for Jesus
Welcome!
From Shepton Mallet, Cranmore and Doulting Churches
A very warm welcome to the home of Shepton Mallet Benefice Churches in the heart of Somerset. Our churches are St Peter and St Paul’s in Shepton Mallet, St Aldhelm’s in the nearby village of Doulting with St Bartholomew’s in the tiny village and civil parish of Cranmore
We have regular services across the benefice each Sunday and at other times throughout the year. We look forward to meeting you!
Events and happenings in the weeks ahead. Information and downloadable posters for future church activities.
Our church and parish office are right in the centre of town with plenty of parking in nearby council car parks. Click below for directions and parking.
Our radio station, Shepton LifeStream is available 24/7 with a mix of worship songs, gentle classical music, and inspirational content streamed to your computer or smart device.
Rector
Parish Office
Children’s, Youth and Families’
Worker
Creative Pioneer Pastor
Churchwardens (Shepton)
Parish Church
Via Regal Road or via Church Lane
Shepton Mallet
BA4 5BL
Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults
St Peter & St Paul’s has a child and vulnerable adult protection policy and we take this area of responsibility, along with safer recruitment and staff training, very seriously. All policy documents
Your privacy is as important to us as it is to you. We aim to be clear and open about what we do with your personal information. Please read our Privacy Policy doucment for more information. Designated Data Protection Contact
Copyright © 2023 Shepton Mallet Benefice. All rights reserved - Web design by media concepts (v16) ice cream
'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.’ Romans 12 verses 1 and 2
Dear Church Family
The name Francis Schaffer may be familiar to you. He was a renowned theologian, philosopher and advocate of Christianity. He was passionate about living the transformed life Jesus makes possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. To support this Schaffer founded L’Abri communities: "The L’Abri communities are study centers where individuals have the opportunity to seek answers to honest questions about God and the significance of human life. L’Abri believes that Christianity speaks to all aspects of life.”
Just as the Apostle Paul 2000 years earlier, in these communities, as well as through his many books, teaching and preaching, Schaffer encouraged people to be ‘. . . renewed in their minds.’ Christians must think differently from the world! This is the opposite of being ‘. . . conformed to the pattern of this world.’ and a work of the Holy Spirit working through the eternal truth of His word.
Consider these points (based on David Guzik's commentary on Romans 12).
Question: How do I worship God in the way that pleases Him?
Answer: Offer offer yourself as a ‘living sacrifice.’
Question: What does it mean to be a living sacrifice?
Answer: Not conforming to the way of the world but having your mind renewed: thinking rightly about God, yourself and how you live.
The world lives based on feelings and/or action.
The life based on feeling says, “How do I feel today? How do I feel about my job? How do I feel about my wife? How do I feel about worship? How do I feel about the preacher?” This life by feeling will never know the transforming power of God, because it ignores the renewing of the mind.
The life based on action says, “Don’t teach me, just tell me what to do. Give me the three points for this and the seven secrets for that.” This life of action will never know the transforming power of God, because it ignores the renewing of the mind.
It isn't that God is against feelings and action. He is the God of powerful and perfect feelings and He calls us to action. It is simply that the Christian life can’t be built on feelings or action but on us being transformed in our thinking according to the truth of God’s word dwelling in us richly in the power of the Spirit.
So don’t try to build your discipleship by asking “How do I feel?” or “What should I do?” but by asking “What is true here? What does God’s Word say?”
Costly? Yes, a sacrifice is costly.
Worth it? Absolutely!
Building on the His truth
Jonathan
Our services are now live-streamed via our online radio station Shepton LifeStream and are available to listen live on Sunday mornings and at regular times throughout the week here
The audio recordings of the reading and sermon from these services are also available to hear again. Click on the play button in the players below.
