On 1st April 2004 St. Peters and the village Methodist Church signed a Covenant to form a Local Ecumenical Partnership. The signing of a formal agreement came after over three years of holding two joint services each month - at St. Peters on the first Sunday and at the Methodist on the third Sunday.

 

Prior to the decision to hold joint services, the two Churches had gradually been working closer and closer together. This had included holding joint Alpha courses, Bible Studies, and home groups. In addition occasional joint services had taken place at times such as Remembrance Sunday, and the Christmas Carol Service.

 

During the time that the two Churches have worked, prayed, and worshiped together, it has become apparent that both have much in common, and only a small number of differences.

 

At the end of 2003, before the Covenant was signed, members of the Methodist Church made the momentous decision to close their church in 2004, and to join with the Anglicans in worshiping weekly at   St. Peters. The date chosen was 24 July, which coincided with the 150th anniversary of the building of the chapel and Methodist work and witness in Bratton Fleming. For some this was a very difficult decision, as the chapel had been their spiritual home for most, if not all, of their lives.

 

August 2004 therefore saw the two congregations coming together each Sunday for worship. It was unanimously agreed that the service on the third Sunday in the month should continue as a ‘Methodist Service’ led by a Methodist minister, or local preacher.

 

Work is currently progressing into forming a united Anglican/Methodist Church, which will be the first in Devon. Until that date both congregations legally remain separate identities, although worshipping, praying and working together.