AN African archbishop from Zambia is visiting West Somerset at the weekend as he joins the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Rt Rev Michael Beasley, who is to tour a number of small Exmoor parishes.

Archbishop Albert Chama, who is primate of the Central African province and Bishop of Lusaka, will give the sermon in a united benefice service in St Michael the Archangel Church, Alcombe, Minehead, on Sunday morning (October 12).

The archbishop, who is described as ‘a moderate theological conservative’, will meet parishioners in the church narthex, or porch, from 9.30 am before the 10 am service.

Archbishop Chama and Bishop Michael will then move on to St Petrock’s Church, Timberscombe, to join a ‘messy church’ service for families and children.

It is part of a two-day tour by Bishop Michael of the Grabbist Hill Benefice, which takes in Alcombe, Timberscombe, Wootton Courtenay, and Dunster and is under the care of the rector, the Rev Kenneth Cross.

On Monday, Bishop Michael, who is the 80th bishop of the diocese, will have lunch with benefice clergy before attending an assembly in Timberscombe First School.

He will then take afternoon tea in the Priory Church of St George, in Dunster, with members of the Dunster Friday coffee morning group.

Bishop Michael will gather with young people and families in the church at 4.15 pm before attending a ‘meet and greet’ event in Wootton Courtenay Village Hall at 5.30 pm.

A light tea with all of the benefice churchwardens, deputies, and treasurers will follow in village hall before a 7 pm joint parochial church council meeting in the hall.

A spokesperson said: “Everybody in our parish is invited to come to meet Bishop Michael.

“He is very keen to meet us.

“There will be drinks and nibbles.”