TWO welcome additions to the ecclesiastical team for the parishes of Tavistock, Gulworthy and Brent Tor are looking forward to a new challenge from this week.

Husband and wife Sally and Christopher Pancheri, who live at Brentor, will be licensed as lay readers this Saturday by the Rt Rev John Ford, Bishop of Plymouth in Exeter Cathedral as lay readers. Lay readers are theologically trained and licensed to lead services (except communion), carry out pastoral work, and be involved on behalf of the church at all sorts of events in the community.

It will be an eventful weekend for the couple as they will be welcomed in Tavistock at 9.45am on Sunday, where Sally will preach for the first time as a reader.

The couple have been married 20 years. Christopher first met Sally while on holiday in Devon. Both suffered the loss of their respective first partners and Sally helped bring up Christopher's children from his first marriage, Emilia and James.

They have been very active in the life of Brentor Church and the wider community and both feel a calling to serve not only those who attend church but also those outside.

Christopher, who was brought up in Worcestershire, is an architect and worked for 15 years for Torbay Council as its service manager for Design and Built Heritage.

He said: 'I have always felt at home in church buildings because my father was a woodcarver and I spent time in the holidays helping to fit choir stalls, lecterns or screens in church buildings throughout the Midlands.'

In fact, Christopher is following in 'the footsteps' of his father who was also a lay reader.

He said: 'I have been thinking about this all my life. Having led a busy life I did not have the time to do this before but now I am approaching retirement I feel this is the right opportunity. I always wanted to be a lay reader but I never expected the training to be so hard. Fortunately, I have Sally with me!'

Christopher, aged 63, would particularly like to become involved in hospital chaplaincy.

Sally, who has lived at Brentor for 30 years, particularly remembers being welcomed by Brentor Church community when she arrived at her first church service and always felt indebted to them for their support after the loss of her first husband.

Sally was a part-time and latterly supply teacher in home economics at Tavistock College for 25 years. She continues to work in the dairy industry as well as run her own holiday cottage business.

Having started and run summer camps for families for six years, youth work is something close to her heart, which she is keen to expand on in her new lay duties.

Sally was also keen to support Christopher in his aim to become a lay preacher and shares his sense of purpose to offer their services to the parish.

She said: 'I am really looking forward to meeting lots of new people in the parish. Hopefully I will be involved in more work with young people as the youth of today are the church of tomorrow.'

The Rev Michael Brierley, priest in charge of Tavistock and Gulworthy parishes, said: 'Sally and Christopher Pancheri are the first 'home-grown' ministers to be licensed to Tavistock, Gulworthy and Brent Tor since Paula Rennie was ordained in 2007, so it's a very wonderful moment to see them begin their public ministry after their two years' training.

'Living as they have done in Brentor for over 20 years, they are very much a 'gift' to the town of Tavistock.  

'You will see them taking services, providing pastoral care, and representing the church at community events.

'I'm exceptionally pleased to welcome them on board to our team of ministers, and I know that others will no less rejoice to benefit from all that they have to give.

'Say hello to them if you see them around!'