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Paignton
(Palace Avenue) Methodist Church
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Torbay
– Hameln Churches
The towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham that make up the Unitary Authority of Torbay have been officially twinned with Hameln (Hamelin), Germany for many years.
It was in 1977 that Pastor Hans-Dietrich Ventzky from the Evangelical Lutheran Münster of Hameln came on a visit to Torbay with three young people from his church. They were with of a party of Youth Leaders whose purpose was to try to establish links between organisations of like mind in the towns. (Torbay was officially twinned with Hameln in 1975 with the Twinning Charter being signed by dignitaries of both towns) Shortly after Pastor Ventzky returned to Hameln an invitation was received for a party representing the churches of Paignton to visit Hameln as guests of the congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Münster. This invitation was accepted and a party representing mainly members from Goodrington Methodist Church visited Hameln in 1978. A return visit by folk from Hameln was made in 1980. The friendship between our church communities has continued and, apart from a short break, the visits to and from Hameln continue on an established four-year cycle. On two occasions the visits were extended to involve other Faiths and this has resulted in a Link being established between the Muslim Community of Hameln and Torbay. It was with some sadness that we learned of the early retirement on health grounds of Pastor Udo Wolten who had been a stalwart supporter of our exchanges. Click here to download an appreciation that was sent to the Editors of 'Mittendrin' the quarterly publication of the Evangelical Lutheran church in Hameln on behalf of those involved in the exchanges over the years. (This download file is in .pdf format - you will need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader to open the file) Click here to contact us about our links with Hameln. Click here to read more about the town of Hameln. Click here to hear the sound of the 'Pied Piper'! Click here to listen to the pealing of the Münster bells Click here to listen to Alexander Kuhlo on the Münster Organ play "Fantasie in F minor, K.608" (Allegro Maestoso) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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Minister – Revd Paul Saunders If
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