Merrymeet villagers vow to fight on while the Archdeacon waffles
A lengthy letter from Archdeacon Kelly Betteridge to the passionate villagers of Merrymeet, who have vowed to do whatever necessary to keep St Mary's Church open. Archdeacon Kelly says that 'a closure of a church happens fairly infrequently' and only on the initiative of local people - apparently missing a key element in the residents' campaign. Merrymeet residents do not want the church sold. The two Merrymeet residents on the local PCC (in neighbouring Menheniot) which took a vote on the matter were out-voted by people from another village. Once again the Diocese of Truro is ignoring local voices. Peter Luck, leader of the residents' association, vows to fight on. 'A lot of words, but nothing new,' he says.