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St. Mary’s Church (The Benefice of Offwell, Farway and Widworthy)
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Revd. Stuart Huntley
Priest in Charge, Offwell, Farway and Widworthy – Diocese of Exeter 07479 532355 | [email protected] | stuarthuntley.com Working part-time but contactable any time. Rev’d Stuart will be in St. Mary’s every Friday morning between 9.30 and 11.00am. Church Wardens
at St Mary's Church, Ramsden Lane, Offwell, EX15 9SA Jonathan Paveley: 01404 831450 Viki Whitehead: 01404 831050 The church is now open every day between 10.00am and 4.00pm.
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Enquiries regarding weddings and funerals should be addressed to the churchwardens.
(Any enquiries regarding family research and burial records at
St. Mary’s please email: [email protected] or [email protected])
(Any enquiries regarding family research and burial records at
St. Mary’s please email: [email protected] or [email protected])
News 2025
Appointment of Revd. Stuart Huntley as the new priest for the parishes of Offwell, Farway & Widworthy
October 2025
Revd. Stuart will be joining us as our Priest in Charge of Offwell, Widworthy and Farway parishes on 1st October in a part time role. Stuart is a qualified teacher, and former Engineer. Ordained in 2008, after studying at Trinity College in Bristol, he served his curacy in St Helier, Jersey before moving to New York where he was Rector of an Episcopal Church on Long Island. Returning to the UK he assisted a parish in vacancy in Cornwall before becoming the Rector of the Wulfric benefice based in Crewkerne, Somerset. For the past five years he has been teaching secondary maths and serving the church part time in Devon. He will be looking after the parishes for 3 days a week, whilst continuing to tutor and engage in historical research.
Revd. Stuart’s first service will be the Harvest Communion service at St Mary’s at 9.30am on Sunday 5th October - he looks forward to seeing you there.
Stuart says of his appointment, “I look forward to meeting you all, working together to support the churches and community and being your parish priest.”
Revd. Stuart will be joining us as our Priest in Charge of Offwell, Widworthy and Farway parishes on 1st October in a part time role. Stuart is a qualified teacher, and former Engineer. Ordained in 2008, after studying at Trinity College in Bristol, he served his curacy in St Helier, Jersey before moving to New York where he was Rector of an Episcopal Church on Long Island. Returning to the UK he assisted a parish in vacancy in Cornwall before becoming the Rector of the Wulfric benefice based in Crewkerne, Somerset. For the past five years he has been teaching secondary maths and serving the church part time in Devon. He will be looking after the parishes for 3 days a week, whilst continuing to tutor and engage in historical research.
Revd. Stuart’s first service will be the Harvest Communion service at St Mary’s at 9.30am on Sunday 5th October - he looks forward to seeing you there.
Stuart says of his appointment, “I look forward to meeting you all, working together to support the churches and community and being your parish priest.”
Christmas Choir at St Mary's
If you would like to join a choir to sing at Christmas Services this year can you please contact either
Revd Stuart or Jonathan.
The idea is that it will be enjoyable, sociable and not so ambitious that it becomes stressful or hard work. It will focus on practising a few Carols and leading the singing of the congregation. Rev. Stuart has asked Paul Burrows, St. Mary’s principal organist, to lead the choir. Paul led a small, impromptu choir, drawn from the regular congregation, when the new Bishop of Crediton came to St. Mary’s; they were astoundingly good.
The first rehearsal will take place at 4.00pm on Sunday 16th November. Please feel free to invite family and friends and please let us know if you plan to attend.
The choir will definitely sing at St. Mary’s Carol Service (6.00pm, Sunday 21st December) and Christmas Day Holy Communion (10.45am, Christmas Day)
(NB. It is yet to be decided if the choir will also sing at the Benefice Advent Carol Service at St. Cuthbert’s, the Christingle Services at St. Mary’s and St. Cuthbert’s and Christmas Day Holy Communion at St. Cuthbert’s which takes place at 9.30am)
Revd Stuart or Jonathan.
The idea is that it will be enjoyable, sociable and not so ambitious that it becomes stressful or hard work. It will focus on practising a few Carols and leading the singing of the congregation. Rev. Stuart has asked Paul Burrows, St. Mary’s principal organist, to lead the choir. Paul led a small, impromptu choir, drawn from the regular congregation, when the new Bishop of Crediton came to St. Mary’s; they were astoundingly good.
The first rehearsal will take place at 4.00pm on Sunday 16th November. Please feel free to invite family and friends and please let us know if you plan to attend.
The choir will definitely sing at St. Mary’s Carol Service (6.00pm, Sunday 21st December) and Christmas Day Holy Communion (10.45am, Christmas Day)
(NB. It is yet to be decided if the choir will also sing at the Benefice Advent Carol Service at St. Cuthbert’s, the Christingle Services at St. Mary’s and St. Cuthbert’s and Christmas Day Holy Communion at St. Cuthbert’s which takes place at 9.30am)
Nativity & Church Lights Switch On
Will take place in St. Mary’s churchyard on Wednesday 3rd December, 3.30pm
Quiet Day For Advent
Saturday 6th December 2025
December’s display in the Prayer Corner at St. Mary’s is about Advent, the preparation time before Christmas. On Saturday 6th December, from 11.00am until 3.00pm there will be a Quiet Day for Advent. As well as looking at the Christmas story, it will explore how the nativity was foretold and the consequences.
You are invited to drop in and out throughout the day.
(NB. There is now a book available for prayer requests. The Prayer Corner is not just for speaking in prayer but also for quiet contemplation and reflection.)
