Welcome

The Shirwell Mission Community lies within the Shirwell Deanery and covers an area of just under 50 square miles with a population of approximately 2600. It comprises six parishes and eight churches.

Services are held weekly in the two larger Churches – Shirwell at 9.30am, and at Bratton Fleming at 9.30am on the first three Sundays of each month, and at 10.45am on the fourth Sunday.  Two services per month are held at Challacombe and Loxhore.

Currently there are no regular monthly services held at Arlington, East Down, Kentisbury or Stoke Rivers - see rota below for details.

The parishes extend north east of Barnstaple to the Exmoor National Park and the Somerset border.

The Rector is Revd Preb. Rosie Austin, who looks after the six parishes with its eight churches. She is currently assisted by a curate, Rev Katie Welborn van Santen, and a retired clergyman, Rev Preb. Chris Tull.

All enquiries for weddings, funerals, baptisms, pastoral care and services should be made to the rector:

Tel: 01598 711962     Email: rosieaustin@live.co.uk

All enquiries relating to church buildings, PCCs and churchyards should be made to the churchwardens - please see our Contacts page for details.

Safeguarding

If you have a concern about the safety of someone or the actions of someone working with children or vulnerable adults, please speak to someone:

The names and contact details of the Parish Safeguarding Representatives are:

Bratton Fleming with Stoke Rivers:   Terry Squire Tel: 01598 710526  

Challacombe:  Pam Cannon-Smith   email:  admin@shirwellmissioncommunity.org.uk

East Down with Arlington:  Pam Cannon-Smith   email:  admin@shirwellmissioncommunity.org.uk

Kentisbury: Pam Cannon-Smith   email:  admin@shirwellmissioncommunity.org.uk

Loxhore:  Mike Matthews   Tel: 01271 850550

Shirwell:  Averil Richardson   Tel: 01271 850537

The link to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team's contact details - https://exeter.anglican.org/resources/safeguarding/safeguarding-team/

The following organisations offer helplines:

NSPCC: 0808 800 5000 • Childline: 0800 1111 • Stop It Now: 0808 1000 900 • NAPAC: 0808 801 0331 • Samaritans: 116 123 • Family Lives: 0808 800 2222 • National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 • Action On Elder Abuse: 080 8808 8141

Baptisms

July 2024

Services in the

Shirwell Mission Community

Weddings

Funerals

The licensing of Rev Katie Welborn van Santen (left) as curate in the Shirwell Mission Community at St Mary's Church Lynton by Bishop Jackie, the Bishop of Crediton and acting Bishop of Exeter on 2 July 2024. She is seen below with Rev Preb Rosie Austin, Rector of the Shirwell Mission Community.

At the same service her husband Miles was inducted as Rector in the Lyn Valley Mission Community.