Reverend Caroline Ralph / 2015
We are hoping for a House for Duty priest who:
- Is able to communicate the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to people at varying stages of their Christian faith (or none) in a way that is understandable, infectious and transformational.
- Will work collaboratively with our Rector and other members of the ministry and staff teams, PCCs, Benefice Administrator and Treasurer.
- is committed to supporting and enhancing Christian life in our rural area.
- is an active and engaging leader able to assist in the development of the full benefits of Benefice life whilst respecting the unique and special nature of the worship in each Parish.
- is willing to embrace, engage in, and enjoy community life by being visible, approachable and available, exercising pastoral care and visiting the sick, the elderly , those in distress, to offer spiritual comfort and support.
- will engage with the Collective Worship at Timberscombe CE First School and Dunster First School.
- Can take a leading role as an accessible and engaging communicator with the people of the Benefice, helping them in their spiritual development.
- is blessed with a good sense of humour, wisdom, candour and humility.
- is a good communicator, using whatever form of contact seems most appropriate, including email.
Thank you for reading the profile of this lovely benefice. We have six churches and five parishes in a setting that has all the best qualities of the sea and hills of Exmoor. People are proud of their communities and enjoy living here. For some, family ties go back hundreds of years. We are looking forward into the twenty-first century and what that will mean for this benefice and the deanery. If you have any questions or would like to visit informally, please contact me.
Revd. Caroline Ralph
Incumbent:
The Rectory
Church Lane
Carhampton
Minehead
Somerset
TA24 6NT
Tel: 01643 821812
Training;Westcott HouseCambridge 2004-2006, including one term at Seabury Western Seminary, Chicago Illinois, 2005
Ordained;Deacon 2006, Priest 2007
Licensed to benefice;August 13th 2013
Previous Pastoral & Parochial Experience: Served title in The Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross Crediton, Diocese of Exeter, 2006-2010, Vicar of St Peter’s Harborne, Diocese of Birmingham 2010-2013
The Dunster Benefice
The Dunster Benefice lies within the Exmoor Deanery in the Diocese of Bath and Wells. It comprises the five parishes and six churches of Carhampton, Dunster, Timberscombe, Withycombewith Rodhuish and Wootton Courtenay.
The Benefice lies within the Exmoor Deanery in the Diocese of Bath & Wells.
The benefice is in a primarily rural environment and straddles the boundary of Exmoor National Park. The Park, with its moorland and coastal scenery offers opportunities for riding, walking and other sporting activities. There is a Church of England First School at Timberscombe and a First School at Dunster which has links to the church. The seaside town of Minehead is only a few miles away, with all the facilities a medium-sized town provides including a secondary school and a small theatre. Taunton and Bridgwater, with rail links, are twenty miles or so distant. The Devon towns of Barnstaple and Tiverton are also within easy reach.
Population and Electoral Rolls
Population ER NSA
Carhampton 992 50 30
Dunster86265 25
Rodhuish circa 7018 9
Timberscombe5144515
Withycombe29955 9
Wootton Courtenay24045 15
The Churches
St John the Baptist, Carhampton
St John the Baptist: The Rood Screen St John the Baptist
The parish of Carhampton stretches from woodland and heath high onthe Brendon Hills, through sloping farmland to flatlands bordering the sea. The population isconcentrated in the village of Carhampton, with its various amenities such as the village hall,recreation centre, cricket ground, public house, shop and post office. It includes the seaside hamlet of Blue Anchor, with its holiday facilities, long sandy beach and promenade. At Blue Anchor, the West Somerset Steam Railway, with its station and historic signalling level crossing, attracts many visitors.
The parish contains a social cross section, for it has many attractive houses and cottages as well as alarge element of social housing. Carantoc, the sheltered housing development far pensioners, iscentrally placed in the village. Carhampton is an active, growing village with several societies and organisations, often meeting in the village hall. On January 17th each year the famous annual Wassailing ceremony takes place in Community Orchard.
The very attractive church, dedicated to St John the Baptist, was built mainly in the fifteenth century and restored substantially between 1862 and 1864: priests are recorded from 1297. A special feature is the splendidly painted early fifteenth century rood screen. The building is in a good state of repair following full-scale restoration and most recently engaged in substantial refurbishment providing a toilet, a servery and new heating. It is lovingly maintained by a dedicated band of volunteers. The churchyard is one of the largest in the Diocese and has been dedicated as an area of natural wildlife promoting flora and fauna in conjunction with the Somerset Wildlife Trust. Maintenance is carried out by a small band of dedicated villagers.
