Cornwall Historic Churches Trust

In the astoundingly short period of 18 months, due to the dedication and support of so many people, the eight bells in St Denys Church have been restored and rehung.
The dismantling of the bells happened across two weeks in January 2024 – the worker from Taylors was ably supported by a team of local volunteers. At the end of this process all the fittings and the oldest bell were returned to the foundry for restoration and replacement. Three bells remained in the tower and four were securely stored for us by Cornish Lithium.

Liz Bradbury writes “Fundraising and awareness raising activities continued at pace. The hardworking committee constantly kept working – members came from across the village community, not just the church. This has certainly been a whole community project.
Nine people have been training or refreshing their training as bell ringers – this has been conducted at this stage by Phil Tremaine and the training bell at St Columb Major – when this stage of training is complete then weekly bell ringing practice will resume in St Dennis.
In June 2024, over a period of 4 weeks, the bells were rehung, tested and then handed over to Steve, as Tower Captain. The internal of the ringing chamber were made more hospitable with walls cleaned, cleaned curtains, new curtain pole and new carpet.
A service of celebration and rededication of the bells was held at the church on Sunday 14^th July led by Bishop Hugh Nelson and attended by representatives from across the village and Cornish bell ringing community. The focus of this service was the way the local community has come together to support the project. Bishop Hugh spoke passionately about this aspect but also about how bells impact on our lives – to call to prayer, to celebrate family and community events and to warn and protect.
The local bell ringing community have been generous in their support of St Dennis and will be supporting us as we go forward.
Pictures here courtesy of Derek Williams who photographed the whole process. These photos will be kept for the St Denys archives.

St Mary’s Aisle is the last remaining remnant of the Parish Church of St Mary, Truro, much of which was demolished to make way for the new cathedral in 1880. There has been prayer and worship on this site since at least 1259, the date it was consecrated by Bishop Bronescombe of Exeter. The first Rector was installed in 1265, John de Belsal. click here to find out more

Lecture for the Cornwall Historic Churches Trust AGM by Cannon Michael Warner.
24^th May 2023 at St Goran Parish Church.

Introduction.
[History tends to get forgotten, and here is a practical example, pulpit, a stand which I made, wood from a coffin-maker, I made it oblong as I did not have the skill to make it fit, and it is still here, and I am standing on it by the lectern!!].
My book, ‘A time to build. Signposts to the building, restoration, enhancement and maintenance of Cornwall’s Anglican Churches and Mission Rooms, 1800-2000’, lists all of the available documentary evidence in the timeframe of the works and the architects, not always professionals but well-meaning amateurs, sometimes I think, using the plans and specifications that had already been submitted by a professional architect, whether this was by accident or design can be discussed. The book also has a complete list of all of those architects, over 100, who were involved in the restoration of Cornwall churches, and the 40,000+ references in the gazetteer also lists those contractors and makers whose names have come down to us. 

click here to find out more