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Exeter Cathedral Service Celebrates 60 Years of Self-Supporting Ministry
A service to celebrate 60 years of Self-Supporting Ministers (SSMs) took place at Exeter Cathedral on Sunday 11 June at 4pm. Self-Supporting Ministers are ordained clergy who carry out their ministry, for example as a parish priest, alongside their existing work. They do not receive a stipend (salary) but do receive expenses and sometimes accommodation. The first SSMs were ordained at Southwark Cathedral in 1962. There are now over 60 SSMs based in parishes across…
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Torquay Church Marks 80th Anniversary of Tragic World War Two Sunday School Bombing
A Torquay church and its community have commemorated the 80th anniversary of a devastating World War Two bomb attack which struck the building while children were attending a Sunday School class there. 21 children and three teachers were killed when St Mary-the-Virgin church was hit on Sunday 30 May 1943. In all, 45 people were killed in the raid, which destroyed 50 buildings in St Marychurch and the surrounding area. The bomb which hit the…
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How Energy Audits Are Helping Devon’s Churches Work Towards Net Carbon Zero Goals
Sophie Philips is the Diocese of Exeter’s Net Carbon Zero Officer. She works with churches in Devon to help them work towards their net carbon zero goals. She says one of the ways of doing this is by having a subsidised energy audit: “Should we install solar PV?” “Is our church suitable for a heat pump?” “Our heating has broken down – what do we do?” “How do we make the church warmer and more…
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Hospitality and Holy Encounters in Bahrain
The Bishop of Plymouth has just returned from a visit to Bahrain, part of the Anglican diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. The Rt. Rev’d James Grier said “Whilst in Bahrain we experienced an exceptional welcome and hospitality. “Amongst other things we looked at interfaith relationships with visits to different places of worship and an event hosted by the King Hamad Centre for Peaceful Co-existence. The king of Bahrain is committed to the mutual flourishing…
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Bishop of Exeter Announces Retirement
The Bishop of Exeter has announced he is to retire on 30 September 2023 after more than nine years in the role. The Rt. Rev’d Robert Atwell was installed as bishop at Exeter Cathedral in July 2014. He is currently convenor of the Bishops in the South-West region, chair of the Church of England’s Liturgical Commission and the lead bishop for Rural Affairs. He has been a member of the House of Lords since November…
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Devon’s Churches Go Red, White and Blue for the Coronation
Churches were at the heart of Coronation celebrations across Devon, hosting special services, flower festivals, community lunches and cream teas. Bellringers were busy ringing special peals on Saturday 6 May and ringing for commemoration services on Sunday 7 May. The Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Rev’d Robert Atwell, was outside the Houses of Parliament to greet King Charles III on his way to Westminster Abbey. Bishop Robert, who was there as a member of the…
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