All Saints Church, Oaksey
Parish Church News – July 2026
Services at Oaksey
Sunday, 5th July – Holy Communion service at 11am.
Sunday, 19th July – Matins service at 11am.
Sunday, 26th July – Family service at 10am.
Benefice Holy Communion service at Ashley
Sunday, 12th July at 10am.
Bricked up Doorways
“Then one of them (i.e.1 of the 10 lepers), when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He bowed down at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.” Luke 17 vs 15-16.
When I first arrived here, I was intrigued by the two holes cut through these large pillars, either side of the chancel in Crudwell Church. I hadn’t seen anything quite like them before. They’re called hagioscopes, sometimes known as squints. The term comes from the ancient Greek hagio, meaning holy and scope to see. They were designed to give worshippers, if they were sat behind a column, a direct line of sight to the altar.
I theorised that the bricked in door in the north aisle, must be a ‘Leper Door.’ The belief was that small doorways in churches were designed to allow lepers to look inside and observe the Communion from a distance. It is appealing to think that this may be such a door.
But modern historians argue that many of these doors probably served simply as an entrance for the priest or, even more simply, for ventilation. They caused unwelcome drafts and required additional security, so many were permanently sealed up when they fell out of daily use.
The bricked in door and the possible connection to lepers in the past, links to the story of the 10 lepers in Luke’s Gospel. Lepers remained on the fringes of a community, shunned by everyone, because of their infectious condition. Their disease keeps them at a distance, so, standing some way off, they holler at Jesus:
‘Jesus, Master. Have mercy on us.’
Their cry has a profound element of hope in it. They had to shout at Jesus in order to make themselves heard, but Jesus didn’t shout back at them. He goes up close and speaks to them, treating them with all the respect that any human being deserves. They obey his instructions to show themselves to the priests and are made clean. I don’t think we can imagine their shared happiness.
Only one of them returns to thank and praise Jesus. The Samaritan, on seeing what has happened to him, is filled with gratitude, with awe, that strange mixture of fear and wonder and joy. We’re not told why the others didn’t return. Perhaps, in the sheer moment of wonder, they were so caught up in their changed world, that they simply didn’t think of coming back to say “thank you” to Jesus. Whatever the reason, they lost sight of Jesus. Maybe we too have sat down metaphorically in a place where we no longer have a clear view of Jesus?
The fantastic news is that Christ never loses sight of us. He comes to talk with us quietly, privately and to great effect. Like the lepers, we have been ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven. We have been brought into fellowship and family with God. That is wonderful.
Let this moment be a reminder to us to stop, look, call out, receive and notice what we have received, to give thanks and praise God.
With every blessing
Reverend Bob
Services across the Braydon Brook Benefice
All are welcome to attend any of the services taking place across the Benefice.
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Services in Church |
Additional information |
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Sunday 5th July |
9.30am Holy Communion & Hankerton |
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10am Friends & Family @ Crudwell |
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10am Festival Service @ Minety |
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11am Holy Communion @ Oaksey |
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6pm Evening Prayer @ Ashley |
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Sunday 12th July
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10am Benefice Communion @ Ashley |
10am Strawberry Fayre Service on the Green @ Crudwell |
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Sunday 19th July |
8.30am BCP Holy Communion @ Ashley |
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9.30am Holy Communion @ Charlton |
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11am Morning Praise @ Crudwell |
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11am Holy Communion @ Minety |
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11am Matins @ Oaksey |
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4pm Prayer, Praise & Story @ Hankerton |
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Mid-Week Services and Events
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Tuesday |
Weekly |
9am |
Morning Prayer via Zoom |
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Wednesday |
8th July (2nd Wed) |
10.30am |
Coffee & Chat @ Crudwell |
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Weekly |
7pm |
Men’s Bible Study 1 Days Court, Crudwell |
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Thursday |
9th July (2nd Thu) |
9.45am |
BCP Communion Service @ Minety |
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Friday |
Weekly |
9am |
Morning Prayer via Zoom |
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Saturday |
4th July (1st Sat) |
11am – 12.30pm |
Café Church @ Hankerton |
Please visit our website www.braydonbrook.co.uk and Braydon Brook Churches Facebook Page to find out more.
All Saints Church, Oaksey, is one of 6 Churches in a group known as the Braydon Brook Benefice, with a Rector, an associate Minister and 2 Lay Ministers. The other 5 Churches are located in the nearby villages of Ashley, Charlton, Crudwell, Hankerton and Minety. There is a C of E school in Oaksey.
