RESTORATION NEWS
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The bells are ringing again at St Dennis
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 14th 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 Reopens
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
We shall restore!
Lecture for the Cornwall Historic Churches Trust AGM by Cannon Michael Warner.
24th 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.
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS
Community Fundraising
2024
St Austell
St Mary’s Biscovey and Good Shepherd Church Par – £325
East Wivelshire
Maker with Rame – sponsored Bicycle Ride – £175
Carnmarth South
St Gluvyas – Afternoon Tea at the CHCT Annual Meeting – £81
Penwith
St Hilary – Friends’ Outing with Cream Tea – £195
Pendeen with Morvah – Morvah Church Walk and Cream Tea – £140
Pydar
St Mawgan-in-Pydar – Talk by Andrew Langdon with tea – £229.50
Illuminating Cornish Lantern Crosses
Andrew Langdon gave a brilliant talk at St Mawgan-in-Pydar on 18th April 2024 based on his book “Illuminating Cornish Lantern Crosses” co-written with Ann Preston-Jones. Seventy people attended raising £459 split between the PCC and CHCT as part of the Cornwall Churches Day initiative.
We were blessed with rare (this year) spring sunshine to view St Mawgan’s Lantern Cross, the old St Mawgan Cross brought from what is now part of the airfield to the churchyard and the 10th Century Lanherne Cross in the adjacent convent afterwards. A great day out. Thank you to Rev Helen Baber and David and Jackie Oglethorpe for welcoming CHCT to your church.
St Neot Midsummer Event
A thoroughly enjoyable evening was enjoyed by 120 people at Trevenna, St Neot celebrating Midsummer and raising the magnificent sum of £2,500 for church funds. CHCT is immensely grateful to the PCC for donating £500 of this to us. Thanks are due to PCC member Jonathan Rowe for allowing St Neot Church to use his wedding venue, Trevenna, Mandy and all the staff at Trevenna plus all the community volunteers who dressed the marquee, set up the games, entertainment and music.
Going to Church in Medieval Cornwall
Friends assembled at St Julitta’s at Lanteglos-by-Camelford for our Annual Meeting on 25th May 2022 and were privileged to be addressed by Canon Professor Nicolas Orme, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Exeter on the subject “Going to Church in Medieval Cornwall”. His illuminating talk made all those attending wiser and is best summed up by a remark overheard afterwards “We would have flocked to lectures at university if Nicholas Orme had been teaching us.” For those who missed it his book “Going to Church in Medieval England” is available and has been shortlisted for various prizes.
Afterwards we were treated to a sumptious tea which raised £200 split between the PCC and the CHCT as St Julitta’s Cornwall Churches Day event for this year.
FUNDRAISING NEWS
Next CHCT Event
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.
Next Community Event
Sponsored “Ride & Stride” on Friday 27 September in aid of CHCT and the 3 churches of Maker with Rame parish. Starting at the Rising Sun Pub, The Green, Kingsand PL10 1NH at 9 am. All bike riders electric or otherwise welcome. If the weather is too bad we will delay 24 hours to Saturday 28 September.
It is an 18 mile circuit of the Rame Peninsula taking in its 12 churches including Torpoint the nearest town and finishing at Maker Church adjacent to Mount Edgcumbe Country Park. Beware there are some steep hills!
For more information contact John Evans
Any event with proceeds split in aid of CHCT at any time is welcome.
Let us know and we’ll advertise it here. Thank you.