News

The Christmas Journey 2025 - The Biggest So Far!

Across the first week of December, around 220 children aged 6 and 7 from 9 different schools across the town and deanery descended on Abbotsbury Church for 90 minutes of fun and exploration if the Christmas Story. The children heard the story together, then in 4 groups met the shepherds, the wisemen, Anna and Simeon in the temple who all told them how they had met the infant Jesus. [in case you’re wondering- the fourth group decorated crowns to remind them that Jesus was a special baby born to be King!] Once they had visited all 4 stations, the children met Mary and Joseph and their real-live baby who were just about to flee to Egypt! It was a fantastic week, and the feedback has been better than ever. Why not come and join the team in 2026 and find out why the schools and the fabulous team members keep coming back!

The Parish Christmas Fayre

took place last weekend and St Paul’s hall was filled with stalls and games, books, bric-a-brac, Christmas crafts and plenty to eat and drink. Thanks to everyone who helped and to everyone who came along! A fantastic £618 was raised to support the work of the Rowcroft Hospice.

THAT Foodbank

would be grateful for donations of:

• UHT Milk

• Tinned vegetables – for example carrots and sweetcorn.

• Sugar

• Biscuits

• Jars of coffee

• Porridge oats

• Tinned ham, pork or corned beef

• Custard

• Tinned fish

• Toilet rolls

8 Queensway House, Queensway, Newton Abbot. TQ12 4BA.

Tel: 01626 437310, email: office@thatfoodbank.com Website: www.thatfoodbank.com

Lunch with God

Bible teaching. 5th November and each Wednesday thereafter at St Paul’s Church Hall. 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. Free soup and hot drink

Parish Giving Scheme (PGS)

The Parish’s bank makes significant charges for depositing cash, so, if you normally give in cash, it would be very helpful if you could switch to donating through the PGS. If you pay UK income tax, the PGS, enables you to take part in the Gift Aid scheme, which gives the Parish an extra 20% on your donations.
If you wish to set up regular donations through PGS using a paper form, please contact the Parish Office with your details. Alternatively, you could sign up on-line through www.parishgiving.org.uk or go in to the office and fill in the form electronically.
Other options are: giving by using the card machine available in some of our churches, or setting up a standing order from your bank, payable to Newton Abbot PCC, account number 62909168, sort code 30-84-67

Prostate Cancer Research

From John Calderwood:

"I'm going to be walking 60 miles (not all in one go) during November for Prostate Cancer Research. I'm so grateful that my cancer is non-aggressive and I'm not having to undergo any treatment, but I feel for men who have a more severe cancer.

Maybe you can help me support research to improve the lives of men who may be affected in future. If you wish to make a donation, please click on this link:

https://www.facebook.com/donate/808264605523448/?fundraiser_source=whatsapp_share or contact me at johncalderwood8@gmail.com . I have a sponsorship form if you wish to give in cash. Thank you." John Calderwood.

A Simple Act of Kindness: Why Volunteering as a Prison Visitor Matters

(From the Diocesan Newsletter, Roots and Shoots)

At HMP Channings Wood, near Newton Abbot, there are men serving sentences who have

no contact with the outside world. For some, there are no family members, no friends, and

no one to visit them. One such prisoner, a 60-year-old man, shared in a letter how

transformative it was to be introduced to the prison chaplaincy’s visitor programme.

For a time, he received weekly visits; 45 minutes of simple conversation, connection, and

kindness. But as the number of volunteer visitors declined, so did the frequency and length

of those visits. Now, he receives just one 30-minute visit every two weeks. And he’s not

alone. Many others in the prison are waiting and hoping for someone to talk to, someone

who can offer a moment of humanity in an otherwise isolating environment.

Prison visitors don’t need to have special qualifications. What’s needed is compassion, a

willingness to listen, and a little time to spare. For security reasons, volunteers undergo

vetting, security training and shadow experienced visitors until they feel ready to ‘go it

alone’. Volunteers are part of a caring network that understands the importance of human

connection. For those inside, these visits are more than just a chat; they help ease stress

3and anxiety. They offer hope and remind prisoners that they are still seen, still valued and

still part of the wider community.

If you feel you could regularly spare some time to sit and talk with someone who has no

one else, your kindness could make a profound difference.

To learn more or to volunteer, please contact Kerry Sherwin from the National Association

of Prison Visitors: kerry.caldock@btinternet.com

Cornerstone

The Parish has just signed up to a new initiative in the Church of England called Cornerstone, which aims to help us manage our finances more effectively and to get better at communicating information across the parish. As part of setting ourselves up on the system, I’d like to ask if you take 5 minutes to complete a short survey.

Each of our 5 churches has its own code number, but it is the same link for each church. Details are below:

St Mary’s, Abbotsbury- 615305

All Saints, Highweek- 615304

St Bartholomew’s, Ogwell- 615313

St Mary’s, Wolborough- 615317

St Paul’s, Newton Abbot- 615319

The link is: https://forms.office.com/e/CysxHx2G9E

All of the results are anonymous and will be automatically collated to build a picture of where we are right now. Thank you.