Our Church and People
On the whole, our congregation consists of older, retired members of the community and, as a result, attendance is a particular area of concern. We are a caring, welcoming, committed community. The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is experienced and pro-active. Services are held on the first & third Sundays of every month with a Benefice group service held on the second Sunday on a rotational basis with the other 5 churches in the Benefice. Details of all services are displayed on the Church Noticeboard, the village Shop and the monthly email Buzz.
Our Church of All Saints
All Saints was built in the middle of the 13th Century within an enclosed graveyard and is in a conservation area. The building is Grade 1 listed. The architecture is Early English and Perpendicular in style. Prominent features include 3 early 15th Century wall paintings depicting Christ of the Trades, St. Christopher and the Sunday Christ, a 15th Century stained glass window beside the Pulpit.
The large Victorian stained-glass East window was made by the renowned William Warrington.
Located on the outside North wall is a Sheela-na-gig, a pagan fertility symbol.
In recent years, many improvements have been made including a new heating boiler, an overhaul of the organ, landscaping of the graveyard, a new sound system and induction loop, lime-washing of the chancel and belfry, new LED lighting throughout the Church and a re-surfaced church path with new gates.
The Church bells are regularly rung by groups from all over the country.
The Church is a haven of peace and tranquillity and attracts visitors from all over the world.
Safeguarding Policy for Children and Vulnerable Adults
We are committed to:
- the care, nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with all adults and children.
- the safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults when they are vulnerable.
- the establishment of safe, caring communities which provide a loving environment, where there is a culture of ‘informed vigilance’ as to the dangers of abuse.
We will:
- ensure that all those with any responsibility within the Church are subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks and that they receive appropriate safeguarding training.
- respond without delay to every concern raised which suggests that an adult, child or young person may have been harmed, co-operating with the police and local authority in any investigation.
- seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with him, or her, an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care.
- seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust.
- seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or vulnerable adult.
In all these principles, we will follow legislation, guidance and recognised good practice.
Our Parish Safeguarding Officer is Claire Graham: Tel. No. 01666 575146 / 07813 700403.
Our Diocesan Advisor is Adam Bond: Tel. No. 0117 906 0100.
Please contact Claire or Adam if you have any concerns relating to child or vulnerable adult protection.
A copy of the Oaksey Safeguarding Policy can also be viewed on the Church Noticeboard in the North porch.
Signed on behalf of Oaksey Parochial Church Council.
Jerry Falkingham (PCC Secretary)
Date: 14th April 2026 Review Date: 13th April 2027
The Churchwarden can be approached on any matters to do with the Church or Churchyard, as can any member of the Parochial Church Council which meets quarterly in January, April, July & October. The Rector of All Saints is also responsible for the parish Churches in Ashley, Crudwell, Hankerton, Charlton and Minety. Collectively, the six Churches are known as the Braydon Brook Group of Churches.
Church service times can be found on the Noticeboard in front of the Church and on the Oaksey Buzz.
Newcomers can be sure of a warm welcome.
On the 1st Sunday of each month, there is a Holy Communion service at 11am.
On the 3rd Sunday of each month, there is a Matins service at 11am.
Other special services are held throughout the Church calendar year, including Easter Sunday, Harvest Festival and Christmas services including the Carols by Candlelight service, Nativity service and Holy Communion service on Christmas day.
Other activities connected with the Church are the choir, bell-ringing and flower arranging groups.
A rota is maintained for Church cleaning and maintenance of the churchyard. If anyone is interested in these activities, please contact the Churchwarden – details below.
Unfortunately, owing to break ins over the years, the Church is generally kept locked, but arrangements can be made with the Churchwarden for anyone who would like to have a look around our beautiful Grade 1 listed Church.
Contact Details
Rector: The Revd. Bob Molton email: rector.braydonbrook@gmail.com
Churchwarden: Kevin McKenna 01666 577279 or 07746 580026 email: khrd84@sky.com
Church Administrator: Kath Talboys 01666 825019 email: bbbandgb@gmail.com
PCC Secretary: Jerry Falkingham 01666 577956 or 07808 139547 email: jf6@btinternet.com
PCC Members / Responsibilities 2026
MR. K. McKENNA – CHURCHWARDEN, LAY CHAIRMAN, DEANERY SYNOD MEMBER, SACRISTAN.
MR. J. FALKINGHAM – PCC SECRETARY, MINUTES SECRETARY, ELECTORAL ROLL OFFICER, SACRISTAN.
