Save The Parish - Cornwall

It was good today to have a long-planned meeting with the Bishop of St Germans, the Rt Rev Hugh Nelson, and Archdeacon Kelly Betteridge.  A report here in the Western Morning News.

 Nearly three months after the event, the Diocese has now published the minutes of the Synod held on 28 May 2022. Click here to read.   Scroll through to the end for interesting figures on the 2021 financial accounts - and questions by Martin Saunders on inaccuracies and discrepancies - including the fact that the name of the company - The Truro Diocesan Board of Finance Limited - is expressed eight different ways in the document. 

Despite claims to the contrary by the Bishop of Truro Philip Mounstephen that there would be no 'central unit' - there is going to be a central unit overseeing implementation of his controversial On The Way cost-cutting plans.. The Bishop said in  his Presidential Address at the Diocesan Synod on 28 May 2022  that reports of  'some kind of central unit in Church House under the leadership of the Director of Change and Renewal' being set up were 'fanciful'. In fact it is indeed being set up - right now.  Details of the new unit follow.  To read the allegedly  'fanciful reports' published in early May by Save The Parish Cornwall, click here . Ruth Marriott The new team at Church House, Truro, will implement the deeply unpopular On The Way plans that are being pushed through across the county. The Bishop of Truro has already announced that the new 'Director of Change and Renewal', tasked with pushing through the plans, will be Ruth Marriott.   The...

Now that most On The Way deanery plans have either gone through – despite widespread protest – or are in their final stages, ‘Joint PCCs’ are being proposed between parishes in the same benefice. They are being encouraged under the strapline ‘One Parish – One PCC’. It is important – if you care about your church and its future – that this should be resisted. It is time to say ‘No’  [1] There’s no going back. The Church Commissioners’ staff have been asked whether it is possible to withdraw from a Joint Council.   The answer given is “if a church wanted to leave the Council, then in theory it could be brought back, but there is no clear process set down.”   So at present this is a one-way ticket. Here are ten strong reasons to resist - click on this link to read more background. 1.      Lack of control of assets 2.      Diluted vision 3.      Lack of autonomy in decision-making 4.     ...

  Two excellent letters in today's Church Times - following up Dr James Oliver's reflections on mental health and clergy cuts on 12 August 2022 in the paper. Dr Oliver lives in Mullion, on the Lizard peninsular.  This is part of Kerrier Deanery which - if the Diocese of Truro's  On The Way  cost cutting plans go through - will be left with just two stipendiary clergy covering an area from the Lizard to Germoe.  The plan to create a giant benefice from 23 churches was voted through by the narrowest of  margins. At the meeting of the Kerrier Deanery Synod on 23rd September 2022, at which the Deanery Plan was presented for approval, the secret ballot as recorded in the Minutes was: For the Plan: 14 Against: 11 Abstentions: 3 Click here to read today's letters. Click here to read Kerrier Deanery On The Way Plan.

 An excellent letter in the Church Times today by Dr James Oliver of Mullion, pointing out the effects of clergy cuts on mental health.  Mullion, on the Lizard peninsular, is part of Kerrier Deanery which - if the Diocese of Truro's  On The Way  cost cutting plans go through - will be left with just two stipendiary clergy covering an area from the Lizard to Germoe. To read the letter, click here. To read Kerrier Deanery plan, click here.

 Kerrier Deanery Plan was one of the first to be voted through - causing widespread consternation from the Lizard to Sithney.    It's a long read. Clergy cuts are planned  - leaving an area from the Lizard to Germoe with just two stipendiary clergy. At the same time, money is being spent on lay 'support posts' in five areas.  Click here to read Kerrier Deanery Plan and learn more.. This plan was voted through with the narrowest of margins. At the meeting of the Kerrier Deanery Synod on 23rd September 2022, at which the Deanery Plan was presented for approval, the secret ballot as recorded in the Minutes was: For the Plan: 14 Against: 11 Abstentions: 3