Author: Lesley Webb

Dear all

Firstly, I’m sure you’ll all now be aware of the appointment of a new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally. I am delighted that an appointment has been made, and we all must hold her in our prayers in these challenging times.

On Sunday coming (Harvest), may I encourage you if you are coming to the Benefice Service to come early to St Michael the Archangel, Alcombe at 9.30 if you wish to have a chance to meet Bishop Michael as he will be leaving after the service sharp, as soon after 11 as he can to get to Timberscombe for Messy Church which all are also welcome to when there’s another chance to meet the Bishop.

Also, he will be bringing Archbishop Albert Chama, primate of the Central African province and bishop of Lusaka, who will also be preaching in Alcombe.

On Monday 13th, there are two other opportunities to meet the Bishop, one the Coffee Afternoon at St George’s Dunster and the other the Meet and Greet at Wootton Courtenay Village Hall.

Kenneth

Our Harvest Service and Supper was a brilliantly organised and well attended evening on the last Sunday of September. Our thanks are due to Rev Nicola for liaising with Allan and putting together a harmoniously themed service based on Hope Bourne and her love of Exmoor in autumn. The church looked absolutely stunning with the floral arrangements all around, which were suitably autumnal and a wide and generous selection of garden produce as well as perishable goods to donate afterwards to a local Minehead care home, Broadlands, and the Food Cupboard. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this in any way.

The Village Hall was full for the supper and a number of people have commented on the wonderful spread of food on offer. None of this could have happened without the brilliant organisational skills of Jenny Gratton and her particular helpers on the evening, Sue O’Connell and Marion Moncrieff.  Although all the PCC worked hard to make this as good a community event as is possible for Harvest, there is always someone who takes on the responsibility for planning every aspect of an event, and so we are deeply appreciative of Jenny who ran this like clockwork!

This was a wonderful community event and was enjoyed by all. Thank you to everyone who supplied the delicious and varied food, set up the hall with beautiful flower arrangements on each table, cleared the hall at the end of the evening and washed the dishes.

Donations received, after expenses, totalled £443.50. This will be evenly split between church funds and the West Somerset Food Cupboard. We hope that the Food Cupboard will use the donation of £221.75 to help with their work of building food resilience across West Somerset.

Thank you to everyone once again.

Don’t forget Gardening Club this Monday, at 7.30pm in the church. Our speaker this evening is Ken Allan who is coming from the West Somerset Bee Keepers Association to talk about bees. These fascinating insects are extremely important to us and it will be interesting to learn about them and what we can do to help the species survive.

There will be refreshments afterwards and a raffle. Don’t forget your best flower for the competition.

Entrance £1 for members, £3 for visitors.

Hope to see you there.

Elisabeth, Pauline, Carrol and Erica

Grabbist Benefice Bulletin October 2025

Harvest Festival Dunster

VISIT OF THE RIGHT REVD MICHAEL BEASLEY,

BISHOP OF BATH AND WELLS, TO THE GRABBIST HILL BENEFICE
Sunday 12th October
9.30am Meet and Greet in the Narthex at St Michael the Archangel, Alcombe. All welcome.
10am Benefice Service in Alcombe with Bishop Michael. All welcome.
11.30-12 noon Bishop to visit Timberscombe for Messy Church. All welcome.
Monday 13th October
1pm Lunch with Clergy job share (venue tbc)
2.10pm Assembly at Timberscombe First School
3pm Meeting with Tracey Staples regarding Safeguarding
3.30pm Afternoon Tea in St George’s Dunster (with the Dunster Friday Coffee morning folk)
4.15pm Gathering with Young People and Families in St George’s Dunster.
5.30pm Meet and Greet in Wootton Courtenay Village Hall. All welcome.
6pm Light Tea with all benefice Churchwardens/ Deputies & Treasurers in Wootton Courtenay Village Hall
7pm Joint PCC meeting in Wootton Courtenay Village Hall