West Devon Methodist Circuit
OTHER CIRCUIT PERSONNEL
inc. David Pett & Andy Jerrard
Rev Irving Penberthy [Supernumerary Minister] can be contacted at 01837 55077
Mr Dave Shott [Editor: Circuit Newsletter] can be contacted at 01837 840699 or by email
Mr Peter Webb [Local Preachers Secretary] can be contacted at 01837 52926
Mrs L. Gilbert [L.W.P.T. Secretary] can be contacted at 01837 811025
Mrs Marlene Hunkin [Methodist Homes Treasurer]
Mrs Lyn Whitworth [Ministers' Housing Fund Treasurer]
Fund for the Support of Presbyters and Deacons (formerly Auxiliary Fund) Treasurer
Mrs Frances Hucker Action for Children Treasurer
Miss Brenda Hockridge Church & Society Treasurer
Mr Gerry Moule Mission in Great Britain Treasurer
Mr Brian Maddaford Property Secretary
Mr Julian Hucker Property Treasurer
Mrs Frances Farley World Missions Treasurer
Mr David Pett Ecumenical Rural Development Enabler (see below) can be contacted at 01566 86730 or e-mail
Mr Andy Jerrard Rural Pastoral Support Worker (see below) can be contacted at 07801 755732 or by email
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~ DAVID PETT ~
David is from a farming background and lives near Launceston. In this new pioneering ecumenical role (funded by the Methodist Connexion and the Exeter Diocese), David will be working alongside Sue Tucker, Diocesan Rural Officer and Philip Wagstaff the Methodist District Rural Issues group convenor, to support rural Churches in their communities. David brings with him his experience of farming, tourism, green issues and rural life. He has also been a Methodist local preacher for 23 years
David writes:- 'Rural Churches are good at mission.' That's the bold statement in the preface of a new booklet called 'Making Connections 'published by the Arthur Rank Centre. That fact is sometimes hard to see if you are part of a small congregation in a rural Church that struggles to pay its way, where it takes enormous effort to maintain the Church roof. It is also sometimes easy to be despondent and assume that the Christian message has no relevance anymore in the 21st Century. For others it must feel that they are barely holding onto a Christian presence in a village after centuries of loyal Christian witness and work. But all around the country there are stories of hope where the Church is starting to see itself differently. As I start my role as the Ecumenical Rural Development Enabler in West Devon I am seeing there is a great resource that is still available in terms of people, buildings, land and schools. What small changes can we dare to make that can allow that potential to flourish?
Over the next few months I will be making contact with Churches and Chapels throughout the West Devon area to see just what is happening. Please contact me and tell me what good things are occurring in your patch. We need to share those good things and find new ways of sharing the love of God in practical as well as spiritual ways. I will also be available to assist Churches to look at visions and dreams of serving and blessing the local community and work with you to find a way through red tape and funding issues. As we enter potentially very difficult times for our nation I am really looking forward to hearing your stories and see together what can happen when we dare to believe. Finally, a visitor wrote in the visitors book of a particularly isolated Church, 'I found this Church in the middle of nowhere, but God knew I was somewhere and found me here.' I like that.
~ ANDY JERRARD ~
Born in Bristol. Lived in North Devon, Exeter (that's sort of in Devon), Cornwall, South Devon and Mid-Devon. That probably makes me of no fixed abode. Have filled bulk tanks with milk, bags with grass seeds and bottles with water. Now I'm getting cups filled with tea. Wednesdays see me as part of the chaplaincy team at Holsworthy Market, other days may find me visiting folks at home, joining Churches Together meetings, attending farm sales, at Hatherleigh market coffee mornings, participating in ecclesiastical team meetings, writing prices in sale catalogues or discussing the price of milk. This probably means I multi-task! I like Exmoor Horn sheep, Friesian cows, Newfoundland dogs but only keep stuffed versions of Eeyore, which probably means I'm not a proper animal lover. Do my bit for recycling by purchasing far too many magazines and newspapers, which eventually ensures that the black box is well filled - this may mean I'm a job creator. Married to Cathy, which definitely means I'm a husband.
