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Paignton Priest’s 40 Lent Swims in 40 Days
A Devon vicar is doing 40 sea swims in 40 days for Lent, even though he doesn’t like cold water. Father Gary Deighton, vicar of Goodrington and Collaton-St-Mary in Paignton, is doing the daily dips to raise money for South Devon YMCA’s Nightstop service, which helps young homeless people by providing emergency overnight accommodation. His first swim took place on Ash Wednesday (2 March), after he led a traditional Ash Wednesday service at St George’s…
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Diocese of Exeter Statement on Proposed Conversion Therapy Ban
The Church of England believes that all people are made in God’s image and that all are welcome in God’s Church. In 2017 the General Synod of the Church of England voted overwhelmingly to reject conversion therapy aimed at LGBTQ+ people, agreeing that such therapies are unethical and potentially harmful, calling on the Church to be sensitive to expressions of gender identity and calling on the Government to ban the practice of conversion therapy. The…
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Service in Devon to Celebrate Centenary of Young Farmer’s Club Where it Started
The Bishop of Exeter took part in a special service on Sunday 20 February to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Young Farmers’ Club movement. Hemyock Calf Club was founded in east Devon in 1921 and evolved into the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, which is now one of the largest rural youth organisations in the UK with 19,000 members aged 10 to 28. The service, which was postponed from last…
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£200,000 Diocese Mission and Growth Fund Launched to Reach Children and Young People
Mission Communities in Devon are being invited to apply for funding of up to £20,000 for projects aimed at making new young disciples. The Diocese of Exeter Mission and Growth Fund will see £200,000 made available for mission to children, young people and families over the next two years. The Bishop of Exeter, The Rt Rev’d Robert Atwell said, “Work with children, young people and families is one of the areas of church life most…
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Children in Holy Communion ‘Part of the Church Family’
The Church of England Children and Youth Advisor, Rev’d Mary Hawes is passionate about baptised children being able to receive the bread and wine at Communion. She said, “I think if we truly believe that children are part of the church family (and in our baptism services we talk about welcoming them into the whole family of God), then they need to be able to receive the sacraments alongside us as part of that spiritual…
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Foundations in Christian Ministry Course Brings Faith to Life
Alison Irens, from Ashburton, is studying on the Diocese of Exeter’s one-year Foundations in Christian Ministry Course, which is run by the South West Ministry Training Course. The course is designed to be a first-step foundation for people to develop their gifts for ministry in the local Church, deepen their discipleship and explore God’s plan for their lives. It covers teaching on the Bible, Spirituality, Theology and Pastoral Care and takes place over seven Saturday…
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