Sunday
January 22
Alan’s Sermon
(10.30 church service)
Love for Enemies
Luke 6v27-38 (read by Rosalind Ives)
Sermon
Sunday
January 15
Alistair’s Sermon
(10.30 church service)
The Twelve Apostles
Luke 6v12-26 (read by Ros Baldwin)
Sermon
Sunday
January 8 2023
Jonathan’s Sermon (delivered by Vaughan Ives)
(10.30 church service)
Jesus is Lord of The Sabbath
Luke 6v1-11 (read by John Knight)
Sermon
Sunday
January 1 2023
Matthew’s Sermon
(10.30 church service)
Jesus Presented In The Temple
Luke 2:21-40 (read by Sue Crisfield)
Sermon
Our Advent Term Sermon Series
Sunday
December 18
Jonathan’s Sermon
(10.30 church Christingle service)
Joy to The World - Creation : Fall : Redemption : Eternity
Revelation 21:1-8 (read by Pauline Morris)
Sermon
Sunday
December 11
Jonathan’s Sermon
(10.30 church Christingle service)
Joy to The World - Creation : Fall : Redemption : Eternity
John 3:16-21 (read by Morag Brown)
Sermon
Sunday
December 4
Jonathan’s Sermon
(10.30 church service)
Joy to The World - Creation : Fall : Redemption : Eternity
Genesis 2:15-17 and 3:1-13 (read by Rosalind Ives)
Sermon
Sunday
November 27
Jonathan’s Sermon
(10.30 church service)
Joy to The World - Creation : Fall : Redemption : Eternity
Genesis 1:1-2:3 (read by Pauline Morris)
Sermon
Inspirational Radio, all day, every day
(see the programme schedule below)
Click above to play
Shepton LifeStream is an online radio station brought to you by St Peter and St Paul’s Parish Church, Shepton Mallet. It’s on the air 24 hours each day with a mix of worship songs, gentle classical music, and meaningful content streamed to your computer, or any smart device. See below for the current schedule.
Playing now . . .
Recently played items . . .
LifeStream Programme Schedule
All day, every day - enjoy a mix of inspirational worship songs and gentle classical music
Daily at 12.00 midday and 12.00 midnight - listen to our sermon of the week from our current sermon series
Daily at 11.00 and 16.00 - Kids’ Praise! A Bible story followed by your favourite children’s worship songs
Daily at 17.00 - Faith in Kids Podcast with Jam, Amy and Ed. Find out more about this podcast here!
Daily at 21.00 - Instrumental Praise - no words, just restful, contemplative music
Sunday at 10.30 - live audio of our Morning Worship Service from Shepton Mallet Parish Church
Other convenient ways to listen to Shepton LifeStream
If you have Alexa, you should be able to set up Alexa to play Shepton LifeStream via MyTuner Radio as a ‘skill’. See your Alexa app for more details.
You can now download the MyTuner Radio app for IOS and Android. Search for Shepton LifeStream and select it as a favourite. Visit MyTuner Radio on their website.
You can now download the Online Radio Box app for IOS and Android. Search for Shepton LifeStream and select it as a favourite.Visit Online Radio Box on their website.
Visit Streema on their website. Shepton LifeStream is there too! And also on Radio UK - up there with the best stations in the UK on their website and their app!
We’re grateful to Ed, Jam and Amy for the use of their podcast Faith in Kids for Kids.
See the Faith in Kids website for the full range of Christian resources available at faithinkids.org
Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults
St Peter & St Paul’s has a child and vulnerable adult protection policy and we take this area of responsibility, along with safer recruitment and staff training, very seriously.
Our safeguarding policy document can be downloaded here
The C of E Promoting a Safer Church document can be downloaded here
Our use of photography policy document can be downloaded here
Towards a Safer Church - Safeguarding Advice - the parents’ guide here
Towards a Safer Church - Safeguarding Advice - the PCC and churchwardens’ guide here
Action Plan - here
Revd Jonathan Hunter Dunn 01749 342420 and Ben Goodhind, Diocesan Safeguarding Manager 01749 588917
Shepton Mallet Parish Church
Parish Safeguarding Office (PSO) is Ros Baldwin 07721 096600 safeguarding@sheptonbenefice.org
Deputy PSO is Helen Bennett 01749 346320 admin@sheptonbenefice.org
Doulting Church
Parish Safeguarding Office (PSO) is Edwina Gould 01749 344140 mikegould91@gmail.com
Cranmore Church
Parish Safeguarding Office (PSO) is Revd Gill Sakakini 07969 158488 revgill.sheptonmallet@gmail.com
Benefice DBS and Training Coordinators are Ros Baldwin and Helen Bennett
Privacy Notice
Our Data Privacy Notice document can be downloaded here
Parish Church, Church Lane, Shepton Mallet BA4 5BW (w3w: self.outs.think)
The Parish Church is situated in the centre of town behind the pedestrianised area around the historic Shambles. Access on foot is via several lanes that lead off this area. If you’re coming via car then parking is available at several nearby car parks:
Regal Road East - off Paul Street BA4 5AL
Commercial Road - Old Market Road BA4 5BU
Great Ostry Main - Rectory Road BA4 5TT
Distance to the church from these main car parks is just a few minutes’ walk.
