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Upcoming Events and News

Welcome to The Benefice of The Huntspills and Mark.

In addition to the schedule of events shown on the right, you can find further details about upcoming events below and a monthly calendar at the bottom of this page.

If you are looking for social events planned for the year ahead visit our Social Calendar 

For a snap shot of village life, check out Gallery: East Huntspill   Gallery: West Huntspill   Gallery: Mark

We look forward to seeing you soon. 

Social Events and Special Services      Community Gatherings  News  Foodbank   Bishop Michael   Revd Chris’ Blog    Huntspill News  Heritage Project West Huntspill  Church Hall 

Social Events and Special Services

If you are looking for social events planned for the year ahead visit our Social Calendar 

To find out more about upcoming events in East Huntspill visit Huntspill.org   or email allsaintscommunitygroup@outlook.com  to receive monthly flyers.   

Wednesday 19th November Bible Course All Saints Church, Mark Church Hall

Final Session 
3pm Wednesday 19th November Mark Church Hall  (please contact for information about Tuesday’s meeting)
New to the Bible or want to go deeper? The Bible Course is for you. It shows how the key books, famous characters and epic events form one BIG story, from Genesis to Revelation. The course also provides tools and skills that help apply the Bible to everyday life.
This eight-session course is ideal for groups. Each session includes video content, discussion time, personal reflection and daily readings. Explore the BIG story and discover its relevance for today. 

For more information or to book your place, email markchurchbiblecourse@gmail.com   or contact Yo on 07725 149581.   Visit biblesociety.org.uk/thebiblecourse   to find out more.  

Saturday 22nd November Christmas Bazaar, Mark

Join us in Mark Church for our Christmas Bazaar

Saturday 22nd November

11-2pm~Craft stalls, Cakes, Raffle, Games,

Plus Tea, Coffee, Mince Pies and and Sausage Rolls with non-alcoholic Mulled Wine

for more information contact  641225   641308 

Saturday 6th December Christmas Bazaar, East Huntspill 

All Saints Church Christmas Bazaar

11am Saturday 6th December

Fun for all the family

Games, Art and Crafts, Stalls, Refreshments and much much more

Come and grab a Christmas bargain or two

Advent and Christmas Services

Advent Service

Holy Cross Church, Mark

5pm 30th November

Advent service led by choir to start the Christmas season  

Advent Peace

30 minutes of quiet,
in a candle lit church
No service, no hymns,
no sermon,
just peace
A time to be….

Tuesday 2nd December 6.30pm – 7pm at St Peter & All Hallows Church, West Huntspill 

Tuesday 9th December 6.30pm – 7pm at Mark Church 

Christingle Service

Sunday 7th Dec 3pm at St Peter & All Hallows Church, West Huntspill

Please return any Children’s Society boxes or Collection candles to this Service. 

Thank you.

Carols by Candlelight

Followed by light refreshments, All Welcome

Friday 19th December  7pm at Holy Cross Church, Mark

Sunday 21st December 3pm  at All Saints Church, East Huntspill 

Sunday 21st December 6pm at St Peter & All Hallows Church, West Huntspill

Crib and Christingle Service

Sunday 21st December 9.30am at Holy Cross Church, Mark

Christmas Eve 4pm at All Saints Church, East Huntspill

Christmas Eve 4pm at St Peter & All Hallows Church, West Huntspill

Please return any Children’s Society boxes or Collection candles to this Service. Thank you.

Midnight Mass

Christmas Eve 11.15pm

St Peter & All Hallows Church West Huntspill

All Welcome 

Friends & Family Communion Service

Christmas Day 10.00am

Holy Cross Church, Mark

Friends & Family Communion Service

All welcome

Community Gatherings

Come along to one of our socials for a coffee, cake and chat. For further information Community Gatherings  and Huntspill Hub 

Daily 10am- 4pm, Huntspill Hub Honesty Café

Monday 10.30 -12noon, Coffee Morning, West Huntspill

Tuesday 10.00-12noon, Craft and Chatter, Mark

Wednesday 10.30-12noon, Coffee Morning, Mark

Saturday 10.30-12noon, Coffee Morning, East Huntspill

3rd Saturday 10.30-12noon Monthly Cake Sale, East Huntspill

News

For a snapshot of village life, check out Gallery: East Huntspill   Gallery: West Huntspill   Gallery: Mark

Saving the Heritage, Sustaining the Community. Celebrating a decade of progress! Thank you burnham-on-sea.com’ for the lovely photos!

