David Seymour, and his wife Wendy

I was born in Reading in Berkshire, in Battle Hospital. The hospital no longer exists. It’s a branch of Tesco now. Both my parents were from the Reading area and I lived at our family home in South Oxfordshire until I went off to university. Nowadays, my only real reason for going back to the town of my birth is to watch football at the Madejski-not always a stress-free experience. I regard myself as so very fortunate to have been given a place at Oxford to read Theology. The late 70’s was a tremendous time to be studying in the Theology faculty, so many great minds feeding us. I have had only one career. I was ordained at the age of 24 and since then have served in four places before moving here. My curacy was in Tilehurst in the west of Reading, a large suburban parish where I had the benefit of an excellent training incumbent until his untimely death at the age of 52. From there I moved to the Diocese of Salisbury, where I was to serve for the next 31 years. First, I was Team Vicar in Parkstone, Poole, for 5 years, then vicar of Christ Church, Bradford-on-Avon, near Bath, for ten and a half years, before moving to Sturminster Newton in North Dorset in 2001.

Wendy and I have many interests outside church life. Music is very important to us, principally classical and jazz. We make occasional visits to English National Opera, and during our time in Dorset, were supporters of the excellent Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. We are passionate about birds and have been recorders for the British Trust for Ornithology for over 20 years. We also enjoy travel, and given our commitments at weekends, have found that midweek city breaks suit us very well. Highlights have included Paris, Pisa and Riga.

Three of our children live in the UK but two of our boys live in Australia, one in Brisbane and one in Sydney. A highlight of 2017 was our trip to witness Cane’s wedding to Megan in November. We have individual interests too. David would not dare venture too close to Wendy’s upholstery workshop and Wendy is not seen on a bicycle quite as often as David! Our unwritten motto is ‘work hard, and play hard.’

DS

St Mabyn Church Service

Warm thanks to the Reverend David Pollard – good to welcome him back! for his excellent service last Sunday. This coming Sunday, 21 January, at 10am, Steve Williams will lead our Praise Service, assisted by members of the Music Group who give such a great lead to our singing! Refreshments are always offered after the service and provide an opportunity for social time and chat with friends. Bell ringers, experienced or novice are wanted! Come to the bell tower at 7pm on Wednesday evenings, you will be very welcome!

St Mabyn Church Rotas

New rotas are being made up for sidesmen, and also readers so if you would like to volunteer to join the team – or perhaps no longer wish to perform these duties – please contact Carol Grigg on 841276. Carol is also organising help in cleaning the church – we have a very special occasion coming up! – so please let her know if you are willing to help.

 

St Mabyn Bible Study Group

This year’s Lent Discussion Group will be based on the 

Diocesan 2018 Lent course booklets “Responding to God’s grace” written by the Archdeacon, Audrey Elkington, and the first meeting will be on Tuesday 13 February, held at Trelowarth, Watergate Lane, home of David and Mary Bishop. Meet for coffee from 10.00am onwards and starting at 10.30am, and the group often then adjourns to the pub for lunch – but this is not compulsory! Course booklets are available from David Bishop, tel 01208-840010 and a warm welcome is offered to all, especially those who have not been previously. On Tuesday 6th February, there will be a supplementary meeting with Felicity Henchley telling us about the teaching of Christianity in Schools, with the title  “Schools and understanding Christianity” In church there is a charming “tree” made by Mary Bishop, with texts and many Thoughts attached, next to the Prayer Corner and this will be added to as the weeks go by – providing  a starting point for prayerful contemplation.

 

Licensing service for new priest for the Camelside Cluster

This very special service will be held in St Mabyn Church on Saturday 17 February at 7pm, and conducted by the Bishop of St Germans, the Right Reverend Chris Goldsmith. David Seymour, and his wife Wendy, will live in the Rectory in St Tudy and he will be the priest for the new Camelside Cluster comprising the Benefices of St Mabyn, St Tudy with Michaelstow and St Breward, Helland and Blisland with Temple. During his first three weeks he will conduct a service in each of these seven churches  and a very warm welcome is extended to all the parishioners to come and share in the service of his installation. The service will be followed by moving to St Mabyn Village Hall and an opportunity to meet David and Wendy over a buffet of finger food and drinks, we look forward to seeing you there.

St Mabyn Christmas Tree Festival success.

We would like to thank everyone who took part in our Christmas Tree Festival this year . The exhibits were simply stunning and it was apparent to everyone who visited the church over the 3 days, how much work and effort had taken part. The church looked glorious with lots of colour and light – it felt warmer too!
The post office opened the festival for us with their beautiful door wreath made of postal sacks on the church door – a great idea. Each entrant had very cleverly depicted their group or had a story to tell. The 'Light up a Life' tree proved popular giving us a chance to reflect in the prayer corner of the church, on the lives of our loved ones who would not be with us at Christmas time.
Special mention for the School, Scout Group and the Bible study group for the thought behind their entries Well done to you and everyone, we were grateful for all your efforts and enthusiasm.
We were delighted to be able to send £70 in donations from the festival, to Cornwall Hospice Care, our chosen charity for this event. We will look forward to a similar event next year!
Jill Campbell and Jan Fisher.