Access to the church in a vehicle is via Regal Road and down past the rear of the Academy Theatre building. There is limited parking in the churchyard. During Sunday services parking is reserved for visitors who require special access.
Church opening hours:
Approximately 09.00 until dusk each day
Parish Office, Peter Street Rooms, Peter Street BA4 5BL (w3w: growth.impulses.packages)
The Parish Office is situated in Peter Street off The Batch. There is no parking in Peter Street, but often limited-time places in nearby The Batch are available. Main car parks are as above.
Distance to the office from these main car parks is just a few minutes’ walk. Access to the office from the church is via a private walkway on the north side of the church (open during office hours) or via the historic, cobbled Church Lane. There is limited parking in the churchyard. During Sunday services, this is reserved for visitors who need special access.
Parish Office opening hours:
Monday and Tuesday - 10.00 until 13.00 or by appointment.
Please call 01749 342163 or 01749 346320 to check.
Peter Street Rooms are available for hire
Peter Street Rooms are the rooms normally used for Church activities but they are also available for hire. We have two large meeting rooms (one with ground floor and ramped access, the other on the first floor) and a smaller meeting room on the second floor. There is a kitchen, male, female and accessible toilets and a small courtyard.
If you would like to find out more details with a view to hiring the rooms, please contact our administrator, Helen Bennett on 01749 342163 or 01749 346320
Who we are
We are gathering again post covid. Learning from Jesus, that we may live for Jesus and love like Him. We believe that is what Jesus calls us to do.
When and where
Our weekly service in Shepton Mallet is on Sunday mornings at 10:30 am in the Parish Church. To locate us precisely go here. Our village church services times are here
What to expect
We are a diverse Church family of all ages and backgrounds and who appreciate differing kinds of services. Being together is more important than having exactly what any one of us wants but we do strive to provide a breadth of styles to our services for all to engage in and enjoy.
How long is our service?
The Sunday service in Shepton Mallet lasts for about 75 minutes.
Service patterns
Currently we have Holy Communion twice each month on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. On the 4th Sunday, our children and young people return from their groups so that we are all present either to receive the bread and wine or to receive prayer.
Prayer ministry
Prayer is offered each week during and after the service
What to wear!
Most members of our congregation are generally casual but some a little smarter and some less so. To be honest, we don’t mind how you dress or what you look like - we’d just love for you to come and meet us!
Jonathan Hunter Dunn
Rector
Tony Birbeck
Honorary
Assistant Priest
Albert Owen
Reader
Gill Goodall
Reader
Matthew Dawkins
Reader
Helen Bennett
Rachel Lord
Emma Hunter Dunn
Jeff Petch-Harrison
Benefice
Administrator
Children and Families Worker
Bible Fellowship
Ministry Leader
Verger
Jonathan Hunter Dunn
Nick Bennett
Vaughan Ives
John Knight
Robert Goodhand
Sylvia Ingham
Rector
Churchwarden
Churchwarden
Treasurer
PCC Secretary
Standing Committee Member
Dave Crisfield
Suzi McKenzie
Moira Knight
Cliff Brown
Stephen Jarrett
PCC Lay Chair
PCC Member
PCC Member
PCC Member
PCC Member
Chris Lord
Ros Baldwin
Steve Bruce-Jones
Yes, we’re back at Quantock Lodge again this year for our weekend away. Full details from Helen in the parish office. Click here to download the booking form.