ST PETERS CHURCH

The present church building dates from the end of the thirteenth century. Monuments both inside and outside the church commemorate the Clevland family, who once lived at Tapeley Manor and the Christie family, to whom the house and estate passed by marriage. There are also monuments to the Berry Torrs, who lived in the littler village of Eastleigh. Some restoration work has been done, and more is envisaged in the near future when funds become available.

The present congregation is small and ‘elderly, though there is a much bigger body of people who come on special occasions and are willing to help in practical ways. The church and the pub are the two main focal points for this community.

St. Peters, Westleigh is part of the United Benefice comprising St. Peters, Westleigh, St. Johns, Instow and St. Peters Fremington.  

At such times, it is good to remember that the Church is not primarily a building or an ordained minister, but rather the people of God. People have worshipped here for hundreds of years and they do so still. Please pray that others in this generation will come to put their trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour, and bear witness for him in this rural community.

OCTOBER 2026

4th at 09.30am

Holy Communion

11th at 09.30am

Family Breakfast & Praise

Sun 18th at 11am

Harvest Festival

I have been reliably informed by my wonderful wife that as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become much easier to distract, and given I’ve just spent the last five minutes watching a tiny money-spider crawl across the inside of my computer screen, I’m inclined to believe her.

I’m not making excuses, but I think I’m just wired to find an interest in nearly everything that catches my eye. Not just a passing interest but a forensic-level interest. Take my tiny new spider friend. Is he on his own? Is he an integral part of my Mac, something Apple have kept secret for years? If so, has he escaped, or has he just popped out for a coffee or to get distracted by my Facebook stream with me? I wonder if living inside of my monitor would be like living in Las Vegas? Does my money-spider have any money to spend at his mini–Las Vegas?

Welcome to the inside of a curate’s head. I suspect not every curate is like this, and I have no doubt that I could probably go to the GP now and get a diagnosis of fidget syndrome or something similar. And before anyone says anything – it’s absolutely not because I have too little to do. I’m just a badly disciplined 50-something year old who’s too interested in life. And for the record, I can focus when I want to. If I’m tinkering under the car bonnet I’m practically indistractable, and deaf – another helpful observation by my loving wife.  

I do consider this variety in life a massive blessing though. By the time you’re reading this it’ll be October. You’ll have probably already had at least one discussion about the darker evenings, the different weather, decisions regarding the need to keep both summer and winter clothes to hand, and the fact someone you know has already lit their log-burner. The English poet and hymnwriter William Cowper wrote ‘variety's the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavour’, and he wasn’t wrong. I believe God has given us an incredibly diverse world to enjoy, a diversity that really does touch every one of our five senses. On one occasion, Jesus was talking to crowds and said “Consider the lilies’ of the field... even King Solomon was not as splendid”.  Although it was part of a wider discussion about reducing anxiety, he brings to our attention the beauty and depth of the created order.

What I find even more incredible, humbling, even comforting, is that King Soloman’s father, King David, wrote in Psalm 139 that even though we are so small and insignificant, God knows everything about me. In fact, Jesus says later on in Matthew’s Gospel, he knows every hair on my head which, despite being perhaps less of a challenge than for others, is still impressive.

So, as we move into the autumnal months, let’s be reassured that the God who created the universe and all that is in it, has an infinitely greater forensic interest in you and me as I have in my Mac-inhabiting money-spider friend.

Rev. James Moore

Curate, Fremington, Westleigh and Instow

CHURCH NEWS

                                  SEPT  23

It’s been nice to write about current events in September as opposed to things ‘happening in the future’, so here goes………..on the 5th September, accompanied by bells, St. George’s flag flying, a Choir and a beautifully decorated Chuch (thank you Sue Papa, Ann Humphris, Mrs G, Jan Lees, and others) Karina and Brandon tied the knot, conducted by Rev. James Moore. A second celebration to be held in Mexico (Karina’s home) soon. One of the nicest days many can remember, St Peter’s did you proud!

And then…..Saturday 12th September, Teddies ‘off the Tower’!  Accompanied by Bishop Moira (and her pet puffin), 15 Teddies with varying degrees of parachute efficiency, were flung off the top of St Peter’s Tower by Ian (can’t mention any details or I’ll get shot), and in reverse order, in 4th place was Marshall, whose parents were looking for a relatives grave in the Churchyard and got roped into the competition.

In 3rd place was Finlay with a distance of 4,79m, then in 2nd place, the always enthusiastically energetic Phoebe Painter (no idea where she gets that from!) with 5.33 m, but way out of sight was the lovely Bonnie, with 9.07 m, with a prize of a packet of Haribo’s, and a contribution to her next Dentist’s invoice! It was a fantastic day, cakes supplied by Helen (and Ian), Sue Papa’s husband Jim (under instruction as Sue had hurt her back), crisps from yours truly because I lack imagination, and Mrs G as Senior Churchwarden overseeing everything! Slept like a log that night.

Then…..only the next day, Sunday 13th September was the Family Breakfast service, conducted by Rev James. The service was based around what will be happening over the next few months, the ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ as per St. Pauls letter to the Galation’s. Can’t wait for the one about Patience!

I may have mentioned a trip to Anglesey and a ‘Goat’ report! Well…..the bank holiday weekend interfered, with hours and hours of queueing on the M5, so the trip didn’t materialise, sorry! But I have booked the week before Christmas for a long break and an early Christmas with family. Unless you know what problems fragmented families cause, it’s a nightmare juggling ego’s etc. Suffice to say that everyone seems happy with the outcome!

In October we look forward to our Harvest Festival and Harvest Lunch on Sunday 18th , the service starts at the later time of 11am, so that we (the congregation) can make our way to the Village Hall for the sumptuous feast, (it’s bring n share) and several hours of convivial company (?). Well, maybe!!

And that my friends, is that, yet another missive from the lovely, welcoming, enthusiastic, Church of St.Peter's–- if you live in our Parish and don’t (even occasionally) attend, you really don’t know what you’re missing.

Roger (Phew), over and out

Letter from St. Peter’s Westleigh – October Magazine