Save The Parish - Cornwall

Stephen Billyeald, former Managing Director of Ryman Group plc and a member of Save The Parish's national Financial Scrutiny Group analyses the Diocese of Truro 2026 draft budget (click here to read the papers) . He writes:   Truro Diocesan Board of Finance (TDBF) has shown an operating deficit on Unrestricted Funds every year from 2021 to 2024 totalling £11 million over the four years. A deficit of £3.4 million is forecast for 2025 and £4.5 million deficit is budgeted for 2026. Restricted Funds have broken even at the operating level over the four years but the fund balance has declined by £5 million as a result of transfers to Unrestricted Funds. In the same period £3.1 million was received from the Archbishops’ Council as grants and over £3m was received from the sale of properties. Truro DBF has been kept afloat overall by grants from the Archbishops' Council and sale of properties. This situation is unsustainable. 2026 Budget The budget does not provide any evid...

  At last: an acknowledgement from the Diocese of Truro that its controversial plans for Kerrier Deanery are unworkable and more pastoral support is needed from clergy. An advertisement in today's Church Times seeks an 'Interim Pastoral Priest' intended to help to fill the inevitable gap left by just one Rural Dean and a Pioneer Priest overseeing more than 20 scattered rural churches. Click here to read the job description.    Click here to read the original Kerrier On The Way Deanery Plan (the Diocese has been unable to recruit several of the lay worker positions. The plan talks of 23 churches: the job description lists 21).  Key points follow.... Archdeacon Clive Hogger starts by introducing the highly controversial Oversight Ministry model which, he says is 'equipping the lay and ordained leaders and the people in the parishes to work together as a team'. Oversight Ministry is a concept introduced by the Diocese of Truro following its restructuring process known ...

 A welcome sign that controversial On The Way deanery plans can be adjusted, reshaped - and in some cases, torn up. A Penwith Deanery Plan Review Day will be held on Saturday 15 November at Paul Church Hall from 10am until 430pm. All are welcome but places should be reserved by emailing the Deanery administrator on  penwithdeanery@gmail.com Penwith's On The Way plan has been controversial from the start: click here to read about two earlier incarnations.   Many have been feeling despondent and unsure of the way forward - particularly in the west of the deanery.   Click here for more background on Saturday's meeting.   The agenda makes it clear that the plans have been hit by significant problems, to say the least -  around trust and relationships, working practices and agreeing priorities.  The aim is to build 'an action plan that is challenging, achievable, and genuinely owned, with clear success criteria.'    For the full agenda with ...

Many thanks to Jonathan Harradine, from Penwith Deanery, who has drawn our attention to You Are Not Alone in Feeling Lonely , a recent report by Age UK . Mr Harradine is a Research Fellow at York University in the Health Sciences Faculty, which contributed to this report. Its message is particularly relevant as 'Oversight Ministers' - clergy overseeing ever larger numbers of parishes - become an increasing reality in Cornwall. Isolation leads to mental health issues: people need local contact, the report says. Click here to read it. "I think the insights in this report highlight the need for the Church to recognise that it is not supporting its parishioners and its communities adequately in this important area for our Health and Wellbeing,"  Mr Harradine says.  He believes it is particularly important to consider this ahead of the upcoming Penwith Deanery Planning Day (15th November) and the review of Penwith's On The Way Deanery Plan.  Local clergy recently ac...

The Diocese of Truro has just published its 2026 draft budget showing a planned deficit widening to an eye watering £4.476 million from £3.973 million last year.  Another Halloween budget , which will dismay those who had hoped for a steadier hand on Diocesan finances. Click here to read the Truro Diocesan Board of Finance 2026 Budget Story    Appendix One  - 2026 Budget Summary Appendix Two  - Budget Changes compared to 2025 Appendix Thr ee - Budget Appendix Four - Asset Strategy   Appendix Five - Budget by department Appendix Six - Cash Flow   Appendix Seven -  Cost of Ministry Appendix Eight - note on movement of funds   Appendix Nine - Reserves Policy   31 October 2025

The statement below was published on Truro Cathedral website on Monday 7 October 2025 regarding Rev Canon Alan Bashforth. Only in the penultimate paragraph does it state that the requirement to undertake the Safeguarding Risk Assessment 'was not a result of police investigation or a safeguarding concern involving children'.  Click here to view the statement on the Cathedral website.    The Rt Revd Hugh Nelson, Bishop of St Germans, recently met with Alan Bashforth to discuss the outcome of an independent safeguarding risk assessment. Alan has received the report and has had the opportunity to provide feedback to the assessor. After careful consideration of the findings and following appropriate professional advice, Bishop Hugh has made the decision that Alan will not be returning to his duties at the cathedral. We recognise that this decision may have a significant emotional impact on those involved and affected. In line with our commitment t...