Benefice of Bratton Edington Erlestoke Coulston

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Bratton

Coulston

Bratton Saint James the Great

PARISH OF BRATTON, SAINT JAMES THE GREAT (Parliamentary Electoral Roll number: 907, Church Electoral Roll Number: 83) The village of Bratton nestles in a series of coombes in the northern escarpment of Salisbury Plain, just to the north east of the well- known White Horse, at the western end of the benefice. Being considerably larger (population about 1300) than the neighbouring villages it is an ‘active’ community, and has kept its Community Primary School as well as its inn and a shop-cum-post- office. It also has a village (‘Jubilee’) hall, owned by the Parish Council, the Pavilion on the playing field in the village centre, and a small doctors’ Surgery served from Westbury. The Church Institute provides Bratton’s third hall, and is owned by the PCC. Other Christian congregations meet at the Baptist Chapel and the independent Community Church (in the Jubilee Hall). Adjacent to the school is a sheltered housing complex of some forty flats called Clover Grass Court, although most of these are empty pending a review of housing provision.

Web : http://www.achurchnearyou.com/9549 Saint James’ Church is built in the Early English style, with a nineteenth century chancel and later vestry. It lies in a quiet and beautiful setting on the southern edge of the village, geographically separated from the heart of Bratton. The provision of Sunday Services ensures opportunities for different styles of worship: ‘early’ Prayer Book Communion, Parish Communion from Common Worship (for a congregation of about thirty), and two types of all- age liturgy. There is also an enthusiastic team of bell ringers (six bells), a small choir, and an organist.

A village newsletter, called the White Horse Churchman, is published by the Parochial Church Council and edited by a PCC member; it is distributed gratis to all 540 houses in the village.