The narrative here is being edited but please dont let that stop you from donating. The need for help has not gone away.

Yes, a place to get wet! In January 2019 thieves stripped the lead from one side of the roof of our lovely little Church. They didn't get it all - perhaps because they were frightened by the noise that must have been made when one of the rolls of lead was thrown down and went through the ceiling of a crypt. Something else that had to be sorted out! In fact we now have a temporary covering in place so nobody gets wet but the roof still has to be repaired properly.

We don't know exactly how much this is going to cost nor how long it is going to take to put right but our architect has estimated a frightening £100,000 plus. Raising that will take more than a couple of Church fêtes!

Before you ask, we did have insurance but, due to the prevalence of lead theft, the amount payable was limited to £7,500. There was another £7,500 to cover subsequent damage such as the crypt repair but that is all history and we are on our own now.

It is heartbreaking for members of the Parochial Church Council and their many helpers who work so hard each year to raise funds to keep the Church going. It takes about £11,000 a year to meet all the necessary expenses which in itself is a tough ask for such a small village so to suddenly be faced with all this is quite a blow. And it is not just a financial problem; there is so much time being taken up on so many different aspects of the affair. Still, we will get it sorted eventually but we could do with some assistance.

Every little helps; every big will help more.

The village, with its unlikely name of Toller Porcorum translating roughly (very roughly) as valley of the pigs, is listed in the Doomsday Book (1086) under the name Tolre. Records indicate that there were parish priests here as far back as 1235 A.D. although it is thought that the parish was served by Christian priests for centuries previously.

The list of names of Rectors and Vicars commences "only" in 1317 and, with the exception of a gap from 1569 to 1615, is continuous to the present day. The Parish Registers go back to 1615 and are lodged with the County Archivist in Dorchester.

In 1552 Royal Commissioners visited churches throughout the land confiscating their treasures which, it was decreed, were tainted by Catholicism. An interesting list of what was taken can be found in a pocket guide available at the Church.

On the floor of the nave is the grave slab, usually covered by carpet, of a yeoman named Banger who died in 1609. Outside the oldest legible tombstone is dated 1611; the name too is Banger. Just inside the Church on the right is a plan of all the graves.

Jumping a long way forward, in 1980 the parish became part of the Beaminster Area Team Ministry. Although now there are just two full time clergy, with the unstinting help of a number of retired clergy and lay readers, the Rector has been able to organise his team to ensure that every parish has the benefit of a service in its Church at least every other Sunday.

The villagers here have always been very generous in their support for the Church not only by attending all the fund raising functions but also by donating to specific causes. This one, however, is in a league of its own. We have already looked at different sources of funding and we know that there is going to be some help there but this online appeal also is very important. So, please make a donation, big or small, and tell others about us by whatever means you can.

Facebook? Twitter? You could even try word of mouth!