Praise for Torbay priests

And a new minister is to be ordained for Torquay

Two Torbay priests have had their work highlighted in parliament during a debate in which bay MP Kevin Foster called for more ordained ministers to work with disadvantaged communities.

The Conservative member raised his concerns during a session in the House of Commons about the Church of England.

In response to his question about the potential merits of recruiting additional  clerics into parish ministry in the diocese of Exeter, it was confirmed that 18 new ministers are to be ordained next month.

Among them will be Kenny Wickens, who will become curate in the Mission Community of Our Lady and All Saints in Torquay. In raising the query,

Mr Foster highlighted how some of the diocese’s most challenged parishes are in the Torbay deanery.

He said in those parishes, ordained ministers can not only bring people into ‘Christ’s flock’ but also be a lynchpin for wider community work.

In the session, the Second Church Estates Commissioner, Andrew Selous,  praised two local chuch representatives.

He said: “I would also like to pass on my thanks to two inspirational priests in Torbay – the Reverend Sam Leach from St Mags church in Torquay and the Reverend Matt Bray from the Bay Church in Paignton – for the work they do in running the Living Room café, and groups for children and young people across the Torbay constituency.”