Friends

Would you like to support us? The simplest way is to become a Friend of the Cornish Historic Churches Trust. Friends membership is available to individuals or Churches.

Individual £20 p.a. or joint Friend membership £30 p.a. (individuals residing at the same address) - an annual report is sent along with invitations to all of our special events (reminders will be sent via email if possible) .

Church Friend membership £50 p.a. – a Church Friend applying for a grant has the benefit of a maximum possible offer increased from £5,000 to £10,000 as well as being directed to other grant funding bodies which have helped with similar projects.  We very much hope that every church in the Duchy will become a Friend.

Friends Events

As part of your membership, you are invited to four unique Friends events each year. These events provide enjoyable opportunities to meet other members and to raise funds for the CHCT.

Summer Events: Talks connected to the architecture or an historical event at the religious venue and Open Garden Days generally at places not usually open to the public all with afternoon tea.

The Annual Friends Outing is when Friends can enjoy a visit to a selection of religious buildings, mainly Churches, but Chapels and meeting houses have previously been included. There is an informative talk at each and the afternoon concludes with tea.

The Annual Meeting for Friends of Cornish Churches takes place at an especially interesting church within the county and again is followed by a lecture and tea. In 2017, we started a timeline of charting the architectural development of Cornish Churches; each year we will cover a key architectural period, starting in 2017 with the Romanesque period. More information can be found in the Annual Meeting section below.

The Champagne Christmas Party which is held just before Christmas, alternately at Scorrier House, near Redruth, and Boconnoc, near Lostwithiel.

Current Events Diary

Cornwall Historic Churches Trust

Friends’ Annual Outing 7th May
1.30pm Madron Church and The Immaculate Conception of our Lady, Penzance
Annual Meeting 20th May
2pm St Petroc’s, Bodmin
Speaker: Dr Joanna Mattingly “Location, location – putting Cornwall’s Saints back in their place””
Garden Open 4.30pm & Jazz at Garlenick 6pm 14th July
Kernow Chamber Players will perform a programme of two hugely charismatic jazz suites by the French composer, Claude Bolling: Suite 2 for flute and jazz piano trio and Toot Suite for trumpet and jazz piano trio.
Tickets £25 Adults /£6 Children includes pre-concert Pimms or soft drink
Details to purchase available after Easter. Sponsored by Raymond James Truro
Julian Nott Speaks 11th September
7pm All Saints Truro Lifehouse TR1 3LD
Ride, Stride & Sail 12th and 13th September

Join in and raise money for CHCT and your nominated church
Email for details on how to take part
Christmas Party 17th December
Boconnoc House PL22 0RG 6.30 – 8.30pm
Sponsored by Jonathan Cunliffe and Taylor Money Wealth Management

If you would like to make a donation, pay for events, or send us your fundraising please send a cheque or, preferably, use BACS using the details below.

Account Name: CHCT    Account number: 30287113   Sort Code: 20-87-94

If you would like to make a donation to the trust and you are a UK tax payer, the government will increase your donation by 20% by adding Gift Aid. If you would like to do this you can download Gift Aid form here.

Next Event

Cornwall Historic Churches Trust

Friends’ Annual Outing 7th May 
1.30pm Madron Church, Bellair Rd, Penzance TR20 8SP
2.45pm The Immaculate Conception of our Lady Church, Rosevean Rd, Penzance TR18 2DX

Click Events Diary to see the full list of events for 2026

In the meantime why not take a virtual trip around some of Cornwall’s historic churches here or if you fancy a day out why not try one of our Drive About Trails.

Not yet a Friend?

For just £20 a year individual membership or £30 a year for two adults at the same address you can become a Friend of CHCT and play an active role in supporting the Trust. Corporate/ Church Membership is £50 p.a.

