The Link Benefice

Welcome to Woolavingon and the village church of St Mary.

Woolavington is the largest of the five villages within the benefice and is where the rectory is sited. The population is currently in the region of 2,000. However, there is the possibility of considerable growth in the next few years with three planning applications which, if passed, could create up to 500 new houses.

Amenities

The village benefits from a primary school with nursery; two shops; one of which includes a post office; a doctors’ surgery; a pharmacy and a fish and chip shop. The community police hub is in the village hall, one of three community venues – the others being the council owned Bitham Walk Hall and the sports pavilion. There are two play areas, one beside the village hall and the other adjacent to the sports field. There is a limited bus service running through the villages from Bridgwater to Wells.

Community Life

There are various groups organising activities in the village, which are mostly, but not exclusively, held in the village hall. These cover a wide range of activities, such as art classes, bingo,

bridge, craft, sewing, keep fit at various levels, cardiac rehab, hand bells and Scottish dancing.

There are also friendship groups for all ages ranging from toddler group and Flare, the local Youth Group, to coffee mornings, Women’s Institute and Afternoon Group. The village hall accommodates a community run lending library.

At the top of our village there are approximately 225 houses. Originally built for local workers, the houses and bungalows now include a high proportion of social housing and deprivation among the vulnerable groups.  This constitutes a Magnificat parish ref: Bath&Wells Manna, issue 34.