The Friends of Sherborne Abbey can claim to be one of the oldest such organisations in the country, having been founded as long ago as 1930 ‘to bind together all those who love Sherborne Abbey in their desire to take part in preserving it for posterity’. Members can be found all over the country, drawn to join by their love of this loveliest of buildings.
For over 75 years, therefore, the Friends have been staunch supporters of every major project for the repair and restoration of the Abbey fabric. In this century alone, they have made a major contribution to the appeal to repair and strengthen the tower vault, and restore the Quire. They have paid for roof safety equipment, a fire detection system and the ramping of the main porch for disabled access. They were the principal benefactors of the rebuilding of the main organ and gave the new John Hayward window in the south aisle to commemorate the visit of HM The Queen and HRH The Prince Philip in 1998.
In short, they are vital to the present and the future of this great House of God, by their subscriptions, donations and bequests. I would warmly invite you to become a Friend of Sherborne Abbey, to help take our work and ministry into the fourteenth century of our life as the Mother Church of West Wessex.
For further, please information contact the Membership Secretary using the link below:
Our parish gives away ten percent of its income every year to needy causes both in the UK and especially overseas. FIAC works hard to assess and make these donations, ensuring the causes are worthy and that the money goes where we intend it to go so it has maximum effect. Where there is a choice we prioritise giving to Christian charities.
FIAC
FIAC members come from all our churches and have a range of backgrounds and experience. We each take responsibility for links with one of our major partners. We are always looking for new members. For further details or enquiries about donations please contact the Parish Office: 01935 713777 or email parishsecretary@sherborneabbey.com
Our Church Mission Society Mission Partner, Sam Malish
Sam is our CMS mission partner, working for CMS Africa in a refugee camp bringing Christ’s peace to traumatised refugees displaced from South Sudan. Our support will give him vital tools to do his job and support him and his family.
Farming Community Network
The Farming Community Network charity supports farmers, farming families and people in rural communities through difficult times and periods of change.
Founded on Christian principles, FCN is here to support people of all faiths and none. Our support will help to build thriving communities, encourage resilience and help farming people to explore their options. Your donation will support local volunteers in providing excellent support, information and encouragement.
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The Faith in Action Committee acts on your behalf. We have chosen these causes carefully, reaching out to the most needy people at home and overseas.
Last year we raised a ten-year high £6391. I would love it if we could match that amount this year.
Many thanks,
John Crossman
Chair Faith in Action Committee
“Peace is at the heart of God…. And I believe that the peace Jesus gives is the true peace.”
So says Sam, our mission partner. He works for CMS Africa, whose International Director Canon Moses Bushendich, visited Sherborne last July. Sam is based in the Bidibidi2 refugee camp in North Uganda which is home to over 20,000 refugees who have fled the civil war in South Sudan. We want to give him further support as a sign of our partnership and our concern for all displaced peoples and support the work he is doing to bring Christ’s peace to traumatised refugees.
Sam works with men and women refugees in the camp helping them to deal with the pain and trauma of fleeing their homes and seeing their relatives killed or captured. He aims to bring the peace of Christ to them through healing sessions for which he trains new church workers, provides digital players so families can listen and work together, and broadcasts via local radio networks. Many people are helped and brought to faith. Our extra support will enable Sam to expand his work in the refugee camps and provide more trained volunteers and equipment to run much needed trauma training groups.
Sam uses bible stories in the healing process; in the Bible Joseph was also betrayed by his brothers into slavery; Jesus himself suffered injustice, torture, pain, and death. These stories can be the focus for the work of the Holy Spirit in reaching out through Sam and his team to heal and restore people. Sam also works with many other agencies to maximise their impact. He needs our support and our prayers, bringing Jesus’ love and healing to those in greatest need.
“We are successfully building the body of Christ in Africa and beyond”. Says Sam.
We can be a part of that work by supporting him through CMS Africa.
https://www.cms-africa.org
The charity Farming Community Network (FCN) supports farmers, farming families and people in rural communities through difficult times and periods of change. Founded and run on Christian principles, FCN are here to support people of all faiths and none and help build thriving communities, encourage resilience and help farming people to explore their options.
Farming is a wonderful way of life, but it is also inherently risky and volatile. Farmers are regularly forced to deal with issues that are beyond their control, such as animal disease, fluctuating market prices and the weather, and they can also face issues in their personal life, such as relationship breakdown, physical health problems and bereavement. Farming can be a very isolating and lonely occupation, with farmers often spending long hours out in the field with little or no social interaction.
Amidst policy and political changes many farmers face great uncertainty about their business. That means farmers and farming families across the UK are highly susceptible to poor mental wellbeing, including stress, anxiety and depression.
The stigma surrounding mental health, means many in the farming community have difficulty admitting that they need help. Farmers generally don’t discuss their issues with a friend or relative as they don’t wish to become a burden. They often prefer to discuss their issues in confidence with someone to whom they have no emotional attachment and who will treat their situation without judgment – this is where FCN volunteers are come in.
FCN volunteers here in Dorset have a great understanding of the issues that the farming community faces. They provide free, confidential, pastoral support to anyone who seeks help, regardless of whether the issue is personal or business-related. They will “walk with” anyone who seeks support and help them find a positive way through their problems, staying alongside them as long as they need, listening, encouraging and signposting to other services. Your donations will be used within Dorset to support and underpin the work of local volunteers, paying for training, co-ordination, resources and travel locally.
Please pray for our two projects:
For Sam and his family, and the refugees he supports and for CMS Africa and the work of Farming Community Network and its volunteers and staff in Dorset.
Make a donation – You can give in one of FOUR ways.
Please make sure to give your name if you are registered with us for gift aid. (To register use the form on the Abbey website or from the Parish Office).
Please use the account details below and use the reference LENT 2026 otherwise we will not receive your donation:
Use this QR code to reach the donation page of our website. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT
Sherborne is one of the most beautiful towns in England. With its abundance of mediaeval buildings, superb Abbey, famous schools – both private and state, picturesque Almshouse, two castles, independent shops, supermarkets, antique dealers and small hospital with a minor injuries department, it has much to offer both visitors and residents.
The Sherborne Branch of Mothers’ Union is in the Diocese of Salisbury and is part of the worldwide organization of which there are over four million members. Mothers’ Union was founded in 1876 and exists to share Christ’s love for the world by encouraging, strengthening and supporting marriage & family life. Our particular overseas link is with the MU in Ezo, South Sudan. If you are new to the Sherborne area or have not heard about the work of MU, please come and see what we are about!
Membership is open to all men and women who have been baptised in the name of the Trinity and who support Mothers’ Union aims and objectives.
For more information contact our secretary, Jo Higgs by emailing musecretary@sherborneabbey.com.
4th Friday in the month
Griffiths Room, Digby Memorial Church Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne DT9 3NL
10am for 10.30am (ends 11.45am)
For more details about individual meetings, please see our weekly Pewsheet or monthly Bulletin (which can be found under the Services & Events tab, then click on Pewsheets, on this website).
Thank you for visiting us!
We help in the community:
We help in The Abbey by:
Our fund raising is by subscriptions, donations and special events.
Why not join MU as it offers you a chance to:
