Author Archives: AH

Church Matters November 2022


CHURCH COMMUNITY MATTERS:

There is a change of title for this month’s ‘Church Matters’ as it’s content is more about the community as a whole, including the church.

As I write there is growing concern for the economy of the nation and how it is going to affect everyone. The cost of energy, food and mortgages; not to mention the impact on the National Health Service and other public services.

The energy price cap and winter fuel payments from the Government are a welcome help to many but for a significant number, both locally and nationally, rising prices will result in a bleak and cold winter.

All over the country organisations are preparing to open their premises as warm and welcoming spaces to give those who most need it some respite, these include libraries, churches and village halls. At the Linkinhorne Parish Hall Committee meeting last week we discussed the possibility of opening the hall as a warm and welcoming space and agreed to look into this further. I wonder if Stoke Climsland and South Hill have had similar thoughts for some of their buildings.

Martin Lewis (the money saving expert) has sponsored a guide to outline best practice of how to set up a warm and welcoming space. It starts with the words: Local communities have stepped up in many ways to support their neighbours through the cost of living crisis. Very close to what Jesus identified as the second most important principle to live by; ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’. Communities across the country seem to have perceived that this is simply the best way communities work, regardless of whether they are faith based or not. Further information at: https://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2022/10/martin-lewis–new-guide-to-set-up-a-warm-space—somewhere-for-p/

Another way communities are helping their struggling neighbours is with foodbanks, community fridges and similar initiatives, one warm welcome centre offers as many groceries as are needed for £3.00! Most of these initiatives are in cities or towns but some rural neighbours are finding the current cost of living just as challenging as their city counterparts. What can be done locally in our rural settings and how can they be funded?

Several local people have mentioned to me that they don’t really need the Government handout over the winter months and have considered giving it to an organisation that can channel it to those in greater need. It would not need many to channel their £400 winter fuel payment to a local ‘warm welcome’ to provide enough capital to fund it’s running!

Before any action is taken on providing warm spaces locally, some questions need to be asked and answered – and very quickly before the really cold weather begins to bite.

Firstly, how many locally would benefit from a warm space and how many of those would feel comfortable using one and have transport if was needed?

Secondly, are the necessary resources available, venue, finance and volunteers willing to staff warm spaces? If you have answers or would be willing to help set up and run a warm space locally please contact me in the first instance at briannorrisics@hotmail.com or phone 01579 363515.

Brian Norris

Nov 19th. Walk. St. Ive.


8 miles circular walk, mainly quiet roads and some footpaths to start crossing fields.

From Golberdon: Lane to Trewoodloe House, follow the footpath across the fields to Berrio. Turn left at the road & follow to the junction at Kerney bridge.

Take the Pensilva road, up the steep hill until you reach Scrawsdon Farm entrance on your right with a footpath sign! Follow this to Mill Lawn.

At the road turn right and go through the wood to the junction and turn left, to Charaton Cross. Go straight over towards Gang. At the next junction keep left, and pass an old granite horse trough.

At the next junction ( GANG ) the road on the left, is the route back, via Bicton Bridge and back to Golberdon. But turn Right and follow this road all the way to the main road and the church on the Right.

The church is now owned by the owners of the Old Rectory, opposite, who are renovating it into a museum to Emily Hobhouse.

The Church tower with bold setback buttresses is unique in Cornwall for its 12 pinnacles instead of the usual four. A sundial above the main porch door is dated 1695. Inside look up, the roof is original woodwork with carved angels and one green man.

The modern glass in the window is a memorial to Archdeacon Hobhouse. rector from 1844-1895 and responsible for the restoration and a remarkable benefactor to the parish. He was also father of Emily known as The Angel of Mercy for her work among the Boor women and children in South Africa during the Boor war. A lot of information about Emily and her charitable work can be found in the church.

READ MORE about Emily Hobhouse here > Emily Hobhouse – The British Empire

St Sampson’s Church Going for Gold!


Our accolade of a bronze Eco award is an achievement, but we want silver and then gold.   With everything we do at St Sampson’s Church, we try to consider environmental impacts.  From the cups we drink from, the energy we use and the care of the building every day and as part of the restoration project.  We are pleased to say we are not far off a silver award, which only three other churches in Cornwall have achieved.

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Tamar Valley Health PPG


The PPG would like to introduce you to different teams of clinicians so you can see why your call is triaged and you are given an appointment or telephone call with the person best qualified to help you. We had a discussion with Paul Symonds about the roles of paramedics. Paul is the Team leader of the Acute Care Team and has recently qualified as an Advanced Practitioner. There is also Ben who is a prescribing paramedic and John who has recently joined the team and has 20 years’ experience as a paramedic and 5 years in primary care (home visits) as well as Neil, nurse practitioner and Julia who is a physician associate.

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