Save The Parish - Cornwall

For people following events in East Wivelshire and the debate over plans for parish re-organisation  the Bishop of St Germans, the Rt Rev Hugh Nelson, has sent out an email this week 'to clarify the reality of the situation'. The East Wivelshire Deanery Synod is tonight (Thursday 30 June 2022) when its On The Way plan for clergy cuts - and inevitable church closures - will be debated. The issue of the extent of diocesan plans in East Wivelshire - and the heated debate over church closures - has been covered by this blog. This week's Private Eye also reports on it. Here Save The Parish Cornwall's analysts take a forensic look at key points in the Bishop's email: THE BISHOP SAID: There is no Diocesan policy in favour of any particular form of local church governance. In case that is not clear enough let me repeat it; there is no Diocesan policy in favour of any particular form of local church governance. WE SAY:  “... no diocesan policy”.  The dismal diocesan track r...

  Very good to see this story in the latest issue of Private Eye about the Diocese of Truro's On The Way plan for clergy cuts - and eventually church closures and sales.

The weekly local press across Cornwall today carried our Open Letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury ahead of his recent visit to Cornwall. Our Save The Parish message continues to hit home..... Bishops: please listen to the people of Cornwall.

Documents written by Archdeacon Paul Bryer clearly citing the advantages of joint Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) click on the links below. An Introduction to Parish Re-organisation by Archdeacon Paul Bryer Advantages of One Parish Frequently asked questions - setting up Joint PCCs Background to parish re-organisation from the C of E

Like the walrus, the carpenter and the unsuspecting oysters... The Revd Peter C Bellenes yesterday wrote an open letter to deanery representatives in East Wivelshire , who face a crucial vote over their On The Way plan at the end of the month.  He stressed  how vitally important it was that they should listen to  parishioners' concerns - and fight to save their parishes and heritage.  Click here for a guide to arguing against parish re-organisations , published by Save The Parish .     Today he follows up with a further letter, pushing back at a suggestion from the Bishop of St Germans  that parish re-organisations were way down the diocesan agenda.  Dear Deanery representatives East Wivelshire,  You have received an email including a message from the Bishop of St Germans trying to allay your concerns over single PCCs etc.   The b ishop is, I believe, being rather disingenuous . I am attaching documents circulated by the Archdeacon of C...

A few eyebrows raised today by a suggestion from the Rt Rev Hugh Nelson, Bishop of St Germans, that parish re-organisation is not on the agenda in the Diocese of Truro. In a letter to deanery representatives ahead of a meeting in East Wivelshire on 30 June, the Bishop appears to deliberately downplay the question. Note: Bishop Hugh does not deny that parish re-organisation is in the pipeline, but ducks the question by saying that it cannot be waved through on approval of a deanery plan.  His telling phrase 'where that is needed' speaks volumes. If there are people who believe that the Deanery plan grants authority to close churches or merge PCCs without the further processes required, it would be helpful for them to know that is not the case. As I understand it, having a Deanery plan that has been passed by Synod is taken into account in  future pastoral reorganisation  ... but it is not considered to replace the normal consultation process. We checked that out some time ...

Deanery representatives in East Wivelshire meet on 30 June 2022 to vote on their On The Way plan - click here to read it . The Bishops of Truro, and St Germans, are rolling out On The Way across Cornwall. It's a cost-cutting exercise resulting in severe clergy cuts and loss of local agency through parish mergers. Save The Parish Cornwall's Peter Bellenes has written to deanery representatives in East Wivelshire ahead of their meeting. His letter stresses how vitally important is that they should listen to  parishioners' concerns  - and fight to save their parishes and heritage.  Click here for a guide to arguing against parish re-organisations , published by Save The Parish. 15 June 2022 Dear Deanery representatives East Wivelshire,   You will shortly meet to consider the deanery plan and it may well be suggested to you that this project is a fait accompli. The East Wivelshire deanery plan is far reaching in its plans for closing almost 50% of churches and, from wha...

