A SIX-parish Church of England benefice on Exmoor ceases this week with the retirement of its rector, the Rev Caroline Ralph, and the churches will be shared between two other new groupings.

Carhampton, Rodhuish, and Withycombe churches will be grouped with Old Cleeve, Leighland, and Treborough in a benefice to be called Exmoor Coastal.

A new Grabbist Hill Benefice sees Dunster, Timberscombe, and Wootton Courtenay moved to join Alcombe, Minehead, under the care of the Rev Kenneth Cross.

The changes come about as a result of a Bath and Wells Diocesan shake-up on the retirement of Miss Ralph after 10 years serving the Dunster Benefice.

A service of thanksgiving and farewell for Miss Ralph was held in St George’s Church, Dunster, after which well-wishers were invited to afternoon tea in the village’s Tithe Barn.

She moved to West Somerset after serving as Vicar of St Peter’s Church, in Harborne, near Birmingham, for three years.

Miss Ralph was a solicitor before she was ordained.