Retired Clergy
Retired Clergy and Widows’ and Widowers’ Officers
Retired Clergy Association – Devon Branch
Church of England Pensions’ Board
St Luke’s Healthcare for the Clergy, and Other Help
Retired Clergy and Widows’ and Widowers’ Officers
The diocese has appointed officers in each archdeaconry, who are themselves retired, under the leadership of the Archdeacon of Barnstaple, to offer support to retired clergy and clergy widows and widowers when required. Briefly, their ministry offers welcome to those moving into the diocese and those newly retiring, to support the rural dean and local clergy in their primary pastoral ministry to the retired, and to be aware of the needs which may arise, and the help or support available.
For a description of the ministry of officers, download the following document: Bishop’s Retired Clergy, Widows and Widowers Officer (BRCWWO) Role Descriptions (Extract)
Dean of Retired Clergy
Prebendary Giles King-Smith
Phone 07547 973375 or 01271 879601 Email Giles
Barnstaple Archdeaconry
Deaneries of Barnstaple, Shirwell, and South Molton
The Reverend Steven Martin
Phone 07515 128665 Email Steven
Deaneries of Hartland, Holsworthy, and Torrington
The Reverend Stephen Skinner
Phone 01237 431622 Email Stephen
Exeter Archdeaconry
Retired Clergy officers:
Deanery of Aylesbeare
The Reverend Christopher Cant
Phone 01395 488178
Email Christopher
Deanery of Cadbury
BRCWO The Reverend Prebendary Stephen Cook
Phone 07790 909442
Email Stephen
Deanery of Christianity
Prebendary Robin Eastoe
Phone 07813 289 932
Deanery of Honiton
The Reverend Paul Filmer
Phone 07951773426
Email Paul
Deanery of Kenn
The Reverend Georgina Vye
Phone 07950989816
Email Georgina
Deanery of Ottery
The Reverend David Fayle
Phone 07789 888 578
Email David
Deanery of Tiverton and Cullompton
Vacant
Plymouth Archdeaconry
Deaneries of Ivybridge and Tavistock
Vacant
Deanery of Plymouth City
Vacant
Totnes Archdeaconry
Deanery of Newton Abbot
Rev’d Roderick Withnell
Phone 07961 417422Email Roderick
Deanery of Torbay
The Reverend Nicholas Pearkes
Phone 07881 525847 Email Nicholas
Deaneries of Okehampton, Totnes, and Woodleigh
The Reverend George Day
Phone 01364 643912 Email George
For information about Permission to Officiate, Safeguarding, Fees payable to Retired Clergy for Occasional Offices, Cathedral Chaplaincy, and Continuing Ministerial Development: Ministry in Retirement
Bishop’s Staff have issued guidelines about what clergy with or without PtO can do: Ministry with and without PtO
The Archdeacons have issued guidelines for retired clergy who are asked to conduct funeral services: Guidance for Clergy and Funeral Directors about retired Church of England clergy taking funerals (July 2017)
Retired Clergy Association – Devon Branch
Devon RCA is open and inclusive: retired stipendiary and self-supporting clergy of all denominations are welcome – you need not be a member of the national Retired Clergy Association. We meet most months on (usually) 2nd Tuesday at 10.30.am for Holy Communion, refreshments and a speaker. There is a ‘Quiet Day’ in May, and also two social events during the year, the ‘Epiphany Lunch’ in January, and ‘Summer Drinks’ in July.
At National Level: President, to be confirmed
Chairman, Bishop Colin Fletcher
Secretary & Treasurer, The Reverend Malcolm Liles
Devon Retired Clergy Association
Branch Chairman, The Rev’d Trevor Filtness (also Exeter and Truro Diocesan Representative on the National RCA Council)
Branch Secretary, The Rev’d David Lewis.
Committee members
The Reverend Trevor Filtness, Bishop Oliver Simon, Prebendary Peter Rapsey, Venerable John Rawlings (branch treasurer).
Registered members without email are sent information by post usually two or three times a year. Those with email get reminders and updates. We meet the cost by asking for a subscription of only £5 per year, irrespective of whether someone is a life-member of the national RCA or not. New members are always very welcome!
Devon RCA Programme of meetings: Programme 2025
Church of England Pensions’ Board
For Correspondence: 29 Great Smith St, Westminster, London SW1P 3PS
For Pensions: Phone 020 7898 1802 Email.
For Housing: Phone 020 7898 1824 Email.
Housing Maintenance (for Pensions Board rented homes only)
The current Contractor is ‘Sanctuary Maintenance’
For gas boilers: 0800 288 9289, For general house maintenance: 0800 916 1413
Gracey Court (Church of England Pensions Board supported housing)
The Manager welcomes enquiries from retired clergy or widows or widowers, and can offer further information or arrange a visit.
Gracey Court, Woodlands Road, Broadclyst, Exeter EX5 3GA, Phone 01392 462574
St Luke’s Healthcare and other help
Retired clergy and their spouses are eligible for help from St Luke’s. The following document also provides information on charities and advice or grant-giving bodies. They are not listed in any particular order: Sources of help.
