FOR OUR

GOOD NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF | JUNE 2019 CHURCHES The Dean reflects on WELCOME, NEW the importance of our buildings after the devastating New Archdeacons Notre-Dame fire of Exeter and are announced ’S AWARD TO RECOGNISE THOSE ‘WHO TIRELESSLY GIVE’

he Bishop of Father themselves; displaying moral Exeter has Andrew courage and vision in making Johnson launched an shows the and delivering difficult choices. annual awards St Boniface The Companion of St Boniface medal that investiture to he has medallion has been designed honourT people who have made designed by the Revd Andrew Johnson, a substantial contribution to the assistant curate of Heavitree church in . and Saint Mary Steps, and a The Company of St Boniface professional stained glass artist. will also seek to recognise Father Andrew said: “It took people who have built up between six and nine months overseas links in the Diocese of to achieve the final result. I got Exeter’s witness to Christ. the idea from the St Edward’s Up to six Companions of St Canon’s medal which I designed Boniface will be admitted each a number of years ago. year and a service of investiture “The mitre is at the top of the will be held in People can be nominated to medal because the medal is as close to the feast day of St be recognised with the honour from the bishop and will be from Boniface on June 5 as possible. for a number of reasons Bishop Robert’s successors in The , the including: making a difference time as well.” Right Revd , said: to the community or in their The deadline for nominations “There are so many members field of ministry; enhancing the this year is September. You can of our church communities church’s reputation; long-term fill in a nomination form on the across Devon who tirelessly voluntary service; innovation Diocesan website. give their valuable time and and entrepreneurship; changing St Boniface was born in energy to serve others. I feel things with an emphasis on around 675AD and is this is a great way of recognising achievement; improving lives credited with taking Christianity them and celebrating them.” for people less able to help to Germany.

EXETER.ANGLICAN.ORG @CofEDevon cofedevon THANKSGIVING SERVICE FOR FIRST WOMEN PRIESTS A thanksgiving service to mark 25 years of women’s ordained priestly ministry will be held in Exeter Cathedal on June 30th. In March 1994, the ordained 32 women to the priesthood – the first in the Church of . In June and October of the same year 28 women were ordained priest in WELCOME: Prebendary Nick Shutt, left, and Canon Andrew Beane, who will Exeter and Plymouth. serve as the new Archdeacons of Plymouth and Exeter respectively. Prebendary Kathy Roberts, Dean for Women in Ministry, is NEW ARCHDEACONS FOR organising the service to give thanks to God for all women EXETER AND PLYMOUTH priests and their ministry. She said: “By remembering this very significant year we are THE Bishop of Exeter has He succeeds the Venerable celebrating the recognition that appointed new archdeacons who is women and men in ordained of Exeter and Plymouth after a moving to become priestly ministry together rigorous selection process. of Cyprus. Canon Beane will bring wholeness to the life of The Revd Preb Nick Shutt has be welcomed to the Diocese the church. We will also be been appointed Archdeacon of in church on honouring people – women and Plymouth, having been Acting September 25. men - who worked and prayed for Arcdeacon for more than a year. Bishop Robert said: “I am so long to make ministry by both His ministry will be inaugurated delighted that Nick and Andrew gender possible.” in St Andrew’s, Plymouth on have accepted my invitation to All are welcome. Visit: https:// June 18. become exeter.anglican.org/events/a- The Revd Canon Andrew and .” service-to-celebrate-the-25th- Beane, who is currently Team There are four archdeaconries anniversary-of-the-first-women- Rector of Aylsham in Norfolk, in the Diocese of Exeter based priests-being-ordained has been appointed the in Plymouth, Exeter, and new Archdeacon of Exeter. . The archdeacons

NATIONAL ROLE FOR MARION CARSON Marian Carson, the head of the Growing the Rural Church project in Devon, is to take up a new national role as Director of Operations with the Churches Conservation Trust. Marian has worked for the Diocese for the past 2.5 years. The Diocese will recruit her successor over the summer and we wish her well!

EXETER.ANGLICAN.ORG Serving with joy ... REVD JOHN FISHER

This month, we meet the new Diocesan Director of Ordinands, the REVD JOHN FISHER, about his own vocation, the need for diversity in the church and the challenges facing the church today...

