On Saturday, September 18, a special service was held in Exeter Cathedral to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of local vicar and Solomon Islands bishop, John Coleridge Patteson.

As part of this service some students and their teacher from the King's School attended.

Patteson himself attended King's and the school has a strong House system with Patteson one of the House figureheads.

The three students attending were Millie Carlill, Finley Giles and Hollie Morris. They and their families along with their Head of House Mrs Becky Jacobs attended the service at the cathedral.
Mrs Jacobs said: "The students were incredible. They took it all in their stride, wearing school uniform on a Saturday and taking part in the choral eucharist service.

"They got the chance to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury after the service and were introduced and had their photo taken. They are year 11 students who are doing their GCSEs next year and were able to tell the Archbishop about their plans in the future. He was really interested in all they had to say."
Mrs Jacobs was proud to be able to read the lesson at the service and to meet the Archbishop, which was a first for her also.
It was a memorable experience for all and lovely that King's Patteson students could link up with their heritage in this way.

Archbishop Welby also opened a new pilgrimage route in honour of Patteson.

Archbishop Welby led the first pilgrimage along The Patteson's Way after opening the route in East Devon on Saturday.

The eight-mile circular pilgrimage begins at St Andrew's Church in Feniton, near Ottery St Mary.

Archbishop Welby also unveiled a plaque in the churchyard and met with local school children, who along with the Diocese of Exeter helped set up the route. After blessing the first pilgrims, the archbishop walked the initial section of the route with them.

The archbishop said opening the pilgrimage was a "huge treat", as he had a fascination with the story of Bishop Patteson.

He said: "He was one of the great equalisers, which is what God calls us to be."

Patteson, a missionary, who grew up in Feniton, was killed by a wound to the head on the island of Nukapu in 1871.