MS. J. PAYNE – TREASURER.
MRS. J. NEILSON – GIFT AID SECRETARY.
MRS. H. McKENNA – PCC MEMBER.
MRS. C. GRAHAM – PCC MEMBER, PARISH SAFEGUARDING OFFICER.
MS. C. BURNABY-ATKINS – PCC MEMBER.
MR. M. MARTIN – PCC MEMBER.
MRS. C. WOODWARD – PCC MEMBER.
MR. B McKENNA – AUDITOR.
A Brief History of All Saints Church, Oaksey
The Church at Oaksey is dedicated to All Saints and is thought to have been built in the mid 13th century (maybe even the 12th century) and was restored in the 14th and 15th centuries. The name All Saints seems to have first appeared in 1763. It is a Grade I listed building.
The 13th century elements of the Church can be seen in the south porch, the chancel and in the tower. At the end of the 14th century, the north wall of the nave was rebuilt and a niche was added over the doorway to hold figurines of the Virgin and Child. In the south wall there are the remains of a spiral staircase which would have given access to a rood loft. The Church is built mainly from ashlar. The clock was built at the end of the 19th century and is thought to have been installed in tribute to a former Rector who died in 1882. A peal of six bells was installed at the Church in 1773. They were made by Thomas Rudhall of Gloucester.
The Church registers exist from 1670 and the first entry reads: “William Dick was buryed (sic) Oct 2”. The marriage records show the first was on 19 February 1671 and reads: “Thomas Marshall and Anne Godwyn were Maryed (sic) Feb 19”. Interestingly, marriages were not numerous, with an average of one or two per year. The number of burials fluctuates a lot as well; in 1683 only one was recorded, but in 1695 there were 18.
One of the Humphrey de Bohuns of the 12th century gave the Church and its tithes to Monkton Farleigh priory. Rectors came from the priory to Oaksey up until the Dissolution. In 1304, parishioners from Minety attended All Saints while St. Leonard’s at Minety was under an interdict (a penalty from the church).
Some large wall murals were uncovered at the Church in 1933 and these date back to the 15th century. The most notable mural is of St. Christopher carrying a baby Jesus across a stream. There is also a suitably placed mermaid in the water. The other recognisable image in the murals is Christ of the Trades; an image of Christ surrounded by tools and implements. This mural is less well preserved than St. Christopher and was damaged in attempts to preserve it.
There are many stone gargoyles on the outside of the Church as well as a famous and explicit example of a sheila-na-gig, a carved fertility symbol. In her village diary Elspeth Huxley wrote: “Entry through the south door, while it lasted, spared Mrs. Martin’s bevy of domestics the sight of the Sheila-na-gig set in the north wall, which might have kindled wicked thoughts.”
The living at the Church was a Rectory further east down Somerford Keynes Road, but in 1956 it was united with the rectory at Minety. The Rectory building was rebuilt in the 18th century as a two storeyed stone house. It was altered again in the 19th century. Now, the Rector in Oaksey also covers the parishes of Ashley, Crudwell, Charlton, Hankerton and Minety. These are classified under the Braydon Brook Benefice and the North Wiltshire Deanery.
The parish registers from 1670 (christenings and burials) and 1671 (marriages), other than those in current use, are held in the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre at Chippenham.
Take a 3D virtual tour of our Grade 1 Listed Church
Click on the link below to take a fascinating 3D tour of our Grade 1 Listed Church.
Look out for the buttons in the bottom left-hand corner to explore the Church in different ways.
All Saints Church, Oaksey – Churchyard Regulations 2026
As All Saints Church Oaksey is a Grade 1 listed building in a Conservation Area, the following restrictions apply to monuments erected in the churchyard. These restrictions are tighter than the Bristol Diocese regulations and are in addition to them.
Click on the link below for full details of the Diocesan regulations.
The monument is to be in one of the following materials:
– English limestone
– Portland stone
– Purbeck stone
– Nebresina (Roman stone) or stone of the above type and of a Cotswold colour
– English oak
Design of Memorial
The Diocesan regulations apply with the further restriction that the headstone should be plain with a simple curved top. It may have a plain cross engraved on it. Any base should be rectangular. An alternative to the above is a simple cross, or a horizontal tablet let into the ground.
No insert or component of metal, plastic or other material is permitted apart from lead filling of lettering. No painting or colouring is permitted apart from lettering (or the engraved cross if applicable) where the paint used should only lightly contrast with the stone.
