Conflict between North Devon churches will be laid to rest

A 200-year-old conflict which has split two churches in North Devon will be officially reconciled on Saturday. The Bishop of Crediton, the Rt Rev Bob Evens and the Rev John Carne, chairman of the Methodist District, will put the row to rest in Shebbear V

A 200-year-old conflict which has split two churches in North Devon will be officially reconciled on Saturday.The Bishop of Crediton, the Rt Rev Bob Evens and the Rev John Carne, chairman of the Methodist District, will put the row to rest in Shebbear Village Hall.The conflict started during the revival that became the Methodist movement 200 years ago. The curate of Shebbear at the time supported it and this caused problems with the then Bishop of Exeter.Saturday's reconciliation will be a formal recognition of today's working relationship between the two churches.The event will be part of a visit being made to the Holsworthy and Torrington areas by Bishop Bob and the Rt Rev John Ford, Bishop of Plymouth to mark the 1,100th anniversary of the Diocese of Exeter.Bishop John will visit Black Torrington Anglicans and Methodists tomorrow (Thursday) for lunch and on Friday he will visit Holsworthy Hospital.Bishop Bob will meet staff at Farms for City Children at Nethercott House, Iddesleigh tomorrow and on Friday he will walk through the lanes between Newton Tracey and Tawstock, celebrating an informal open air Holy Communion on the way. In the evening he will attend a ceilidh with the Oggle Band in Alverdiscott Village Hall.After Saturday's reconciliation at Shebbear, Bishop Bob will re-dedicate the West Window at All Saints, Merton.The first ever Ecumenical Mission Community in Devon will be launched on Sunday at Northcott Hall, Iddesleigh. Bishop Bob will preach and celebrate the new mission with the Revd Philip Wagstaff, Superintendent of the Methodist Circuit.The mission brings together four Anglican churches, two Methodist chapels and one Baptist chapel, which will share many resources and project, including new lay pastoral training to serve the community.