AN innovative new project in the heart of Okehampton has just begun, with the aim of helping everyone make good choices for their lives.

Life Choices, which is based in St James' Chapel on Fore Street, is advertised as a quiet and reflective hour when anyone who needs some space can come and get in touch with themselves again.

It is particularly designed for people who have some difficult decisions to make, but who want to make a good choice, one that they will be pleased with in years to come.

Anyone and everyone is welcome to drop in.

The first evening was held at the end of November, when the chapel was lit with tea-lights down each side of the aisle and ambient music played in the background.

There were practical prayers that people could offer, which allowed them to write out a decision and offer it as a prayer by burning it beside a candle on the altar.

Books were also on hand to help with good decision making from a Christian point of view.

Life Choices is part of a wider concern among church authorities nationally to help people who do not warm to traditional church.

It is being helped and supported by the Pioneer Minister in the Okehampton Deanery of the Anglican church, the Rev David Muir.

Other initiatives in the area are also being planned. These include the already established Saturday morning Life Pastors on Market Saturdays in St James' Chapel.

This allows any members of the public to meet up with one of the town's clergy, to talk about any issue in their life in strict confidence.

The Life Choices evening will be offered again on Thursday, December 17 between 8pm and 9pm.

People can drop in any time as there is no fixed programme for the hour. Monthly evenings will be held in the new year, starting on Thursday, January, 2.

The following dates are published on the chapel door and in leaflets available in the chapel. For more details phone Mr Muir on 01837 840867 or email okehamptonpioneer@

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