St Calixtus Church

About St Calixtus Church

The Church is situated in the centre of West Down and it is visible from most of the Parish.  The Church is part of the North Taw Mission Community (NTMC) comprising St Calixtus (West Down), St Augustine’s (Heanton Punchardon), St Michaels & All Angels (Marwood) and St George’s Georgeham and St Mary’s Croyde.

For more detail about the Church, its Bells, Tower and St Calixtus see History of the Church.

Significant dates to Note:

5th October Pet Service

St. Calixtus, West Down, is holding a Pets’ Service on 5th October at 10.30am.
Reverend Glyn, and his dog, Remus, will be leading the service.
All pets are welcome provided:-

  • dogs are on leads held by adults
  • cats and small creatures are in pet carriers.

If you are unable to bring your pet for whatever reason perhaps you would like to bring a photograph.
Children can bring an animal cuddly toy!
Refreshments for humans and pets will be available after the service.

12th October Harvest Service and Supper

Harvest Festival at St. Calixtus, West Down is on Sunday 12th.October at 10.30am.
Harvest Supper with ‘Entertainment’ will be held in the Village Hall at 6pm on 12th October.
Tickets available from the village shop and Di McGahran.

2nd November – Annual All Souls Service

St Calixtus’ Annual Service for All Souls is to be held on Sunday 2nd November at 11.00am.
We are delighted to announce that Bishop Mike from Exeter has accepted our invitation to attend this service. At this service there is the opportunity to have your loved ones’ names read out and to light a candle in their memory .
Should you be unable to attend but wish your loved ones’ named to be read out please let me know and they will be included (Margaret Rusling 07469204398).
There will chance to talk to Bishop Mike during refreshments at the end of the service.

9th November – Annual Remembrance Service

St Calixtus’ Annual Remembrance Service is to be held on Sunday 9th November at 10.15am.

Safeguarding

Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser Anthea Carter-Savigear Director of People and Safeguarding

  • Tel: 01392294947
  • Mobile: 07519116073 

https//exeter.anglican.org/resources/safeguarding/safeguarding-team

If you are a young person and you feel unhappy about something happening to you, you can call Childline on 08001111.

Church Clock

Should now be working OK but if you think otherwise please contact David Ravenscroft or Andy Odell.

September 2025 Mission Community link may be read by logging in to the Heanton website – www.northtaw.org.uk/

Church Hall

The Church Hall (Iron Room) is open for meetings without restrictions.  Please see below the separate section which contains information to hirers and users.

Services at St Calixtus for late September to early November

September

7th                         10.30 am                         Sunday Fellowship                                   Lay-Led

14th                      9.30 am                            Holy Communion                                     Margaret

21st                      9.30 am                            Morning Worship                                       Jane/Caroline

28th                      9.30 am                            Holy Communion                                     Glyn/Mandy

October

5th                         10.30 am                         Pet Service                                                   Glyn

12th                      10.30 am                            Harvest                                                        Glyn

19th                     9.30 am                            Morning Worship                                       Mandy

26th                      9.30 am                            Holy Communion                                     Caroline

November 

2nd                      11 am                         Annual Remembrance Service                      Glyn/Bishop

 

For services at Heanton and Marwood please see the link magazine (above).

Morning Prayer on Mondays (except Bank Holidays) at 9.30 am at Heanton Church – all welcome.

For times of services at St George’s Church, Georgeham and St Mary’s Croyde go to the website: www.stggeorgham.org

COVID

Please do not come to church is you are feeling unwell, have tested positive or have COVID/flu like symptoms.  Please let us know and we will pray for a speedy recovery.

A call for prayer

We realise that this is a difficult time for many people. If you would like us to pray for any specific need please e-mail us at northtawprayer@gmail.com and we will ensure that members of our prayer team pray for you. If you have any other pastoral need, please feel free to contact Rev Glyn Lewry (Priest in charge) 01271 600744 or Caroline Raby (Associate Minister) 01271 815560

Church Finances

We would like to acknowledge and thank those of you who, as part of your commitment to worship, have given financially to the work of our churches. We also recognise that many of you continue to give through standing orders and the Parish giving scheme.

If you would like to make a financial contribution to help with the running of the church, the maintenance of church buildings and the Diocesan Parish Share you can use the collection plate as you leave using the yellow gift aid envelopes.  Alternatively you could make a donation by an internet banking transfer using the following details:

  • St. Calixtus, West Down, Parochial Church Council (West Down PCC)
  • Sort Code: 20-04-59 Account number: 90689920 Reference: donation

Should you wish to make a regular donations please contact our treasurer, David Ravenscroft (01271 865413) to discuss options.

North Taw Mission Community Services

Please do take a look at the Northtaw site for information about our local community services.  Rev Steve has been putting regular updates on this site including written services and audio files.

Activities at other Churches (for more detail, look at the website above or in the Link Magazine)

ACPM – May 2025

The annual meeting was held in the church on 8th May 2025.  Draft minutes of the 2025 meeting may be obtained from the Secretary in due course.

