St Mary the Virgin, Swainswick

Church of England

This charming tiny church is around 700 years old and lies in the most beautiful valley in the world, where the Cotswolds peter out into Bath. Typically around 25 people attend the main Sunday service, and welcome (but don't overwhelm) visitors.

The church is popular with weddings, and usually full at Christmas and Easter. We have an occasional small but good choir but normally the organist accompanies the hymns.

Our main Sunday service is at 10.30 am and lasts not more than an hour. On the first three Sundays of the month this is usually Holy Communion. The fourth Sunday is a Morning Praise service from Common Worship. On that Sunday there is also an 8 am Communion service according to the Book of Common Prayer. And if there is a fifth Sunday we all go to Woolley church, for Holy Communion.

Children are indeed very welcome and, if they wish, can join the occasional Sunday club which takes place in the school next door. We wish we had more young people to liven things up a bit.

Other services are held at All Saints, Woolley (another lovely country village church, across our valley) and at two residential and nursing homes in the parish. There is also a house group which meets on Wednesday evenings, a Tuesday lunch time ecumenical group, and a quiet prayer meeting every other Saturday morning. Actually, Woolley could do with your support at the moment. If you go to the Save Woolley Valley website you will see why and we hope you are able to sign the petition agains the illegal desecration of this wonderful valley.

Not that the church building is the only centre of attraction and worship. We are awaiting a couple of sheep here in Swainswick to help us with keeping the grass down in the churchyard. We also have firm links with two residential and nursing homes in the parish and hold regular services there. And there's Fountain House for young people with severe disabilities. We're delighted that they sometimes manage to come to church. Not easy with a wheelchair and a steep hill.

Then there is the Swainswick fete, usually held on a Saturday at the end of June. This is when village, school and church all come together and make sure everyone, especially visitors, has a wonderful time with traditional summer fair games. Plus the famous Woolley Strawberry Tea, on the first Sunday in July.

Lastly, we've all been energised by our new priest, the Rev Val, and we're now looking at ways of improving and renewing things like our worship, communication, stuff for children and families and pastoralia (I just love that word). If you have any suggestions please get in touch.

For further details or for enquiries for baptisms and weddings, etc or any other form of spiritual help please contact:

 the Revd Val Howes

 St Mary’s House, Upper Swainswick

 tel: 01225 851159

email: valerie.howes@btinternet.com.

(c) 2010 Swainswick Church