A guiding light shines once more over Preston

The light is shining bright again over the people of Preston and Torbay just in time for Christmas.

The brightly-lit cross and St George’s flag had been looking down from the top of St Paul’s Church as a symbol of faith, heritage and hope for years.

Due to assaults from numerous bouts of bad weather, the cross dimmed and the flag fell.

Now they are back in all their glory thanks to the church, parish and local vicar, the Rev Nathan Kiyaga, as a perfect Christmas present..

A special service at St Paul’s welcomed their return and even included the Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Rev Dr Mike Harrison, and Torbay mayor Barbara Lewis.

Mayor Lewis, whose husband and consort Chris is a Preston ward councillor, said at the service: “It is a real pleasure to be here with you all for this very special moment — the turning on of the lights and the raising of the flag at the top of St Paul’s Church tower.

“For many years, the light and flag have been absent from this wonderful building. Tonight, they return — not just as symbols of faith and heritage, but as beacons of hope and community for Preston and for all of Torbay.

“For generations, the light atop St Paul’s has been a familiar and reassuring sight to our fishing boats returning home. When they see the cross and the light shining from this tower, they know they are nearly home. And now, that guiding light will shine once more.”

She added: “It is a privilege to have with us the Bishop of Exeter, Bishop Mike — thank you for joining us to bless and celebrate this important occasion.

“I would also like to thank my fellow local councillors for their support in helping make this project a reality. Our thanks go as well to the Reverend Nathan and the churchwarden, Mike Snowdon, for their dedication, organisation, and vision in bringing this all together.

“And of course, no visit to St Paul’s would be complete without mentioning that it serves the best coffee in Preston — if not the world.

“Tonight, as the flag rises and the light shines once again from this historic tower, may it remind us of community, faith, and the warmth that makes Preston and Torbay so special.”

Father Nathanj revealed: “The light over Preston Cross, which is situated on top of the tower at St Paul’s Preston, had been off for years. During my first Service, the deputy leader of the Council, Chris Lewis, brought this matter to my attention and requested that it be prioritised during my tenure here as the local vicar. 

“Together with the other councillors of Preston and the civic mayor, the light was restored. Having achieved this goal, it was striking to hear what this cross meant to many.

“The sailors appreciated another visible sign indicating they were entering Torbay. The residents are pleased that, amidst windy nights and stormy days, they are constantly reminded of the light that never ceases to shine.”

Father Nathan made light of the moment with a couple of amusing anecdotes.

He tells how David Winter, a former head of Religious Broadcaster for the BBC and reflecting on Christmas many years ago, wrote about a place in North London where a local Methodist church displayed various inspirational messages in illuminated lights to passers-by on the main road. Their Christmas sign, very appropriately, was the song of the angels: 'Glory to God in the highest.”

Unfortunately, some inclement weather or a simple technical failure put out one of the lights; it now read, “Glory to God in the high St.”

“It might be an electrical fault, but how a slight change in a sign can lead to a different understanding, “ said Father Nathan.

He added: “It is also true that depending on what we are looking for, we can interpret signs differently. A friend who was seeking peace in their personal life at the time, while driving to Torbay via Teignmouth during the night, read Shaldon as SHALOM, a Jewish word meaning total peace. 

“Overwhelmed by the sense of peace that night, they decided to revisit the location in the morning where the word was, and to their surprise, the letters had changed back to Shaldon.”

He asked: “Has something like this ever happened to you? I would love to hear your story. What sign are you looking for at this moment?”

And he added: “In the past few weeks, we restored one of the signs of hope here in the bay. Others are reminded of the hope found in the Christian story, while others are drawn to the message conveyed by the evangelists declaring glory to God in the highest.

“The cross was a symbol of torture in the Roman world, and they used it to eliminate those they saw as threats to their civilisation. What was remarkable was that, once they placed the Messiah on one, his divine nature transformed this instrument into a symbol of peace, hope, and love. The small baby grew from a manger to the cross and altered the course of history. What sign are you seeking this season?

“For many of us in Torbay, signs are not always grand or dramatic; they are often found in the ordinary rhythms of life, such as a light left on in a neighbour’s window during a long winter evening, the familiar chime of church bells across Brixham, or a quiet act of kindness on the high street when times are tough. 

“In a season marked by rising costs, strained public services, and a common weariness, we are not so much seeking spectacle as reassurance: that we are seen, that we belong, and that hope has not disappeared. 

“Our story here in Preston is rooted in the work of the cross. We are victors because of the work of Christ. We are more than conquerors because of his power at work in us.

“This Christmas, as you look up to this cross, may you be reminded of God who sees your pain and your struggle. The one who loved you so much with your quarks and imperfections that he died for you to transform your story. 

“You are not your mistakes, and by his grace, you get a second chance every Christmas to make room in your heart for the one who will never leave you nor forsake you.”