News of a new Team Rector

A message from the Archdeacon of Totnes:

Whiddon Team parishioners will be aware that the post of Team Rector remains unfilled following readvertisement. It has now been agreed that the appointment should be paused so that existing proposals to reconfigure the Team Ministry can be taken forward before the post is advertised once again.

In the meantime, the Bishop has decided to appoint a Priest-in-Charge to provide oversight and pastoral care during the next period, working principally alongside Prebendary Sue Sheppard in the North Dartmoor parishes. The Priest-in-Charge will reside at Chagford Rectory and will serve on a full-time basis for a fixed term of two years, allowing time for reorganisation to be considered and, if agreed, implemented before a new Team Rector is appointed.

I am delighted that the Right Reverend Nicholas McKinnel has accepted the Bishop’s invitation to serve in this capacity. Bishop Nick is well known in the Whiddon Team churches, having been a suffragan bishop in this diocese for ten years until his retirement in 2022, latterly as Bishop of Plymouth. In his parish ministry he served for eighteen years at St Andrew’s, Plymouth and before that, here in Okehampton Deanery as Rector of Hatherleigh, Meeth, Exbourne and Jacobstowe from the late 1980s. He particularly enjoyed his years of service in rural communities and together with his wife Jan, looks forward very much to engaging with the life of the North Dartmoor parishes over the next two years.

Bishop Nick is presently serving as High Sheriff of Devon and will finish his term of office in that role at Easter. Subject to the completion of all legalities, he will be licensed as Priest-in-Charge of the Whiddon Team on Tuesday, April 30th at a service at 7pm in St Michael’s, Chagford at which all will be welcome.

Please pray for Bishop Nick and Jan as they prepare for their move to Chagford in April, and for the churches and parishes of the mission community as we look forward to welcoming them among us.

Douglas Dettmer

Archdeacon of Totnes