As many in the village will know, the Revd Kenneth Cross, who was ‘Vicar’ of the parishes of Wootton Courtenay, Dunster, Timberscombe and Alcombe (the group of parishes known as the Grabbist Hill Benefice) recently left to live in Scotland. We are delighted that the Revd Nicola Butt, who worked with Kenneth but has a particular responsibility for ministry in Timberscombe and Wootton Courtenay, is still with us.
A replacement for Kenneth will be chosen soon and to help make the right choice, there will be a meeting in January 2027 for representatives from the whole Benefice (that is every church) to agree on what is needed, so that Kenneth’s replacement will know the hopes and aspirations of the Benefice as a whole. However, before the January meeting, it is important that we, as the parish of Wootton Courtenay, articulate our own vision about how we see All Saints’ Church being faithful to God and serving the community of Wootton Courtenay. Is there more that can be done? What resources are required to help us do it? After this and wider consultation, our representatives will be ready to feed Wootton Courtenay’s vision into the Benefice meeting next year. (Everyone who would like to is welcome to attend that meeting on 16th January. The venue yet to be decided).
So, on Sunday, 15th November, after the Songs of Praise service, there will be a brief, informal chat over coffee and cake, to begin drawing up the wish list and priorities of All Saints’ Church. All are welcome – the Church belongs to the whole village. We will begin the meeting around 12 noon, after the service that starts at 11am. If you will not be at the service, you are still welcome to join us around noon. There will be coffee and cake for all. The temperature of the church will be a determinant of the length of the meeting, but it should be no longer than half to three-quarters of an hour.
