BABCARY CHURCH

This parish church is one of a group of six churches known, because of its proximity to the Pilgrims’ Way to Glastonbury, as ‘The Six Pilgrims’ comprising of:

All Saints, Alford
Holy Cross, Babcary
St Peter, Hornblotton
St Thomas, Lovington
St Nicholas, North Barrow
St Peter, South Barrow

With a total population of only 750 people across the six parishes we are working together as one, helping each other, worshipping together as one Christian family wherever the Sunday Services are held.

Sunday services: Normally there are two services at two different churches in the benefice on a Sunday morning at 9 am and 10.30 am, the “Pilgrim people” moving around for their worship. Service is in easy to follow form and unconfirmed folk and children are very welcome. Matins, Family Services and Evensong are also held once a month.

We have no full time rector and are cared for by a part time priest, and the post is currently vacant.

Bells: We have bells at four of the six churches rung by a band of ringers drawn from the Six Pilgrims. For details of practices contact Simon Hoar on 07904 344453.

Babcary Parochial Church Council (PCC) looks after the church and comprises the churchwardens plus Nicky Llewellyn (Secretary), Robin Brown (Treasurer), Mel Goymer, Arthur Llewellyn, Rory Macdiarmid and Michele Sherren.

There has been a church on this site since Saxon times but the current building is largely thirteenth and fourteenth century and is listed Grade II*. The noted diarist, Parson James Woodforde, was curate here in 1764. The Victorians added a north aisle and undertook significant restoration but in sympathy with the simple medieval interior.

The rotted Victorian pine pews and wooden floor were removed in 1980 and replaced with chairs. This has the huge advantage that the interior becomes a very versatile space as the chairs can be moved around or even remove for various events or performances.

Until the early nineteenth century there was a singers gallery under the tower but it was removed at some point (probably when the organ was introduced). In 2018 we installed a new West Gallery and ringing platform to save the ringers’ hearing and to provide an additional performance space. A full guide to the church can be found inside.

Facilities

• Toilet including disabled facilities and baby changing unit
• Chairs not pews
• Servery
• Disabled access
• Super-fast broadband
• On street car parking only