No plastic or artificial flowers, or any other unsuitable adornments are permitted to be placed at, on, or near, both existing and new graves/ headstones.
Disposal of surplus material
In excavating a grave, all surplus material must be removed from the churchyard.
Mr. J. Falkingham
Secretary
Oaksey Parochial Church Council
Updated 14th April 2026
All Saints Church, Oaksey – Data Protection Policy
DATA PRIVACY NOTICE
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of All Saints, Oaksey.
1. Your personal data – what is it? Personal data relates to a living individual who can be identified from that data. Identification can be by the information alone or in conjunction with any other information in the data controller’s possession or likely to come into such possession. The processing of personal data is governed by the General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”).
2. Who are we? The PCC of All Saints, Oaksey is the data controller (contact details below). This means it decides how your personal data is processed and for what purposes.
3. How do we process your personal data? The PCC of All Saints, Oaksey complies with its obligations under the “GDPR” by keeping personal data up to date; by storing and destroying it securely; by not collecting or retaining excessive amounts of data; by protecting personal data from loss, misuse, unauthorised access and disclosure and by ensuring that appropriate technical measures are in place to protect personal data.
We use your personal data for the following purposes: – To enable us to provide a voluntary service for the benefit of the public in a particular geographical area as specified in our constitution; To administer membership records; To fundraise and promote the interests of the charity; To manage our volunteers; To maintain our own accounts and records (including the processing of gift aid applications); To inform you of news, events, activities and services running at All Saints, Oaksey; To share your contact details with the Diocesan office so they can keep you informed about news in the Diocese and events, activities and services that will be occurring in the Diocese and in which you may be interested.
4. What is the legal basis for processing your personal data? Explicit consent of the data subject so that we can keep you informed about news, events, activities and services and process your gift aid donations and keep you informed about diocesan events. Processing is necessary for carrying out obligations under employment, social security or social protection law, or a collective agreement; Processing is carried out by a not-for-profit body with a political, philosophical, religious or trade union aim provided: – the processing relates only to members or former members (or those who have regular contact with it in connection with those purposes); and there is no disclosure to a third party without consent.
5. Sharing your personal data. Your personal data will be treated as strictly confidential and will only be shared with other members of the church in order to carry out a service to other church members or for purposes connected with the church. We will only share your data with third parties outside of the parish with your consent.
6. How long do we keep your personal data? We keep data in accordance with the guidance set out in the guide “Keep or Bin: Care of Your Parish Records” which is available from the Church of England website [see footnote for link].
Specifically, we retain electoral roll data while it is still current; gift aid declarations and associated paperwork for up to 6 years after the calendar year to which they relate; and parish registers (baptisms, marriages, funerals) permanently.
7. Your rights and your personal data. Unless subject to an exemption under the GDPR, you have the following rights with respect to your personal data: – The right to request a copy of your personal data which the PCC of All Saints, Oaksey holds about you; The right to request that the PCC of All Saints, Oaksey corrects any personal data if it is found to be inaccurate or out of date; The right to request your personal data is erased where it is no longer necessary for the PCC of All Saints, Oaksey to retain such data; The right to withdraw your consent to the processing at any time. The right to request that the data controller provide the data subject with his/her personal data and where possible, to transmit that data directly to another data controller, (known as the right to data portability), (where applicable) [Only applies where the processing is based on consent or is necessary for the performance of a contract with the data subject and in either case the data controller processes the data by automated means]. The right, where there is a dispute in relation to the accuracy or processing of your personal data, to request a restriction is placed on further processing; The right to object to the processing of personal data, (where applicable) [Only applies where processing is based on legitimate interests (or the performance of a task in the public interest/exercise of official authority); direct marketing and processing for the purposes of scientific/historical research and statistics]. The right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioners Office.
8. Further processing. If we wish to use your personal data for a new purpose, not covered by this Data Protection Notice, then we will provide you with a new notice explaining this new use prior to commencing the processing and setting out the relevant purposes and processing conditions. Where and whenever necessary, we will seek your prior consent to the new processing.
9. Contact Details
To exercise all relevant rights, queries of complaints, please contact the Churchwarden (Kevin McKenna) at 1 Quelfurlong Cottage, Crudwell, Wiltshire, SN16 9SL. Tel: 01666 577279.
You can contact the Information Commissioners Office (https://ico.org.uk/) on 0303 123 1113 or at the Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire. SK9 5AF. Details about retention periods can currently be found in the Record Management Guides located on the Church of England website. Click on the link below for full details.
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