© Isle LMG
2008

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

KINGSTONE CHURCH stands in the very corner of the parish and enjoys one of the best positions and views of our churches; in fact the top of the tower is the only place from where all Eight Parishes can be seen.   There has been church on the site since before Saxon times; the present building is of uncertain date but parts of it are probably from the 13th and 14th centuries with the chancel almost certainly being much older.   There is a lovely story that when Cromwell’s army approached the area, the Lord of the Manor gave orders that the church’s magnificent East Window be taken out and hid, to save it from the marauding Parliamentarians.  The glass was buried in a field and is still hidden there!   There are six bells, well maintained and regularly rung.

  

The parish boundaries stretch from Kingstone Cross, down to Allowenshay and around three sides Dinnington (including part of that village’s centre), and out to Ludney; Kingstone “village” was very small and is in reality, mainly the old Kingstone Farm and labourers cottages, whose out-buildings has been converted into houses in recent years.   The building is in very good condition; the Chancel and Vestry roofs have just been replaced and renewed.

 

The church community is lively, pro-active, warm and generous.   The three services each month are relaxed and welcoming, and there is an enthusiastic family service on second Sundays which has a regular congregation of about thirty-five, from toddlers upwards; young people take part in all aspects of this act of worship.   This community tries very hard to give a little each year to charities (eg Farm Crises Network) and it’s cycle of worship is firmly rooted in the farming community that surrounds it (Rogation picnic, Harvest Festival, Carols at Ludney Farm).    They organise lots of social events and have recently held a Ceilidh, an open air evening concert and a church open day.   It is a wonderful church with a living and healing spirituality about it, and a peaceful atmosphere that its many visitors comment upon.