On Saturday 19^th July 2025 a celebration was held at The Huntspill Hub, St Peter & All Hallows Church, West Huntspill, to mark the official end of the building project that was instigated when the Church was at risk of closure due to falling masonry.

Rev Tonya Nixon, former Rector of The Huntspills & Mark initiated this decade of change, and supported by their faithful church congregation, a small but effective team consisting of Project Leader David Lemon, Grants Manager Sara Puddy and Treasurer Mel Wall carried it forward through an extended vacancy and the multiple challenges of covid! 

Eventually, with the assistance of a vast professional network, all was in place for the building work to take place. Commencing with the internal refurbishment enabled the Café to be opened early in the process, and thanks to Activities Co-ordinator, Ginny Power and The Social Committee led by Margaret Roper, a variety of activities have already been embarked upon to support the local community.

The restored tower now stands safe and secure, with stonework repaired and reinforced. Inside, the removal of traditional pews at the back of the church allowed for a reordering of the space, including the installation of new flooring, a modern kitchen, and accessible toilets. The church now hosts a weekly community café every Monday morning, attracting 50–60 visitors, and with monthly village agent attendance.

There is also an Honesty Café available for visitors throughout the week (10am – 4pm), where they can make themselves drinks and explore the church’s history via new touchscreen displays and heritage booklets, part of the church’s new role as a heritage hub. Free Wi-Fi is also now available for church visitors.

Project Leader, David Lemon said: “It’s been quite a journey — we’ve faced real challenges, but what has been achieved is fantastic. The community’s wonderful support and enthusiasm have made all the difference.”

Rector, Rev Christine Judson, thanked everyone who has guided and supported this venture – among them the professionals and the volunteers, church and community members, Diocesan and National Heritage Lottery staff. Reflecting on all that has been achieved, Rev Chris said: “This church has 800 years of history behind it – proclaiming the love of Christ through word and deed. Thanks to the National Heritage Lottery and all who have provided match funding, we have been able to protect this heritage. Now an equally important and exciting future lies ahead, to which we look with great hope – trusting in God and working together with our whole community.”

Please click to read all about the project West Huntspill church Final Evaluation Report

VE Celebrations at the Huntspill Hub

VE Day celebration which was enjoyed by 81 people from the village and surrounding area.

The singing was lead by the Serendipity Singers, with old News Reel footage of the celebrations at the time.

Visit West Huntspill Gallery to see more  Gallery: West Huntspill   

Licensing of Rev Margaret Hayward service held at All Saints, East Huntspill 

My name is Margaret Hayward and I am delighted to be part of the ministry team in the Benefice of the Huntspills and Mark.

I was  licensed as an Associate Priest in this benefice on 22^nd January 2025 and look forward to being part of rector reverend Christine’s ministry team and work part-time as directed by her.

Freda Carey visits East Huntspill 

Freda Carey, of the Church Mission Society, visited East Huntspill Church and gave us all an in sight in to her work in Pakistan. 

All Saints Church, East Huntspill  decorating completed

Check out the video for a views of All Saints you don’t normally see and more in our gallery! Gallery: East Huntspill  

Ashley Fox MP visits Huntspill Hub, West Huntspill

Ashley Fox MP for Burnham & Bridgwater visits the Huntspill Hub at St Peter & All Hallows Church, West Huntspill

Burnham RNLI’s helm Matt Edwards tied the knot with fiancé Abbey,

After their traditional service and the signing of the register, they left the church to see a group of lifeboat crew and well-wishers were formed in two lines outside the church door with an archway of oars.

The happy couple walked to the end of the lines accompanied by congratulatory applause from lifeboat volunteers and wedding guests.

