As October begins and looking also towards November, the Church enters a season of remembering.
The light fades a little earlier, the leaves fall, the year begins to quieten, and perhaps we find ourselves doing the same. These weeks invite us to remember, not simply to look backwards, but to recognise the people, stories and moments that have shaped us.
At All Saints, we remember those whose lives have shown us something of the love and faithfulness of God: famous saints, perhaps, but also the quieter saints we have known ourselves, people whose kindness, faith, patience or courage left their mark upon us.
At All Souls, our remembering becomes more personal. We hold before God those whom we have loved and lost. Grief does not keep to a timetable, and sometimes a name, a place, a song or an anniversary can bring someone suddenly close again. In the stillness, we remember that love does not simply disappear when a life ends.
And then, on Remembrance Sunday, we gather again to remember those who gave their lives through war and conflict, and all those who continue to bear its scars. We remember not to glorify war, but because remembering its cost strengthens our longing and our prayers for peace.
There is something deeply human about remembering. It reminds us that our lives are connected: to those who came before us, to those who walk beside us now, and to those who will come after us.
Through this season, our churches across the Bradworthy Benefice will offer spaces to pause, to remember, to give thanks, to grieve and to pray.
And beneath all our remembering lies the promise at the heart of Christian faith: that every life matters to God, that love is stronger than death, and that even in the gathering darkness, the light still shines.
Pray, Grow, Serve 2035 – What This Means for Our Benefice
The Diocese of Exeter has launched a ten-year vision called Pray, Grow, Serve 2035. It is a long-term commitment to help churches across Devon deepen their faith, reach new people, and serve their communities well into the future.
As a benefice, we want to be clear about what this means for our parish churches, our communities, and the way we live out our faith locally.
A Vision Rooted in Prayer, Growth, and Service
At its heart, Pray, Grow, Serve 2035 builds on a simple calling:
The Diocese recognises that many people in Devon have little or no connection with church, and that parish churches are facing real challenges. This vision is about supporting churches, not replacing them.
What Pray, Grow, Serve 2035 Is (and Isn’t)
It is:
A long-term investment in people, leadership, and mission
A commitment to supporting parish churches alongside new ways of being church
An encouragement to prayerfully reflect on how we connect with our communities
It is not:
A plan to close parish churches
A replacement for Sunday worship, pastoral care, or life-events ministry
A substitute for local generosity or the Common Fund
National funding linked to Pray, Grow, Serve 2035 is ring-fenced for mission and growth. It cannot be used for everyday parish running costs or building repairs, which continue to be supported through local giving and the Common Fund.
The Five Priorities – In Simple Terms
The vision is shaped around five priorities that help churches flourish in different contexts:
Missional Leadership
Supporting clergy and lay leaders to lead prayerfully, sustainably, and confidently in changing times.
Missional DNA
Helping churches keep mission, welcome, and invitation at the heart of everything they do.
Vocations
Encouraging and supporting people of all ages to explore how God may be calling them to serve – ordained or lay.
Children, Young People, and Families
Placing the next generation at the centre of church life, recognising both the challenge and the opportunity this brings.
Mixed Ecology
Valuing both traditional parish worship and new forms of church (such as café church, forest church, or mid-week gatherings), side by side.
What This Means for Our Benefice
For us, Pray, Grow, Serve 2035 is an opportunity, not a prescription.
It invites us to:
Not every benefice or parish will receive the same resources or funded roles, but every benefice is included in the vision and supported through training, encouragement, and partnership.
Our Parish Churches Still Matter
Our parish churches remain central places of:
Pray, Grow, Serve 2035 does not diminish this role. Instead, it recognises parish churches as the heart and anchor of local mission, while encouraging us to think creatively about how we serve a changing world.
Walking Forward Together
As a benefice, we will continue to:
This is a long journey, taken step by step, rooted in trust that God is already at work in our villages and communities.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.” (Psalm 127)
We look ahead with hope, faith, and a shared commitment to serve the people entrusted to us. If you have ideas or have been discerning the will of God then please do share this.
Bradworthy Benefice
