Holy Communion
(Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity)
The next village event will be Parish Council Meeting on 4th October 2023 at 7:00 PM in The Old School Centre, Manor Road
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Our service on Sunday 10th September was led by the Ven Verena Breed, Archdeacon of Barnstaple.
It was the first time for as long as anyone could remember that an Archdeacon had led a service at St Paul's.
Ven Verena introduced herself at the start by saying that she was originally from Germany and grew up in the Lutheran church. She came to the UK in the 90s, though, and progressed to her current position via other roles, notably including that of priest of a rural community in the Peak District.
Verena delivered a thought-provoking sermon based on water as the source of physical life and also as a metaphor for limitless spiritual life.
Afterwards, she asked the congregation if she could take a photo to enable her to promote our church on the Diocesan website. This presented the opportunity to include her in a picture with the congregation, which is shown on this page.
We have some events taking place in September, as follows:
The field maple sapling, planted in the garden below the church as part of the Queen's Green Canopy (QGC) initiative in March 2023, was dedicated by Rev Cathy on 6th August 2023. At the same time, a QGC plaque next to the tree, kindly paid for by Eileen MacCaig, was unveiled. A picture is shown on this page.
More information on the tree is available here:
At a very well-attended service on 15th June at St James' Church, Swimbridge, Revd Cathy Scoffield was installed as our new Priest-in-Charge.
It was estimated that as many as 185 people were in the church to witness the Bishop of Crediton, the Rt Revd Jackie Searle, install Cathy and also to give a fine sermon. The choir of West Buckland School played an important part in the proceedings.
Cathy then took her first service at St Paul's on 18th June and it was a very enjoyable occasion. Afterwards, she was presented with gifts, including a large planted hanging basket, by our churchwardens, Hazel and Mike. A photograph appears on this page.
We also congratulate Cathy on being installed as a Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral at a service there on 27th June 2023.
There are many, including those unable to attend her installation, who wish Cathy every success in her new ministry.
Following the recent successful Lent course, based on the film Chocolat, we will be running a new course on prayer. The series of eight sessions will begin on Wednesday 21st June and will continue for 8 weeks.
If you would like to come along, feel free to send us and email via the Contact Us page or let one of the churchwardens know in church.
The website of the pastor whose inspiration lies behind this course is available on this link:
We are very pleased to announce that Revd Cathy Scoffield will be our new Priest-in-Charge, replacing Revd Shaun O'Rourke who retired at the end of last year.
Cathy is currently a minister to the churches in Bishops Tawton and Newport but will be moving into the Rectory at Swimbridge shortly. Her installation as Priest-in-Charge will take place at St James' Church in Swimbridge on 15th June.