Who We Are

St Peter’s is a Grade 2 listed building in the heart of the conservation area of the village. Parts of the church date from the late fifteenth century. It has a fine peal of six bells. The church can seat approximately 150 people in the pews and is open each day. The last quinquennial inspection was held in November 2013, which raised no major problems. The building’s main difficulties concern disabled access, inside and outside, and poor parking Across the road from the building is the Old Bakery, converted for church use approximately twenty years ago. It is held in trust by the Diocese for St Peter’s. We are delighted that St Peter’s Church Disabled Access Appeal has been chosen as the Galleries Charity of the Year. Not only will it raise some much needed funds but, very importantly, it will lift our profile in the community. Many of you will know that this is just the first part of our reordering project to make St Peter’s Church a more welcoming and comfortable building to visit and one that can accommodate a number of different community activities. Our planning application for the access will shortly be sent to BANES Planning Department.

St Mary the Virgin is the village church for Limpley Stoke and is a very beautiful, small, medieval church of Saxon origin with a substantial early 20th century addition; it is listed Grade 2*. The church can seat approximately 105 people comfortably in pews. Two years ago the church was developed internally to include a cloakroom and kitchenette facilities which now allow much greater support of baptisms, weddings, funerals and other events such as fundraising concerts, children’s afternoon services, Mums and Toddlers etc. Externally the Church sits in approximately 1.5 acres of ground with an adjoining car park. The church is open during daylight hours. St Mary’s is the only one of the three churches in the parish which currently offers BCP services in the form of one Communion service and one Evensong a month. The last quinquennial inspection was conducted in 2013.

St John’s is in a Conservation Area a short distance from the centre of the village and is Grade II* listed. There is a sizeable walled churchyard and parts of the church date from the 13th and 14th centuries. A quinquennial inspection was undertaken in July 2014 and the only major recommendation was that the lead covering of the tower roof should be renewed and a faculty is with the Diocesan Advisory Council to undertake the work, the cost of which will be met from reserves. The report noted that the church is in a good state of repair. St John’s can seat about 170 people and is open during daylight hours. St John’s has been encouraged by a small group from a nearby church visiting once a month to help establish informal Morning Worship. This service is planned by a small team and is often lay led. There is a small choir at the monthly service of Holy Communion.