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From Refugees to Neighbours in Ilfracombe
Rev’d Fran Bliss is a curate at St Peter’s and Holy Trinity, Ilfracombe. She has been a volunteer family co-ordinator for the Pickwell Foundation, a Devon charity which provides support to refugees and asylum seekers. She is currently hosting a refugee in her home and says that, as a Church community, we can respond in many positive ways. Here she describes her recent experience of supporting asylum seekers in Ilfracombe: “In November 2022 the Home…
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Step by Step Guide to Appointing the Next Bishop of Exeter
With Bishop Robert’s retirement planned for the end of September, a discernment process is already underway to find the next Bishop of Exeter. The process is being overseen by the Diocese of Exeter’s Vacancy in See Committee. See is from the Latin term for “seat” and historically refers to the bishop’s throne, i.e. centre of authority and jurisdiction, which for hundreds of years has been in Exeter. The committee is a standing committee of the…
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Devon’s ‘Cream of the Crop’ Honoured in St Boniface Awards at Exeter Cathedral
This year’s St Boniface Awards, which honour the unsung heroes of Devon’s Anglican churches, took place during a service at Exeter Cathedral on Saturday 24 June. Sixteen people from churches across Devon were admitted into the Company of St Boniface, The thirteen who attended the service were presented with a medal by the Bishop of Exeter. They included a mother-of-three who trains church volunteers to run antenatal classes, a former engineer who created a bell-ringing…
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Plymouth Archdeaconry Welcomes Its First Female Archdeacon
The first female Archdeacon of Plymouth was officially welcomed into her new role during a special service at Tavistock Parish Church. The Venerable Jane Bakker was previously a parish priest in Southampton. Before becoming ordained she worked in accountancy following a career as an air traffic controller in the RAF. Her inauguration service on Tuesday 13 June was led by the Bishop of Exeter and attended by the Bishop of Plymouth, Bishop of Crediton and…
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Bishop Jackie Celebrates Licensed Lay Ministry at Appledore Service
Over 40 Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) from North Devon have been relicensed for a further five years at a special service in Appledore. The Bishop of Crediton, the Rt Revd Jackie Searle, the Bishop of Crediton led the service for Barnstaple Archdeaconry, and thanked each LLM for their commitment to serving the people of Devon with joy. The service was hosted by the newly appointed vicar of Appledore the Revd Julies Hayes, who even arranged…
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Devon Churches Embracing Digital Giving
Digital giving has become increasingly common in churches as cards have become the preferred form of payment in our society. The Church of England’s National Giving Team has funded a new project called the Digital Giving Rollout to help thousands of churches get started with digital giving. The project is working on a Diocese-by-Diocese basis, and from June churches in Devon will be able to apply for one of 70 contactless giving devices which will…
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