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Catalyst Course Invests in Churches’ Children and Families Ministry
10 children and families workers from across Devon have just graduated from the Church of England’s first Catalyst training course. The Diocese of Exeter was one of 12 dioceses to pilot Catalyst, which is a strand of the Church of England’s 30K project to double the number of children and young people in churches, raise-up 27,000 new children and youthwork volunteers and 3000 new children and youthwork workers. Catalyst aims to help participants deepen their…
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Bishop Jackie’s General Election Encouragement to Vote for Good of All
I am hugely proud to live in a democracy, and we need to remind ourselves every now and then of the privilege that is, when we think about places around the world where people don’t have a free and open vote on who is in government. Our democracy is something that we should be really proud of. Vote I would encourage everybody who has a vote to take part in the election. Personally, I always…
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Devon’s Newest Clergy Cheered and Clapped After Ordination at Exeter Cathedral
Eleven new deacons have been ordained at Exeter Cathedral in a service which ended with spontaneous applause and cheers for Devon’s newest members of clergy. They were ordained by the Rt. Rev’d Jackie Searle, the Acting Bishop of Exeter. In 2020 she became the first female bishop to ordain deacons at Exeter Cathedral in its 900-year history, when she carried out some of the ordinations under Covid restrictions. Bishop Jackie told the deacons: “You are…
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Next Generation of Clergy Prepare for Ordination at Exeter Cathedral
A cross-channel swimmer, a gaming and sci-fi fan, a psychotherapist and a former solicitor are among 12 people who will be ordained as church ministers in Exeter this weekend. They have spent the last few years doing ordination training at theological colleges in the Southwest and elsewhere. Kate Jackson is a mother of four, who began her journey to ordination 15 years ago. She said “I was a stay-at-home mum living in Birmingham. I tried…
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New Bishop of Exeter Elected in Historic Cathedral Ceremony
The Rt. Rev’d Dr Mike Harrison was formally elected as the 72nd Bishop of Exeter in an historic ceremony at Exeter Cathedral on Thursday 20 June. Since Saxon times, English diocesan bishops have been nominated by the King or Queen. The election ceremony marks the official acceptance by the Church of England in Devon of the monarch’s chosen candidate. The process has remained largely unchanged since it was established by King John in 1214. The…
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Serving with joy through Pop-Up Church, Church Door Welcome and Delta Youth Cafe
Here are three stories of people who received a St Boniface medal in 2024 and the places in Devon where they are serving with joy. Norma Fry, Pop-Up Church Norma Fry is a member of St Matt’s church in Plymouth and part of an ecumenical team that started Pop-Up Church in the red light district of Plymouth. It meets twice weekly in the forecourt of a garage. “It’s street girls and homeless people, a vulnerable…
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