Average attendance for worship on a Sunday morning is 25-30, with figures closer to 70 during the festivals. An encouraging addition to our service pattern has been Café Church, which has become a time for refreshments, fun and worship. Informal morning prayers are held most mornings and there is a box for prayer requests in the Prayer Corner. The Patronal Festival is celebrated annually on the 24th June. There is a loyal, hardworking team of helpers who assist in various ways (sacristans, servers, sidespersons, readers, cleaners, flower arrangers etc) and who ensure the church is well run and that the building and the churchyard are kept in good repair.
There are a number of social and fund-raising events held throughout the year, attended by both church and nonchurch-goers which have done much, particularly through the provision of refreshments at the various functions - to bind our community together. Coffee is served after Sunday services and there are monthly coffee mornings from March to November. A monthly newsletter is delivered to each household and keeps the village informed of church and village matters. The church tower has 6 bells which a dedicated band rings for services.
We are fortunate in the number and fellowship of the people who keep our church alive. At St John the Baptist we always provide a welcome for visitors and newcomers, and as a result, the congregation is growing steadily.
The Parish and Priory Church of St George, Dunster
The Parish and Priory Church of St George, Dunster
St George, Dunster: the Parish Church St George, Dunster: the Priory Chapel
Dunster is a mediaeval village with a history stretching back into the Iron Age. Until the 1930s, it was considered a town, with its own police station and magistrates’ court but, as the importance of neighbouring Minehead grew, so its status declined. Dunster was once a very wealthy borough with a thriving wool trade and the High Street is where the wool merchants had their houses. Many of these are now either shops or hotels. The village is dominated by the presence of Dunster Castle. The castle was owned by the Luttrell family, lords of the entire Dunster estate, from the beginning of the fifteenth century until the 1950s, when the estate was sold off to pay death duties. In 1975 it was passed to the National Trust and has now become one of the primary tourist attractions in the area. The magnificent Yarn Market in the High Street, built in the early seventeenth century by George Luttrell is a fine reminder of Dunster’s history. There is also a working corn mill.
St George’s was once a part of a Benedictine priory; a daughter cell of Bath Abbey. With the dissolution of the monasteries, ownership of the Priory Church passed to the Luttrell family who own it to this day. The ownership gives the family the right to hold such services as they wish in the Priory (or Luttrell) Chapel. The tower, which was extended to its present height in 1443, contains, besides the clock, a carillon and a ring of eight bells. The carillon plays at four-hourly intervals throughout the day and night, with each day of the week having its own particular tune. There is a strong team of ringers. The Brycesan organ, which was reconstructed by Hill, Norman and Beard, has recently been restored. Our Director of Music leads an inspirational and enthusiastic choir with an introit or anthem on many Sundays. There are special choral services throughout the year and organ and instrumental recitals.
Church attendance varies considerably depending on the tourist season and special choral services. There is a core of committed people who endeavour to keep this large church running. However, there is the problem of an ageing and dwindling congregation and the church is reliant upon the tourist trade for visitors. The church is the size of a small cathedral and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. There is huge potential here to develop ministry to tourists as a place of pilgrimage. The PCC have recently installed a new sound system and continue to look at building toilets and a servery within the church in order to promote its future worship, mission and ministry.
Dunster is blessed with a First School which visits the church regularly for services, concerts and educational purposes. The local District Scouts and Guides come to church for their annual St George’s Day Parade. The church is an important venue for various events throughout the year, including Baptisms and Weddings. It hosts concerts for the Minehead & Exmoor Music Festival, the Two Moors Festival and a variety of choral events, including the annual charitable event, Dunster by Candlelight.
St Nicholas, Withycombe
The Church of St Nicholas, Withycombe St Nicholas
The Church of St Nicholas is situated in the centre of the rural village of Withycombe and its prominent white painted tower can be seen from the main Minehead/Taunton road. Withycombe, which has a population of approximately 300, is currently undergoing a period of considerable change whereby the arrival of a number of young families promises to invigorate a hitherto ageing community.
Traditionally, employment has been based around 3 farms and, whilst farming still flourishes, the population is now a mixture of retired persons, farm workers, and young families who travel to work and school in the nearby larger towns. In common with many rural communities there is no longer a village school or shop. However, Withycombe does boast an excellent and well-used village hall and, in consequence, there is a good community spirit with a variety of activities for all age groups.
The Church has recently undergone extensive external renovation and re-painting and future plans include the proposed addition of toilet facilities and a small Quiet Garden in the corner of the churchyard. Internally there is a striking carved rood screen similar to those seen in churches at Dunster and Carhampton. Over the years the Church has benefitted from several gifts including the three-manual organ, a digital sound system and a fine metal sculpture of the Patron Saint Nicholas created by the renowned local artist, Rachel Reckitt. The bell tower has a ring of four bells. Ringing is currently undertaken by arrangement with the Tower Captain of the nearby Carhampton Church.