The Jesus Revolution

For those of you who have a Netflix subscription, can I recommend The Jesus Revolution as a film to enjoy and to stir you to pray. It tells the story of the huge Christian revival that took place in the USA amongst the hippies at the end of the 60s and the start of the 70s. It’s thought to be the greatest spiritual revival in American history. Many thought the dropping out and taking drugs was an act of rebellion, but one young preacher saw their lifestyle as a sign that they were searching for God, but in all the wrong places. It stirred my heart to see God work a revival like that amongst the young people of our town and country. May it do the same to yours!

Car Parking at St Paul’s:

Over the last few months we have noticed an increasing number

of people from outside of our church community are using the car park at St Paul's. This has

meant that those coming for midweek services or events in the hall have found it harder (and

sometimes impossible) to find somewhere to park. We are therefore bringing in a system of

permits for those coming to regular groups so we can monitor the situation.

As long as there are no busy services or large events in the hall, we're happy for church members

to occasionally use the car park when they head into town. But from next week we are going to

ask members of our church family who wish to use the car park in this way, to collect a car park

permit from the office, and to display it in their car windscreen when they park at St Paul’s. You

won't need to do this when you are coming for a service or a church meeting. You will need one

if you're using the car park at other times.

These permits are free and will be renewed every year. Mel will keep a record of your name and

car registration number next to the number of the permit, so we can make sure they're not being

copied!

Christians Against Poverty Teignbridge

One of our Parish mission partners has sent us this request.

CAP (Christians Against Poverty) Teignbridge provides Free Debt Help and personal support for those struggling with unmanageable debt. We are funded and supported by churches across Teignbridge. In December 2024 we provided 14 Christmas Hampers and gifts for CAP clients – for 19 adults and 7 children across Dawlish, Teignmouth, Kingsteignton and Newton Abbot, along with toys provided by Newton Abbot Salvation Army. We’re thrilled that Newton Abbot and Ogwell Parish is now partnering with us in this work.

One of our critical needs is for BEFRIENDERS. Befrienders join the debt coach at client appointments and help support the clients through the debt-help process. This service couldn’t function without the support of befrienders, but we have a real need for more befrienders, especially men. Could you please prayerfully consider whether you could be part of this support team. Thank you. The minimum commitment is only 2 hours/month. You wouldneed to be a good listener, and passionate about supporting those in poverty.

Prayer Support. We also have a Prayer Support Team who meet once a month to pray for CAP clients and the work of CAP Teignbridge. This is invaluable and makes a huge difference. If you would like to join this team, please get in touch. In either case, please contact Tim Wigley, Debt Centre Manager email: timwigley@capuk.org

Used postage stamps.

Please collect up the used postage stamps from your Christmas cards and packages, and let Mel have them in the Parish office at St Paul’s Church or bring them to a church service. They will used to help the charity RNLI.

The Diocesan Prayer Diary

features intercessory prayers for local communities, each day of the month. It includes prayers for parishes, mission communities, clergy and diocesan staff across Devon, along with key dates throughout the year. Click here to read it.

Safeguarding

Many of you may have seen or be aware of the recent media attention around the now former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and other senior clergy in the Church of England following the publication of the Makin Safeguarding Report. The Makin report, commissioned as an independent review into the Church’s response to the abuses perpetrated by late John Smyth, has highlighted shortcomings by the Church in responding to the allegations and has provided key recommendations to improve safeguarding cultures.

Speaking as the Parish Safeguarding Representative, I can say that as a Parish we are horrified by the abuses carried out by John Smyth and greatly saddened to read that more could, and should, have been done to prevent it from happening.

We want to be a Church and community where everybody feels welcomed and everybody feels safe. We want those who may have experienced (or be experiencing) abuse to be confident in coming forward, knowing they will be listened to and any allegations be treated with the utmost seriousness and concern; whomever the other party may be.

We should not and cannot say this doesn’t impact us as a Parish. Whilst the media has focussed on the senior clergy of the Church of England there are lessons for us in this to. We need to work harder to build a culture which emphasises the importance of safeguarding and which prioritises the voices of the abused, victims and downtrodden ahead of the powerful.

If anybody wants to discuss the events of the last few weeks or would like to discuss any safeguarding issues or concerns they may have please know you can reach out to me, or any of the safeguarding team, at any point. We are here for you and you will be listened to. We cannot and will not be silent on abuse.

Rob (07792081776)

Milk Bottle Tops

St. Luke’s are collecting for the Childrens’ Hospice South West. Please save your plastic tops (not cartons) and send them to the office or leave them in church to be brought to the office. Thank you.

Ben and Family

Ben and Sarah’s new address is The Vicarage, Bridge Street, Uffculme, Cullompton, Devon. EX15 3AX.

Missed some church services?

Catch up on You Tube - same series in each church, or the recordings of talks HERE

Abbotsbury Church YOUTUBE

St Paul's Church YOUTUBE

Parish Office Hours.

Parish Office at St Paul's Church, Devon Square is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For all enquiries, please phone 01626 211346 or email office@newtonabbotparishes.co.uk

Mel Dunn, Benefice Administrator.