Church news

The Revd Paul Seaton-Burn, Team Rector of the Whiddon Parishes, has been appointed to serve also as Interim Priest-in-Charge of Moretonhampstead, North Bovey, Manaton and Lustleigh. He will continue in his present responsibility as Team Rector based in Chagford.
Paul’s appointment, for a term of two years, is the first step in a process of closer co-operation between the moorland churches of the Moreton benefice and the Whiddon Parishes. The second step will be the appointment of an Associate Priest to be based at Moretonhampstead Rectory, who will take his or her part in our new ministry team of lay and ordained colleagues as soon as possible.
Paul grew up in Northumberland, went to university in Exeter, and before ordination worked for a major investment management company in the City of London. He served as a parish priest in Peterborough diocese and returned to Devon in 2011 to take up his present role in Chagford. Paul is married to Helen, a professional counsellor; they have four sons in their teens and twenties.
Subject to the completion of all legalities, the Bishop of Plymouth will license Paul to this additional new ministry during the joint benefice service at St Winifred’s, Manaton on Sunday, March 29th at 11.15am.
We will keep you posted as the consultation for the new Deanery Plan continues and ask for your prayers for Paul, our wardens and our ministry team as we seek new ways of working together across North East Dartmoor.
Thank you.
The Venerable Douglas Dettmer, Archdeacon of Totnes