麻豆社

Good Morning,
One of the great joys of a country vicar is being involved in the care of some of our nation鈥檚 most iconic and much loved buildings; our country churches. Of which we have twelve, all listed, Grade l or Grade ll.

Each building is irreplaceable. Not purely because of the architecture, although often remarkable, but because over the centuries these churches have become full of village memory as all of life has been marked within their walls. Sometimes, the church is the only community building in the village.

None more so than in Fishpond, a small rural community with just forty five houses nestling on the slopes of the Marshwood Vale. Their much loved church, St John鈥檚, is the centre of village life, even though the building has no facilities or running water.

Every time they gather, particularly for large events, all the village helps by carrying jerry cans of water, crockery, glasses and all manner of refreshments from home. Over the years, it鈥檚 been just about doable, until Open Gardens in 2021, which had over a thousand visitors!

Afterwards, the villagers agreed Enough was Enough.

Since then they鈥檝e been working hard securing permissions and raising the funds to install facilities in their beloved church. Many times people have been tempted to give up, especially as the costs have more than doubled in the last five years, but knowing the huge difference the work will make has kept the village going, even in the toughest times. Finally in 2026 the work starts!

So today I pray for all communities facing the seemingly impossible, that you will know God鈥檚 strength in your difficulties and the joy of your hopes fulfilled. Amen