Details of how to become a Friend are on the form which you can download from the link below. If you have any queries, send an email to

membership application

News from recent Friends events

2025 Christmas Drinks Party

Cornwall Historic Churches Trust


From Left to Right: Freya Randall-Money (Taylor Money), Emma Mantle, Candida Beeching (both from Jonathan Cunliffe), Cecilia Bisson (CHCT Chair), Jonty Brooks (Taylor Money) and Georgie Winfrey (Jonathan Cunliffe)

Our annual Christmas Drinks Party at Scorrier House was a sell out success. In the words of one guest writing to thank “A very festive occasion, the canapés were delicious and the champagne kept flowing”. Thanks to the support of our sponsors Jonathan Cunliffe and Taylor Money Wealth Management, the ten volunteer chefs providing the food, Alexandra Bolitho for making wreaths, and Willa Bailey collecting a super hamper of goodies from donors for the raffle the evening raised in excess of £4,800.


Barbara Gregg playing Christmas melodies to greet the early guests


Libby Reed, our kitchen supremo, and Katherine Willis hard at work


Matthew Pope, winner of the hamper, pictured with Willa Bailey (left) and Cecilia Bisson

CHCT celebrates its 70th anniversary at the Cathedral

Cornwall Historic Churches Trust


Friends were invited to gather at the Chapter House for tea on 25th November in celebration of the Trust’s founding 70 years ago by the then Lord Lieutenant Col Sir Edward Bolitho, our current President’s grandfather.
They were blessed to be joined by various members of the Diocese including Dean Robinson and CHCT’s new Vice President, The Right Revd David Williams, Bishop of Truro who followed the President’s speech with an unexpected inspirational address to the seventy odd present.


As Friends enjoyed saffron cake and the opportunity to catch up with people they seldom meet from all ends of the county the sound of the choir practising for the service ahead could be heard in the background.
Numbers swelled for the Evensong service which was a wonderful uplifting occasion ending with the congregation following the choir and clergy singing “Christ is made the sure foundation” to St Mary’s Aisle for the Blessing by Bishop David. A fitting place to end the service as CHCT awarded the maximum grants possible for the recent re-roofing project.
Bishop David told us how just this year a tiny parish with its church slated for closure galvanised the whole community to help and within six months the work was completed for all to be able to enjoy and use the building. With your help we will ensure “The churches are still there, still praying through the storms and the rains. We must not let down the past which has loved and cared for them” as laid down in our founding deed. If you are not yet a Friend please join us – details here

Werrington Park Open Day May 2025

Cornwall Historic Churches Trust

We had a great day at Werrington Park, the sun shone, 250 people came for tea and to enjoy the gardens and raised over £2,500 in the process. Our grateful thanks to Tom, Fia and Michael and Sarah Williams for hosting us.  (Plus of course the CHCT team, unseen cake bakers, plant donors and Willa Bailey for all the scones and managing the occasion.)

Tregothnan Private Garden Open Weekend

Cornwall Historic Churches Trust

Our Honorary Life President Viscount Falmouth presented our Chair, Cecilia Bisson, with a cheque for £13,000 at a BBQ to thank volunteers who assisted the Tregothnan Private Garden Open Weekend at Tregothnan Woodyard on 7th May 2025.
CHCT were immensely grateful to be invited as the secondary charity beneficiary by Viscountess Falmouth in recognition of 2025 being our 70th Anniversary. This year a record number of visitors attended with 4,900 tickets sold on Sunday alone. CHCT had been offered a £5,000 donation for taking part so to receive such a generous sum from Lord Falmouth was a wonderful surprise. “I am bowled over”, said Cecilia.

 

Annual Christmas Party 2024

Cornwall Historic Churches Trust

This year our Christmas Party was at Boconnoc House on 16th December, which many find is not easy to get to especially when arterial roads are closed, but as more than one guest said is a perfect venue for a Christmas Party. We were delighted to welcome Taylor Money Wealth Management as a sponsorship partner with Jonathan Cunliffe Estate Agents who have supported CHCT for several years. Thanks to their generous support the evening raised around £5,000. Pictured from left to right: Jonathan Cunliffe, Verity Cunliffe and from Taylor Money Jonty Brooks, MD and Freya Randall-Money, Director of Operations.
Libby Reed organised her team of volunteers in the kitchen with military efficiency and Jonathan and Verity Cunliffe’s children, Florence, Jackson and Reuben were star waiters throughout the evening. The quality and quantity of the canapés was outstanding and we are grateful to all those who have taken the trouble to write and thank the chefs for their efforts.