Save The Parish - Cornwall

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 Cornwall  that clearly and plainly show the di

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 ago. W