About Us

The Two Shires Benefice was formed twenty years ago, bringing together five rural parishes. Although each parish serves its local community with its own ‘flavour’ and unique characteristics, we share much in common:

· a desire to worship God, expressed in many different ways

· a desire to serve our communities, both practically and spiritually

· a desire to help those in need, both locally and abroad

· a desire to draw others to Christ by word, deed and example

· a desire to treasure our history whilst living in the present and planning for the future

The Benefice is part of the Somerset South Deanery in the Diocese of Bath and Wells. The Rev Simon Hill is the Archdeacon of Taunton and the Rt Rev Michael Beasley is the Bishop of the Bath and Wells diocese. 

Only a short distance from the Jurassic Coast, the Two Shires Benefice is a rural benefice of five parishes set in the picturesque landscape of the Somerset and Dorset Borders, with four of the parishes located within Somerset and one just over the border in Dorset.  We are blessed to have beautiful traditional churches in all of our parishes, and all are most welcome to visit.

St Mary Magdalene, Cricket Lane, Cricket Malherbie, Somerset, TA19 0PW

St Michael & All Angels, Knapps Lane, Chaffcombe, Somerset, TA20 4BJ

St John the Evangelist, Waterlake Road, Tatworth, Somerset, TA20 2NZ

St Stephen, Church Street, Winsham, Somerset, TA20 4HX

The Blessed Virgin Mary, Chard Street, Thorncombe, Dorset, TA20 4NE

Also, once a month, a Book of Common Prayer (1662) service of Holy Communion is held at Forde Abbey chapel.  This is a privately owned former Cistercian monastery.  https://www.fordeabbey.co.uk/