Winterborne Valley and Milton Abbas Benefice – Welcome to the churches of the Winterborne Valley and Milton Abbas Benefice

Welcome to the Winterborne Valley and Milton Abbas Benefice

We extend a special welcome – to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, straight, filthy rich, dirt poor or just about average.
We especially welcome – those who are crying new-borns, energetic toddlers, hyperactive grannies and everything in between.
We welcome you – if you can sing like Pavarotti or like the Rector can’t carry a note in a bucket.
You’re welcome here – if you’re just browsing, just woke up or just got out of jail.
We extend a special welcome – to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast.
We welcome – tired parents, devoted grandparents and god-parents, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, and junk-food eaters.
We welcome – those who are in recovery or still addicted, and those who have come a long way from what they once were but know they still have a way-to-go.
We welcome you – if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like ‘organised religion’, we’ve been there too! If you blew all your offering money at the dog track, you’re welcome here. If you made your fortune on the stock market, you are too.
We offer a special welcome – to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work or are here because Gran wanted to go to church.
We welcome – those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost and wound up here by mistake.
We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts … and you!

Next Services

Click on a parish to see next services or view the calendar. Also see our latest Pews News

Private Prayer

Our churches are open for private prayer from 9am to 3pm on the following days:
Mondays – Turnworth
Tuesdays – Milton Abbas
Thursdays – Whitechurch
Saturdays – Stickland
Sundays – Houghton

Important
As you arrive in church, please sanitize your hands, and then you (and any members of your household) will be invited to sit in an unoccupied seating area.
The Government directs that face coverings should be worn when attending places of worship unless your circumstances prevent you from doing this. We have disposable masks available at the back of church – please ask if you have forgotten one.

Safeguarding

The Churches in the Benefice of the Winterborne Valley and Milton Abbas believe the safety of all people, especially of children, young people and vulnerable adults is very important. We have adopted the national Church of England’s robust procedures and guidelines. You can find out more about the national policies and procedures at churchofengland.org/safeguarding. If you have any safeguarding concerns or issues on a safeguarding matter then you can find useful contact information at salisbury.anglican.org/parishes/safeguarding.
If you are Concerned about the Safety of a Child, Young Adult or Vulnerable Person:
Our Parish Safeguarding Representative is Angela D’Silva. She can be contacted on 01258 880118. You can read our Safeguarding Policy by clicking here.
If your concern relates to the Parish Safeguarding Representative or Rector, please contact Heather Bland, the Diocese of Salisbury Safeguarding Advisor on 07500 664800.
In an emergency dial 999.