Save The Parish - Cornwall

An evaluation of ‘Transforming Wigan’   - a controversial programme for change - has been published: click here to read an Executive Summary . This evaluation is an 'absolute shocker' and should be a game changer, writes Rev Marcus Walker of Save The Parish on Twitter. This is so important given how many other dioceses are implementing schemes following what we can safely call the Failed Wigan Model, he says. Sadly, the Diocese of Truro is one of these dioceses: click here to read more. The highlights of 'Failed Wigan'? £1.2 million wasted Weekly attendance 1/3 Annual giving 1/3 Deficit £56,000 to £295,666 In figures that is almost 600 people stopping going to church and £500,000 less given. Read the report here: https://d3hgrlq6yacptf.cloudfront.net/603eb0893e402/ What was the plan? Merge all the 33 parishes of Wigan into one super benefice with seven “parish hubs” (they love “hubs” in the new CofE). Slash the number of clergy from 24 to 15 (they actually o...

Wake up, Bishop Hugh! An evaluation of ‘ Transforming Wigan ’   - a controversial programme for change - has been published: click here to read an Executive Summary . And guess what, it is not a success.  "The evaluation of a project to transform Wigan into a “missional powerhouse” — which entailed the grouping of 33 churches in a single benefice has reported mixed success after seven years and the spending of £1.2 million," says the Church Times. Tis is serious news for Cornwall. Changes proposed for Diocese of Truro through controversial plans known as ‘On The Way’ are inspired by the Wigan ‘experiment’.  They build on Cornwall's own 'Transforming' initiative - aka 'Transforming Mission' -  i.e. moving ministry away from priests in parishes to large benefices with teams of 'workers' (Youth, Education, Pilgrimage etc) managed by an 'Oversight Minister'. Despite vociferous local opposition, they have been championed by the acting Bishop of...

More than a quarter of churches in Cornwall are failing to offer a Sunday service, analysis by the Telegraph reveals today. Click here to read the full article. Two weeks ago the S unday Telegraph covered our dossier on churchgoers' - and the wider communities' - concerns about plans for radical change in worship patterns in Cornwall . These plans, known as On The Way, have been championed by the former Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen, and the acting Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev Hugh Nelson (formerly Bishop of St Germans). The paper said today that across 287 churches in the county, 78 had no forms of Sunday worship advertised on the last weekend of September - a total of 27 per cent. Of those that did, just 114 advertised that Communion was being offered, considered by many Christians to be the most important sacrament. Responding to the data, the Rev Marcus Walker, chairman  of the campaign group, Save The Parish, said: "It can come as no shock to any...

“A bishop with the soul of a servant should be able to express uncertainty about the way ahead, ask for help, and, ….'find reverse gear’ if necessary.” Click here to read. An important leader from the Church Times (8 September 2023), just days after the Sunday Telegraph published an expose of the unhappiness and unrest in Cornwall caused by the Bishops of Truro and St Germans's restructuring plans for the Diocese of Truro - known as 'On The Way'.   Bishops should be sensitive and responsive to the unrest - and concern - that their plans provoke, it suggests. As the Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen makes his way to his new appointment at Winchester (his farewell service at the Cathedral was last Sunday)  Save The Parish Cornwall is urging the Bishop of St Germans, the Rt Rev Hugh Nelson, to have the courage to press the 'pause button' on these plans. People across Cornwall believe that they should be re-evaluated and re-assessed, this time with proper consultation. ...

 There's still time to send Diocesan Secretary Simon Cade your thoughts about his controversial 2024 budget consultation - which proposes selling off vicarages to raise funds to pay priests.  The deadline is 23 September 2023. Martin Saunders of Pydar Deanery has written the following paper: click here to read. Simon Cade's paper, entitled Tending the Vineyard , is here .  Send your thoughts to simon.cade@truro.anglican.org To read a response by Save The Parish Cornwall's Neil Wallis, click here .

No fewer than four ads in this week's Church Times for Oversight Ministers in four Cornish deaneries - the highly controversial move by Cornwall's Bishops towards a different style of 'church' in Cornwall with vicars' main concern being administration, rather than the traditional cure of souls . These Oversight Ministers will oversee teams of lay workers. People across Cornwall have spoken out about this: churchgoers across the county want priests in parishes, not managers and administrators. Click here to read more . B elow is the list of current job ads, representing moves towards radical change from the Tamar to Land's End.  Click here to read specific concerns from churchgoers in each deanery where an 'Oversight Minister' job is advertised : Trigg Major, Trigg Minor, West Wivelshire and Penwith. Save The Parish Cornwall is calling for a moratorium on these radical change of direction - until proper consultation has taken place.  These plans were dr...

'Oversight ministry' represents a radical change for direction for the Church of England in Cornwall. Instead of priests in parishes, Cornwall's Bishops are backing plans to create teams of lay workers, led by by one single vicar - an 'oversight minister' .  The Oversight Minister's main concern will be administration nad management, rather than the traditional cure of souls. People across Cornwall have spoken out about this: Save The Parish Cornwall is calling on the Bishop of St Germans, the Rt Rev Hugh Nelson, to have the courage to press the 'pause' button and stop this controversial move which is attracting national headlines. Cornish churchgoers' concerns are detailed in full in Save The Parish Cornwall's dossier published earlier this month.  Time and again the contrast is made between a local priest and a remote Oversight Manager simply directing operations at long distance. The fear is widespread of reduction in clergy-led services and ...