PLYMPTON TEAM MINISTRY

Service Update November 2021

The latest advice for churches can be viewed by following this link:  www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches

For urgent pastoral matters, please telephone 01752 658762, for other queries, please email plymptonteamministry@gmail.com

The Plympton Foodbank is now operational and supporting households in need in Plympton. Donations of non-perishable items can be left at St Mary’s church hall on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

Table Top Sales  – St Mary’s Church Hall

Held on the first Saturday of each month from 10am to 1.00pm. Tables are available to rent and cost £7. To book, please contact Marcia on 01752 335541. Next date: 8th January, then the first Saturday of each month (subject to change)

St Mary’s Churchyard – information regarding Memorials and Tributes

St Mary’s Churchyard is used and appreciated by many people. For some it is a place to find peace and stillness; for others a place to enjoy the beauty of the trees and wildlife; most importantly, it is somewhere for people to remember their loved ones.

We have a team of dedicated volunteers who strive to maintain the churchyard for the benefit of all. However, they need your help. It is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the Churchyard because of the large number of unauthorised vases, ornaments, and artificial flowers. These are leading to a growing number of complaints from the volunteers who maintain the Churchyard and from other Churchyard users.

Please follow the Diocesan regulations, especially concerning flowers and ornaments. These are intended to ensure that the churchyard remains a pleasant environment for all users. Compliance with the Churchyard Regulations is a legal requirement.

REGULATIONS APPLYING TO THE WHOLE CHURCHYARD

1. No artificial flowers may be placed in the Churchyard. The exceptions are remembrance poppies/crosses which must be removed by 1st December and Christmas Wreathes which must be removed by 6th January.
2. No ornaments, except a vase (where authorised) may be placed in the churchyard.
3. All dead and wilted flowers must be removed from any grave you are tending.
4. No glass vases or jam jars may be used as these present a safety hazard.

REGULATIONS APPLYING TO CREMATION PLOT 4

This area is on the West side of the church between the drive and Market Road. The Diocese of Exeter introduced additional regulations when authorising this area.

1. No vases, containers or ornaments of any kind are permitted in this area.
2. Natural flowers may be laid upon the memorial tablets. These should be removed from any cellophane or other plastic wrapping.
3. A wreath or arrangement of flowers may be placed upon the memorial plaque to commemorate birthdays and at Christmas. These must be removed after two weeks.

 We regret that any objects which fall outside the regulations will be removed. They may be collected from the bank adjacent to the machinery store. Unclaimed objects will be disposed of after one month.

Thank you for your help and cooperation.

The Churchwardens.

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

If you have a concern about the safety of someone or the actions of someone working with children or vulnerable adults, please speak to someone.

• The Parish Safeguarding representative for Plympton St Mary’s is Mr Sam Snelling who can be contacted by telephone 07484 370905 or email: safeguarding.plymptonstmarys@gmail.com

• The Diocesan Safeguarding Team’s contact details can be found at – https://exeter.anglican.org/resources/safeguarding/safeguarding-team/                                     The Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser is Charles Pitman, telephone: 01392 345909

• If you are a young person and you feel unhappy about something happening to you, you can call Childline on 0800 11 11

• Other support agencies include:

  Plymouth Children’s Services 01752 308600
  Out of hours 01752 346784

  Plymouth Adult Services 01752 668000
  Out of hours: 01752 346984

  Plymouth Domestic Abuse Service 01752 252033

  Rape crisis 0808 802 9999

  NSPCC 0800 389 5344

  Childline http://www.childline.org.uk 0800 1111

The Parochial Church Council has formally adopted and fully implements the Church of England and Exeter Diocesan Safeguarding Policy for Children, Young People and Adults published October 2017.

A link to the policy can be found here: Diocesan-Safeguarding-Policy-Statement-2017 (3)

Any applicant wishing to help or work with any of our church groups, whether paid or voluntary, may be asked to agree to an Enhanced Plus check with the National Disclosure & Barring Service

Plympton Team Ministry (St Mary’s and St Maurice Churches) GDPR Privacy Statement is available here (click link)

team privacy notice v2 jan 2019

Plympton St Mary Electoral Roll privacy notice is available here (click link)

Electoral-Roll-PN-2019 (1) St Mary’s

Covid-19 Test and Trace

In line with Government guidance, we are asking everyone who attends St Mary’s church to register their name and contact telephone number in case it is requested by NHS Test and Trace. Our Covid-19 Privacy Notice can be read here:

Covid 19 Test and Trace Privacy Notice v1

Please help raise extra funds for St Mary’s Church with your on-line shopping:

The tall granite tower of Plympton St. Mary can be seen from far away, it is a visible sign that Christian worship has been maintained here for centuries. The present building dates from 1311 – when it was part of Plympton Priory, one of the leading monastic houses in the South West of England.  Through the generations, the people of Plympton St. Mary have come to this church to worship God, to rejoice in times of joy and to seek comfort in times of sorrow.

Today we continue to celebrate the good news of Jesus Christ in the worship of the church, day-by-day and week-by-week.

This is a friendly and caring community and we aim to offer a range of services and activities for all ages.

We hope this website will provide useful information for all who use it