Save The Parish - Cornwall

Cornwall’s acting Bishop the Rt Rev Hugh Nelson now has more pen-pushing bureaucrats on the Church House payroll than priests in parishes. There is only one priest per 15,000 people in the county, a Save The Parish Cornwall analysis reveals. The news comes as a petition calling for a suspension in divisive radical reorganisation plans in the diocese burst through the significant 1,000 signature barrier this week. The petition, signed by 1,070 worried churchgoers in just a few weeks, warns that the plans - championed by Bishop Hugh and known as On The Way - will lead to sharply reduced stipendiary clergy numbers in Cornwall as Church House lay staff numbers rise. The diocese’ own records reveal that the number of stipendiary priests currently in post carrying out pastoral duties, conducting services, and “curing souls” in the county is at an all-time record low, just 39 for the 200 plus parishes and 300 churches. There are currently around 600,000 people living in Cornwall: this means

The parish system is at the heart of the CHurch of England and is designed to serve the entire community. But Anglican priest and scholar aruges Alison Milbank argues that it is at risk of being destroyed. Click here for a recent article in the Tablet.   Alison, who is Professor of Theology and Literature at Nottingham University, will be coming to speak at Save The Parish Cornwall's next meeting at 2pm on Tuesday 5 March at Penzance Heritage Centre. Key to Alison's thinking is the need to keep priests in parishes  - and for congregations, and communities, to regain confidence (and courage).   Her recent book - The Once and Future Parish - is reviewed here  https://scmpress.hymnsam.co. uk/books/9780334063131/once- and-future-parish Penzance Heritage Centre is on the site of the former Penzance Library building at 62 Morrab Road, Penzance TR18 4AP  

Minutes from the Penwith Deanery Implementation team's meeting on 11 January 2024. Click here to read.  DITs across the Diocese of Truro have been criticised for failing to be transparent and truly collaborative as they continue to drive controversial On The Way plans forward.  So Penwith DIT is to be commended for making these Minutes public though they certainly give pause for thought. The latest incarnation of Penwith Deanery plan (see page 4 of the Minutes) is 'the template for pastoral re-organisation'.

The Vacancy in See Committee will meet tomorrow (22 February) when representatives will be elected. The Crown Nominations Commission will then meet on 6 September and on 15 & 16 October 2024. This Committee has a vital role: appointing a new Bishop of Truro, capable of healing the enormous divides and disappointment created by the previous Bishop's On The Way restructuring plans.  Any person wishing to comment on the needs of the Diocese or the wider church or who wishes to propose candidates for our next Bishop should write via email, by 15 March 2024, to: Canon Stephen Knott Archbishops’ Secretary for appointments & Mrs Helen Dimmock MBE Ecclesiastical Secretary to the Crown and Lord Chancellor stephen.knott@churchofengland.org helen.dimmock@cabinetoffice.gov.uk Any letters received will be shared by the two Secretaries.

Alison Milbank - a founder member of Save The Parish nationally and Professor of Theology and Literature at Nottingham University - will speak at Save The Parish Cornwall's next meeting on Tuesday 5 March at 2pm at Penzance Heritage Centre. Please do come along - she'll be delighted to answer questions. The title of her talk: “Getting Your Courage Back: A Vision for the Parish of the future."   Key to Alison's thinking is the need to keep priests in parishes  - and for congregations, and communities, to regain confidence (and courage). It's a positive and encouraging message. Her recent book - The Once and Future Parish - is reviewed here  https://scmpress.hymnsam.co. uk/books/9780334063131/once- and-future-parish All are very welcome.  Email savetheparishcornwall@gmail.com if you would like to know more. Penzance Heritage Centre is on the site of the former Penzance Library building at 62 Morrab Road, Penzance TR18 4AP