The parish church in Bruton, a town in Somerset, England, is not called Bruton Parish like the church in Williamsburg, but St. Mary the Virgin Church. Nevertheless, the two churches “serve as a symbolic bridge between two continents, bound together by name, devotion to God and unwavering commitment to their communities.”
That’s the view expressed in the St. Mary church guide, which acknowledges where Williamsburg’s Bruton Parish Episcopal Church draws its name.
The connection will be further strengthened this weekend by a visit from the Rev. Jonathan Evans, rector of St. Mary the Virgin, which sits in the middle of the small English town. Evans will speak Saturday at the annual Friends of Bruton Luncheon at the Williamsburg Inn and at the three church services on Sunday at Bruton Parish.
The Rev. Jonathan Evans
Sir William Berkeley and Thomas Ludwell, governor and secretary of the colony of Virginia, were originally from England’s Bruton, and their home village name was given to the church when it was founded in Williamsburg in 1674.
The name Bruton was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as “Briuuetone,” meaning “vigorously flowing river.” Evans said the local church community dates from the 8th century Saxon town. Built on the site of earlier church structures, part of the current church building was built in the 13th century with additions through the 18th century.
There is no formalized relationship between the two parishes, explained Evans during a telephone interview, “but it probably would be a good conversation to have. Some people here in the town have talked about relationships.
“I have no authority from the whole town (about connections) but I definitely would be part of a conversation in the future.”
There have been exchanges and visits by parishioners over the past 30-40 years, Evan said. “Nothing formal at all. I know a Bruton Parish rector visited here in 1990s, but don’t know whether a St. Mary rector has visited Williamsburg. I guess I’ll find out this weekend.”
Evans’ professional career began as a barrister, but after many years, “I decided to no longer devote myself to legal practice,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do, but went into the priesthood after discovering my true identity. It was there already and just fell into place.”
After two years of theological study, he was ordained as a deacon in 2018 and as a priest in 2019. Evans, 56, became rector at St. Mary the Virgin Church in 2021 while also serving six other churches.
The dominating narrative these days is the decline of the Christian church and the Church of England, he said. “The younger generation is not growing up with a familiarity of Christianity.”
Bruton Parish celebrated its 350th anniversary in 2024. Kim O’Brien Root/The Virginia Gazette
In fact, Evans there is a prediction of a “gloomy death of the church” within the next 25 years. Membership in the Church of England is small with financial constraints. There isn’t enough funding for priests in every church, he added. That’s why he serves many churches.
“In the future I’m sure there will be adaptations and evolution, but I believe the church will still be here.”
Wilford Kale, kalehouse@aol.com
