THE annual vestry meeting of St Mary’s Church, Hemyock, re-elected David Bawler and Piers Langdon as churchwardens, with Mark Fitzgerald remaining in post for another year at Culm Davy Chapel.

The church’s electoral roll number is 52. The annual meeting of the parochial church council (PCC) which followed was chaired by the rector the Rev Vanessa Cole. Copies of the various groups’ reports within the churches was distributed. It was noted that while the church is generally in a good state of repair it was apparent the congregation would be facing a large repair project.

This will include stabilising the ends of the bell frames and general repairs to the tower, upgrading the lighting and sound system, and removing front pews to improve accessibility. At present, the projected cost is about £250,000. The chapel remains in good condition with consideration being given to installing a handrail up the steep steps.

St Mary’s is open daily with services shared between the chapel, Clayhidon, and Culmstock, which form the Upper Culm Valley Mission Community. The church has a pastoral visiting team which also runs a confidential prayer network. Anybody wishing to have a name added is asked to email [email protected]

After the retirement of the Rev Canon Becky Totterdell in February, Ms Cole was welcomed as rector of the united benefice in November, which remains a part-time role. During the vacancy, the churches were grateful for the support of retired clergy, visiting clergy, and the lay team.

The charity and coffee shop held in the Church Room is open every Tuesday and the first Saturday of every month between 10 am and noon. It began about 10 years ago and continues to be hugely popular. During 2025, the shop contributed £3,000 to the room upkeep with a further £1,000 distributed to four village organisations. Recycling unsold goods is also part of the helpers’ work, while having a chat and a drink is enjoyed by the continual stream of visitors.

The Friends of St Mary’s are also an important part of financial support in the upkeep and maintenance of the buildings. They run the coffee shop and during the year organised a bake and book coffee morning, a delightful ‘tipsy tea’ afternoon, the Christmas Tree festival, and other, smaller fund-raisers.

The Church Mission Society, Mission to Seafarers, Farming Christian Network, Christian Response to Eastern Europe (Ukraine and Moldova), and Hemyock Holiday Club have all received financial support.

The Parish Pump magazine is distributed free of charge in the village, donations welcome, and the weekly ‘Link and Service’ sheet is sent to about 70 recipients.

Among special services held was one for St George’s Day, school events, the Royal British Legion, and Hemyock Scout Group carols. Hazel Partridge has served as church treasurer for more than 20 years. In presenting her with a gift voucher on her retirement she was thanked by Ms Cole for her huge contribution to church life.

It was noted that the common fund paid to Exeter Diocese which pays clergy stipend, pensions, and other costs, stood at £20,000 for 2025 and was met in full by the church and chapel. The rector spoke of the warm welcome she had received and looked forward to serving at St Mary’s and the chapel.

Thanks were expressed to all those involved with life at both churches from cleaners to bellringers, coffee makers to flower arrangers, sound system operators to music makers, and others not mentioned who all played an important part in the daily running of the church.

A LOCAL not-for-profit dementia care and support service, The Filo Project, is using this Dementia Action Week to encourage families across the region to reach out for help sooner. They also want to challenge common myths that can prevent people from getting the support they need.

There are around one million people with dementia in the UK, and Alzheimer’s Society estimates over 10,000 people over the age of 65 are living with dementia in the NHS Somerset ICS area. Yet one in three people with dementia do not have a diagnosis and struggle to access the help and support they need.

The Filo Project, a well-established social enterprise, provides small, home-based day sessions for people with mild to moderate dementia.

Each group is made up of just three to four clients who spend the day together in a trained, paid host’s home. The calm, familiar setting helps people feel comfortable, form friendships and able to take part in activities that suit their interests and abilities, from baking and gardening to music, crafts, and conversation.

The full day of care means families also benefit from regular, much-needed respite, as well as access to the Filo Family Support service which helps them navigate the practical and emotional challenges of caring for a loved one with dementia.

This Dementia Week, the Filo Project takes a look at some of the most common misconceptions about dementia which often delay families from seeking help.

Misconception: “I should be able to cope on my own”

Caring for someone with dementia is emotionally and physically demanding, and nobody is meant to do it alone. Support services can reduce stress, protect your wellbeing, and help you sustain your caring role for longer.

Misconception: “There’s nothing you can do after diagnosis”

There are some treatments for symptom management, and early, personalised support can make a significant difference to wellbeing of the individual and their family. A diagnosis can also support you as a family to have conversations about the future and put into place things like Lasting Power of Attorney.

Misconception: “If I ask for help, it means I’m failing”

Dementia changes routines, communication, and confidence, and families often carry the emotional load quietly and in isolation. Getting support early can improve life for the person with dementia as well as the family members, and can prevent crises later on.

Misconception: “People with dementia won’t enjoy social activities any more”

In small, supportive groups, many people rediscover hobbies and friendships. Consistent, meaningful socialising such as The Filo Project helps people regain or retain their confidence and still enjoy life.

Libby Price, co-founder and CEO of The Filo Project, said: “Families often tell us they wish they’d contacted us or found us sooner. Early support makes such a difference. When people join a Filo group, they often rediscover interests and confidence they thought were lost. It’s a privilege to see that spark return.

“With the right support, people with dementia can still enjoy friendship and create moments of real joy, and that’s exactly what our small groups are designed to cultivate.”

To find out more about The Filo Project or if you are interested in hosting a group visit www.thefiloproject.co.uk or call 0333 939 8225.

STREET Pastors in Wellington have welcomed five new members onto the team, four in Wellington and one in Taunton at a Commissioning service on Sunday at The Well Christian Centre.

The group hopes this will reverse a trend of people having to ‘stand-down’ and enable the team to maintain their fortnightly Friday night patrols of the town.

Street Pastors are “the Church on the streets”, a Christian organisation with members from most churches in the town, which puts teams of uniformed volunteers on the local streets to listen, care and help, not preach, offering guidance, a listening ear, practical help and the occasional lollipop or flip-flop to anyone who needs it.

The service, similar to a military passing-out event, was supported by Wellington mayor Cllr Mark Lithgow representing Wellington Town Council, who gave out the certificates, joined by Andrew Norris, chairman of Wellington Churches Together, and Sgt Jon O'Connor from the local police, all giving short speeches of support.

A spokesperson for the Street Pastor said: “Between them, the police, council and churches form the "Urban Trinity” which underpins Street Pastors.

“It marks the successful conclusion of 14 weeks of intensive training covering a wide range of practical subjects such as first aid, conflict management, listening skills etc, and has been helped by sessions provided by local organisations like In The Mix, Open Door and Wellington Police, and concluded with a visit to CCTV HQ in Bridgwater where we were able to see the town's new digital cameras in action for ourselves.

“The service also celebrated the faithful service of Street and Prayer Pastors past and present, and was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with old friends over some cake and a cuppa. Many thanks to everyone who helped make this such a great event, and look out for us on the town's streets on a Friday evening."

If anyone is interested in finding out more about us, then please ask your local church leader who can put us in touch.