Author Archives: SAS

St Sampson’s Update September 2026


A big personal thank you for your continued support for St Sampson’s.

Restoration of St Sampson’s Church is progressing, helping preserve a Christian presence in South Hill and ensuring the heritage building remains accessible for community use now and in the future.

We continue to hold a weekly Sunday service. Our doors are open when the building works permit . Our parish hall is home to Sampson’s Supertots, a lively weekly toddler group, providing a welcoming space for local families. In April, we hosted another  well-attended Easter trail and Easter egg hunt, and in the summer we held a children’s’ holiday club themed around Creation. We have hosted musical events, with performances by Barretts Privateers, Sam Sweeney, Aderyn String Quartet, plus the ‘Big Sing’, and a memorable Medieval Summer Fayre with a falconry display. 

Work began on the Manaton Chapel in October  and we had an exciting time with the archaeologist discovering four Manaton burial vaults, which needed to be excavated before the new floor could be built. This culminated in a wonderful and moving  memorial service and concert to re inter the disturbed Manaton remains. We are awaiting the final report, results from facial reconstruction from some of the skulls and DNA analyses.

The week of January 13th 2026 saw the exciting return of our bells after a four year absence and 50 years silence. They are now ringing out once more.  Over 50 people welcomed back the bells and were able to view them closely before they were hoisted back into the tower.

Since the start of the project we have raised an incredible £750,000 from over one hundred successful grant applications, many generous individual donations, and fundraising.

We are truly thriving in this lesser-known part of Cornwall.

2025 has been busy year and 2026 is promising to be equally busy!  Below is a summary of our plans and everything the St Sampson’s Unlocked project has achieved so far.

2026 plans

  • Manaton Chapel renovations and creation of Community Room continues – due to be completed April/May.
  • Tower roof and internal louvre weatherproofing work
  • Nave roof and ceiling replacement £190K
  • Creation of digital trail, virtual tour and church guidebooks
  • More concerts
  • Medieval Summer Fayre

Plus ongoing fundraising for the next phase: the remaining roof and ceiling works ( south aisle and chancel),  south side rainwater goods, WC facilities, kitchen, flooring and redecoration.

The ending of the Listed Places of Worship VAT reclaim scheme has left us with even more funds to find, an extra 20% on all works. Which we particularly now need to raise for the Nave roof and ceiling works scheduled for October 2026. We were told recently our ‘roof  batons are mush and slate nails are dust’,  highlighting the urgency of these upcoming works.

Previous Works

  • Relocation of Font (2020)
  • Installation of mains water supply (2020)
  • External path lighting (2020)
  • Roof valley gutter (2021)
  • Removal and storage of bells and securing the bell frame (2021)
  • Compost toilet installed in churchyard (2022)
  • Restoration of all thirteen windows, including stonework (2021-2023)
  • Porch stonework repairs, including new stone and pointing (2023)
  • External masonry wall repairs (2023)
  • Restoration of the Michael Hill monument, now reinstated on the east wall in the Manaton Chapel (2023)
  • Full Church of England faculty approval granted for roof, ceiling, WC facilities, and kitchenette, with phased work planned (2023)
  • West door restoration (2024)
  • Installation of new overhead heaters (2024)
  • East wall external masonry repairs (2024)
  • Tower stair door restoration (2024)
  • Additional lightning protection on east end (2025)
  • Rainwater goods on north side (2025)
  • Restoration of internal tower screen door (2025)
  • Tomb recess and dragon corbel repaired and restored (2025)
  • Building regulations approval for WC facilities and drainage (2025)
  • Planning approval for air source heat pump in Manaton Chapel (2025)
  • Repointing various areas of the tower (2025) see photo
  • Repair of tower roof door (2025)
  • Tower pointing and downpipe refurbishment (2025)
  • West end rainwater goods (2025)
  • Bell restoration and re-hanging (2026)

