Vendée: Confirmation and Admission of New Reader


One of the newest parishes in the diocese hosted its first confirmation service last Sunday. All Saints, Vendée became organised formally within the diocese on Palm Sunday 2007. It is a large pastoral area, about 1/3 the size of Wales, carved out of the chaplaincy of the Good Shepherd, Poitou-Charentes. Its priest-in-charge is the Revd Brian Davies. Confirmation candidates came from All Saints, as well as the "neighbouring" parishes of Poitou-Charentes and Ranton, and were supported by clergy and readers from the three parishes. Since 2007, under Fr Brian's leadership, All Saints Vendée has grown to having three regular worship centres and just under 100 on the electoral roll.

Also on Sunday I had the pleasure of admitting Mr John Matthews as a reader in the Church of England and licensing him to serve in both the Vendée and Poitou-Charentes. He joins Mr Robin Kenyon who is already a licensed reader in All Saints. John, wearing his blue reader's preaching scarf, is in the photo below with the Revd Michael Hepper (left) of Poitou-Charentes and the Revd Brian Davies.

Fr Brian leaves All Saints at the end of November to take up a new appointment as assistant priest in the Aquitaine. His pioneering work in the Vendée has borne much fruit and he will leave for his successor a well organised and vibrant parish in this part of France.

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