And so it begins..... no Midnight Mass in many north Cornwall churches
And so it begins … For the first time in more than 70 years there will be no celebration of the traditional and popular Christmas service of Midnight Mass in any rural village parish between the towns of Callington and Saltash in 2023. There are Midnight Masses in Callington and Saltash. But rural village churches - rather than town churches - are neglected. T here are eight rural rather than town churches - Botus Fleming, Pillaton, St Mellion, Landulph, St Dominic, Calstock, Harrowbarrow and Gunnislake. None of these have Midnight Mass: traditionally three or four of them would have had done in the past. All bar Botus Fleming are in the Tamar Valley Benefice. If planned Deanery reorganisation takes place - as proposed by the Diocese of Truro - these seven churches would be merged with another three rural churches plus Callington. An 'oversight minister' would be in charge: no priests in parishes are planned. So there is little chance of the situation improving. I...