Welcome
The Shirwell Mission Community lies within the Shirwell Deanery and covers an area of just under 50 square miles with a population of approximately 2600. It comprises six parishes and eight churches.
Services are held weekly in the two larger Churches – Shirwell at 9.30am, and at Bratton Fleming at 9.30am on the first three Sundays of each month, and at 10.45am on the fourth Sunday. Two services per month are held at Challacombe and Loxhore.
Currently there are no regular monthly services held at Arlington, East Down, Kentisbury or Stoke Rivers - see rota below for details.
The parishes extend north east of Barnstaple to the Exmoor National Park and the Somerset border.
The Rector is Revd Preb. Rosie Austin, who looks after the six parishes with its eight churches. She is currently assisted by Rev Katie Welborn van Santen, and a retired clergyman, Rev Preb. Chris Tull.
All enquiries for weddings, funerals, baptisms, pastoral care and services should be made to Rev Katie:
Tel: 07881 818782 Email: rev.katie.welborn@gmail.com
All enquiries relating to church buildings, PCCs and churchyards should be made to the churchwardens - please see our Contacts page for details.
Safeguarding
If you have a concern about the safety of someone or the actions of someone working with children or vulnerable adults, please speak to someone:
The names and contact details of the Parish Safeguarding Representatives are:
Bratton Fleming with Stoke Rivers: Costa Nassaris Tel: 01392 345909 email: dsa@exeter.anglican.org
Challacombe: Costa Nassaris Tel: 01392 345909 email: dsa@exeter.anglican.org
East Down with Arlington: Costa Nassaris Tel: 01392 345909 email: dsa@exeter.anglican.org
Kentisbury: Costa Nassaris Tel: 01392 345909 email: dsa@exeter.anglican.org
Loxhore: Mike Matthews Tel: 01271 850550
Shirwell: Costa Nassaris Tel: 01392 345909 email: dsa@exeter.anglican.org
The link to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team's contact details - https://exeter.anglican.org/resources/safeguarding/safeguarding-team/
The following organisations offer helplines:
NSPCC: 0808 800 5000 • Childline: 0800 1111 • Stop It Now: 0808 1000 900 • NAPAC: 0808 801 0331 • Samaritans: 116 123 • Family Lives: 0808 800 2222 • National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 • Action On Elder Abuse: 080 8808 8141
Baptisms
July 2026
Services in the Shirwell Mission Community
Weddings
Funerals
Announcement - Sunday 28th June, 2026
The Bishop of Crediton is pleased to announce that, subject to the completion of the statutory formalities, the Reverend Prebendary Rosemary Elizabeth Austin has been appointed as Team Vicar in the benefice of Bishopsnympton, Charles, East Anstey, High Bray, Knowstone, Mariansleigh, Molland, North Molton with Twitchen, Rose Ash and West Anstey, in the Diocese of Exeter.
Rosie is currently Team Rector of the Shirwell, Loxhore, Kentisbury, East Down with Arlington, Bratton Fleming, Challacombe and Stoke Rivers Benefice, and will continue to serve as Rural Church Officer in the Diocese of Exeter.
She will be moving to the vicarage in Bishops Nympton with her husband, Adam, and details of her licensing service will be announced in due course.
This in summary means I am moving to a part time role in a new place, while continuing as Rural Church Officer. The move will be later in the Autumn so a bit of time still to go yet before the move.
Adam and I have both loved living in Bratton Fleming and being a part of the community here, and I have loved working with all the people who make up Shirwell Mission Community. But it feels the time is right for the move - sad as we will be to leave - and begin a new adventure.
We're not moving far, only half an hour away and still on the edge of Exmoor. Bishop's Nympton, here we come!