Was your Christian faith kindled from birth by What / who sustains you in your ministry? church-going parents or was it more of a Damascus I have always recalled a word of advice that Philip road experience? once gave me when I was considering ordination. I grew up in Reigate and came to faith through “John,” he said “It is your relationship with Jesus the ministry of the church-based CYFA group at St that will keep you going.” How true these words have Mary’s. I was confirmed because I wanted to be proved. For all disciples it is the relationship that and never looked back. Following Jesus and being we have with Christ that underpins our life and work. a disciple are the important things and this has always been expressed, for me, within the C of E. Are there areas in the that need to be changed / adapted in the great work of When did you first feel called to ordination? growing the Kingdom in the 21st century? I first sensed the call at university in Bath. I was These are challenging times for the church but I well supported by my vicar, Philip, who had a great have every faith that if we listen to God, discern gift for nurturing God’s call among young students. his call and are faithful then the church will rise to I was one of these people but I was not ordained the challenges. The leadership of the in until 1994 (it is the 25th anniversary this year) so this diocese is so positive with the strategy to pray, the journey took a few years. grow and serve being worked out in creative and different ways all over Devon. This is needed! Regarding diversity within the church, are you keen to encourage more people from different What do you do to relax? backgrounds to come forward as potential My former professional life was in horticulture, so ordinands? the outdoors and the garden is very important to Of course the answer is a resounding yes! The me. I love plants and trees! We have a dog so you church needs to encourage people from all walks of can often find me on the beach walking Poppy! I life and from all communities to consider what their picture frame and am itching to get my equipment gifts are and how God is calling them to serve. For out of store following recent construction work at some this will be as deacons and priests. home.

@CofEDevon Diocese of Exeter cofedevon PRAISE GOD FOR OUR RIDEN HUW REVD PHOTOS: CHURCH BUILDINGS

The Very Revd Jonathan Notre-Dame the day after the fire in April that shocked Greener, people all over the world.

hose heartbreaking images of Notre- great and small continue to touch people’s lives Dame burning continue to haunt me. profoundly. What Notre Dame is for Paris and That will be true for many of you too, France, our cathedral is for the people of Devon; for this is a place that has touched the and the parish church fulfils the same role for the world’s soul. I first went 49 years ago, local town or village. andT when I lived in Paris for a short while before I’ve often quoted the survey that shows more university I was a regular there. So a little piece of young people come to faith because of buildings my life was going up in flames. than because of people. Is that perhaps because The collapse of Viollet-le-Duc’s 19th century spire church and cathedral speak confidently of the was a breath-catching moment, but it was watching glory of God, but are less threatening than some the roof burn that caused me real distress; pointing enthusiastic Christian bursting to share the up for me the blessings of our medieval cathedral Christian Gospel with a tentative visitor? here in Exeter, with its spectacular vaulted ceiling, Moreover we must not underestimate the power along with the burden of responsibility we bear as of beauty in our world. Nearly two and a half a Chapter in caring for this remarkable building. thousand years ago, Plato was talking about a vital Fortunately we’re well protected, having invested trio: truth, goodness and beauty. considerable sums in fire protection over the past For centuries, the Christian Church has focused few years; and so far, praise God, there’s never on the fact that Christian faith is true and good; been a fire in Exeter Cathedral, though the Royal and we’ve tended to downplay the beauty of God. Clarence Hotel was dauntingly close. And yet in many cases, it is God’s beauty that will No one can fail to have been touched by the attract people - a beauty reflected in our worship, outpouring of emotion at the burning of Notre our music, and of course our buildings. Dame. Sadly these buildings are taken pretty Praise God then for our many church buildings. much for granted while all is seemingly well; people Sometimes they feel like a great burden, given only express their appreciation when tragedy the cost of upkeep and the huge amounts of strikes. work involved, but they stand all across our land, Nevertheless, while regular church attendance pointing people to God as they have done faithfully may have gone out of fashion, church buildings for hundreds of years.

EXETER.ANGLICAN.ORG @CofEDevon Diocese of Exeter cofedevon