It's official, we're Vicarless.
For what must be the first time in its history, St Mary's Church vicarage in Huish Episcopi is to be let out for non-church use signalling that the parish isn't getting a new vicar any time soon.
[LATE EDIT: the vicarage has at least once been rented out previously in between vicars]
At least two property websites have already edited their listing saying "Removed from the market" suggesting the building may already have gone.
Whoever the new tenants are, they may be interested to read some of the conditions and advice that come with living there provided to us by the Church of England properties manager.
Let's take a look:
1. The church opposite your new home has a tower with 8 bells inside it. These are rung regularly on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. They are also rung for other events such as weddings, funerals and Langport Club Day. Living opposite gives you absolutely no right to complain about the noise.
2. Your new home has very old plumbing. When it is playing up you are permitted to do your washing up in the font opposite.
3. Every year you will be required to host the Church Fete. It's the law.
4. At least twice a month and often with no notice whatsoever, groups of pensioners will turn up expecting tea and sympathy and from time to time a bingo night.
5. One day each year you will be required to go and get completely inebriated with the Friendly Society at the Langport Arms.
and finally
6. Don't forget that most Sundays, to give Langport and Huish residents a sense of continuity and peace of mind, you will be required to dress up as either Dawn French or Dick Emery
😂
Sounds fair.
Good luck to whoever takes it on and let's hope the Church of England one day installs another vicar in it. Centuries of tradition shouldn't just be swept away and nobody wants a repeat of the highly questionable sell-off of the church hall to the school some years ago.
Maybe one day we'll get that back too!
There are no further details, that's your Sunday bulletin folks.
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