide a WC and small kitchen facility on
the ground floor with a staircase to a new mezzanine floor above.
The pattern of Worship currently in use on a monthly basis is Morning Worship at 9.30 a.m. with refreshments afterwards, Holy
Communion with hymns at 9.30 a.m. on the 2nd Sunday, Matins at 9.30 a.m. on the 3rd Sunday and Holy Communion at 9.30 a.m.
on the 4th Sunday; the service on a 5th Sunday varies and is usually a United Valley Service at one of the Valley Churches.
Copies of the Parish Magazine and Bride Valley News are available in the Church.
Safeguarding
St.
Mary’s
Church
takes
is
responsibilities
surrounding
the
safeguarding
of
children,
young
people,
and
adults
who
may
be
at
risk
very
seriously
and
works
in
partnership
with
the
Diocese
of
Salisbury
to
ensure
that
we
work
in
accordance
with
best
practice
at
all
times.
Our
Parish
Safeguarding
Policy
was
adopted
by
the
PCC
on
8th
May
2018
and
a
copy
of
it
is
available
on
the
shelf
inside
the
Church. It can also be downloaded from the Salisbury Diocese website: www.salisbury.anglican.org
If you have safeguarding concerns, our Parish Safeguarding contact is Paul Cheater 01308 482223, email:
cheaterprc@gmail.com. Alternatively if you have queries you may contact the Benefice Safeguarding Officer, Liz Slater, on 01308
897751 or by email at liz@ruddle.org.uk
The Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser is Heather Bland 07500 664800 email:
heather.bland@salisbury.anglican.org
Newsletter October 2025
VILLAGE AMENITIES
Many congratulations and thanks to Freddie Spicer and Diana Cheater who raised a total of £1,506 between them for “Ride &
Stride”. A major achievement! Half of this total will be returned to St. Mary’s while the other half goes to the Dorset Historic
Churches Trust.
The new Community Church at LATCH got off to a good start at the end of September and will continue on a monthly basis on
the fourth Sunday (23rd) at 4.00 p.m. It is a chance to meet people and share some relaxed and informal fellowship together,
followed by tea and cake. Why not come along and give it a try?
Our Remembrance Service is on Sunday 9
th
November at 4.00 pm, - a quiet reflection in words and music. Two minutes
silence will be observed at the War Memorial on Tuesday 11
th
at 11.00. Attendance is very much encouraged and everyone is
welcome. As we commemorate the 80
th
anniversary of the end of WWII, seven wooden crosses representing the seven Litton
Cheney inhabitants who lost their lives in that war will be inaugurated in St Mary’s. These crosses, made by Russell and Chris
Randall, will take their place alongside the nine crosses representing those lost in WWI – Always Remembered.
Later in the month on Advent Sunday, 30
th
November at 4.00 p.m. our “Darkness to Light” service of music and readings will
set the scene for the Advent season.
If you would like the church to be floodlit any day for a special occasion for £5, please contact Freddie Spicer (482617)