(St. Mary’s is open every day between 10.00am and 4.00pm)
You are invited to drop in and out throughout the day.
(NB. There is now a book available for prayer requests. The Prayer Corner is not just for speaking in prayer but also for quiet contemplation and reflection.)
(St. Mary’s is open every day between 10.00am and 4.00pm)
Christmas Services
Please see The Link for all Christmas Services at St. Mary’s and St. Cuthbert’s.
The Link also has information about purchasing Offwell Christmas cards and local choose-your-own Christmas trees (available between 2.00pm and 4.00pm on Saturday 30th November and Sunday 7th December). Along with hot chocolate!
The Link also has information about purchasing Offwell Christmas cards and local choose-your-own Christmas trees (available between 2.00pm and 4.00pm on Saturday 30th November and Sunday 7th December). Along with hot chocolate!
Please go to our What’s On page for all Offwell events.
‘Parish News & Articles’ includes articles on the following:
‘Pete’s Dragons’ (November 2025)
'A Dedication for Little Seth' (July 2025)
‘A Quiet Day in St. Mary’s’ (April 2025)
‘Lest We Forget – 80 Years On’ (March 2025)
‘Parish Church Legal Structure’ (March 2025)
‘Stonemasonry – One of the Oldest Professions in Human History’ (November 2024)
‘Caring for God’s Acre – Offwell School’s E-Team Helps Nature Thrive’ (November 2024)
‘The Church Volunteering Crisis’ (July 2024)
‘Ordination of Women Priests – 30 Year Anniversary’ (March 2024)
‘Church Wardens – Our Unsung Heroes’ (January 2024)
‘All About Anna Chaplaincy’ (November 2023)
‘Parish News & Articles’ includes articles on the following:
‘Pete’s Dragons’ (November 2025)
'A Dedication for Little Seth' (July 2025)
‘A Quiet Day in St. Mary’s’ (April 2025)
‘Lest We Forget – 80 Years On’ (March 2025)
‘Parish Church Legal Structure’ (March 2025)
‘Stonemasonry – One of the Oldest Professions in Human History’ (November 2024)
‘Caring for God’s Acre – Offwell School’s E-Team Helps Nature Thrive’ (November 2024)
‘The Church Volunteering Crisis’ (July 2024)
‘Ordination of Women Priests – 30 Year Anniversary’ (March 2024)
‘Church Wardens – Our Unsung Heroes’ (January 2024)
‘All About Anna Chaplaincy’ (November 2023)
Preparing For The Future, whilst Preserving The Past
We are preparing to renovate and reorder the interior of St. Mary’s Church. We are seeking your support to widen the nave aisle, re-establish the font to its original position and repair many of the box pews.
The work will enable us to provide greater hospitality to visitors and worshippers during events and services. By widening the nave aisle our ability to host funeral services and weddings will be enhanced giving enough space for two people to walk side by side, and for those with mobility restrictions greater access. The renovation work to the box pews will ensure they can continue to be used for years to come. The repositioning of the 15th century font to the south aisle will return it to its original location, but will also create space for groups to meet, and hospitality to be provided.
Unfortunately, the project will be extremely costly in time and money and therefore we seek the support of our community as well as visitors, and through charitable grants.
One piece of work currently underway is a pew timber survey, being conducted by a consultant specialist for the conservation of historic timber. In this survey the reconfiguring of the pews will be planned in such a way that limits harm and keeps the integrity of the original panelling. Once this has been carried out, the Parochial Church Council will be asking the Diocesan Advisory Committee for their recommendations prior to the faculty application being submitted to the Chancellor. We hope that by the end of the summer we can then move forward with fundraising and making early preparations for the work to be carried out.
If you would like to support the project please scan the QR code with your mobile phone, or go to our website to make your gift - and please don't forget to gift aid your donation, if you are eligible to do so.
The work will enable us to provide greater hospitality to visitors and worshippers during events and services. By widening the nave aisle our ability to host funeral services and weddings will be enhanced giving enough space for two people to walk side by side, and for those with mobility restrictions greater access. The renovation work to the box pews will ensure they can continue to be used for years to come. The repositioning of the 15th century font to the south aisle will return it to its original location, but will also create space for groups to meet, and hospitality to be provided.
Unfortunately, the project will be extremely costly in time and money and therefore we seek the support of our community as well as visitors, and through charitable grants.
One piece of work currently underway is a pew timber survey, being conducted by a consultant specialist for the conservation of historic timber. In this survey the reconfiguring of the pews will be planned in such a way that limits harm and keeps the integrity of the original panelling. Once this has been carried out, the Parochial Church Council will be asking the Diocesan Advisory Committee for their recommendations prior to the faculty application being submitted to the Chancellor. We hope that by the end of the summer we can then move forward with fundraising and making early preparations for the work to be carried out.
If you would like to support the project please scan the QR code with your mobile phone, or go to our website to make your gift - and please don't forget to gift aid your donation, if you are eligible to do so.
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Benefice Coffee Morning
3rd Thursday of every month, 1030am – 12.00noon – Offwell Village Social Club Room
Whether you go to church or not you will be made very welcome You just have to enjoy coffee, homemade cake and a chat!
3rd Thursday of every month, 1030am – 12.00noon – Offwell Village Social Club Room
Whether you go to church or not you will be made very welcome You just have to enjoy coffee, homemade cake and a chat!
Bell Captain: John Tristram 01404 831404, [email protected]
Service ringing is the first Sunday of the month, 9.00 - 9.30am and as arranged.
Service ringing is the first Sunday of the month, 9.00 - 9.30am and as arranged.
