About Us

A very warm welcome to you to our Benefice website 

The United Benefice of Shiplake with Dunsden and Harpsden cum Bolney associates three beautiful churches in rural South Oxfordshire: 

- St Peter and St Paul, Shiplake
- All Saints, Dunsden 
- Saint Margaret of Antioch, Harpsden

Very much united, yet each with its own character and community. Information on each of the three churches can be found on the View Benefice Churches page.

In October 2024, our last rector Reverend Robert Thewsey moved to a new Diocese, so we are currently in an interregnum - see here for an update. 

We have two associate priests in the Benefice, Reverend Pam Gordon and Reverend Heather Turner. During the interregnum, Reverend Pam Gordon is Interim Coordinator for Ministry. Reverend Heather is also an Anna Chaplain.

There are also many others supporting ministry in the Benefice:
Reverend Becky Medlicott, Shiplake College Chaplain
Two visiting clergy, including Revd John Ryeland and Revd Dr Vincent Perricone
Administrator and Safeguarding officer Leigh, supported by Anita
Church wardens - Wendy (acting church warden for Shiplake), John and Rosemary (Dunsden), David and Valerie (Harpsden)
PCC members - Cyril, Rosemary, Wendy, John, Linda, Rosemary (Shiplake with Dunsden) and David, Jo and Valerie (Harpsden).
Anna Friends - Paul and Valerie
Lay Leaders for worship - Vic and Wendy (Shiplake), John, Linda, Rosemary and Yvonne (Dunsden), David, Jo, Paul and Valerie (Harpsden)
Sunday School leader Shelagh (Shiplake and Harpsden) 
Organists Helen (Shiplake), Adrian (Dunsden) and Roger (Harpsden)
Rota compilers Revd Heather (Shiplake), Rosemary (Dunsden) and Paul and Jo (Harpsden)

Services are organised and enabled by a combination of these teams and volunteers. There are choristers, flower teams, intercessors, prayer leaders, readers, chalice assistants, bell ringers, ministers for home Communion and care homes, and pastoral visitors. 

Community links are resourced by church members for activity days, social events and special occasions.

You can get a flavour of our services and activities from the links from the main menu on the Benefice home page. The three churches cooperate and complement each other in both their services and social activities.

If you have any questions at all, please contact the Benefice Office in the first instance and we will come back to you as soon as possible. A warm welcome awaits you at any of our services or activities.