Churches

The Canalside Benefice is the group name given to our two Church Parishes — The Parish of Hilperton and Staverton and the Parish of Semington.

The Benefice is in the Deanery of Bradford—one of 21 in the Church of England Diocese of Salisbury. Until this Summer the Benefice was led by our Rector—Rev John Rees who has now retired to Dorset. The process to find a new Rector has now begun and it is hoped that at some point in 2024 he or she will begin work with us based at the Rectory on the Marina development in Staverton.

There are 4 churches in the Canalside Benefice…..
The Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels’ in the Knap, Hilperton
This Grade II listed building and its now closed churchyard are places of beauty. There has been a church on this site at least from the time of the first recorded Rector in 1299 and possibly since Norman times. The church was substantially rebuilt in 1852. Adjoining the church is a small meeting room (St. Michael’s Room) used for Benefice and community activities, including a gardening club and Scout Group meetings.

St Mary Magdalen’s Church in Horse Road, Hilperton
Following the closure of St Paul’s Church at Staverton in  2011, St Mary Magdalen’s became the main centre of worship for the village and for the Hilperton Marsh area.
St Mary’s is a church dating from 1889. The sanctuary is constructed in flint stone, but the hall portion is corrugated iron, built from a Harrods’ “flat-pack”. The original intention was to re-build it in stone, but it never happened due to insufficient funds. The building is a vital centre for the community and the hall is used for various bookings: Art groups, Rainbow Guides, Slimming World, Scouts, local and national Elections and occasional Children’s Parties. The hall is also used as a venue for outreach with a monthly Friendship Group and Community Café. St Mary’s hosts — Toddlers@theTin — a church led Parent and Toddler Group.

St Mary the Virgin Church in Whaddon
Whaddon – the ‘Wood on the Hill’ - is a tiny hamlet of about 20 houses that can only be reached along a two mile lane from Hilperton and is still a farming community. St Mary’s was originally built in the Norman period, restored in the 19th century and has associations with Jane Austen. Although the local congregation is tiny the monthly Book of Common Prayer communion service attracts several people who live at a distance. Services at festival times such as Easter, Harvest, and Christmas, usually fill the church.

Also in the Parish is Staverton Churchyard
The Parish Church of St Paul at Staverton is now closed and has been adapted into a dwelling. The Churchyard around the building is open and the Parish remains responsible for the maintenance of this area. It is a beautiful location with wonderful views of the meadows and the River Avon. A number of years ago a Friends of St Paul’s Churchyard Scheme was established to help with the cost of maintaining the grounds to a satisfactory standard.

The Parish Church of St George in Semington
St. George’s is a Grade II listed, 15th century church, with seating for 80+. It is situated centrally in the village surrounded by a well-kept open graveyard.

Full details of the history of each of our churches can be found at https://canalsidebenefice.org.uk/our-churches/
If you have any church related enquiries please contact our Benefice Administrator—Michael Gamble
Telephone : 07795400262
email: canalsideoffice@gmail.com
website: canalsidebenefice.org.uk