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Devon churches’ antenatal courses are blooming

While 2020 will go down in history as the year when everything from exams to festivals had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic, a parenting course being run at churches in Devon has been going from strength to strength. Begin Well is an antenatal course with a Christian ethos. It was developed by a health visitor and consultant obstetrician with nearly 40 years experience in the NHS between them. It was first piloted…

New Curate’s Marathon Effort

Matt Gorton was only ordained as a priest a few weeks ago, and has also recently had to self-isolate with his family, but that didn’t stop him competing in the virtual London Marathon which took place on Sunday 4 October. His run was raising funds for the Marie Curie cancer care charity in memory of the Reverend Prebendary Anne Legge, a friend and former Team Rector of Newton Ferrers, who died earlier this year. “I…

IICSA Final Report has “Lessons for us all”

The Diocese of Exeter has responded to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) Final Report into the Church of England with the following Statement : We welcome the IICSA Final Report and its recommendations to ensure our churches are safe places for all. Safeguarding is at the heart of our mission here in Devon and we are fortunate to have an experienced and committed Safeguarding Team. They advise, support and work alongside Diocesan senior…

Churches launch “StudentHelp” service to show the love to students under local lockdown

Churches in Exeter have launched a dedicated StudentHelp service offering emotional and practical support for university students who are under local lockdown restrictions. It includes delivering food to students self-isolating, a “dial-a-toastie” service, socially-distanced guided tours of the city for freshers, outdoor coffee meet-ups, running groups and online and in-person church services and small groups. Some of the churches with a particular student focus have created a single StudentHelp email address for students or their…

PipeUp Devon scheme pulls out all the stops to inspire young organists

A new scheme to encourage young people to learn to play the organ is being launched in Devon by the Diocese of Exeter. PipeUp Devon has been set up by three experienced organists: Andrew Millington, the former Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral, Peter King, the Organist Emeritus at Bath Abbey and Ian Curror, the former Director of Music at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. It aims to inspire 11 to 18-year-olds who already play a…

New urban Christian house-share community in Plymouth
A new urban Christian community is being established in Plymouth by the Diocese of Exeter in partnership with the Lee Abbey Movement. Residents of the Small Missional Community (SMC) will live in a former vicarage owned by the Diocese of Exeter next to St Mark’s Church in Ford. Joining the new community will be the Reverend Jonathan Devereux, 29, who was previously the student pastor at St Matt’s Church in Plymouth and was ordained at…
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Torquay vicar’s daring church spire climb
A Devon vicar has overcome his fear of heights to climb the 165ft spire of his church to raise funds for community outreach. The Reverend Sam Leach was joined by three other members of the leadership team to climb the steeple of St Mary Magdalene church (known as St Mags) in the centre of Torquay. A crowd turned out to watch the climb on Thursday 20 August, with dramatic drone footage captured by a member of…
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Stepping Out of the Boat: An Online Service by the Archdeacon of Exeter
The Archdeacon of Exeter is leading an online service on Sunday 9 August, on the subject of ‘Stepping Out of the Boat.’ The Venerable Andrew Beane, Archdeacon of Exeter, said: “Perhaps we can all think of a time when we have had to take a risk, try something new, a moment when we like Peter in our Gospel Reading have had to ‘step out of the boat’, and trust God as we head out on…
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Exe Estuary Pilgrimage Brings Light After Lockdown
A Devon vicar and former Royal Marine is leading a one-day walking pilgrimage from Exeter Cathedral to Exmouth to celebrate the re-opening of church buildings after lockdown and raise money for charity. The Reverend Steve Jones and others will set off from the cathedral on Saturday 11 July, following a short service led by Canon James Mustard and a blessing by the Bishop of Exeter. They will be carrying a candle lit from the Cathedral’s…
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Online service to say thank you to the NHS
The Bishop of Crediton is leading an online service on Sunday 5 July to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the NHS. The Service of Thanksgiving was filmed in the chaplaincy of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. It features contributions from NHS staff, including an Emergency Care Assistant from South Western Ambulance Service. There are reflections from former medics who worked in the NHS from its earliest days, including Henry Gossman, a former neurosurgeon who…
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Welcome to the Church of England in Devon

Our offices are now open

The offices at the Old Deanery and Gatehouse in Exeter, and St Mark’s in Plymouth, opened on 14 September. To enable social distancing, staff will divide their time between working in the offices and at home. Meetings and training will continue to be held online for the time being. Whilst we are unable to accommodate visitors at present, we look forward to welcoming you back in person as soon as it is possible to do so.