I_LMG

Ashill, Barrington, Broadway,Chillington, Cudworth, Curry Rivel, Donyatt, Dowlish Wake, Fivehead, Horton, Ilminster, Ilton, Isle Abbotts, Isle Brewers, Kingstone, Puckington, Shepton Beauchamp, Stocklinch, Swell, Whitelackington

The Isle Local Ministry Group

The Isle LMG comprises 21 churches distributed in rural south Somerset. We serve Curry Rivel, Ilminster, Shepton Beauchamp and many village parishes We belong to the Ilminster & Crewkerne Deanery, which is part of the Diocese of Bath & Wells. The staff is made up of five clergy who are assisted by an increasing number of Readers, and, as part of our commitment to collaborative ministry, many pastors, missioners and youth leaders.

The Team serves mainly rural communities. Ilminster itself is a small market town with a population of about 5,000, while some of the villages have no more than 60 inhabitants. There is a mix of long-established families working on the land, people who work in local retail and light industry, and a growing number of commuters who work in places such

as Taunton, Yeovil, Chard, Exeter and Bristol. There are also a significant number who have retired into the area.

Most of our church buildings are pre-reformation and are steeped in local history. The rich architecture and history are described in the our Buildings Section, which also indicates which churches are open during the day. We regret this is

not yet possible for all of them.

Please visit our Service Schedule to see what kinds of service are being held in our churches, and when they take place. If you would like more information about any of them, please contact one of the clergy, who will be glad to give you more details.

For many people in this area of Somerset, the churches remain a central part of their communities. Even those who are not regular church attenders welcome the opportunity to have a place for quiet and reflection, and to be alone with their thoughts. We find that a growing number use the church buildings for private prayer during the week.

Our hope and aim is that more and more people find the reality of God in their daily lives, and experience his love, strength and peace in good times and in bad. We believe that God has made himself known in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and we seek to share the reasons for that faith with others. We hope that enquirers and doubters, and those who simply feel bruised by life, will feel welcome among us, just as much as those who already have a committed Christian faith