Funding and Support

Our work would not be possible without the generous support of a wide range of funders, including: National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Churches Trust, Headley Trust, Cornish Historic Churches Trust, Historic England, Baker Estates, Sabrina Sutherland Charitable Trust, Doctor and Mrs Alfred Darlington Charitable Trust, Jill Franklin Trust, Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, Cornwall Community Chest (Viscountess Boyd Charitable Trust), Trefinnick Solar Fund, Church Care, All Churches Trust, Congregational and General Charitable Trust, The Wolfson Foundation, Rural Churches Repair Fund, William and Jane Morris Foundation, Beatrice Laing Family Trust, Bells Gives Back, Swire Trust, Tesco Bags of Help, Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Sustainable Development Fund, Kingsgrove Charitable Trust, Lady Neville Charity, Lord Clinton’s Charitable Trust, Abba Charitable Trust, Ian Foulerton Charitable Trust, Peoples Postcode Lottery, Funds for Mission, Penuel Trust, National Grid Electricity Distribution, Worshipful Company of Ironmongers, Buildings for Mission – Truro Diocese, The Saint Andrew Conservation Trust, Quick Wins – Truro Diocese, Benefact Trust, Sharpe Trust, Elmgrant Trust, Choral Evensong Trust, Give to Go Green, Foyle Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Aurelius Charitable Trust,  Miss Anna Maria Gurney Charitable Fund, Fentogollan Farm, Brags Garden Supplies, and the Woodland Trust.

We are also deeply grateful for the contributions of individual donors and  those who organise and attend our fundraising events and activities,

 

Thank You

A sincere thank you to all our funders, large and small. This is a remarkable achievement for a small rural parish, and a true testament to our commitment to serving the South Hill community.  If you would like to visit and chat with us about what we have achieved and our continuing progress and needs, please contact me below.

Watch this space!

Blessings,

Judith Ayers Local Lay Leader

Stsampsonssouthhill@gmail.com

Affordable Housing in Golberdon


On 10th November 2025 a public meeting was held at the Parish Hall to discuss options for the small field next to Moorland View in Golberdon.

Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting.

Chris Sims {Community Link Officer – Tamar to Moor Community Area Partnership}, Justine Rolfe {Affordable Housing Officer} and our Cornwall Councillor, Jim Gale were able to answer some of the numerous questions asked and concerns raised.

This presentation shows the main points covered at the meeting:

Affordable Housing pptDownload

Cornwall Council owns this field, which produces very little income rented out at agricultural rates. They are proposing to sell it on the open market, unless there is an interest in the Community to use it for affordable housing.

The consensus from the meeting was that we need to know more about affordable housing and how that might be a possibility in Golberdon. The way forward and to get answers to our questions is to form an Affordable Housing Working Party which will ensure that the local community is involved in any development.

Copies of a questionnaire were handed out. Thank you to everyone who provided Justine with valuable information by answering the questions. She will very soon be providing a summary which will be posted here.

If you weren’t at the meeting, you can still complete this questionnaire and bring it to the meeting advertised below.

QUESTIONNAIRE

Around 10 people expressed an interest in being part of a Working Party. That is encouraging. If you want to help, the work won’t be on just a few people’s shoulders.

The Parish Hall has been booked for a first meeting:

Working Party , Monday December 15th at 6.00 pm.

This is a public meeting. Anyone is welcome whether you want to join in or just see what’s going on.

The first thing to decide is Terms of Reference for the Working Party. See link to draft below. Next, we will be working towards submitting a pre-application to the planning department. We can also apply for a grant which is available to explore the possibility of forming a Community-Led Housing Organisation. Hopefully we can have another meeting early next year with Simon Ryan as guest speaker. Simon is part of Three Seas, a small independent housing creator for Cornwall.

Draft Terms of Reference

SHARE AGM – save the date


In advance of our SHARE AGM event, to be held at South Hill Parish Hall from 7.30pm on Monday 23rd  September, we have contacted all members informally.  This message includes important information for members regarding the election of Directors.  Please read it carefully.  Nominations for Directorships need to be with us by Sunday 8th September (2 weeks before the AGM).

Thank you to all who stopped by to talk to us at the Horticultural Show on August 17th.  We enjoyed meeting you, and had some good conversations.  To remind you of our recent headlines:

First and foremost – we have repaid the last of the members’ investments for the Solar PV at Church Park.  This project has paid for itself in the space of only 8 years.  This also means that any future income generated can be used directly to benefit the community, which brings us nicely onto point two.

