Sherborne Deanery

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with His people

The Three Valleys Team

Parishes in the Benefice

Batcombe, Beer Hackett, Bishops Caundle, Bradford Abbas, Caundle Marsh, Chetnole, Clifton Maybank, Folke, Glanvilles Wooton, Hermitage, Hilfield, Holnest, Holwell, Leigh, Pulham, Ryme Intrinseca, Thornford and Yetminster.

Team Rector: 

Rev'd Tony Gilbert
The Rectory, Church Road, Thornford,
Sherborne, DT9 6QE

01935 873044

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Team Vicar: 

Rev'd George Moody
The Rectory, Church Street, Yetminster,
Sherborne, DT9 6LG

01935 873214

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Assistant Curate: 

Rev'd Jenny Nelson
Click here to email


Retired Clergy and Licenced Lay Ministers: 

Rev'd Anne Budgell
01963 23428


Rev'd Tony Durkin
01935 872117


Keith Budgell
01963 23428


Colin Stobart
0770 8190618


               Benefice Website                          


The Parish Churches

The descriptions below are taken from The Dorset Historic Churches website.  Please click on the links provided for fuller information.

 

St. Mary, Batcombe

The church stands below a line of hills from where, tradition has it, 'The Conjurer Mintern', a C17 local squire is supposed to have jumped over the tower on his horse, knocking off one of its pinnacles as he went! True or not the splendid C15 tower has been repaired. The nave with a wagon roof, attractive stone screen and chancel arch are all C15 although there was a restoration by John Hicks in 1864. The small round font is Norman.

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St. George, Beer Hackett

Between Buckhorn Weston and Gillingham lies a hamlet called Langham. At the eastern end, near the road and amongst some magnificent tall trees, rests the only thatched church in Dorset.

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St. Peter & St. Paul, Cattistock
Listed in Simon Jenkins' "England's Thousand Best Churches"
Click here for Dorset Historic Churches page

 

St. Mary the Virgin, Bradford Abbas

Bradford Abbas must rank as one of Dorset's most important village churches.  This is a largely 15c building with a magnificent embattled and pinnacle west tower with many niches, two still having the original figures.  Close to the tower is the remains of a 15c preaching cross.

Click here for Dorset Historic Churches page


St. Peter and St Paul, Caundle Marsh 

This simple chapel style church, enhanced by a central bellcote, was built in 1857 to a design by R. H. Shout of Yeovil.  The wooden porch is particularly worthy of note.  There is a grave and monument to General Fox-Pitt, who was a co-founder of the Welsh Guards and lived nearby at Marsh Court.

http://www.threevalleysteam.org/index.php/caundle-marsh


St. Peter, Chetnole 

Like many village churches Chetnole's has evolved over the centuries, but somehow the result here is exceptionally pleasing.  As you approach you are confronted with a magnificent C15 tower with a working clock and some intriguing gargoyles.  

The nave is C13 with a wooden barrel roof and one original lancet window.  The chancel and north aisle are by Slater (1859 - 65).  There is a most attractive, if tiny, organ in the chancel.

This is a delightful little church.


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  • Rev Tony Gilbert
  • The Rectory, Church Road
  • Thornford
  • Dorset
  • DT9 6QE


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