Many thanks to Save The Parish Cornwall's Peter Bellenes for highlighting this very useful link on the national Save The Parish website - Resisting wrong arguments for PCC mergers. PCC (Parochial Church Council) mergers are frequently suggested in the Bishop of Truro's current On The Way consultation - a cost-cutting programme resulting in losses of clergy jobs and  - almost inevitably - church closures. Most people on the ground feel that PCC mergers are almost always a bad thing, as they take away local agency and voice - though they might ease the burden for vicars covering multiple parishes. Hopefully this background information will help those grappling with these issues. PCC mergers are mentioned in the Carnmarth North Deanery plan - and also in East Wivelshire , where there is a significant pushback against it. "It has been suggested that the loose and inconsistent wording within the East Wivelshire Deanery Plan is such that a vote to support the plan could be in...

The Archbishop of Canterbury started a three-day visit to Cornwall this week amidst unprecedented turmoil in the Church of England in the county. He arrives amidst a wave of controversy about the Bishop of Truro’s brutal cost-cutting project On The Way , which threatens to cut vicars, destroy ancient parishes, and close historic churches. But the Archbishop will be distracted from that by visits to the parallel Transforming Mission programme which is spending millions in the county on highly contentious ‘mission churches’. The campaign group Save The Parish Cornwall, fighting to save clergy jobs and preserve the county’s centuries-old way of church life, pen an open letter to the Archbishop, begging him to recognise - and stop - the damage   Dear Archbishop Cornwall welcomes you this weekend.  This is, of course, the land that tourists see – beautiful beaches, breath-taking countryside, cream teas and pasties. You might even have previously glimpsed something of th...

Senior clergy in Carnmarth North Deanery steam-rolled through their On The Way plan on Wednesday (15/6/22) despite Rural Dean Caspar Bush admitting that the 67-page document had only been distributed to parishioners at the last minute and there was no time for proper consultation. Rev Bush only sent the document out to Deanery Representatives on Sunday morning (12/6/22) due to a ‘technical glitch’ with the Diocese. This meant that in the best-case scenario – if the plan had been then immediately been distributed to congregations by the Deanery representatives, who were not instructed to do so – congregations had just over three days to digest proposals which will change church life forever. In fact some present at the meeting at St Mary's Church, Portreath, said that their Parochial Church Councils were unaware that the Deanery Synod was taking place. “We can’t pretend that’s been done as well as it should have been done,” Rev Bush said. “I put my hand up on that. I give my ...

People value the churches, chapels and shrines  in the heart of their communities - not just on this side of the Tamar, but across the country.  Save the Parish Cornwall's Andrew Lane reflects on the need for sacred places in life.   It is my habit to listen on Youtube to people like Rupert Sheldrake and other similar thinkers. As you may know Sheldrake is a leading scientist , thinker, philosopher an engaging speaker and man of fascinating insight. In a recent piece he said how his first action when visiting somewhere new to him is to find the spiritual centre of the community . In his time in India this might have been a Hindu or Buddhist temple, in simpler cultures it might be a sacred tree , mountain or hilltop and in England, where he finally found his way back to Anglicanism, it is a church or cathedral.  He points out that throughout history human societies have always had sacred places, it is almost the first thing that new settlements have been drawn to ...

 Besides news, this blog provides useful background. Here Save The Parish Cornwall's Peter Bellenes has gathered together key information for groups of people who are fighting the sale of church buildings.  These are factors that the residents of Merrymeet might to take into consideration: they are fighting the proposed sale of  their mission church, St Mary's.  At the end are some useful links with further information. Advantages – price positive Ø   -  Location i s all-important. If the church is situated where you would not be able to put a new build - as is St Mary's -  this will affect the price Ø   -  The space inside is large and can be converted into open space living whilst making the most of the original design Ø   - There is level pedestrian access to the main areas Ø   -  The shortage of suitable properties means prices are high. D  Disadvantages – price negative Ø    -  Need for new v...