About Us

The Stour Vale Benefice is a group of seven Church of England (Anglican) parishes, which was originally formed out of two groups of four in 2002. (Stour Row church was closed for worship on 1st November 2015 and is now joined with Stour Provost). 

Situated in a rural part of north Dorset, in the Blackmore Vale, near Gillingham and Shaftesbury, we are in the Blackmore Vale Deanery, part of Salisbury Diocese.

The parishes have kept their individual status, but are in the charge of one priest and come together on feast-days and at other times when there is one service only e.g. Good Friday or Christmas Day, and we also celebration other seasonal services such as Rogation Sunday.

Many services are lay-led, either by a “Licensed Lay Minister” (LLM or Reader) or by Lay Worship Leaders who are commissioned to conduct a “Service of the Word” (including Morning or Evening prayer, otherwise known as Matins and Evensong – but not Communion services).

Our new Vicar, Revd Clare Dean took up her role on the 8th October 2023 -  for more information see our Stour Vale Benefice Team page.

For information about baptisms, weddings and funerals please contact the Benefice Administrator via the parish pages - thank you.