Save The Parish - Cornwall

A message from Save The Parish national steering committee member Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent We recommend keeping a regular eye on News, especially “ In the Press ". You can search by author (e.g. Emma Thompson or Marcus Walker), by publication name (e.g. Spectator) or by topic (e.g. vacancies, retirement age). In particular, we recommend Revd Campbell Paget’s article in last week's Church Times .  His parish’s sad story is worth reading because it shows that even thriving parishes with lots of families are under attack as a result of the “Vision and Strategy” which is supposedly intended to bring in young people. (You will be asked to register for free articles with the Church Times; registering doesn't seem to have any downsides.)

 An excellent letter in the most recent West Briton by Falmouth-based freelance journalist Bobby Angelov. who attends church locally.  Angelov, who is in his early twenties, congratulates the paper for covering the recent debate on falling clergy numbers in Cornwall.

  A powerful Comment piece in today's Church Times arguing against the C of E's centralising policies - in particular moves to creating new, large benefices.  Click here to read. In Cornwall pastoral re-organisation schemes are currently being proposed in the Roseland (Church Commissioners' meeting on 21/3 did not make a decision but returned the scheme to the Diocese for more information, and Maker (consultation closed on 2/4). These schemes are a central plank in Diocesan moves towards Oversight Ministers leading teams of  predominantly lay workers in the new benefices.  A scheme in Kerrier originally proposed one benefice of 23 churches overseen by a Rural Dean: there are signs that this is now being reconsidered.

 A message from Save The Parish national steering committee member Emma Thompson We hope you had a very Happy Easter.    Your parish at Easter Please do send us your parish stories, showing any ways in which your parish demonstrated its value to local people this weekend.  On Easter Day, my Rector took a service in each of his churches and was busy all day, driving the lit Easter candle around in his car between villages.  I amateurishly conducted my parish church choir in a joyous rendition of Cecil Cope's anthem "He is Risen".  Four young adults who were home for the Easter weekend, including one of my sons, rejoined the choir.  I feel and hope that this illustrated the value to them of rootedness in a place and still feeling a sense of "belonging".     Press  You may like to see this PDF of my Easter Day piece for the online Spectator.  If you are a Spectator subscriber, please feel free to add an online comment here:  https://www.spectator. co

Clergy figures in Cornwall (at an all-time low of 38) are mentioned - as are the 19 vacancies unfulfilled.  These figures were given to Save The Parish Cornwall by the Diocese at the start of February 2024. Click on this link to read the full article - two full pages inside the Sunday supplement.

After two years in York to tie in with General Synod, this year it is the West Country’s turn.  Save The Parish's annual conference will be on Saturday 20 April at St Thomas’ Church, Redcliffe, BS1 6JG Bristol. The church is a 10 minute walk from Temple Meads train station.  Lunch will be at midday and Bishop Andrew Rumsey will speak at 12.45. There will be a panel of speakers in the afternoon discussing their experiences in the restructuring of parishes within the Church of England. The day will end with Evensong in the Church followed by drinks. 20 April, 12pm-5.30pm St Thomas’ Church, Thomas Lane Bristol, BS1 6JG United Kingdom Click here for a free ticket to this event All welcome.