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 August 2025
Photo by Claire Moore 3_7_2021
VILLAGE FACILITIES
PARISH COUNCIL
ABOUT LITTON CHENEY
VILLAGE FACILITIES
LOCAL SERVICES
VILLAGE INFORMATION
On Saturday 6
th
September we will be holding a Village Café at LATCH in aid of St. Mary’s. Grand Draw tickets are on sale
around the village now, so do buy plenty! On the day there will be tombola, produce, cakes and local art as well as the popular
bacon butties. Also see separate poster.Buildings like St. Mary’s need constant maintenance as well as loving care so please do
join us on the day to help raise plenty of money for the upkeep of the church and churchyard.
Also coming up, a new initiative “Community Church” at LATCH on 28
th
at 4.00 pm. We hope families and others who would
prefer a less formal approach to worship will come along and try it out. More details nearer the time.
Dorset Historic Churches Ride and Stride 2025
Calling all cyclists, and walkers. This year’s event will take place on Saturday 13
th
September. Have a good day out in the
countryside pedalling or walking to as many or as few of the many Dorset historic churches as your mood takes you; get yourself
sponsored (complete a form with cash donations or use JustGiving online) - the object being to raise money for the preservation
of the county’s historic church buildings. Half the money raised comes back to the village for the upkeep of our church.
Contact Freddie Spicer (482617 or fandspicer@gmail.com) or Kathryn Brooks (482548 or brookskj@btinternet .com) for details
for taking part. If not walking or riding please sponsor someone who is.
If you would like the church to be floodlit any day for a special occasion for £5, please contact Freddie Spicer (482617)
