Devon Churchwarden Who Helped Save Life at Church Service Receives St Boniface Award

A churchwarden from Devon who helped save a man’s life at a church event by administering CPR and using a defibrillator, is among this year’s recipients of a St Boniface Award.

Becky Britton, 33, was at the Archdeacon of Exeter’s annual Visitation service at St George and St Paul’s Church in Tiverton in 2025 when a member of the congregation suffered a heart attack.

She helped carry out first aid until the emergency services arrived, enabling him to make a full recovery.

Becky said: “The situation was definitely a God-timed event and it was a joint effort to resuscitate the gentleman. I am grateful for my regular first aid training and particularly glad that the church has a defib. We were vessels for God to perform a miracle.”

The St Boniface Awards honour lay people in the Church of England in Devon who have made an outstanding contribution to the life of their churches, church schools and wider communities.

The awards are named after St Boniface, the Patron Saint of Devon, whose feast day is celebrated on 5 June.

Becky is among 11 people who will be receiving their St Boniface medals in a special service at 4pm on Saturday 6 June at Exeter Cathedral.

Rev’d Prebendary Andy Humm, Vicar of St George and St Paul’s Church, who nominated Becky for the award, said “Today this gentleman is alive thanks to the quick thinking and actions of Becky our churchwarden and the others involved.

“There are not many 33-year-old church wardens, and Becky has stepped up. Through her we see the Gospel lived-out and spoken about clearly.

“Whilst managing two children and supporting her farmer husband whilst she also works in the local alms houses, she is the Gospel in action.”

St George and St Paul’s is one of a number of churches in Devon which have a defibrillator fitted inside or outside the church or church hall.

The Archdeacon of Exeter, the Ven. Andrew Beane, said he was keen for more churches to get the life-saving equipment installed:

“What Becky and those supporting her did that evening was extraordinary, and it is a powerful reminder that having a defibrillator close at hand can make all the difference in a moment of crisis.

“Our churches are places of worship, welcome and community, and where possible, I would love to see more of them equipped with this life-saving technology for the benefit of everyone they serve.

“Since last year’s incident, I have approved six further installations in churches across the Archdeaconry, and it would be superb to see more.”