News: Greetings from Templeton (Sept 2025): News: Greetings from Templeton (Sept 2025)
News: Greetings from Templeton (Sept 2025)
Date Added: 01/09/2025 @ 10:01am
September and October are times to celebrate God's provision; express gratitude for the abundance of the harvest, acknowledging those in need and reflect on environmental stewardship. Sometimes, we can take harvest and our ‘daily bread’ for granted but we have only to think back to times of bare shelves and shortages of a particular item in our supermarkets, to appreciate God’s provision and how it got to us. Why should all farmers receive a medal after the harvest? For being outstanding in their field! But aliens cheat – they use a tractor beam.
St Margaret’s Church – Update
As you will be aware, thanks to the ongoing work at our church and churchyard, St Margaret’s Church is being well maintained for future generations to enjoy. This year we have been rewarded with an abundance of wild flowers, which have been encouraged by leaving areas in the church unmown during the flowering period. A big thank you to Peter who regularly cuts the grass in the churchyard and maintains it so well.
The interior walls of the church still need attention and special paint. Because of the costs incurred, the work is being carried out in stages. We are very grateful to Bertie Dent who, as part of his Duke of Edinburgh award, has continued to care for the church with oiling and treating the wooden pews, chairs, floors and benches, and the church noticeboards are looking good!
Services
The Sunday Services at St Margaret’s Church are usually held twice a month, with a mix of lay-led services, and services led by several clergy, rotating between all the parishes. The centre pages in this magazine cover the many services that will be held over the next two months across the nine parishes in the Exe Valley Mission Community.
The services in Templeton over September and October will be held on September 7th and September 21st at 10.45am. We are very grateful to Marjorie who plays the organ for many of our services.
Templeton Village Fete
Saturday August 9th was the annual Templeton Summer Fete. The weather was kind to us and it was a great success. Thank you to everyone who took part in making the day such fun and who gave so generously! Thank you to all those who took part in preparing the ground, cutting the grass, strimming the banks, setting up the marquee, baking, contributing gifts, food, produce and many other items as well as helping with the stalls and games. Events like this really do take a whole village and we are so grateful to have such tremendous support. Over £1500 was raised from the event for village funds.
Well done Teddy!
We must congratulate Teddy Taylor, at the Old Rectory in Templeton, who represented Team GB earlier this year at the European Shooting Championships in Seville, Spain, and captained the Junior Team. They won Gold as European Champions! Teddy also was 5th equal (6th via count back) individually in Juniors. He was also 2025 Devon ESP Champion shooting 95 out of 100. He made the England Team in July, shooting at the CPSA World Championships where The Junior team won Silver. Teddy was also the flag bearer in the opening ceremony.
Attached are a few photos of Teddy at the events.
Future Events
Sunday 14th September - Duck Race at Templeton Bridge from 2pm.
This popular event will start from 2pm when the ducks will make their way from Great Esworthy Farm down the River Dart, finishing at Dartcoombe Mill. The ducks have been training hard. The river is not exactly a torrent at the moment but who knows what the flow will be like in September! There will be cream teas, pasties, books, plants, and bric-a-brac for sale. Buy your ducks now by contacting Roger and Bindy at 01884 860655 or email templetonvh@gmail.com. Ducks will also be sold on club nights and on the day! Money prizes! Proceeds in aid of Village Funds.
On Monday 13th October at 7.30pm the Tiverton and Cullompton Deanery Synod is meeting at Cullompton Community Centre, Pye Corner, Cullompton EX15 1JX. We are very pleased that the Very Reverend Dr Mike Harrison, Bishop of Exeter, will join the Deanery Synod for that evening. This is an open meeting for anyone in the Tiverton and Cullompton Parishes.
Saturday 4th October - Harvest Supper at 7.30pm at Templeton Village Hall.
This is the first event of the Harvest Festival weekend. The bar will be open from 7pm and the supper will be ready at 7.30pm. Do come along and enjoy this annual, delicious and plentiful supper to celebrate the harvest and have a chat. Once again, the talented Templeton Art Group will be displaying their paintings around the hall. Tickets for the Harvest Supper will be £10.00 each (and £5 for 14-year-olds and under). All proceeds in aid of St Margaret’s Church, Templeton.
Sunday 5th October 10.45am - Templeton Harvest Festival Service at St Margaret’s Church.
Do come and join this harvest celebration, and stay on for coffee and biscuits afterwards. We would be grateful if you could please bring any fresh fruit, vegetables, packaged or canned produce to the porch of St Margaret’s Church during the week before the service so that it can all be displayed in the church on the Sunday. All the produce will be donated to the Churches Housing Action Team (CHAT) which really appreciates our donations.
Saturday 1st November - Bonfire and Firework display – entry from 6.30pm, bonfire alight at 7.30pm.
This very popular annual event will take place at Templeton Village Hall. The bar will be open, there will be hot dogs and hot drinks for sale, and a Guy Competition so make a note of the date now! Adults - £6, Children 5-15yrs - £3 (tickets on the gate – cash only please). The hall has a card reader for drinks and food, as well as accepting cash.
No personal fireworks or sparklers please – this contravenes our insurance.
Templeton Children’s Christmas Party
Another date for the diary; the Templeton Children’s Christmas Party, organised by Tony Loosemore is on Sunday, December 14th. This is a free event for the children of Templeton, with a special visit from ‘you know who’.
Our thoughts, prayers and best wishes
Our thoughts are with our Rector, Steph, who is now back at home and who has been gradually getting stronger after her big operation. She has written us all with a thank you for all the prayers and kind wishes sent from friends in Templeton. Steph has been amazed by the level of care, skill and expertise that she has received from the teams of carers, occupational therapists and physiotherapists who are regularly visiting her.
Our deepest sympathies go to Gordon Webber whose wife, Iris, recently died peacefully at home. Iris was the daughter of William and Lorna Reed who lived at Coombe Mill, now Dartcoombe Mill, Templeton Bridge. Iris and Gordon have lived in Puddington for many years and our thoughts are with Gordon and their wider family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are in hospital, undergoing treatment, or recovering from illness, and also with their families who support them. We do hope that you will be feeling better soon.