Sadly, the congregation has declined in recent years and the current average weekly attendance is 15. However, the influx of younger persons into the community is encouraging for both the village and the Church. There is a dedicated group of lay persons who support the Rector including a Sacristan, Server and Sidespeople.
Withycombe is situated on the popular MacMillan Way and many visitors visit the Church and avail themselves of a popular free cup of tea or coffee whilst enjoying the tranquil atmosphere of the building.
The Chapel of St Bartholomew, Rodhuish
The Chapel of St Bartholomew, Rodhuish Jacob and the Angel by
Rachel Reckitt
St Bartholomew – the Chapel
Rodhuish is a tiny hamlet with a widely distributed population of about 70, many of whom are employed in agriculture. The Chapel of St Bartholomew is a low building which dates from the 13th century and which still retains its West Gallery. Although small, the chapel has much character and has inspired great affection in the worshippers there. In particular the Reckitt family, to which the writer Penelope Lively belongs, did much to enhance the building with tapestry work and an impressive sculpture of Jacob wrestling with the Angel, created by Rachel Reckitt.
There is a committed core of people who enjoy coming together to worship and to share in refreshments after each service. There are regular social and fundraising events including high-class musical concerts, with internationally renowned musicians. There is an annual Harvest Supper and festive refreshments are served after the Carol Service.
St Petrock, Timberscombe
Church of St Petrock, Timberscombe
Timberscombe is a traditional rural Exmoor village, set just off the main A369 between Dunster and Tiverton. The local environment is shaped by the surrounding moorland with riding, hunting, walking and other activities being pursued amid predominantly farming activity. It has a population of approximately 514 with 47 on the Electoral Roll. The population is an ageing one, as employment opportunities are low and so young folk in the 18-30 age range tend to move out to seek employment elsewhere. Those who remain in the village are employed in farming, forestry, equestrian stables or service industries and they live in a mixture of privately-owned or rented accommodation. For the older folk there is a secluded modern block of sheltered homes. Although located in the Exmoor National Park there are only a few establishments that benefit from tourism. Walkers find Dunkery Beacon, the highest point on Exmoor, only a few miles from our village. There are relatively few second home owners in the village but a number of holiday let cottages. The village has a Post Office, a Church of England First School (4-9 years) which is linked with Petauke Primary School, Zambia, a pre-school which is housed in the school building, a village inn and a thriving village hall. Our village benefits from being within supermarket online home delivery services for Tesco and Waitrose, among others.
The Grade 1 church is dedicated to St. Petrock, one of the famous Celtic missionaries who travelled to the West Country across the Bristol Channel from Wales. It is small and dates back to the 12th Century although many of the existing features were added during the fifteenth Century. There is always fundraising activity undertaken by the PCC to effect repairs to the church. The latest church project is to uncover a wall painting above the north door. The church tower was rebuilt in 1705 and has a clock and a ring of eight bells. These are reputed to be the best ring of eight bells in the Bath and Wells Diocese. There is a strong and enthusiastic group of bell ringers which meets every Thursday evening to practice and rings for Sunday services. The bell ringers also travel to ring elsewhere and invite visiting teams to our church.
Almost adjacent to the church is a small Methodist chapel established in 1837. Services are shared regularly which illustrates the community solidarity evident in the village.
The C of E congregation is small, committed, works hard and cares deeply for its church. The PCC organises a comprehensive programme of varied social and fundraising events which are well supported by the community.
Within the Timberscombe community a number of social clubs are running. These include a gardening club, started in 2012 which meets in the church on the first Monday of each month from March to December. Other clubs include the Orchard Social club for elderly inhabitants, a bowls club, a cinema club and there is a Mill preservation society which is very active. There is a strong church link with the school and members of the ministry team regularly take assemblies, RE lessons and contribute to the spiritual and educational welfare of both pupils and staff. The rector has an ex-officio seat on the Board of Governors of this C of E school.
All Saints, Wootton Courtenay
All Saints Church, Wootton Courtenay
The Chapel in the North Isle The Main Altar
This is a rural village which incorporates the hamlets of Ford, Huntscott and Ranscombe. The majority of the population are retired, mainly professional people, who take an active interest in the village, fostering a great sense of community. Such is their care that when the village shop looked in danger of closing for good, some years ago, they rallied round to take it over and run it as a co-operative; it now incorporates a post office. The modern and well-appointed village hall is in use on most days of the week, a venue for the many and varied activity and interest groups.
All Saints Church, a grade 1 listed building, dates from between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries. Due to the hard work of a dedicated team of people, the building and churchyard are kept in very good order.