Diocese of Exeter

21/10/2026

Welcome to our Roots, Shoots & Fruits newsletter with grants for church buildings, NEW Licensed Lay Ministers Handbook, Bible Sunday, playing our part in COP17 and COP31, YWAM Worship Night and Radio Four Sunday Service comes to Crediton! https://mailchi.mp/5350b80c7837/roots-shots-and-fruits-newsletter-8346281

19/10/2026

It was great to see the eight Devon churches which have received funding from Historic England featured in the media this weekend. Rev'd Sophie Chatten, Vicar of St Matt's church in Plymouth said the £692,077 grant would enable to church, which currently has a leaky roof, to be used by more community groups. She told BBC Spotlight: "If it's raining outside at the moment, it's raining inside, and that puts limits on what we can do. If people approach us and ask to host charity events in the church we have to say sadly we are not in a position to be able to do that. This means we'll be able to open the church to more people to do more of the stuff that we'd really love to do.

As well as Sophie, Louise Brown from our Church Buildings Team was on BBC Radio Devon talking about the funding and the need to campaign for more historic churches to receive financial support from the government.

We've shared links to her interview and our news article in the comments below! BBC Devon BBC News St Matts Plymouth

19/10/2026

Plymouth 2035 is a key part of the Diocese of Exeter’s 10-year vision to see lives transformed and churches and their communities flourishing. Watch this video with the Bishop of Plymouth and other key members of the team to find out what’s been happening in Plymouth since the launch in January - and what the plans are for the next six months. Find out more - link in the comment section.

19/10/2026

The Bishop of Exeter has spoken about the ‘siren call’ of AI in his recent Presidential Address to the Exeter Diocesan Synod.

Bishop Mike drew comparisons between the lure of artificial intelligence and the sirens of Greek mythology depicted in the recent film version of The Odyssey.

He concluded: “If we regard AI as music, how is it that instead of being utilised by the sirens in ways which entrap, imprison and corrode humanity, a more beautiful song is played which serves, equips and enables?”

18/10/2026

It’s great to hear Radio 4’s Sunday Worship coming from the church of Holy Cross, Crediton today on the feast of St Luke. Holy Cross is the seat of the Bishop of Crediton. You can listen to it here from 0810: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live/bbc_radio_fourfm?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

18/10/2026

It’s great to hear Radio 4’s Sunday Worship coming from the church of Holy Cross, Crediton today on the feast of St Luke. Holy Cross is the seat of the Bishop of Crediton. You can listen to it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live/bbc_radio_fourfm?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

📻 Join us on BBC Radio 4 tomorrow, Sunday 18 October, at 8.10am!

We’ll be broadcasting Morning Worship live from the Church of the Holy Cross, Crediton, to mark the Feast of St Luke.

With beautiful choral music and time for prayer and reflection, we’d love you to join us from wherever you are 🎶

Our music will include:

Introit: Sing We Merrily — Andrew Millington
Psalm 65 — E. J. Hopkins
Canticle: Jubilate — Philip Stopford
Anthem: In the Presence of God — Graham Keitch

Conductor: Jon Rawles
Organist: Ollie Macmullan

16/10/2026

Congratulations to the newly elected members of General Synod. Five clergy representatives and five lay representatives in the Diocese of Exeter have been elected to serve for the 2026-2031 quinquennium.

House of Clergy:
The Revd Preb. Rosie Austin
The Ven. Douglas Dettmer
The Revd Graham Hamilton
The Revd Canon Prof. Morwenna Ludlow
The Revd Tandy Ruoff

House of Laity:
Mrs Jill Caporn
Mr Simon Friend
Dr Kerry Gilbert
Dr Bijan Omrani
Dr Francis Sansbury

Please keep them in your prayers as they begin this important role 🙏

The Church of England Mike Harrison Bishop James Grier BBC Devon

16/10/2026

We're delighted to announce that eight churches in our diocese have been awarded £2.3m grant funding from Historic England, as part of the new Places of Worship Renewal Fund. They were supported in their applications by our amazing church buildings team, so please do get in touch with them if you would like to explore grant funding for your church building. Read the full story here! https://exeter.anglican.org/eight-devon-cofe-churches-receive-2-3m-historic-england-funding/ The Church of England Historic England The Churches Conservation Trust Devon Historic Churches Trust National Trust Exeter Cathedral English Heritage

Eight churches in Devon will benefit from £2.3m grant funding from Historic England, as part of the Places of Worship Renewal Fund. The funding will help the churches carry out important building repairs and conservation work. The fund was launched by Historic England in May, after the closure of t...

14/10/2026

Welcome to this week's Roots, Shoots & Fruits newsletter... - https://mailchi.mp/01a467344aa1/roots-shots-and-fruits-newsletter-8346168