I have it on good authority that things are going to get warmer – well at least in Uffculme.  It’s been reported to me that the boiler in St Mary’s Uffculme is now working.  Great news and it means that the welcome there on Sunday will be that little bit warmer.

Please send details of events you wish to be included in the Newsletter to:

Rod Sparkes rod@sparkey.org.uk or phone 07871 387 263.  Thank you.

Culm Valley Mission Community News and Events

The Good News of Jesus

John 7:11-24

Services

Sunday 15^th February

9.45am Willand      Holy Communion

10.30am Kentisbeare        Morning Worship

11.15am Uffculme           Holy Communion

Wednesday 18^th February (Ash Wednesday)

9.30am Uffculme    Holy Communion

10.30am Kentisbeare       Holy Communion

Sunday 22^nd February

9.45am Willand                Morning Worship

10.30am Kentisbeare        Holy Communion

11.15am Uffculme            Morning Worship

Mission Community Home Groups 

Monday 7.30pm Uffculme Square corner - contact Claire (07419 740742)

Tuesday 7.30pm Uffculme Book Group - contact Sue (01884 841674)

Wednesday 10.30am Willand - contact Alan (07749 837523)

Wednesday 7.30pm Uffculme - contact Dave (01884 841098)

Friday 11.30am Willand Church Hall (for whole Mission Community) - contact Lynda Barley (839354), or come along following Willand Coffee & Chat (2nd & 4th Fridays each month)

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Events in week commencing 15^th February:                                               

Monday 16th:

9.30am Pancake party,    Willand Church Hall

10am Coffee & Chat, Square Corner Uffculme

12noon Prayers for … Square Corner

Tuesday 17th:                                           

9.30am-12noon CHAT Advice Drop-in, Square Corner Uffculme

10am Baby & Toddler Group – Pancake day, St Mary's Uffculme

Wednesday 18th:

Thursday 19th:                                   

10am Coffee & Chat, Square Corner Uffculme

Friday 20th:                     

2pm Music Group, Willand Church Hall

6.30pm Ladies of Willand Meal – see notice below

Saturday 21st:

7pm No Uffculme Film Club next film club is on Saturday 21 March at 7pm - film tbc

Additional details…

In Willand Celebrate Pancake Day on Monday 16^th. 9.30am ‘til 11am

Bible stories and songs – Decorate pancakes – Family friendly Activities. No Charge – donations welcomed. Children to be accompanied by an adult.

Then on Tuesday in Uffculme

We're running an extra Baby and Toddler group session in half term for Shrove Tuesday (note slightly later start time of 10am!) Older siblings are welcome

Ladies of Willand meet for a meal and a social time together on Friday 20^th February, at 6.30pm at a local hostelry,  If you would like to join them, just email Chris Dodds at doddsy4203@gmail.com, so you can be sent the menu. All ladies welcome, from wherever, Church members or not.

While coming up later…

The Bible Course This is a great 8 week course giving insight into the Bible for anyone, and is especially for people who have never really read the Bible or don't understand it, presented by Andrew Ollerton. Get in touch with Ben if you are interested - details below.

And looking further ahead...

You are warmly invited to join in the great wave of prayer around the world.

The Christian women in Nigeria have organised the service this year.

We will be meeting in St Mary’s Church Hall, Willand starting at 10.30am.  We look forward to seeing you – and please do bring a friend. Refreshments will be served afterwards.

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There is a Mission Shed gathering locally It is at Cullompton Community Centre on Saturday 7th March 9.30-4pm and it's called Adapting, Growing and Flourishing - Connecting with children, young people and families.

The Mission Shed Gatherings are a great opportunity to find out what is going on across the Diocese and generally pick up new ideas.  Full details below and a link to the booking site at the very end of the e-mail

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Karen Action Group – Charity Concert 2026 7pm Saturday March 7^th St Mary’s Church Uffculme

Featuring: The Wyndham Singers, Frayer Partridge, and Barnstable Ladies Choir

Tickets £10 each available from tickets@karenactiongroup.org.uk or 07702 965 833

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We have a date for the Spring concert in May. 

