St Paul's Church
Filleigh, Barnstaple, Devon, England

The life of St Paul's church

Filleigh and Chittlehampton's shared mission statement is:

'REACHING UPWARDS, REACHING OUTWARDS'

The church is an informal ecumenical arrangement between the C of E and the Methodist church, the distinctions are now hardly noticeable but where they are, they greatly enrich the ministry of the church. We are also part of the South Molton Team Ministry and are working towards greater co-operation in ministry areas such as youth work and lay-training.

We are an evangelical church greatly committed to our role in the local community and are always ready to welcome new members. 

What follows is extracted from the joint Chittlehampton/Filleigh brochure:

"REACHING UPWARDS, REACHING OUTWARDS"
THREE WORSHIP CENTRES
TWO PARISHES
ONE TEAM
ONE CHURCH, ONE FAITH, ONE LORD

1. Recent History
2. Vision
3. Facts and Figures
4. Team Vicar / Churchwardens

The united sub-benefice serves three separate rural communities and the Church membership also includes residents in neighbouring parishes. While sharing an evangelical style ministry, each church has its own distinctive identity.

Chittlehampton, with its large, imposing Perpendicular church, has a strong traditionalist leaning and a cautious approach to innovation. St Paul’s Filleigh is much smaller and, being the result of a merger between Anglican and Methodist congregations, has developed a free, relaxed approach to liturgy. The Good Shepherd, at Umberleigh, is a tiny, 19^th C mission church where a very intimate tone prevails.

That said, we have all experienced far-reaching changes in our life together and our joint mission in recent years. Several unifying influences have been at work. Membership of the South Molton team has brought us together for occasional acts of worship and study courses. When there is a fifth Sunday in the month the three congregations join together for a united service, hosted in rotation by member churches. In 1999 and again in 2000 a residential weekend was held which brought together many members of the different congregations. A joint ministry team (JMT) meets approximately every six weeks with the vicar to pray over and discuss the spiritual needs of the parishes, to think through important issues theologically and to make proposals to the PCCs concerning future developments. Other shared events have been Alpha courses, discussion groups, a monthly pot luck supper (part social part instructional, with a visiting speaker), residential parish weekends, distribution of the Jesus Video and ‘Vision Days’ in 1996 and 2001.

'Cuppa fellowship' after church is an established part of the Sunday routine.

In order to discern where God was leading us and to focus our attention on the activities and concerns which he wanted us to prioritise, people from each church came together in September 1996 and September 2001 for times of worship, prayer and discussion. On each occasion we identified a five year vision. The mission statement for both parishes is encapsulated in the motto

The specific priorities identified by each church were as follows:

 

‘By greater integration of church and local
community to demonstrate both
our common, God-given humanity
and the distinctiveness of our Gospel’

Regard liturgical development as
an ongoing strategy for deepening
and widening our worship

-

Encourage church members to seek
spiritual growth in ways
additional to Sunday worship

-

To develop a strategy of Baptism and Marriage
follow-up

-

Ensure that regular courses (such as Alpha)
for presenting Christian basics remain
a constant of church life

-

Pray for and give maximum support to
work among young people in the area

-

Be more sensitive to the needs of
the local Community

-

Train church members to be better equipped for visiting and counselling

-

Become more aware of the needs of the elderly

-

Facts and Figures

Parish Weekends are Great!

Filleigh

Filleigh is a small rural parish situated three miles from South Molton and 10 miles from Barnstaple. There are 105 dwellings with at present a population of 210 adults and 70 children. It is a village with a very active community and not a retirement village. The Fortescue Estate, centred on Castle Hill, comprises a large part of the land area. The church was built by ancestors of the Castle Hill family who remain enthusiastic supporters. Recent changes in agricultural practice have freed up a number of houses and cottages which are let.

Filleigh church is a small mid-18^th C building, in a mélange of styles, but generating an open, warm atmosphere, and has a seating capacity of 150. It has a peal of 6 bells and a kitchen which doubles as a Sunday school room. There are no other places of worship in the parish.

During 2000 there were 2 marriage services, 1 baptism and 2 funeral services. Over the last two years 2 adults and 3 young people have been confirmed. A lay family service committee plans the monthly family service. The following (not in order of importance) are part of the regular life of the church: choir of 6 members; weekly house/prayer group; daytime study group; bellringing group; Sunday school; Youth alpha; monthly shared supper with speaker. Quinquennial repairs are up to date. There are 23 on the church electoral roll.

The vicar’s expenses refunded by the Team Council include mileage allowance, part telephone, part hospitality, books (£100 pa), postage, stationery, training course fees and expenses, office equipment. Monies for this are found by parishes according to the number on the electoral roll. The church has some covenants and also the Gift Aid envelope scheme.

The church joined fully with the Methodists 27 years ago. Each tradition is shared in the monthly rota, though for all practical purposes liturgy may be said to have merged.

1^st Sunday 8am BCP Holy Communion 
and 9.45 Morning Prayer always led by lay people:
2^nd Sunday 9.45 Common worship Order 1 Holy Communion:
3^rd Sunday 9.45 Family Service joint Anglican-Methodist:
4^th Sunday 9.45 Methodist Holy Communion:
5^th Sunday joint worship with Chittlehampton and Umberleigh in one of the three churches.

We have a number of special services eg Rogation (out of doors) and creative liturgy features strongly in our programme. Refreshments are served after services and worshippers are encouraged to stay for informal fellowship.  On 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th and 5^th Sundays children have their own Sunday School during the sermon.

Attendance figures have very gradually increased over the last five years until in 2000 our average attendance was 21 adults and 7 children, some of who attend regularly and come without parents.  Numerical growth continues and special events not infrequently attract congregations of 50+. 3 Christmas 2001 services attracted a total of 200+ people.

There is a County Primary School in Filleigh for the villages of Filleigh and West Buckland with a headmistress, 3 full-time teachers and 97 pupils, some choosing to come in from further afield. North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple is the nearest general hospital and there is a small community hospital in South Molton.

Mission work: the church is very involved in the life of the community and shares activities such as village youth club (10-13 year olds); annual village fete; parish lunches; harvest supper; carol singing and running the lively programme of our (new) village hall. A questionnaire was taken to every house in the parish; the Jesus video was offered to every house. Family and special services attract a growing number of people.

Team Vicar:  Revd Colin Davis

Churchwardens:  Mrs Ruth Wilson & Mr Alan Davey

We have close links with St Hieritha’s Chittlehampton, please click to visit their website

www.netministries.org/see/churches/ch02462