Pilsdon celebrates 61 years and appoints a new Warden

Since 1958, the Pilsdon Community has been offering a refuge to people in crisis, welcoming those from all backgrounds and from many different walks of life – whether young or old, rich or poor. Pilsdon is a community that shares a common life of prayer, hospitality and work, providing an environment of acceptance and friendship where people can begin to rebuild their lives.

The celebrations also came as the Community welcomed its new warden.

The new Warden, the Revd Sue Langdon has lived and worked locally for many years and has been a friend of Pilsdon, serving as both a Member of the Community and also taking services regularly. She takes over from the Revd Michael Deegan who retired from the Community after 7 years in the role.

Sue was a senior nurse in Guernsey before she began her family and became a member of the government there for many years representing health. She was ordained in Salisbury 2003 and has extensive experience as a Retreat Guide and Spiritual Accompanier to clergy and laity from across the Southwest, running workshops for the Diocese as well as taking Sunday services locally.

Chair of Trustees, Andrew Davey, said:

“We were delighted to receive the application from Sue and even more pleased that she agreed to take up the role. Michael has been a dedicated and much-loved Warden and has brought the Community through a great period of change, including alterations to funding systems and the upgrade of many of the facilities at Pilsdon. His extremely dry sense of humour delivered in an American lilt will be sorely missed, but we hope he will not be travelling too far from the area.”

Retiring Warden, the Revd Michael Deegan, said:

“I came to Pilsdon without really understanding how it worked and only knew it by its reputation. The community has formed me and challenged me in ways I could not have imagined, and I hope I am leaving it with the spirit it greeted me with. I know Sue will bring a life and direction that only she can give. It is true, Pilsdon receives the leader it needs for the life it lives today.”