Saturday May 23^rd @7pm. in the Church Hall Willand.

Still not declared your party pieces to Paul and Pennie? - songs, poems, recitations tap dances etc. The time is now. A short play will form the second half of the concert and Pennie is looking for people of all ages to take part. Please see either Paul or Pennie if you are interested.

And one more thing…

We have received a New Year letter from our link church, St James, Gakui in Kenya.

NEWS + PRAYER REQUESTS from ST JAMES, GAKUI, KENYA

Happy New Year to you and the entire St Mary’s Willand family. We thank God for His faithfulness through the past year and we pray that this new year will be filled with grace, good health, and renewed strength in the Lord for you all.

We would like to update you on a few changes within our parish. Our vicar, Rev. Virginia, was transferred to Ndarugo Parish, and we are grateful to God for her faithful service and ministry among us. We have now been blessed with a new vicar, Rev. Anderson Njau, who officially reported to St James Gakui on 1st January.

We also wish to share our theme for this year from the Diocese of Thika: “Empowering Generations for Growth” – 2 Timothy 2:2.

We trust this theme will guide and strengthen our ministries as we intentionally nurture and equip each generation to serve the Lord faithfully.

We kindly ask the Christians of St Mary’s Willand to keep Rev. Anderson Njau in prayer as he settles into his new role, and also to pray for our parish throughout this year, that we may experience spiritual growth, unity, and fruitful ministry.

Please receive warm New Year greetings from Rev. Virginia, Rev. Anderson Njau, and all the Christians of St James Gakui.

May the Lord bless and guide you abundantly as you continue to serve Him.

Yours in Christ,

Milka (On behalf of St James Gakui Church)

Contact details

Details of whom to contact in different circumstances follow - please let me know if anything here needs changing (landline phone numbers are all 01884)

Rector

Revd Ben Maynard (07777 177112, ben.culmvalleychurches@outlook.com - day off normally Thursday)

Team Parson for Kentisbeare

Revd Nigel Fry (07854 810588, enfrys@gmail.com)

Funerals

Kentisbeare - Liz Hoar (33164, elizabeth.hoar@mypostoffice.co.uk)

Uffculme - Rachel Tucker (07815 646149, davidrachel.tucker@gmail.com)

Willand - Rod Sparkes (829152, rod@sparkey.org.uk)

Weddings

Mission Community - Revd Ben Maynard (07777 177112, ben.culmvalleychurches@outlook.com)

Baptisms

Kentisbeare - Sarah Leyman (266425, 07887 598528, sarah@leyman.co.uk)

Uffculme - Rachel Tucker (07815 646149, davidrachel.tucker@gmail.com)

Willand - Lesley Smith (839436, 07944 295002, lesley.smith757@gmail.com)

REACH

Claire Nichols (07419 740742, claire.culmvalleychurches@gmail.com)

Churchwardens

Blackborough - Richard Persey (07764 929970, jill.persey@btopenworld.com)

Kentisbeare - Liz Hoar (33164, elizabeth.hoar@mypostoffice.co.uk) or Gerry Leyman (266425, gerry@leyman.co.uk)

Uffculme - Richard Rutty (839241, rrutty15@aol.com) or Alison Milne (841778, gordonandalison@aol.com)

Willand - Lesley Smith (839436, 07944 295002, lesley.smith757@gmail.com) or Paul Johnson (839800, 07518 908057, paul427johnson@btinternet.com)

In addition, Revd Lynda Barley (839354, revlbarley@aol.com) has offered to be the contact for any Bradfield matters

Cullompton Mission Shed Gathering link to the booking site:

Mission Shed: Adapting, Growing, Flourishing! Tickets, Sat, Mar 7, 2026 at 9:30 AM | Eventbrite

Connecting with children, Young people and Families. With the Bishop of Plymouth and the Mission enabler team.