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Fire-Eating Cleric Amazes Congregations
A Devon clergyman is proving to be hot stuff in the pulpit.

The Rev Colin Davis regularly lights up flaming brands during sermons.

The 39-year-old’s inflammatory approach to preaching has astonished congregations at his three country churches.

The ex-banker, who joined the Church of England five years ago, said he learnt fire-eating when he was studying for the ministry at St John’s College in Nottingham.

He added: “I thought it would be a good way to illustrate faith in God.

“So I eventually decided to use it in my sermon,” said the father of three.

He went on: “It is a great visual aid – people can remember more of what they see than what they hear, so it is something to hang their attention on.”

The Rev Davis has used his fire-eating trick at churches in Chittlehampton, Umberleigh and Filleigh in Devon.

One of his parishioners, 67-year-old Shirley Wood, said: “It was amazing.”