Monthly Archives: January 2024

St Teath church welcomed Archdeacon Kelly to lead our first service in January, complete with visual aids and an opportunity to do some playdough modelling! Who knew the reading of the Baptism of Jesus needed props of sand, a chair, a star, a dove and some water? Well now we do!

For our second service of the month we welcomed Claire Charlton, lay reader from Egloshayle. She spoke to us about how God can turn up in the less likely places and is definitely not limited to Sunday services! It was a joy to share our service with Claire who has sung with our choir at the Cathedral on several occasions.

Rev’d Jeffrey Terry was back with us for our third Sunday, talking about how God rejoices in our celebrations.

Our Rhythm & Rhyme group is very popular with local toddlers and their parents. Every other Monday, it’s a great way to start the week and get to know other local families.

We’re gearing up now for the Licensing service of our new Rector and Pioneer Priest, Rev’d Nicki Farr. All are welcome to the service on Thursday 7th March, 7.00pm, in St Teath church. If you’re planning on attending, please could you let Gareth know, so we can have enough seats and refreshments afterwards.

Many thanks to Kerstin Lewis for a write up of events in St Adwena, St Julitta and St Thomas.

(Psalm 81 v 1)

Throughout the months of December and January our three churches have been filled with the joyful sounds of hearty singing. It all started on December 3rd with our traditional Advent Carol service at St Adwena. What better way to celebrate Advent in Advent?! This was followed by a joint Christmas Carol Service for the congregations of St Julitta and St Adwena later in the month. Traditional Bible readings brought the message of Advent and the story of Christmas alive and both were enhanced and illustrated by the words of the well known hymns and carols. The Benefice service on Christmas morning was the next joyous gathering with some amazing singing and the familiar rhythm of BCP Morning Prayer.

Songs of Praise at St Thomas in January took the theme From Christmas to Epiphany and Beyond. We had a whistlestop tour from Christmas to Candlemass through St Stephen, St John, The Holy Innocents, St Thomas of Canterbury, New Year’s Eve, The Epiphany and the Baptism of Christ. Each had its own hymn sung to a well known tune even if the words were unfamiliar and a relevant poem or prayer – many by Revd Malcolm Guite.

On Saturday 20th we celebrated The Epiphany with another joint Carol Service, this time at St Julitta’s. Again traditional hymns and readings explored the story of The Epiphany and the other manifestations of Jesus recorded in the Gospels.

We are very grateful to our organists Gareth Stubberfield and Steve Tyrell and our team of bell ringers for all they do to enhance our worship in such a joyful manner.

All our services involved some form of hospitality from tea and delicious homemade cakes at St Thomas’, mince pies & mulled wine, sausage rolls & sherry at St Adwena to a full blown pasty and pudding supper at St Julitta’s. Congregations were delighted to stay and chat long after the end of the service and so the joy engendered by the music and readings continued long after the churches themselves returned to their peaceful, prayerful normality.

As we move on into 2024 watch out for our regular Songs of Praise services (first Sunday at 4.00pm at St Thomas’) and our planned programme of Songs of Praise and Choral Evensongs at St Julitta’s and St Adwena!

….for the appointment of the new Bishop Of Truro

Good afternoon,

On behalf of Simon Robinson, Chair of the Vacancy in See Committee, I would like to invite you to join a public consultation meeting on 6 February 2024 at 7pm for one hour. This meeting is open to anyone who might wish to attend.

This meeting in on Zoom. This is the link:

https://churchofengland-org.zoom.us/j/99717171573?pwd=dXhMTHhKaE9GSXZabXVteUVNY2dnQT09

Meeting ID: 997 1717 1573

Passcode: 983305

If you would like help to be able to access this Zoom meeting, please let me know.( kate.cortez@truro.anglican.org)

The consultation meeting is chaired by Simon Robinson, and is an opportunity for Stephen Knott (the Archbishops’ Secretary for Appointments) and Helen Dimmock (Crown Appointments Secretary) to hear from people across our diocese.  

The aim of the consultations is to explore from a broad range of perspectives the challenges and opportunities that will be encountered by the next Bishop as they start their ministry. The Appointment Secretaries seek to understand the opportunities to work in partnership for the benefit of the people of our diocese, and in the light of those, they can begin to reflect on the qualities that might be required in the next Bishop.

The agenda for this public meeting is:

1. Introduction from the Chair of the Vacancy in See committee
2. Introduction from the Archbishops’ Secretary for Appointments and the Archbishops’ Secretary for Appointments
3. Information on the process & timetable from the Archbishops’ Appointments Secretary
4. Questions on process invited at this point
5. Attendees then invited to comment on the needs of the Diocese and the characteristics and qualities needed in the next Bishop*

*If you will attend the meeting and would like to speak, please be aware that the Secretaries will be in ‘listening mode’ and will ask you the following questions, so please prepare your responses accordingly:

1. What gifts, qualities and experience do you think are needed in a new Bishop?
2. What fills you with joy and hope about the ministry and mission of the Church in Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and two parishes in Devon?
3. What are the challenges and frustrations and what would you like to change?
4. What opportunities do you see are open to the Church in Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and two parishes in Devon?

Please note that only a very short amount of time can be given to each speaker, to enable all those who wish to speak to do so.

If you are unable to attend the Zoom but would like to contribute you are welcome to submit comments in writing to info@truro.anglican.org.

This consultation is in addition to a series of interviews with individuals and groups reflecting the life of the Church and beyond in our diocese. Invitations for which are being sent our separately.

If you have any questions about this meeting or the wider process, please contact me on kate.cortez@truro.anglican.org.  There is information, which is updated, is here on our website: Vacancy In See – Truro Diocese : Truro Diocese.

Please note that this email has been sent to everyone for whom we hold contact details for in the diocese. We will send a paper copy to those people without email.

Best wishes,

Kate Cortez

Head of Operations