Save The Parish - Cornwall

Penwith Deanery's radical On The Way deanery plan has stumbled at the first fence as the national  advertisement for a rural dean to oversee its implementation only attracted one applicant. This is a bit of an embarrassment for Truro's Episcopal College. The post will be re-advertised - and possibly rewritten, according to local sources. The original ad sought an incumbent with almost super human powers - click here to read the job description. The new Rural Dean would be priest of three churches (Gulval, Madron and Heamoor) while overseeing the implementation of a controversial restructuring plan creating two super parishes - east Penwith and west Penwith  - and simultaneously hiring a flotilla of new posts in an extensive 'support team'. So no wonder just one applicant.  On The Way confusion as diocesan leadership fails Across west Cornwall and beyond, congregations are confused and uncertain as the diocese fails to make the way forward clear and engage in adequate c

Bishop of Truro, Presidential Address at Diocesan Synod, May 2022 It is sometimes hard to keep up with the twists and turns in the Bishops' narrative around 'On The Way' - their major restructuring plan in Cornwall.  Back at the May 2022 Diocesan Synod the Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen, said press reports suggesting that  'I am setting up some kind of central unit in Church House under the leadership of the Director of Change and Renewal'  were ' fanciful '. However - despite the Bishop's statement - a central unit has indeed been set up.  Following the appointment of Ruth Marriott, the Director of Change and Renewal, yet another post is being advertised for this unit. As a recent email (dated 18 November 2022) from head of Church House operations Kate Cortez confirms: We are now advertising for a Communications and Influence Officer. This role is managed by Ruth M but works across the Change & Renewal and Comms teams and will be sup

The main issue Save The Parish has with the Diocese of Truro's plans is that we believe they are addressing the wrong question from the wrong perspective - too often misusing wrong information to justify their actions. In effect, the Bishops of Truro and St Germans publicly argue that they are making a ‘business case’ for ‘growing’ the church in Cornwall. But no genuine company seriously trying to turn round a struggling business model has ever succeeded by axing their sales staff, closing down outlets, and effectively telling customers to change their buying habits because they don’t know what’s best for them. In this case, STP believes that this is what is happening to the vicars and their parishes and churches, and churchgoers and local communities in Cornwall. What the Bishops want Our Bishops are set on a certain ideological trajectory i.e. developing a ‘mission church’ model at the expense of rural parishes and in doing so are burning through its (OUR) financial asse

BBC Radio Cornwall throws a spotlight on Cornish bishops' plans to change the nature of church life in Cornwall. It made fully public at last that there are plans to cut clergy posts and merge parishes.  In some cases, one priest may be in charge of more than 20 parishes.  Click here to listen to the piece - aired at 710am on Sunday 20 November.

Mullion Church is in the heart of the village – the largest on the Lizard peninsular - and central to life there. Outside is a tree festooned with blue and yellow ribbons in support of the people of Ukraine. By the gate is a noticeboard filled with news of village activities.  On the cover of a 2023 calendar for sale at the local café? A photograph of the church.  Yet Mullion Church's future and priest is at risk through Kerrier's controversial OnThe Way deanery plan which will see a huge super parish stretching across the deanery under just one rural dean (currently being recruited). Chillingly the plan (page 17) says God has been saying in the On The Way process 'We don't need lone leaders but a team of lay and ordained leaders'. In fact good parish priests are not and never have been lone leaders. They build up a team from their church congregation and sometimes the wider community and together serve the whole parish. Save The Parish Cornwall has received a po

Another parish in Kerrier is pushing back against radical changes proposed under its On The Way plan. St Keverne PCC recently met to discuss our Ten Reasons to Resist Parish Re-Organisation factsheet. Their conclusions are detailed in Minutes which have been sent to Archdeacon Paul Bryer.   This follows the news that Germoe Church is holding a public meeting to discuss the controversial plan. Click here to view the St Keverne Minutes. 'Our PCC were unanimous (those that attended) in support.' a PCC member said. Highlights: We are extremely concerned a) that the diocese should only regard as legitimate, input that is favourable to the On The Way plan and b) will only commit to there being no “current plan” for joint PCCs. Our PCC is an independent charity in its own right, as are all the others PCCs. We have strong concerns over the issue of assets and a possible future attempt to join PCCs. We are sceptical that individual churches will be properly represented in this case.

  An item to lift the heart in the church listings in The Cornishman (3/11/22).   Germoe Church is holding a meeting for churchgoers and members of the wider community on the controversial plans envisaged in Kerrier deanery's On The Way plan. The meeting will be on 14 November at 630pm in the church hall. This will give everyone a chance to air their views - those who do not attend church (but still value its presence in the community) as well as those who have worshipped there for years.  Click here to read the plan. Momentum is building elsewhere. We understand other churches in Kerrier - and other Cornish deaneries - are similarly calling special meetings to re-examine the controversial plans. In Kerrier, at least one other Parochial Church Council (PCC) has already met to record its opposition to the plans.  Kerrier faces radical changes: a 'super parish' with just one Rural Dean covering 23 parishes. The plan  was voted through by the narrowest of margins. At the m

Once again, an evasive answer from the Diocese on the finances of Cornwall's five Transforming Mission projects - funded by the Church Commissioners (60%) and diocesan reserves (40%).   This time, it is Chairman of the Truro Diocesan Board of Finance Mike Sturgess who dodges the question presented at the September Diocesan Synod by Peter Holman representing Carnmarth North deanery. Mike Sturgess's full response is below but questions remain. As yet, Mr Sturgess has not responded fully to key elements: his response is in italics. Key remaining questions re in bold. 1.  As recommended in the report, we have been open about how we will use our reserves to fund mission initiatives in deaneries and parishes. Could you please let us know which diocesan reserves are being used to fund TM initiatives? Where is this indicated in the TDBF 2021 accounts, please?   2. We have established a new board for change and renewal that will oversee the funding of TM churches, the mission funding fo