Arrangements for the Licensing of Steve as our new Priest-in-Charge of the Thameshead Benefice have now been made
This will take place at All Saints Church Kemble on Monday 16th March at 7pm.
The Licensing is a formal Anglican service which is also an opportunity for all of us in this parish and the other parishes in the Benefice to welcome Steve to his new role – and to welcome his wife Linda too. Therefore it’s hoped that as many as possible will be able to come to the service at Kemble on Monday March 16th at 7pm.
The Bishop, working with the Archdeacon, Patrons and Parish reps are delighted to announce the appointment of the Rev’d Steve Bullock as the new Priest-in-Charge of the Thameshead Benefice.
Steve will continue as curate with responsibility here for a period, and we will look towards a licensing date in the new year. This appointment is subject to the usual HR procedures which are already in process.
Please do pray for Steve and Linda at this exciting time.
Thames Head Community Energy, our village-based community energy not-for-profit, has recently completed a project to make Somerford Keynes Village Hall warmer, cheaper to run and better suited to the events it hosts.
We secured a £10,000 grant from Cotswold District Council to improve the hall’s energy efficiency. The upgrades include new infrared heating panels that provide a much more comfortable heat than the old ceramic units, new LED lighting that is brighter and far more efficient, and a modern fuse board and meters to bring the electrics up to current safety standards. Together, these improvements should cut the hall’s running costs and significantly reduce its CO2 footprint. All the work was carried out by local builders and electricians.
We also received a £3,500 grant from Gloucestershire County Council to help fund the installation of two 7kW EV chargers in the village hall car park. The chargers were supplied by Simpson and Partners, a British manufacturer based in Kemble, keeping the money circulating in the local economy as well as supporting the wider climate effort. They’re good-looking units too, with a simple industrial design that fits the setting.
The idea for the chargers came from a resident who described a friend visiting the village in an EV and not being able to get enough charge from a 13A socket to get home. They ended up cutting the visit short to detour to Waitrose for a top-up. The new chargers solve that problem and also make it easier for residents without off-street parking to switch to an EV. That helps reduce local air pollution and cuts lifetime CO2 by roughly 70 per cent.
We’ve introduced a lower tariff for Somerford Keynes residents. There’s no subscription or membership; anyone in the village can contact Mike McKeown at [email protected] to be added.
Using the chargers is straightforward. Point your phone’s camera at the QR code next to the charge port and follow the link into the Tap Electric app (available on the Apple and Google app stores). They also work with common EV charging apps including Octopus Electroverse and ZapMap.
Thames Head Community Energy exists because of early support from residents who helped fund its start-up via Crowdfund Cotswolds, and we’re genuinely grateful for that backing. Since then, we’ve run a group solar-purchase scheme for local households and we’re now exploring the creation of a community solar farm to produce local clean power at scale.
This village hall project was delivered by the Thames Head Community Energy founders: Jon Cantouris, Nick Cartwright, Mark Hastie-Oldland, Nick Hunt, Mike McKeown, Ranjit Prasad and David Willis. We’re grateful to the Village Hall Committee and the Parish Council for their help, and particular thanks go to Nick Cartwright, who project-managed the whole programme.
It’s another step towards a cleaner, lower-cost, community-powered energy future for Somerford Keynes.
Following their meeting on July 17th, the trustees of the Somerford Keynes Village Charities, are reminding Parishioners of its’ existence to help those who may be struggling to meet an immediate financial need or pressure.
The requests may be for a wide range of purposes and with ‘Back to School’ fast approaching, this could include paying for text books or uniform. Other examples might be an unexpected household bill or the replacement of an essential but unaffordable household item.
Enquiries and applications for financial support at this time, for, or on behalf of residents of Somerford Keynes or Shorncote should be made to Mrs Clare Baker by email or telephone in the strictest confidence. Clare may be reached at [email protected] or on 07870 851353.
More details about the charity, its’ aims and privacy notice may be found on the village website under ‘Notices’.
Ahead of their next meeting on 17th July 2025, the trustees of the Somerford Keynes Village Charity are inviting applications for financial assistance for anyone currently struggling to meet an urgent need.
Financial requests may be for a wide range of purposes which could include
• supporting an individual’s educational needs by paying for textbooks or school uniform
• the repair or replacement of essential but unaffordable household items
• heating costs and/or general household bills
• urgent health or dentistry costs
• exceptional transport costs, such as for hospital visits
Enquiries for, or on behalf of residents in Somerford Keynes or Shorncote, should be made to the Reverend David Austin, and will be handled in the strictest confidence.
More information on how to do this, the charity’s purpose, process and privacy notice can be found under Notices.
A huge “thank you” to everyone who came to the Open Garden on 6th July, braving the rain but also enjoying half an hour of sunshine too!
We are very grateful to all who contributed in so many different ways and especially to the Needhams for generously hosting the event and allowing us to enjoy their beautiful garden
It costs around £1,000 a month to keep our village church open and this is our main annual fund raiser – so we are delighted that despite the generally awful weather, we still raised the magnificent sum of just over £1,100
Tucked away in the tranquil hamlet of Shorncote in Gloucestershire, and only a mile’s walk from Somerford Keynes, All Saints church is a hidden gem which invites you to take a step back in time, offering a glimpse into our rich heritage. For a day filled with history and charm, make sure to include Shorncote Church in your plans. Your visit and support will play a vital role in preserving its legacy for the future.
All Saints church is a historic Anglican church in Shorncote, Gloucestershire, under the care of The Churches Conservation Trust. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building. All Saints dates from about 1170. Alterations were made to it, including the addition of a bellcote, in the 14th century. The church was restored by William Butterfield in 1883. The church was declared redundant on 1 July 1984, and was vested in The Churches Conservation Trust on 18 March 1987.
The church is in Norman style. It is constructed in stone rubble, with stone slate roofs. The plan consists of a nave with a north aisle and a south porch, and a small chancel. On the east gable of the nave is a double bellcote, over which is a pierced quatrefoil. In the west, south and east walls are two-light windows. The south doorway is Norman, with Early English capitals on the outer columns. On the south side of the chancel is a priest’s door between two straight-headed Perpendicular windows. Inside the church are wagon roofs. The chancel arch is narrow and pointed and contains 15th-century gates. The arch is decorated with Norman style carving. The font is also Norman. In the chancel is a piscina and a credence shelf dating from the 14th century, and in the north wall is a 15th-century Easter Sepulchre. On the chancel walls are medieval wall paintings depicting patterns and foliage. The pulpit dates from the early 18th century and has a tester suspended above it. Also in the church are the Royal coat of arms carved in stone.
Shorncote church is no longer used for regular public worship except for once each year, on the first Sunday after Christmas.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to a successful garden party at the Manor House in June; we are grateful to everyone who came, to all those who made delicious cakes and helped serve the teas and pimms, who donated raffle prizes, helped with setting up and clearing up afterwards and of course, huge thanks to Sussanne and Andrew Lock for allowing us to enjoy their beautiful garden
The event raised the sum of £1,300 for the church. A fantastic amount.
