It is announced today that the Reverend Claire Reynolds has been appointedTeam Vicar in the Northmoor Team, with special responsibility for the parishesof Okehampton, Inwardleigh, and Belstone with Sticklepath. Clare is presentlyAssistant Curate in the parish of St Matthias, St Mark and Holy Trinity, Torquay.Claire’s academic qualifications are in theology and law. Prior to ordination shewas a practising solicitor specialising in family law, advocating particularly for thewelfare of families with children. Having discerned a call to priesthood, Claireearned a further theological degree at St Mellitus College here in Devon and wasordained in 2022. Alongside her curacy in Torquay, Claire serves on a voluntarybasis as our diocesan adviser for people with disabilities and additional needs.Claire is married to Alastair, a mathematics teacher, with a daughter at universityand a son in the sixth form. The family will move to Okehampton Rectory overthe Christmas school holidays and, subject to the completion of all legalformalities, Claire will be licensed as Team Vicar on Wednesday, January 7th ata service at All Saints’, Okehampton at which all will be welcome.Your prayers are asked for Claire, Al, and their family as they prepare to moveto their new home in December, and for Claire as she prepares for a new stagein her life and work as a priest.
The Devon Association of Ringers celebrated its centenary on 31st May when bells rang out from over 100 church towers across Devon. Involved in the event were a group of local ringers who visited seven towers during the day – in order, St Michael’s Chagford, Holy Trinity Gidleigh, St Mary’s Throwleigh, a break for lunch at Sticklepath’s Taw River Inn, St Mary’s Belstone, St Andrew’s South Tawton, St Michael’s Spreyton and Holy Trinity Drewsteignton, ending with more refreshments at the Drewe Arms.<br><br> At Belstone the ringers found a team from the Taunton area waiting for them – the visitors had arrived at Okehampton on the train, walked over the moor to the village and rung the bells ‘up’ in readiness. They then listened with a critical ear as the locals began their call change ringing, made unexpectedly challenging as all six bells had been fitted with new and still springy bell ropes just a week before - this after two of the old ropes had recently snapped. <br><br> After the locals had finished their peal, posed for photos and hurried on to South Tawton, the visitors took over for some method ringing, all the while keeping an eye on the clock as they needed to walk back in time for the 5.30pm train from Okehampton.<br>The picture shows some of the ringers at Belstone - The local ringers at St Mary’s, Belstone; L-R Jon Bint (Chagford), Peter Hodge (Drewsteignton), Chris Bonnett & Jeff Nichols (both Belstone), Amanda Pierce & Jackie Bowden (both Drewsteignton), Richard Littlewood (Throwleigh) and Barry Woods (South Tawton)
