WENDY ELLIS – Licensed Lay Minister in Moretonhampstead: 2003-21
Wendy, our much-loved senior Licensed Lay Minister, completed her earthly pilgrimage earlier this summer after an exceptionally full and fascinating life. We are grateful to her daughter Heather for this account.
Wendy was born in Croydon just before World War II. She was the oldest girl of a family of five brothers and sisters, and life was hard but fun. She left home at 16 to do her nursing training and worked in Croydon until 1964, when she saw a job advertisement for nurses to work in the police hospital in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.
Wendy met and eventually married Peter in 1965 and had three children, and all was well. Peter was away a lot with his job, and was also a keen sportsman, so Wendy combined her full-time job as a nurse with childcare and running the household.
In 1981, just after Independence, when Rhodesia became Zimbabwe, the decision was made to migrate back to England. When deciding where to live, Peter was adamant that he wanted to live in not only the warmest county of England, but the county furthest away from any of Mum’s relatives! So Devon was chosen. We initially started in Chagford but by chance, we were offered the flat above Lloyds Bank in Moretonhampstead (where the Moreton Dental Practice is now), and we moved in 1982, and then into Ford Street in 1983. Peter had various jobs – at Trago Mills as a fruit and veg man, as a driving instructor, and eventually in the fire brigade, teaching firemen how to drive fire engines!
Wendy had various nursing jobs: in Coppelia House, and then in Bovey Tracey and Newton Abbot Hospitals, and finally as a district nurse in the Okehampton area. She was also instrumental in setting up day care centres, both in Moretonhampstead and in Okehampton Hospital.
Retiring in 1997, Wendy was looking for something to do, when our rector at the time suggested she might like to consider becoming a Lay Reader – what is now called a Licensed Lay Minister – a vocation in which she was also encouraged by the late Greta Bruce. She was accepted for training in 2000 and was licensed in 2003 – and so her retirement ‘job’ began!
Wendy enjoyed a happy 19 years serving in our benefice, taking services and funerals, organising study groups and visiting members of the congregation. She absolutely loved her ministry, particularly the funerals. She said it was always an honour and a privilege to be able to help people on their final journey.
The last couple of years were hard for Wendy, as her illness took its toll and her energy levels dropped. She took the hard decision of retiring from Lay Reading but still played an active role in the church until near the end.
I believe she will be remembered for her kindness and dedication, for her professionalism and her care, and most of all for her absolute and godly faith. REST IN PEACE, WENDY, AND RISE IN GLORY. You are and for ever will be missed by Moretonhampstead.