Second – We are looking for input on what future projects you would like to see. We are broadly looking for any ideas regarding energy reduction, recycling and reusing items, travel impacts, sustainable living. If you have any ideas you would like to share, we’d love to hear from you.  We will be asking for your ideas at the Horticultural Show, or you can email SHARE@south-hill.com.

Third – Our Recycling for Charity project has been growing strong and its most recent success was winning a bench from Devon Contract waste, which has been donated to St Stephens school (one of our most enthusiastic recyclers).  Ali, who runs the project, has a wonderful group of volunteers helping.

Fourth – Our Wood project has been supplying the local community with firewood and we are always looking for further opportunities within the project.  Do you have somewhere you would like to plant some trees that we can then coppice and harvest?  Or do you have that tree that needs removing? If so, please get in touch.

Last but definitely not least – some of our directors will stand down at the AGM and will not be up for re-election.  This means we are looking for new people to keep the momentum going.  If you feel passionate about sustainability and renewable energy, we’d love to hear from you.  The workload is low, we are all doing what we can when we can, we are just asking commitment for a couple of meetings a year (more if you wish), and of course, your input to our Mission, Vision and Aims, and ideas for taking SHARE forwards.

·   Prospective candidates will need a Proposer and a Seconder at the AGM (neither of whom can be themselves), and an election will take place by show of hands. Note that only Members have the right to vote, although Associate Members have the right to stand for election.

·   SHARE is a Community Benefit Society and a Limited Company. Directors are responsible for the running of the company in accordance with the law.

·   Directors of SHARE must be age 18 or over, be able to carry out the role to the best of their ability and not be disqualified from acting as a director.  If not already a Member of SHARE, they must join, and must be prepared to uphold our Mission, Vision and Aims and take a long term view of the company.

·  Our Mission, Vision and Aims, and our Rules, can be found at http://south-hill.co.uk/share/share-member-area/

DEADLINE for nominations is Sunday 8th September 2024.

Please contact us with your nominations by email to this address or by post to our registered address: Trewoodloe Barn, Trewoodloe, Golberdon, Callington, PL17 7NJ

If other members of your family are registered for SHARE with this email address, please make sure that they also receive this message. 

Thank you.

________________________________________________

Events coming up

Community Orchard – an opportunity to get involved

On Monday 26th August (Bank Holiday Monday), volunteers will be mowing the grass in the Orchard.  In the afternoon we’ll be raking up the cut grass.  For this, any person with a rake willing to help will be much appreciated. There will be some spare rakes if you haven’t got your own.  Many hands make light work! 

If you would like to help and need more information, please phone David Skelton on 07776 386828.

SHARE tour of Plymouth Incinerator September 19th

We have been invited to an in-depth tour of the MVV incinerator Energy from Waste Facility in Plymouth  

Sept 19th Itinerary

We’ll take the 11:11am train from Gunnislake to St. Budeaux and walk the short distance, ½ mile.

OR CAR SHARE from Golberdon.. OR meet there at 12noon.

Free lunch will be provided. Return train 4:45pm arrives back at Gunnislake at 5:24pm.

If you’d like to join us, please let Ali know ASAP iamalihumphreys@yahoo.com 07305 044049

Recycling for Charity project

____________________________

SHARE’s Latest Project


As you may know by now, we have secured an Option to purchase about four acres of land just outside Trevigro. This gives us first refusal and a fixed price for two adjacent fields, between the Trevigro-Haye footpath and the stream below the South West Water works.   Our working title for the project is “Quarry Bottoms” – from the names of the fields, Quarry Field and Bottoms Field.

A PROSPECTUS detailing our vision for this project is now available – read it here…

The prospectus begins with an introduction from our Chairman, then describes:

  • The location and extent of the piece of land
  • Its potential value to the community
  • Possible uses for the land
  • How we can finance the purchase

    As a companion to the prospectus, you can view a short aerial film of the land.  Taken on a lovely day in early Spring, and accompanied by atmospheric music, it shows the silvery beauty of the bare tree branches, the stream glinting through the trees, and the potential for a nature-friendly space in South Hill parish.  It’s on our SHARE YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Svkd9L53ks.  

