Groups

House Groups

We believe that one of the best ways to grow as a Christian is through meeting with other people, and learning from one another as we study God’s word together and share our experiences of our Christian journey.

There are regular house-groups in Bourton, Kilmington and Zeals. Some meet weekly in term-time, others fortnightly through the year. For details, request information via the contact page or the Parish Office.

We also run courses at various time in the year, such as our Lent courses before Easter.

 

Lent Group

This year’s Lent Group has gone high-tech, and online! We are spending this lent looking at how art can inform our faith and we are focusing on different classic and modern pieces throughout. If you would like to catch up on our lent group, please see the video links below.

The Nativity

The Baptism

Devotional Art

The Road to Emmaus

Crucifixion

Our churches’ bells

The parish has three churches with bells hung for ‘full circle’ ringing.

the belles   (lady ringers of Upper Stour)

St. George’s church, Bourton has six bells just above the ringing room in the tower with the heaviest bell, the tenor, weighing 12cwt +.

St. Peter’s church, Stourton has six bells with a new tenor bell weighing over 13 cwt. The bells are rung from the ground floor.

St. Martin’s bells, Zeals that were renovated in 2010 are rung from a gallery. The heaviest bell weighs over 10cwt.

The bells are regularly rung for Sunday worship, special celebrations, and where requested for weddings and funerals.

Ringers from the parish and adjoining parishes make up the band and also help to keep the bells ringing at Mere church. All the ringers are members of the Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers.

Practices are held on Wednesday evenings at 7.30-9.00 in rotation – Zeals and on the first Wednesday of the month at Mere.

‘Silent’ practices are held on Mondays for learner ringers. The clapper is tied so the bell can move but cannot ring, therefore no sound is heard from the tower.

The fourth church in the parish, St. Mary’s at Kilmington has one bell hung for chiming.