sim smith

Licensed Lay Ministers Explore Enabling Others to Worship in Varied Ways

Enabling Worship was the theme of this year’s Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs) conference from 7 to 9 February in Torquay. Carol Price, an LLM from Yeoford, near Crediton and Assistant Lead for LLMs, said “At the heart of our ministry is worship. I wanted the conference to highlight different ways of worshipping that we can access and bring to our churches, so we reach more people. “Our aim is to reach as many people as…

St Mary’s Church Totnes Celebrates Reopening as a Warm, Welcoming Space for the Community

A special celebration was in order on Sunday 1 February as a church in Devon reopened to the public. St Mary’s Church, Totnes, has reopened following a 12-month closure for a major £1.5 million renovation and reordering project. To mark it’s reopening and the new facilities, a day of rededication ceremonies and a special candle lit evening service with the Bishop of Exeter, the Rt. Rev’d Dr Mike Harrison, was held. The church congregation and…

360 Community project launches to encourage and equip children, families and youth ministers across Devon

Over 70 children, families and youth ministers met in Torquay last week to launch their 360 year with South West Youth Ministries (SWYM). 360 Community is a new project from SWYM. It is designed to wrap around children, families and youth ministers with regular encouragement, training, and rest through the year. It includes an annual retreat, an annual conversation, learning communities, small groups, professional development day, an annual commissioning, and a weekly 30 minute online…

Worship Leaders Gather for Lee Abbey’s First Songwriting Retreat

Songwriters and worship leaders from churches across the South West and beyond recently gathered at Lee Abbey Christian Retreat Centre in North Devon for its first Songwriters’ and Worship Leaders retreat. The weekend was led by Stephen Crowther, who runs worship at Lee Abbey with his wife Fiona. It included a talk on the theology of worship leading from Sarah Grant, who leads a community singing group for new mothers in Dorset, and songwriting guidance…

New Plymouth City Dean to Play a Key Part in Plymouth 2035

Rev’d Alexander Randle-Bissell has been appointed as the new Plymouth City Dean (Missional Development Leader) for the Diocese of Exeter. His newly-created role is a key part of Plymouth 2035, a bold, missional 10-year plan to see lives transformed by Jesus, churches reimagined, and communities transformed across the city. Plymouth 2035 aims to help 2,035 people come to faith in Plymouth over the next decade and revitalise the Church in Devon’s largest urban centre. It…