St. Mary’s Church (The Benefice of Offwell, Farway and Widworthy)

Revd. Stuart Huntley
Priest in Charge, Offwell, Farway and Widworthy – Diocese of Exeter
07479 532355   |   revshuntley@gmail.com   |  stuarthuntley.com

Revd. Stuart joined us as our Priest in Charge of Offwell, Widworthy and Farway parishes on 1st October 2025  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. 

Rev’d Stuart will be in St. Mary’s every Friday morning between 9.30 and 11.00am.

 

Church Wardens
Jonathan Paveley:  01404 831450
Viki Whitehead:  01404 831050

The church is now open every day between 10.00am and 4.00pm.

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: brab.hallowes@gmail.com or carol@westcolwell.co.uk)

 

 

Facebook:  St Mary's Church, Offwell 

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!

News 2026

St Mary's Annual General Meeting

This meeting will take place on Sunday 3rd May at 10.30am (following the 9.30am Holy Communion Service)
​To review the Accounts and Annual Report for approval and to elect church officers and representatives.
All those listed on the Church of England electoral roll are entitled to vote. To apply to be entered on the C of E electoral roll please contact one of the churchwardens.
 
Please note:  To be on the Church of England electoral roll a person must be baptised.  According to the Church Representation Rules applicants must be aged 16 or over, baptised and a member of the Church of England (or a church in communion with it), whether they are resident in the parish or a regular worshipper.
 

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. 
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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.​