Cathedral honour for Rector of Axminster

THE Rector of Axminster, Reverend John Good, Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral since 2002, has been made a Prebendary Emeritus.

"I shall cherish this," he said. "My wife and I were born and lived all our lives in Devon. So this will help us keep in touch with things here. I've been going to Exeter Cathedral since I was a little boy.'"

The Bishop of Exeter has invited Mr Good to become a Prebendary Emiritus, an honorary title for senior priests, so that his strong links with the Diocese can be maintained and in recognition of his long and dedicated service to the Diocese. After 40 years of ministry in Devon and in his 14th year with the parish in Axminster and as Team Rector for the town and surrounding four villages, Mr Good and his wife Rebecca are moving to take up a part-time role in a group of four parishes near Dorchester.

Before leaving Mr Good is looking forward to the Diocese's 1,100th anniversary celebrations welcoming the Bishop of Crediton to Axminster to visit the new hospital, the Rotary Club and chamber of commerce on Friday, April 24.

"We know it's important to support our local business community at this difficult time," said Mr Good. The visit is part of the 11000th Anniversary celebrations of the Diocese of Exeter and will include a gathering of three hundred primary school children in the Minster Church.

Mr Good said: "I've many happy memories of Axminster - the Millennium Night when the Minster was packed with candle-carrying people for prayers and a thousand of us gathered in the square to watch such a firework display as never seen before or since in the town, and the 250th anniversary of Thomas Whitty which we celebrated with two new church bells and the carpet factory produced a special carpet and welcomed the Bishop of the Diocese and the Earl and Countess of Devon.

" There's a lot of good will for the parish church here and that's been such a help in what has been for me a happy and satisfying time as Parish Priest.