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Tucked away in the
quiet Upper Culm Valley of the Blackdown Hills, to the east of
Devon, England and within the diocese of Exeter, stand the parish churches of the United Benefice
of Hemyock with
Culm Davy,
Clayhidon and
Culmstock. The benefice provides
a variety of Anglican worship both for residents of the area and
for visitors who find their way into these valley parishes. |
a variety of
Anglican worship
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There is a good relationship between the
different denominations in the valley and for a number of
special events, the churches of the benefice, together with
Rosemary Lane Chapel
and
Hemyock Baptist Church,
have combined, such
as in Lent courses when a variety of speakers have lead the
course which has been held in a different venue each week.
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a good
relationship
between the denominations |
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As some of the
services are held at different times of the day depending on
whether it is the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th Sunday of the month,
there is a page devoted to the schedule. You would be most
welcome at any of the services. |
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The Area |
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The Blackdown Hills are designated An
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and they still remain a very
quiet and peaceful locality yet within easy reach of the M5. The
majority of the farming of the area is dairy and livestock.
Forestry also has prominence.
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a very
quiet and peaceful locality |
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Hemyock, the largest of the three villages,
is central to the benefice and is well served with a Post Office
plus shop, a Spa Shop, two garages (& filling stations, [not
24hr.]), a pub,
a takeaway and a primary school. There is also a taxi service.
The village has a
castle and one of its towers has in its time been said
to have housed Royalist prisoners & more recently, pigs! The
castle though a private residence, does arrange viewing
for schools & groups etc. The village of Culmstock also, has
its own shop with Post Office. |
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The nearest towns
to the villages are Wellington, Som.; Taunton, Som.;
Honiton, Dev.; and Cullompton, Dev. The City of Exeter is about
20-25 miles depending from which parish you start. |
The
nearest towns |
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W.D.H. |
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The Ashculm Valley leading into the Culm Valley. View
from Symonsburrow.
Photo W.D.H. |
