South Tamar Mission Community

From our Vicar

Welcome! I'm glad you've found us.  Look around and make yourself at home.  If you live in these parishes, remember that these churches are yours.  Please do contact me if you want to find out more abou God, or what the church can offer in terms of support - particularly through life's significant events.

God is in the day-to-day too, the ordinary things that are at the heart of life, so we try to be here for people of all ages, day in, day out.  Our Christian faith is rooted in the Incarnation - God made human.  I like to think of it as God who knows what it's like to have muddy feet just like us.  We're none of us perfect but we are all loved and accepted by God, reflecting God's likeness in some way or another.  How awesome is that!  I look forward to hearing from you.

Rev Gill George

Benefice welcome

Welcome to the website for the South Tamar Benefice.  From here you can find the websites for our individual parishes -  Milton Abbot, Dunterton, Lamerton, Sydenham Damerel, Marystowe, and Coryton.  STMC is a group of 6 Church of England parishes in the rolling farmland of the Tamar Valley AONB, broadly between the River Tamar and the River Lyd. We have 2 primary schools in the area, and our schools volunteers also work in another on our borders. All our volunteers have DBS checks and undergo regular safeguarding training. We also have a strong pastoral team who work with people in local residential care settings, and trained Anna Chaplains specialising in spiritual support for the older age range. As well as a strong team of volunteers, we have a full time vicar - Priest-in-Charge, Reverend Gill George.  We are also blessed with Local Lay Minister, Richard Searight, and retired priest, Revd Canon Tim Thompson. 

Navigation

The calendar can be filtered by location, and calendar entries contain information about the event, as well as optional downloads - for instance the event poster.  

In the 'News and Notices' tab you will find the service schedules (which can be downloaded and printed), the bi-monthly Parish News magazine, and a link to read the weekly email, as well as information about what's on.

The 'Prayer Support' tab contains the Benefice Prayer List for inclusion in private prayers and public intercessions, along with other prayers.

'View mission community churches' will take you to any of our individual parishes, which can be located by clicking on the map, or viewed in a list.  They also each have external web addresses: locationchurch.co.uk (e.g. miltonabbotchurch.co.uk)

What's on

Good Friday Walk

Occurring
for 1 hour
Venue
Marystowe Parish Church of St Mary the Blessed Virgin
Address
Marystowe Lifton, PL16 0JA, United Kingdom

A walk between the two churches of Marystowe and Coryton. We swap the start/end each year, and this year it starts at Marystowe Church PL16 0JA and ends at Coryton Church EX20 4PA. (This year is the easier route because it's downhill!) When we get to Coryton we'll have hot cross buns and goodies, and a children's service at 12 noon before heading home at 12.30. See you there!

View attachment

Children's Service at Coryton

Occurring
for 30 mins
Venue
Coryton Parish Church of St Andrew
Address
Coryton Okehampton, EX20 4PA, United Kingdom

While adults are enjoying a coffee and hot cross bun after the Good Friday Walk, children can enjoy a short activity in their own service for Good Friday. Rev Gill is looking forward to welcoming more of the younger generation to Coryton if there is enough interest - so do come and see (and you can also turn up for the service without doing the walk!)

View attachment

Easter Candle Blessing and Egg Hunt

Occurring
for 45 mins
Venue
Milton Abbot Parish Church of St Constantine and St Aegidius
Address
Milton Abbot Tavistock, PL19 0PA, United Kingdom

We'll be outdoors for this one - in front of the church at Milton Abbot. It's a short service where traditionally the Holy Oils left over from last year are burnt, and the first lighting of the big Easter Candle takes place. A really good start to the Easter celebrations!

View attachment

Our churches

Safeguarding

Our Parishes are committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults from harm. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and each parish has an assigned Safeguarding Representative who can be contacted about any issues or concerns regarding safeguarding and the church. Our Diocese’s safeguarding pages also contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor who advises the Parish Safeguarding Representatives. If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm please contact Julie Hibbert the lead Safeguarding Representative for the benefice on 01822 618221 or email [email protected]. You can also contact the Safeguarding Representative for each parish. IF YOU ARE AWARE OF AN IMMINENT RISK OF HARM TO AN INDIVIDUAL, PLEASE CONTACT THE POLICE ON 999.