PARISHIONERS will gather in Hemyock next week to say farewell to retiring Upper Culm Valley Mission rector the Rev Canon Becky Totterdell.

Ms Totterdell is to retire after five years of her ministry to the area, which covers the churches in Hemyock, Clayhidon, and Culmstock, as well as Culm Davey Chapel.

A farewell service will be held at 11 am on Sunday, January 12, in St Mary’s Church, Hemyock, which will be attended by the Archdeacon of Exeter, the Venerable Andrew Beane.

The service will be followed by a reception to which everybody is invited to attend.

The mission’s Rev John Stone said: “In our three parishes we are facing an uncertain future.

“Becky, our rector, will be retiring and we have to trust that God will call the right person to offer to come and be our rector.

“But we are part of the Church of England, and we do not leave God to do these things all by Himself.

“The churchwardens have already had a meeting with the archdeacon, which normally would not have happened until after Becky had left, and they are working together to do all the things which need to be done so that we can advertise for a new rector at the earliest opportunity.

“But we must not rely on miracles.

“Even after we have advertised, interviewed, and selected a candidate to be our next rector, that person will still have to give three months’ notice before leaving their present position.

“So, we have to be patient and keep on praying.”

Mr Stone said in the meantime, the life of the churches had to continue as close to normal as possible.

He said the ministry team had already planned services as far ahead as the end of March, and had a ‘first draft’ of services for April.

Mr Stone said: “You will see a few new faces taking services in our churches, but the pattern of services will continue much as it is now.

“We will be able to continue worshipping and praising God in our villages and making sure that our church life continues to be a source of hope and encouragement until our new rector, whoever he or she may turn out to be, arrives at some point in the future.

“It is all in God’s hands, but we are giving God as much help as we possibly can.”

St Mary’s Church is also looking for somebody to help boost its cleaning team.

Parochial church council treasurer Hazel Partridge said the cleaning role was ‘not glamorous, but essential’ and it would be noticed if the task was not done.

Ms Partridge said pairs of cleaners carried out vacuum cleaning, dusting and polishing, and sweeping the porch every eight weeks.

She said: “As we go into the New Year, please consider if this is one way in which you could help out and take the pressure of the present few cleaners.”

Anybody who wanted to help should email Ms Partridge at [email protected].