Axbridge News: Church Authorities publish a questionnaire and organise a public meeting on 9th July to discuss the appointment of a new vicar – open to all

By Harry Mottram: Most residents will be aware that since the death of the Reverend Alistair Forster on Advent Sunday, the 30^th November, 2025, Axbridge has been without a vicar. Alistair was the Priest in Charge of Axbridge of the West Mendip Benefice which also includes Crook Peak, Rowberrow and Shipham and proved a popular vicar gamely taking part in the 2022 Axbridge Pageant as a 19^th century vicar and was supportive of how the church has widened its appeal with concerts, exhibitions and associated social events.

Sadly, his role is now vacant, and the church authorities are in the process of finding a successor. And this is where the public come in. The Benefice have published a questionnaire asking for feedback about the position of the vicar and the role of the church within the area as a whole. You can complete the questionnaire which you will find in all of the churches locally as well as Axbridge and attend an open meeting in Shipham’s St Leonard’s Church on Thursday, 9^th of July, 2026, at 6.45pm. Refreshments will be served with the meeting to take place at 7pm.

The questions are: What do you want from your new vicar? In what way does having a church in your community matter? And what do you value about your community?

The three churches in the Benefice are St. John the Baptist, Axbridge; St. Leonard’s, Shipham; and St. Michael and All Angels, Rowberrow.

The Benefice state that the questionnaire is open to all residents – those who attend church and those who don’t – and by implication those who identify themselves as Christians and those who don’t. It would suggest that the questionnaire is cementing the idea that the local churches are for all – and not only for (shall we say) devout believers. It is an interesting development within the history of the church in the town – and of course Crook Peak, Rowberrow and Shipham – with a welcome invitation for people to have a say or at least understand the process of recruiting a vicar.

Since the passing of Alistair last year the local churches haven’t ground to a halt as there is a team of volunteers and supporters who maintain regular services, prayer meetings and social events such as Saturday’s Crafternoon, the Beating of the Bounds, Zoom online United Benefice Communion, evening worship and Evensong to name but a few of the activities. The team behind the benefice includes the associate priest Sue Hoskins, Lay Readers Pam Williams and Peter Rutter, the safeguarding officer Michelle Hacker, administrator Laura in the Church Office in the Church Rooms in Axbridge, Axbridge churchwarden Mike Lampkin as well as Mary Owen as Sacristan (in charge of the altar), caretaker Andy Goddard and well-known local figure Roy Shallish as Tower Captain – the chap in charge of the bell ringers. That’s Axbridge – with teams also for Shipham and Rowberrow – so a considerable number of locals are involved to ensure the business of the churches continues.

Separately but linked to the town’s parish church are The Friends of Axbridge Church. It is a registered charity, formed in March 2002, to preserve and enhance the historic building and its ancient contents. Currently there is a fundraising campaign to restore the grand organ in the church built in 1884 by W G Vowles. Newcomers to the town may be interested to know the church dates to the 13^th century and has been modified and enlarged in the successive centuries – and it is likely a wooden church dating to the Early Medieval or Saxon era would have preceded it.

The church is not only a place of worship but a place for social and public events like plays and concerts but also an important part of the town’s social history. Weddings remain popular there and funerals are regularly held in the church as well as important anniversaries such as the one for the victims of the Basle Aircraft disaster of the 1970s – and people take a pride in maintaining the graveyard who may not go to church – which underlines the way the church and its past is woven into the fabric of our society.

As to the answers to the questionnaire – one would hope someone who is inclusive, warm hearted, hard working and welcoming to all and can continue the work of the church in all its many aspects. Unlike The Reverend Gould of Axbridge in the late 18^th century who was known for having drunken fist fights in the Square, boozing and womanising – as depicted in a comic knock about scene in the Axbridge history play – The Axbridge Pageant! (The next pageant is in August 2029.)

A reminder that the open meeting in Shipham’s St Leonard’s Church is on Thursday, 9^th July, 2026, at 6.45pm. Refreshments will be served with the meeting to take place at 7pm. (And should end before the next quarter final match in the World Cup.)

For more on the church and the benefice visit https://www.stjohnthebaptistaxbridge.org.uk/

Axbridge’s other church was the Methodist Chapel in West Street which has now closed and reopened as the Axe Vale Arts Centre – see their events at https://axevalearts.org.uk/

What’s on soon

Check out the Axbridge Diary at https://www.harrymottram.co.uk/diary/

Coming up there is the Farmers’ Market at on Saturday 4^th July plus live music with Three Rivers at the Axe Vale Arts Centre on the same day at 7.30pm. Also that day there’s music from New Conspiracy in The Lamb Inn in the evening. Wimbledon wannabees may be interested in an open day at Cheddar Tennis Club on July 5^th, and there’s outdoor theatre at Compton house on the 16^th July – plus the town’s big day in the Square on the 11th July when there’s no traffic and the town can party all afternoon and evening. We just hope the weather holds!

Axbridge Diary of Events

Some Axbridge dates coming up. Send Axbridge events to me and I’ll try to keep the list updated. Email: harryfmottram@gmail.com I’ll also post on my website at https://www.harrymottram.co.uk/diary/

Harry Mottram

Note: I get asked this frequently so just to repeat I write up these stories from time to time out of personal interest – all the information is in the public domain – I put it together, so it makes sense to me. I am not paid – my main job is covering Bath for Bath Voice News and ICSM of Bridgwater which is about business insolvencies. I have lived in Old Church Road for over 25 years and am married to Linda – our four children went to the local state schools. I’ve always taken an interest in local affairs having worked as a journalist in Somerset for many years. More at at www.harrymottram.co.uk and social media on X as @harrythe spiv, Facebook, Blue Sky, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads and God knows where else!