Ministry is very much a shared venture across the OVMC
Under the strategic leadership of the Team Rector, the parishes are divided into three groups: the northern parishes of Payhembury and Feniton with Escot with Rev’d Dave Carington as their focal priest; the southern parishes of Colaton Raleigh, Harpford, Newton Poppleford, Tipton St John and West Hill with Rev’d Mark Ward as their focal priest and the middle parishes of Ottery St Mary with Wiggaton and Alfington with Rev’d Lydia Cook as their focal priest. The lay Readers minister across the parishes and online, with other lay people taking informal and family services in their local church. We are also very blessed by the ministry of self supporting and retired clergy.
Your clergy
Rev'd Lydia Cook
I am a cradle Anglican and brought up in a church in Sheffield. I moved to Oxford for my degree and theological training and was ordained priest in 1997 in Peterborough Cathedral. I have gradually slid west after ministry in the Diocese of Oxford, spending 15 years in the Diocese of Salisbury.
Whilst working part time for the church for a while, my family and I ran a 32 acre smallholding living “the good life”. I returned to full time ministry in 2015 and came to the Otter Vale Mission Community in 2021.
I am married to Simon and we have 2 grown-up sons.
Rev'd Mark Ward
I grew up in a Christian home but went through a personal conversion in the early 1980s when I was a student in London. I trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall and was ordained in 1993 at Hartland in North Devon. Having served as an Assistant Curate in a group of small villages west of Bideford, I became a Team Vicar of another group of rural parishes, based at North Molton, on the edge of Exmoor.
In 2005 I moved to Newton Poppleford to join the Otter Vale Team (as it was then known). Whilst staying in the same post, I moved to West Hill Vicarage in 2021.
I am married with four children and four grandchildren.
Rev'd David Carrington
I’ve been Team Vicar in the Otter Vale team since 2018, and it’s a privilege to have this role. Previously I’ve been a minister in North Devon, the Exe Valley, and the edge of Dartmoor.
Before being ordained I worked as a scientist with the Met Office for 20 years, latterly in professional training. I was involved in training again until recently, working for 6 years part-time for South West Ministry Training Course.
I love listening to and playing music, being on my bike or out walking, and creative writing. I’m married with one adult child.
Rev'd Mac Dick
I spent most of my working life with a multi-national corporation. Whilst in Holland my wife Jan and I felt called to a different path so we returned to the UK to join a Christian charity working with young people. In 2004 we moved to West Hill where we soon began working with young people. In 2011 I was ordained following 13 years as a Reader. I chaired Tipton School Governors for a number of years and really enjoy working with West Hill School.
I was founder and until 2021 chair of The06, the charity employing the Ottery Youth Pastor.
Your readers
Mrs Ann Yates
In my early life I had little to do with Christianity. I was baptised, confirmed and married in church but my family really only went to church for life events.
In my later years I came among people who lived as Christians: meeting the nuns of the convent school in Ottery St Mary. When I began my early retirement I was encouraged to become a Reader and following selection and training both at Exeter University and in pastoral experience I received my licence from the Bishop of Exeter.West Hill is now my ‘home church’.
Mother of 3 sons and 4 grandchildren from 2 years to 21 years of age.
Mrs Caroline Poultney
I was confirmed in 1974, and since moving to East Devon have become more involved in church activities, including singing in the choir. I felt called to ministry and undertook ‘Foundations in Christian Ministry’ before Reader training and licensing in 2019.
I live in Metcombe near Tipton St John with my husband Keith and our son and daughter. For the past 21 years I’ve worked full-time as a cattle breed society secretary, though I’m hoping to ‘retire’ one day!
My interests include gardening, reading and walking, but much of my spare time is joyfully spent serving the church wherever and however called!
Mr David Williamson
I moved with my wife Becky and our family to Tipton St John in 2002 on relocating to Devon with the Met Office where I am a senior finance manager. I became a Christian in 1982 as a teenager in my home town of Boston in Lincolnshire. My faith journey has been quite ecumenical – one of our churches combined Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Quaker and United Reformed! I was licensed as a Reader in Exeter Diocese in 2012.
Beyond work, church and family I enjoy football, Formula 1, American football and sudoku.
Your administrator
Mrs Sue Jeacock
Hi, I’m Sue. I’ve been parish administrator at Ottery since 2012. I grew up in Bristol and lived and worked in London before moving to Feniton in 2003. I have a geography degree and have worked as a journalist and a registered childminder. I have four children (Emily, Dan, Tom and Matt), a cat and a husband, Ian. My interests include walking, bird-watching, music and watching my sons play cricket. My guilty pleasure is watching Eastenders! I help at St Mary’s baby and toddler group Tots’ Time, sing in the choir and am a member of the Mission Community Eco Group.