Iron Room (Church Hall)

The Iron Room is open for meetings and events.  During this period where there is no mandatory guidance, it will be up to individual users to take what measures they think fit whilst inside the Iron Room.   Hand sanitiser will be available for use on entry and exit. Hirers are asked to consider their own safeguards especially when meetings/events involve large numbers which should be avoided.    Please do not enter the Iron Room if you have any COVID-19 symptoms and/or have been advised to isolate either through an App notification or by Track & Trace.

Please book through Andy Odell who looks after the day to day running and bookings.

If any users of the Iron Room have any comments to make about the church hall would they please make them known to the Caretaker Andy Odell (andy.odell@sky.com or 07940 524302).  We would be keen to hear views about the equipment, services and charges – both positive comments and areas for improvement.  As a result of feedback, additional lighting has been made available along with two fans heaters to boost the oil filled radiators.  Users are more than welcome to put on the heating about an hour before any event/meeting starts.

Please note that keyholders are not to enter the Iron Room without having made a booking.

Church Yard Rules and Charges for Services

A copy of Church Yard rules and Charges for Services may be obtained here.

Electoral Roll 2025

The Electoral Roll is a list of the members of the Church of St Calixtus.  The list was last updated in March 2025.  The position of Electoral Roll Officer for St Calixtus is Dianne McGahran.

PCC

The PCC takes the lead in carrying out the mission of the church – the whole church. Working alongside and supporting the clergy, pastoral care, telling the story of faith, social action and co-operation with churches of other denominations all fall within its remit. In many ways it is the PCC that shapes the health of the church.

PCCs are legal entities and are governed by two pieces of Church of England legislation, called Measures. These are the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956, which defines its principal functions, and the Church Representation Rules.

This second document is particularly useful in understanding the operational rules that govern the PCC and includes information on how often it meets, its members, how elections are held, the responsibilities of its officers and how it relates with bodies such as the Deanery Synod and Diocesan Synod. It also looks at the rules that govern bodies such as District Church Councils, Joint PCCs, Team and Group PCCs.

Further information for specific roles within the PCC can be found below, along with links to the downloadable forms and guidance each role might find useful.

If you have any further questions please contact the Synod Office by email or by telephone on 01392 294931.

PCC Members for St Calixtus

The following persons are members of the PCC.  If you wish to contact a Member please do so through the Secretary.

Rev Glyn Lewry           Priest in Charge              revglyn01@gmail.com                          600744

David Ravenscroft       Treasurer                          david.ravenscroft@outlook.com       865413

Dianne McGahran         Secretary                       dimcg@btinternet.com                          624153

Wendy Ravenscroft       Member

Jackie Bodman               Member

Albert Rusling                 Member

Margaret Rusling           Deanery Synod Member/Church Warden

PCC Meeting Dates

The following meetings of the PCC will be held in the Iron Room at 7 p.m.:

  • TBC

The PCC meets on a regular basis to undertake its duties.  PCC meetings are open to members only (except for open meetings – see above) but if you wish to raise something about a church matter please contact the Secretary.  There are vacant places on the PCC as shown below:

  • 1 x PCC members
  • 1 x Church Wardens

Minutes of PCC Meetings

Minutes of meetings are held by the Secretary and are available on request.

Churchwarden

Churchwardens may traditionally be responsible for maintenance of buildings and keeping records, but today they are vital to mission and ministry, caring for both parish and minister. It is a post that is challenging as well as rewarding.

The two positions of Churchwarden for St Calixtus are currently vacant.

Links

Exeter Diocese – http://www.exeter.anglican.org

Villages Mission Community – http://www.heantonparish.org.uk

Who is St Calixtus?

St Calixtus (Callistus) Pope and Martyr c.160-c.222, pope (217-222) Patronal day – October 14.

St. Calixtus (or Callistus) was a Roman from the Trastevere district.  As a youth he was the slave of a Christian Freedman, Carpophoros, who set him up as a deposit taker.  He lost the money belonging to other Christians and fled from Rome.  He was caught & returned to his master.  After fighting in a synagogue he was sentenced to work in mines in Sardinia but was eventually released with other Christians.

He became Archdeacon to Pope Zephyrinus and in this post, he constructed a cemetery on the Appian Way to provide a tomb for each Christian, including the poor and the slaves.  It is one of the most famous of Christian cemeteries and in it are buried up to 500,000 Christians including many popes and martyrs.

He succeeded St. Zephirinus in the pontificate in 217 or 218, and governed the church five years and two months during which time he enlarged the catacombs, which became the official cemetery of the Church of Rome and which took from him their name.  As Pope he established the practice of admitting to communion those who repented from their sins – even the most heinous.  This made him unpopular so he died a martyr by being thrown into a pit.  He was buried in the Cemetery of Calipodius on the Aurelian Way.

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