On 7th May 2025 and following a period of consultation, the Right Reverend Vivienne, Bishop of Bristol made the decision to unite the parochial parishes of Bishopstone with Hinton Parva and Lyddington and Wanborough. From 1st June 2025, the newly formed Parish of Wellspring Villages, is testament to years of thoughtful collaboration.
The parish name ‘Wellspring Villages’, originates from two different sources, which wonderfully reinforce the idea that the parish is not just a geographical or administrative merger, but a spiritual confluence where history, tradition, and divine inspiration meet.
The steep chalk hills which link the 4 villages and cover much of the North Wessex Downs meet the lower lying, mainly clay, river basins such as the Thames. The chalk is permeable to water, so the hilltops are dry. Where the chalk meets the lower lying, impermeable, clay, there is a line of springs, and that is where villages grew up.
Throughout the bible, there are many powerful scriptural references to water: Proverbs 16:22 and 18:4 remind us that understanding and wisdom are as vital and enduring as a flowing brook, while John 4:14 and Job 29:23 evoke the timeless promise of eternal life and rejuvenation. The Bible frequently uses water, wells, and springs as metaphors for spiritual life, God’s grace, and the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit.
Union of church parishes
1. The parish of Bishopstone with Hinton Parva and the parish of Lyddington and Wanborough, being the two parishes which comprise the area of the benefice of Lyddington and Wanborough and Bishopstone with Hinton Parva in the diocese of Bristol, shall be united to create a new parish which shall be named “The Parish of Wellspring Villages”.
Parish churches
2. The church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Bishopstone, being the parish church of the parish of Bishopstone with Hinton Parva; the church of All Saints, Lyddington and the church of Saint Andrews Wanborough, being the parish churches of the parish of Lyddington and Wanborough, shall all be parish churches of the new parish.
Status of churches
The church of Saint Swithun, Hinton Parva is currently a chapel of ease in the parish of Bishopstone with Hinton Parva, and will continue as a chapel of ease in the new parish.
Archdeaconry and deanery
3. The new Wellspring Villages parish will form part of the archdeaconry of Malmesbury and the deanery of Swindon. Also, we will be able to build on our existing relationships within the Bristol diocese to further promote our mission and values in the community”.
Please join us on the 1st of June at All Saints, Lyddington at 10.30am, for our first service.
Sarah Sumner: Church Warden