Thank you burnham-on-sea.com’ for the lovely photos! Burnham on Sea .com

Ecclesiastical Insurance 

The next time that you renew your home insurance why not get a quote from ecclesiastical

Call 0345 777 3322  or www.ecclesiastical.com/home-insurance/

Each time one of our community takes out a home insurance policy with     ecclesiastical, they will donate a £130 to our church, just by referencing TRUST 130 on the telephone or  using promotion code TRUST 130 online

One of the UK’s most trusted home insurance providers and a ’Which?’ Best Buy

Enjoying the countryside 

Our local Police Officer, PC Tracey Jones, has asked that we share the following information concerning livestock as they have been responding to problems recently along these lines.

We have also found these guidelines to help make our area safe for all.

Foodbank

Harvest Festival Services Support Highbridge Area Foodbank

In September, All Saints Church, East Huntspill, and St Peter & All Hallows Church, West Huntspill held their Harvest Festival Services. As part of these celebrations, gifts were collected for our local foodbank. Highbridge Area Foodbank is managed and operated entirely by volunteers. They pack emergency food parcels for single people, couples and families. These parcels contain sufficient non-perishable food and drink to provide 3 meals a day for 3 days for every member of the household. 

As well as food, when needed they are able to provide toiletries (toilet rolls are included in the standard parcels), pet food, laundry & cleaning items, nappies and sanitary wear. Last year they provided the equivalent of 23,000 meals, a third of which went to children. They also fund a financial inclusion service which has been of great benefit to many of their Foodbank clients. 

The foodbank welcomes donations of in-date, non-perishable food, excluding baby formula or items containing alcohol. Collection baskets for in-store purchases can be found in Burnham’s Tesco and Asda in Highbridge. Other donations are received during Foodbank sessions at the Methodist Church in Burnham. In addition to food donations, they value the financial support given from our local community. Currently they need to spend in the region of £1,000 a month on additional food stock.

Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way to our Harvest Festivals. Maxine Bashford, from Highbridge Area Foodbank received the gifts that were collected and said: “We are grateful to everyone who supports our Foodbank in anyway. Such support makes a positive difference to the lives of our neighbours in difficult times. Thank you”

We support Highbridge Area Foodbank and donations can be left in all three Churches.

For further information please visit highbridgearea.foodbank.org.uk

Thank you for your support

Bishop of Bath and Wells: Refreshing our diocesan vision

Our Diocesan Vision: In response to God’s immense love for us we seek to be God’s people living and telling the story of Jesus.
We seek to live this story as disciples of Jesus Christ in the world and to tell it, both in sharing the good news and by the way in which our lives speak about Him.

Bishop Michael has identified four areas that might help us focus our activity as we live out our vision:
• Valuing and cherishing the people and resources we already have
• Developing new Christian worshipping communities
• Sharing in ministry and leadership
• Deepening and growing faith

You can hear Bishop Michael sharing his thoughts on refreshing our vision:

Visit Bath and Wells website to find out more

St Peter and All Hallows Church Heritage Project  

Find out more under our Heritage Section Heritage Project   and Huntspill Hub 

As the project draws to an end, over 10 years since the formation of the Now and Beyond Group that was formed to look at where the Church was and where we wanted it to be, I can reflect with some joy for the journey we have been on and the position we find ourselves now in. This has been a community project driven by the two surveys which engaged the whole village. Read the latest progress report in full Heritage Project

The Benefice Church Halls

All Saints Church Hall, East Huntspill

Did you know that you can hire East Huntspill Church Hall for £25 per session? This includes heating and use of the kitchen. Ideal for children’s parties, family gatherings and other social events. Regular users £17.50 per session.
To book or for further details please contact Booking Clerk Ruth Edwards 01278 784329  easthuntspillchurchhall@hotmail.com

Balliol Hall, West Huntspill

The Hall is available for hire to members of the public and is a fantastic venue for events and occasions, such as parties, fund raising events, meetings, wedding receptions, indoor sports, clubs etc.
Its position right next to the Church makes it particularly convenient for refreshments before or after events at the Church.
There are two function rooms, the Main Hall and the School Room, as well as modern kitchen facilities.

For more information visit The Balliol Hall

Holy Cross Church Hall, Mark

Mark Church Hall is a small hall with a kitchen, toilets and a stage. Perfect for meetings or a party.

To book, or for further details please ring Peter Higman on 01278 641479