Directory

You can search the diocesan database for parishes and mission communities and to find out contact details for clergy, readers and parish officers, where they have given their permission to be included.

Deanery Details for Okehampton

Archdeaconry: Totnes

Benefices in the deanery

Chagford, Gidleigh, Throwleigh, Drewsteignton, South Tawton, Spreyton, Hittisleigh, North Tawton, Bondleigh, Honeychurch and Sampford Courtenay

Okehampton, Inwardleigh, Belstone, Sourton, Bridestowe, Bratton Clovelly, Germansweek, Lydford, Hatherleigh, Northlew with Ashbury, Exbourne, Meeth and Jacobstowe

Deanery Officers

Mr Philip Lynn (treasurer)
Phone: 01837 849144
Email Mr Philip Lynn

Mrs Maurie Webber (lay chair)
Phone: 01837 53845
Email Mrs Maurie Webber

The Rev Nick Weldon (rural dean)
Phone: 01837 880183
Email The Rev Nick Weldon

Mrs Pippa Tarr (secretary)
Phone: 01363 82535
Email Mrs Pippa Tarr

Bishop blesses new foodbank warehouse

The Bishop of Exeter has blessed Exeter Foodbank’s new storage facility during a short ceremony. The warehouse has just been completed and the blessing took place on 21 March, before stricter social distancing guidelines came into force. Exeter Foodbank is providing emergency food supplies to around 280 people per week and distributes about three tonnes of food. Many of its regular volunteers are over 70 and are now self-isolating. “Even giving a tin of peas…

Trainee priest stranded in Solomon Islands

A young trainee priest is trying to get home to the UK after becoming stranded in the Solomon Islands when flights were cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak. Sam Rylands, 30, whose parents are both priests in the Diocese of Exeter, is believed to be the only Briton stuck there. He had been on a visit to the Melanesian Brotherhood, an Anglican Christian community in Tabalia with an official link to the Church of England…

Church leaders across Exeter join together for online prayer gathering

Although churches are closed and physical Sunday services are suspended, this has not stopped churches finding new and creative ways to gather together, pray and worship. Many churches have been using platforms such as Zoom and Facebook Live to stay connected. Last Sunday, Rediscover Church hosted an online prayer gathering called ‘Exeter Prays’ with leaders from churches across Exeter. They were using a service called StreamYard which enabled them to switch between leaders from different…

Volunteers send over 100 food parcels to students on free school meals

School closures have left many parents whose children usually receive free school meals (FSM) facing uncertainty about food provision. That’s why a team of volunteers at St Cuthbert Mayne School in Torquay have been collecting, packing- up and delivering food parcels to the homes of pupils who receive FSM. So far this week over 100 have been given out. The school’s Chaplain, the Reverend Nathan Kiyaga said “We are providing enough provisions for a family…

Home service a hit as more than 80 dial in for telephone church

Like many church leaders the Reverend Ruth Frampton has had to quickly work out how to ‘do church’ differently after public worship was suspended by the Church of England in a bid to tackle the spread of coronavirus. While some churches have been using social media and live-streaming technology to reach their congregations, Ruth, who is Priest-in-Charge of the Teign Valley and Haldon Mission Community, decided the humble telephone was a better fit for her…