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.
Sunday 5th October Pet Service Holy Cross Church, Mark Church
Pet Service
Holy Cross Church, Mark
9.30am Sunday 5th October
Please come and bring you pet, all welcome
Wednesday 15th October, All Saints Church Mark, East Huntspill
8th session of 8
3pm Wednesday 15th October All Saints Church Hall, East Huntspill (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.
Friday 17th October All Saints Supper, East Huntspill
Celebrate All Saints with great company and good food.
7pm for 7.30pm start.
Tickets £7.50 per person, please bring your own drink.
Contact Sara 01278 788665 or Sue 01278 786790 to reserve your ticket.
For more information, please contact us via email allsaintscommunitygroup@outlook.com
Sunday 19th October Harvest Festival Service, Holy Cross Church Mark
Holy Cross Church, Mark
9.30 Sunday 19th October
Harvest Festival Service
Donations for Food bank
All Welcome!
The Bible Course, Tuesday 21st and
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 19th 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 22nd 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
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
Rev Chris’ Blog,
October 2025 ‘All God’s Creatures’
Her name was Muttley, and she was my pet goat! To be honest, she was a bit stand-off-ish at first, and it took a while for us to get to know each other. A fine brown and white Toggenburg, with a very determined attitude – she taught me all manner of things: the obvious ones about how to look after her, but also when to stand well clear…. Over time we grew together, and she even won a prize at my school pet show!
I believe that pets play a very special role in our lives – whether they are the more ‘normal’ cat, dog, fish, mouse, hamster, rabbit or the rather more unusual tarantula, octopus, axolotl or sugar glider. Being responsible for another living being is an important lesson in life – supporting it, caring for it and enjoying its company can be challenging, satisfying and fun!
Maybe you had a pet when you were a child? Maybe you have a pet now? They can be great company, though I do hold with the saying ‘A dog has an owner but a cat has a servant!’
St Francis of Assisi is known as the Patron Saint of Animals, and is celebrated on 4th October. This Italian Saint is renowned for his compassion for all animals, as well as his rejection of wealth and privilege and his inspiring of the Franciscan Religious Orders. Often pictured surrounded by a variety of animals, St Francis had a deep respect for all living creatures, and continues to inspire us today.
On October 5th we will be holding a Pet Service at Mark Church, at 9.30am. If you have a pet and are able to bring it with you, please do! If you can’t bring your actual pet, but would like to bring a picture of it – that would be great. If you don’t have a pet, but would like to – maybe bring a picture of the pet you’d like to have? And if pets are really not your thing, do come anyway and help us celebrate the good they can do for others….ALL ARE WELCOME! We hope to follow suit at East Huntspill and West Huntspill Churches next year.
God bless you, and all pets everywhere!
Rev Chris
The Huntspill News
The Huntspill News is now available in printed form or an electronic version View this month’s publication (PDF)
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