On 4–5 October, the four churches of the Wellspring Villages Parish, near Swindon, will join together for a celebration weekend. The weekend will include a Harvest celebration and pilgrimage, during which participants will walk the paths between Wanborough, Liddington and Bishopstone with Hinton Parva, discovering the faith, history, and beauty of the villages.
The pilgrimage will begin at St Andrew’s Church, Wanborough, with a service of readings, reflections, and prayer. Walkers will then travel between the churches, stopping at each one for a short service. The group will also pause midway through the journey for lunch and a fun duck race before completing the route.
Each village is home to a natural spring, and at every Church there will be a symbolic act using water drawn from the local spring. On Sunday, during the Harvest service, water from all four springs will be brought together, symbolising unity, life, and connection in Christ.
The Wellspring Villages Parish was officially formed on 1 June, 2025, bringing together the previously separate parishes of Bishopstone with Hinton Parva, Liddington, and Wanborough. Following a period of prayerful discernment, their request to unite was approved by the Bishop of Bristol earlier this year. The name ‘Wellspring Villages’ reflects both the geography of the four communities and the deep spiritual symbolism of water found throughout scripture. This celebration weekend marks a joyful beginning for the new Parish, honouring its unity and shared journey with Christ.
Speaking about the new Parish and celebrations, Revd Steve Paynter, Rector of the Parish, said: “We are all really looking forward to this new chapter of our life together as the Parish of the Wellspring Villages, marked by this celebratory weekend. The pilgrimage around the four villages is a beautiful, varied walk through stunning countryside and will offer wonderful moments of connection, reflection and prayer. The Harvest service and bring and share lunch on Sunday 5 October will also be a chance to acknowledge the importance of water to all life, as well as the joy of coming together as a community, in whom flows the living water of the Holy Spirit.”