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Two Devon Church of England Schools to Receive Government Rebuilding Funding
Two Church of England Primary Schools in Devon have successfully applied to be included in the Government’s school rebuilding programme. Tipton St John Church of England (VA) Primary School , near Sidmouth, has a site which is currently at risk of serious flooding, which the rebuilding programme will address. Swimbridge Church of England (VA) Primary School, near Barnstaple, is also experiencing challenges regarding its premises and has already secured a new site in the village…
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Bishop Jackie Reflects on Christmas Message of Ukrainian Bell Carol
The Bishop of Crediton, the Rt Rev’d Jackie Searle, reflects on the joy of Christmas carols and the poignancy of the Ukrainian Carol of the Bells this year, as the war in Ukraine continues: Churches across Devon have been holding their first carol services without any Covid measures for three years. It has been a time of celebration, of gathering together by candlelight in our communities to hear the familiar words of the Christmas story…
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Devon Vicar Leads Dog-Friendly Christmas Carol Service
A dog-friendly carol service, aimed at making dog-owners feel welcome with their pets, has taken place outdoors in Newton Abbot town centre. The service was organised by the town council, local Anglican churches and the charity Animals in Distress, which received all proceeds from the event. The service was led by Rev’d Gareth Regan, Team Vicar in the Newton Abbot Mission Community, who wasn’t the only one in a dog collar! Over 60 people attended,…
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Hot Water Bottles and Hot Food as Devon’s Churches Offer a Winter Warm Welcome
St Mary’s Church in Lifton, near Tavistock, is just one of the churches across Devon which is trying to help people through the cost of living crisis this winter. The profits from their annual Christmas fayre are going into a new community assistance fund, which will be used to give emergency financial help to those living in the parish who are in need. Help will be given in the form of vouchers for the local…
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Exeter Schools Charity Turns Church into Narnia
The Exeter ICE Trust recently transformed St Thomas Baptist Church for the ‘Narnia Experience’. Exeter ICE is a schools work charity providing Christian education programs in the local area. The Narnia experience takes children on an immersive interactive journey through the story of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, interacting with the characters, and learning about the inspiration behind CS Lewis’s writings. After arriving in the main room set up as Coombe Halt station,…
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2021 Census Shows 46% of Devon Population Identifies as Christian
More than 560,000 people within the Exeter Diocese area declared themselves as Christian in the 2021 census, 46% of the population. Nationally the number of people declaring themselves as Christian in a census has fallen below 50% (to 46.2%) for the first time. The Devon figure is slightly higher than the national average for everywhere except Plymouth (42.5%) and Exeter (40%). 45% of people within Devon declared themselves as having no religion at all, the fourth…
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