When you decide where you God is calling you to worship it’s important to understand what kind of community you are joining. Here at St. Luke’s & St. John’s we share a set of values with our partners in the Newton Abbot Team Parishes and are also part of The Society under the patronage of St. Wilfrid and St. Hilda within the See of Oswestry.

But what does all of that actually mean and how does that show itself in our parishes? We believe we are…

Welcoming

We offer a warm welcome and rich hospitality to people of all ages and backgrounds, wherever they are on their journey of faith.

Loving

We are dedicated to loving, serving and encouraging each other, following the pattern of Jesus, bearing with one another with grace and kindness.

Faithful

We believe God’s Word is revealed through the Bible and we value preaching and teaching that encourage us to grow as disciples of Christ.

Varied

We seek to be a prayerful community offering a rich variety of worship styles across our churches to ensure that there is a home for everyone.

Active

We are committed to being active in word and deed, making a positive difference in our communities, and proclaiming the gospel to each generation.

The Society

Both St. Luke’s and St. John’s are members of The Society (or more fully, The Society under the patronage of Saint Wilfrid and Saint Hilda). It is an ecclesial body, led by a Council of Bishops.

The purposes of The Society are to:

• Promote and maintain catholic teaching and practice within the Church of England.
• Provide episcopal oversight to which churches, institutions and individuals will freely submit themselves.
• Guarantee a ministry in the historic apostolic succession in which they can have confidence.

The parishes of The Society enjoy a relationship of full communion not only with their bishop but also with all the other parishes of The Society. In most cases this relationship is established by passing a resolution under the House of Bishops’ Declaration. (Information about passing resolutions is available here.)

The Society is an ecclesial body, not a membership organisation. It is supported by Forward in Faith and administered by its Director.  Further information about the relationship between The Society and Forward in Faith is available here.

Questions?

Want to know more or have questions? Contact us using the details on the contact us page.