Yallunda Flat woman Caryll Cabot was recently presented with a licence to preach at the Church of St Margaret’s of Antioch in Tumby Bay.
Father Brian Bascomb, of Port Lincoln, recently presented Caryll with the licence to preach from the Bishop of Willochra Jeremy James.
Caryll said she had been a lay reader at the Tumby Bay church since 1987, with the licence needing to be renewed every three years.
“I have had one for some years – I have done courses over the years,” she said.
“I do pastoral visits and take communion for people at home.”
She said St Margaret’s had been without a resident minister for many years, although retired clergyman Father Bascombe visited and took services once a month.
Caryll said having grown up in Tumby Bay she had continued to go to church there after marrying and moving to Yallunda Flat, although they had attended the Cummins church for a few years, as her and Michael’s children’s school friends attended there.
She said some innovative ideas had been introduced by the Tumby Bay church congregation in recent years to reach the broader community.
These included the street library – which was on the church grounds and available to anyone in the community; the scone competition every three months; and a quiz for children and adults about St Margaret’s.
The licence to preach allowed Caryll to act in the role of ecclesial chaplain, leading worship, conducting funerals, mission outreach, offering pastoral care and leading the congregation of St Margaret’s at Tumby Bay.
Services are held at 9.30am on a Sunday.
