Ian Cann Retires after 60 years as organist

All Saints Okehampton is on the lookout for a new organist and choirmaster following the impending retirement of Ian Cann.  Ian has been the organist and choirmaster at All Saints Okehampton for just over 60 years and has come to the conclusion that it is time for him to retire. The Rev’d Stephen Cook, Rector of Okehampton, said “Ian has been a faithful servant of the church for many years.  He is passionate about church music and is always seeking to get the very best out of the choir and the organ.  He is amazingly fit for his age, but understandably feels that the time has come to step back.  I am sure he will be continuing to play in a supporting role for a long time yet, but we now need to find a new musical director.  The post will be reasonably well paid and if anyone knows someone who might be interested I would be delighted to hear from them.”  The church has a wonderful three manual Hele Organ, considered one of the best in the county, and has a senior and a junior choir.  It is looking for someone who can continue to support the development of music into a broad range of styles.  The Rev’d Cook said he would be prepared to separate the two jobs and look for a choir leader and an organist. Ian officially retires on 31^st July, but will continue to support the evening services and the choir until a new person can be found.

Rev’d Stephen Cook celebrates 25 years

The Rector of Okehampton, the Rev’d Stephen Cook, celebrates 25 years since being ordained as a priest on the 26^th of June.  Stephen, who is also Team Rector of the Northmoor Team which includes eight local parishes, was ordained in Hereford and then worked in Keynsham and Bristol before moving to Okehampton in 2002.  His wife Fiona is a nurse at the Okehampton medical Centre and a lecturer for Plymouth University. They have two sons: Ben and Sam.  The Rev’d Cook said “It has been a great privilege to be a clergyman through a period of huge change in the Church of England.  Some of the things we took for granted when I was ordained can no longer be relied upon but new opportunities have taken their place.  There is still tremendous energy and life in the church and we are still here: constantly trying to present old truths in new ways.  My time here in Okehampton has been one of the happiest and most fruitful periods of my ministry.”   Stephen is also Rural Dean for Okehampton Deanery and Assistant Director of Ordinands for Exeter Diocese.  There will be a parish lunch on the 26^th following the normal 11:00 am service.