The churchwardens and I needed to narrow several suggestions down to two names for our new, merged benefice of six churches. Cheddar, Draycott and Rodney Stoke and Priddy, Easton and Westbury-sub-Mendip will begin to act “as if” we are one (legalities will take much longer) from 1st November 2026.

Please email our administrator Samm on [email protected] (or post your name and vote to New Benefice, Church Office (Den), The Old Vicarage, Station Rd., Cheddar BS27 3RF) before 15th September with your vote for the name, either:

The Mid-Mendip Benefice (which gives our geographical location), 
or 
The Gorges Benefice (which places us between or near the Cheddar and Ebbor Gorges).

Democracy will prevail!

Please come to our celebratory launch service on Sunday 1st November at 10am in St Andrew’s, Cheddar (the largest of the six churches). Ministry team people from all six churches will lead, and everyone is invited. There will be no other services in the other five churches that day. Cake and coffee and good spirt will take priority!

Stuart
Rector-to-be of the new benefice