St Bartholomew's Church, Shapwick | Bridge Benefice, Dorset

St Bartholomew's, Shapwick

People have been worshipping in this beautiful place for over a thousand years. The church dates back to the 13th-century. There is a real feeling of tranquility and spirituality here. In the beautiful village of Shapwick, with its thatched cottages and quiet lanes, and on the banks of the Stour, St Bartholomew's church is a gem. It is a great setting for weddings and concerts (best in the summer though!) Do visit and experience the peace and spiritual refreshment which St Bartholomew's church can bestow.

On the third Saturday morning of every month the local Russian community come here to worship.

The End of the Bridge Benefice

And that's the end of the Bridge Benefice. After 35 years of friendship and fruitful collaboration our three churches have been made to go their separate ways, due to the Milton and Blandford Deanery's plans for reorganisation. St Mary's, Sturminster Marshall is now part of the Benefice of Red Post; St Stephen's, Kingston Lacy and St Bartholomew's, Shapwick have joined the Wimborne Villages Benefice over the border in the Deanery of Wimborne. But you can still express any objections you may have to these plans - see the notice below.

Sadly, as a result, the Bridge Benefice Choir is no more. But the music won't stop - we have a cunning plan! Visit our Music page to find out more.

This website will now highlight what's going on in our three separate churches, so do continue to visit.

The photo at the top of the page shows White Mill Bridge, where the three parish boundaries meet. There has been a mill here on the River Stour for centuries. Now in the care of the National Trust, it is well worth a visit.

Shapwick Church

A public consultation to dissolve the Bridge Parishes Benefice and move the parishes into the benefices of Red Post (Sturminster Marshall) and Wimborne Minster and Wimborne Villages (Kingston Lacy and Shapwick) has begun.

A notice giving the objects of proposed pastoral reorganisation affecting this parish has been displayed near the main door and on the Church of England website here. The Notice includes the last date by which representations regarding the proposed reorganisation may be made to the Church Commissioners (midnight on Monday 5th July 2021).

The communities of Sturminster Marshall, Kingston Lacy and Shapwick produce a monthly magazine, The Bridge, which is delivered to over a thousand households in the area. You can read the June 2021 edition here.

May's edition is still available here.

Coronavirus update

Our churches are now open for services,

following all Covid precautions.

We are active in the community and we are still praying.

If we can support you in any way, please do contact us:

suzie-assocpriest@wimborneminster.org.uk

Tel: 01258 840668

Rev Suzie Allen

Safeguarding

At St Bartholomew's we take our responsibilities concerning the safeguarding of children, young people, and vulnerable adults very seriously, and we try to ensure that we always work in accordance with best practice. Our Safeguarding Policy can be downloaded here.

Click on the poster below to read more.

For any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our Safeguarding Officer,

Mrs Anne Tillin.