Save The Parish - Cornwall

  Falmouth Packet 3 September 2025   

The five churches in Camborne Cluster: Camborne, Crowan, Tuckingmill, Treslothan and Penponds. A meeting of churchgoers from churches around Camborne - dissuaded by senior figures in the Diocese from meeting at Camborne Church - filled a community hall nearby last night in an effort to find a constructive way forward from the controversy sparked by expensive mission plans for local churches.  The meeting - which started and ended with prayers and a hymn - was prompted by concerns about a lack of transparency over the Transforming Mission programme in Camborne and surrounding churches, funded by the Church Commissioners(60%) and Diocese of Truro reserves (40%).  The multi-million pound programme, which initially envisaged a spend of more than £750,000 in Camborne between 2019-2025, has also been rolled out in four other Cornish towns (Falmouth, St Austell, Liskeard and Highertown). It originated as a well-meaning attempt by the Diocese to reach ‘missing generations’ and invigor...

Extract from paper for discussion at Diocese of Truro Synod, September 2025 We - and other churchgoers across Cornwall - had hoped that the advent of a new Bishop of Truro might halt the onward march to Oversight and Lay Ministry in large groupings of parishes.  The concept was introduced during the controversial On The Way deanery restructuring  programme championed by the former Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen, and his suffragan Bishop, the Rt Rev Hugh Nelson.  Sadly, in the years since, there have been many examples of Oversight Ministry proving just too much for those charged with it - impossible administrative loads resulting in physical and mental exhaustion. However ... a paper due to be discussed at next month's Diocesan Synod offers complete endorsement and suggests full steam ahead with Oversight and Local Ministry - despite high profile failures. Click here to read.    The model enables 'incumbent status stipendiary priests to lead...

Diocesan Communications Officer Kelly Rowe has requested both a printed and online correction to the article that appeared in yesterday's Falmouth Packet, which misleadingly said a third full-time stipendiary priest had been recruited in Kerrier Deanery. The article took local PCCs (Parochial Church Councils) by surprise.  Contacted by Save The Parish Cornwall about the apparent change in clergy provision, Kelly Rowe said in an email that a priest had not, in fact, been appointed: "I think this story might have got ahead of itself. As far as we are aware, we have agreed the appointment of a third stipendiary priest but have not yet advertised the post. I am guessing that the person would not be in post until the end of the year, more likely early next year. The deanery is currently in the throes of radical  and controversial pastoral reorganisation - with a giant benefice of 23 churches proposed under just one rural dean.  Kelly Rowe  went on to confirm th...

The controversial Kerrier Deanery plan, bringing together 23 churches under one rural dean, has been updated. Click here to read. This is useful background for those preparing to object to current proposals to create a mega benefice in the deanery.  The new introduction to the plans says it incorporates .... " all recent revisions approved through the appropriate governance processes. To enhance clarity and transparency, an overview table at the beginning of the document outlines each change request, including the nature of the change, the date of approval, and links to the relevant section it affects. Change requests have been noted alongside the original text and are clearly highlighted with a red underline for ease of reference with a link back to the change request table. Corresponding endnotes provide further context and justification if needed, ensuring a clear audit trail. These updates reflect ongoing developments and alignment with strategic priorities. "  The Pastor...

 Since the new Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev David Williams, published proposals for pastoral reorganisation in Kerrier deanery, west Cornwall, last month we have received many questions from people who are concerned about the plan and would like to know how to object.  This pastoral reorganisation, with its proposal for 23 churches under one rural dean, has attracted negative attention both locally and nationally. We publish the below ('Vote Red to Stop') as an inspiration. This letter was circulated to PCCs in Framland Deanery, Leicestershire, facing similar proposals for centralisation. It was drafted up by concerned Save The Parish supporters, keen to do what they can to stop damaging - and irreversible - proposals Email to all Red and Amber voters in Framland, August 2025 Your PCC will have received the draft proposals for minster communities in the Framland deanery for comment.     If we wish to survive as rural churches, it is very important at this sta...

 Since the new Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev David Williams, published proposals for pastoral reorganisation in Kerrier deanery, west Cornwall, last month we have received many questions from people who are concerned about the plan and would like to know how to object.  This pastoral reorganisation, with its proposal for 23 churches under one rural dean, has attracted negative attention both locally and nationally.  Click here to read the updated Kerrier Deanery Plan . Here are three dozen reasons why large groupings of parishes are unnecessary and unwelcome...  These come under four headings. To read the first (Legal) click here  , the second (Evidence) click here  and the third (Finance) click here.  The fourth heading is Pastoral.  A paper by Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent     Summary:  From the teaching in the Bible, through the bishop’s ordination sacrament, to today’s huge demands for social and mental care, th...

 Since the new Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev David Williams, published proposals for pastoral reorganisation in Kerrier deanery, west Cornwall, last month we have received many questions from people who are concerned about the plan and would like to know how to object.  This pastoral reorganisation, with its proposal for 23 churches under one rural dean, has attracted negative attention both locally and nationally.   Click here to read the updated Kerrier Deanery Plan . Here are three dozen reasons why large groupings of parishes are unnecessary and unwelcome...  These come under four headings. To read the first (Legal) click here  and the second (Evidence) click here . The third heading is Finance.  A paper by Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent   Summary:  Challenge how the financial management of your diocese compares with other dioceses across the country.  Is the funding organised to generate the maximum amount to pa...

 Since the new Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev David Williams, published proposals for pastoral reorganisation in Kerrier deanery, west Cornwall, last month we have received many questions from people who are concerned about the plan and would like to know how to object.  This pastoral reorganisation, with its proposal for 23 churches under one rural dean, has attracted negative attention both locally and nationally.   Click here to read the updated Kerrier Deanery Plan . Here are three dozen reasons why large groupings of parishes are unnecessary and unwelcome...  These come under four headings. To read the first (legal) click here. The second heading is: Evidence  A paper by Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent   Summary:  The Church’s own studies and their experiments on the ground all conclude that merging parishes and reducing clergy numbers drives decline.  It is the wrong response and it is time to stop planning for this...

 Since the new Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev David Williams, published proposals for pastoral reorganisation in Kerrier deanery, west Cornwall, last month we have received many questions from people who are concerned about the plan and would like to know how to object.  This pastoral reorganisation, with its proposal for 23 churches under one rural dean, has attracted negative attention both locally and nationally.    Click here to read the updated Kerrier Deanery Plan . Here are three dozen reasons why large groupings of parishes are unnecessary and unwelcome...  These come under four headings. The first: Legal.   A paper by Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent   Summary:  The Pastoral Reorganisation Code of Practice is a gold mine of the rights of PCCs.  Read it and use it!  And do not give up your PCC, otherwise you will not have any of these rights.  Dioceses have to operate within the law.  ...

This is a summary of advice from Save The Parish. It is written to offer help and support to Incumbents, Churchwardens, PCC Members, congregations and parish residents  who are presented with plans for pastoral reorganisation - as is currently proposed in Kerrier Deanery in west Cornwall ( click here to read about the background ).     Click here to read the updated Kerrier Deanery Plan . The key message: e ven if you’re feeling tired and exhausted by efforts to save your church from parish reorganisation, PCC mergers and Joint Councils , it is possible to fight back . The more energetically a pastoral reorganisation is resisted, the more likely the fight back is likely to succ eed.   It’s very important to record any consultation that takes place – and your objections.  If the diocese does not engage in proper process, that will be good grounds for objection.   Here are key ways to resist   Agree a position with your PCC . A united PCC is a ...