Welcome to our Benefice
The Shrivenham & Ashbury Benefice is situated in the Vale Of White Horse, 8 miles east of Swindon and 25 miles west of Oxford, and consists of four parishes within the Dorchester Archdeaconry in the Diocese of Oxford.
Our churches are all different, with modern, traditional, and non-traditional services found in the regular pattern of worship, but all are united in wishing to mirror the hospitality of God to those we meet.
The following churches are open daily for private prayer: St Andrew Shrivenham, St Thomas Watchfield, St James Bourton, St Mary the Virgin Ashbury, St Swithun Compton Beauchamp and St Mary the Virgin Longcot.
Please do not come into church if you think you may have Covid symptoms.
Our regular online services and sermons continue, please download the Newsletter for full details. Download a guide to watching services and sermons on Facebook.
If you, or someone you know, would like a home visit (to receive Holy Communion for example), need to talk or ask for specific prayers, please do get in touch.
Our New Incumbent
We’re delighted that Rev’d Patrick Mabhunu is to be our new Incumbent. The special service of Institution, Induction and Installation at which Patrick officially becomes our new Vicar will most probably take place on Wednesday 6th November at 7pm in St Andrew's Church, Shrivenham. We are expecting this date to be confirmed early next week.
A Message from Patrick
I received the news of my appointment as the next Vicar of the Shrivenham and Ashbury Benefice with great thrill and joy. My wife Priscilla, and the children all gave shouts of joy and happiness. We all sang in our hearts "To God be the glory, great things he hath done". Indeed “This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes”. Psalm 118 v23
I would like to thank the Lord Chancellor, Patron of our Benefice, the Bishop of Dorchester, and your Parish representatives on the appointment panel for trusting and believing in me to take over from Rev’d Fergusson.
I have been in the Benefice as Associate Vicar for nearly a year, but the news of this appointment brings me new excitement, new energy, and new vision for the Benefice.
I am thankful to all the people in this Benefice who have helped me and my family settle in comfortably and we are happy to be a part of the Church family here.
I promise to dedicate my time to diligently serving the Lord and the people of this Benefice. I pray for wisdom and strength to guide and lead the Benefice to greater worship and knowledge of the Lord as we continue together to mirror the hospitality of God.
