Filleigh Church is an ecumenical arrangements in the Circuit between the Methodist Church and the Anglican Church. The arrangement at Filleigh has been in operation, very successfully, for a number of years with the services taking place in the beautiful Parish Church of St Paul.
The village of Filleigh is located some 3 miles WNW of South Molton and about 15 miles ESE of Barnstaple – Grid reference SS662280.
Services
Services are held on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. In order to give the greatest variety and flexibility the type of service, depends upon the month number. The sequence works out as follows:
Odd numbered months
2nd Sunday – 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion (Methodist)
4th Sunday – 9.30 a.m. Anglican Service such as Morning Prayer
Even numbered months
2nd Sunday – 9.30 a.m. Methodist Service
4th Sunday – 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion (Anglican)
Further information on Church arrangements and activities.
It should be noted that on the whole the congregation at Filleigh remains the same whether the service is Anglican or Methodist and most consider themselves as attending St. Paul’s Church rather than an Anglican or a Methodist church. The churches came together in 1974 and any distinction has long ceased to be important to most. As a result we have a wide variety of services with a wide variety of leaders which is stimulating.
In practical terms the Methodist and Anglican ministers each draw up their own service rotas. The Methodist minister and a Methodist representative both sit on the Parochial Church Council. At the outset the members insisted that Holy Communion be shared. A reduction to the Diocesan funds is made in recognition of funds paid to the Methodist Circuit based on numbers of Methodist members.
Though we don’t have a Sunday School, children are very welcome at all our services and we provide wallets of activity sheets that can be enjoyed in the pews or in a play area at the back. We have a good team of Bell Ringers and new ringers are always welcome.
As well as being part of this Methodist circuit, St Paul’s is also part of The Chittleleigh Group – together with the Anglican churches in Chittlehampton with Umberleigh, Warkleigh with Satterleigh and Chittlehamholt. Other activities within the group include Home Groups, monthly Pot-luck Suppers where we all enjoy a splendid supper, followed by a talk from an outside speaker who can be relied upon to broaden our horizons and a monthly Men’s Breakfast, where a cooked breakfast is enjoyed, again followed by a guest speaker. Information on meetings etc can be gained from the weekly Sunday link sheet available at the 9.30 services and left in the church.