Save The Parish - Cornwall

Senior clergy in Carnmarth North Deanery steam-rolled through their On The Way plan on Wednesday (15/6/22) despite Rural Dean Caspar Bush admitting that the 67-page document had only been distributed to parishioners at the last minute and there was no time for proper consultation. Rev Bush only sent the document out to Deanery Representatives on Sunday morning (12/6/22) due to a ‘technical glitch’ with the Diocese. This meant that in the best-case scenario – if the plan had been then immediately been distributed to congregations by the Deanery representatives, who were not instructed to do so – congregations had just over three days to digest proposals which will change church life forever. In fact some present at the meeting at St Mary's Church, Portreath, said that their Parochial Church Councils were unaware that the Deanery Synod was taking place. “We can’t pretend that’s been done as well as it should have been done,” Rev Bush said. “I put my hand up on that. I give my ...

People value the churches, chapels and shrines  in the heart of their communities - not just on this side of the Tamar, but across the country.  Save the Parish Cornwall's Andrew Lane reflects on the need for sacred places in life.   It is my habit to listen on Youtube to people like Rupert Sheldrake and other similar thinkers. As you may know Sheldrake is a leading scientist , thinker, philosopher an engaging speaker and man of fascinating insight. In a recent piece he said how his first action when visiting somewhere new to him is to find the spiritual centre of the community . In his time in India this might have been a Hindu or Buddhist temple, in simpler cultures it might be a sacred tree , mountain or hilltop and in England, where he finally found his way back to Anglicanism, it is a church or cathedral.  He points out that throughout history human societies have always had sacred places, it is almost the first thing that new settlements have been drawn to ...

 Besides news, this blog provides useful background. Here Save The Parish Cornwall's Peter Bellenes has gathered together key information for groups of people who are fighting the sale of church buildings.  These are factors that the residents of Merrymeet might to take into consideration: they are fighting the proposed sale of  their mission church, St Mary's.  At the end are some useful links with further information. Advantages – price positive Ø   -  Location i s all-important. If the church is situated where you would not be able to put a new build - as is St Mary's -  this will affect the price Ø   -  The space inside is large and can be converted into open space living whilst making the most of the original design Ø   - There is level pedestrian access to the main areas Ø   -  The shortage of suitable properties means prices are high. D  Disadvantages – price negative Ø    -  Need for new v...

The residents of Merrymeet, east Cornwall, have received a non committal letter from Archbishop Justin Welby, after appealing him for help in their fight to save their local church from closure. The Archbishop is unable to intervene in individual cases, it says, and urges concerned local residents to raise concerns with their Archdeacon 'who would be best placed to respond to your specific concerns in this local context.' In fact, the residents received an unhelpful letter from the Archdeacon just yesterday . "From what I have now observed, "pass the buck" is a standard procedure for the church management," says Peter Luck, who heads up the residents' association. "Is there any one who can make a decision? What is the point of a heirarchy if nobody can make a decision or has authority to make that decision? This is not a way to give confidence to the public. How can these people be looked up to for spiritual guidance and comfort." Save The Par...

Click here to read about  a key meeting to discuss East Wivelshire Deanery On The Way plan on 30 June 2022.   Click here to view the Deanery Plan. Click here to view a letter from the Bishops of Truro and the Bishop of St Germans, published alongside the plan.

  A lengthy letter from Archdeacon Kelly Betteridge to the passionate villagers of Merrymeet, who have vowed to do whatever necessary to keep St Mary's Church open. Archdeacon Kelly says that 'a closure of a church happens fairly infrequently' and only on the initiative of local people - apparently missing a key element in the residents' campaign. Merrymeet residents do not want the church sold. The two Merrymeet residents on the local PCC (in neighbouring Menheniot) which took a vote on the matter were out-voted by people from another village. Once again the Diocese of Truro is ignoring local voices. Peter Luck, leader of the residents' association, vows to fight on. 'A lot of words, but nothing new,' he says.

  Look away now. The powers that be at the Diocese of Truro appear anxious to keep details of their   'On The Way' cost cutting p lans under cover before they can railroad them through with little or no scrutiny at Deanery Synods. We're publishing details of these plans as they come to us.  The latest: Penwith Deanery plan , already voted through despite significant opposition.  There will be a meeting to discuss details - still unclear to all involved several months after this was pushed through. The next Penwith Deanery Synod will be held on 14 June 2022 at Paul Church, when no doubt further questions will be asked.   To read the Penwith Deanery Plan, click here. The Bishop of St Germans, the Rt Rev Hugh Nelson, wrote a heavy-handed letter to accompany this plan, when it was published in March. The tone of the paragraphs outlined - threatening, to say the least - is worrying. Some have called his approach 'bullying'.  What we know for sure:...