    Did you spot the buzzard at about 2m 10s?  Beautiful!

    The footpath from Trevigro to Haye passes alongside the fields.  Take a look by all means, but remember that the fields are private, farmed property.  SHARE does not yet own the land, so please keep to the path.

    Coming soon:

    • Competition to choose a name for the project
    • Feasibility study exploring the possibilities for the site
    • Financial projections (boring but necessary!)

    SHARE – Picnic In The Wild


    We’re keen to show people a piece of land which SHARE has the option to purchase (subject to the approval of our membership).

    So you’re invited to a picnic on Sunday July 23rd, from 11am to 3pm.

    The location is near Trevigro, less than 2 miles walk from Golberdon – OR you can meet us at the Recreation field and go by tractor and trailer!

    Bring your picnic and rugs or chairs.  We will provide additional snacks and soft drinks. Posters will appear on the Parish noticeboards with full details nearer the time, and SHARE members will receive an email update. Non-members can receive the update too, just let us know if you’re interested – share@south-hill.co.uk.

    If you’re not a member of SHARE, and would like to join, you can download a Membership application form (or Associate Membership for those not resident in South Hill Parish) from our web page https://south-hill.co.uk/share/

    SHARE Breaking News, February 2023


    On Saturday Feb 11th, SHARE had an open meeting in the Parish Hall, where we were able to unveil our next project, and the plans we have going forward. We realised not everyone could make it; this is intended to put everyone in the picture.

    What’s the news? We are delighted to announce that we have secured an Option on about four acres of land just outside Trevigro. This gives us first refusal and a fixed price for two adjacent fields down by the stream opposite the South West Water works. The space is big enough that we can use it for several things simultaneously, and we have a whole range of options open to us.

    For the last few years, SHARE has done well across a number of projects, including firewood, recycling, solar power, tree planting and the Orchard, all of which are dependent on the generosity of members or other people – by donating materials, or by allowing us to use their premises to conduct our activities.  Now SHARE can have a place for itself, where it can run a number of projects literally on its own turf.

    Why would we do that? There’s room for planting some coppicing trees, such as Hazel, which would bolster our firewood supplies. Without planting, sooner or later we’ll run out. It’s a lovely spot, which we can manage for a more biodiverse environment with selected planting of native species. There’s a wet area, where willow for harvest would do well, and plenty of room for south facing ground mounted solar if we wish, and recreational space for all to enjoy by the stream. Access is good, as the public footpath from Trevigro to Haye Mill runs alongside the fields, as shown in pink on the map.

    Having the option means that we have a year to decide whether to complete the purchase, and if so, raise the funding to do so. The land would be owned by SHARE, forever.

    How would it be paid for? There’s a whole range of options available to us, depending on how much we feel we should tap into SHARE’s reserves. A mix of reserves / loans / interest is up to us to balance, in exactly the same way as SHARE funded the Church Park installation. Likewise, the interest on the loans is already secure, as the revenue from wood sales and the Solar PV already covers it.

    So what next? There’s a timeline in the chart below. Firstly we need to understand the range of options for what we’d do with the land, and how it’d be paid for. By midsummer, we will be publishing a Prospectus which describes all we could do, and how it could be funded. We need your views – both now in thinking of the usage and later in response to the prospectus. Then, at the AGM, we’ll put a simple straightforward question to the vote: do we go ahead or not? With a Yes answer, we then have the remainder of the year to secure the funding, make investment offers so that the sale can be completed before the option expires in February 2024.

    If you have ideas about how the space should be used, what we could do, how we could fund it or even whether we should grow SHARE like this, please let us know by getting touch via email to share@south-hill.co.uk

    SHARE AGM – save the date


    This year’s SHARE AGM event will be held at South Hill Parish Hall from 7.30pm on Thursday 22nd  September 2022

    This is our plan for the evening:

    a.     Information Event, open to all.  SHARE will be publicising what we’ve been able to do since the last AGM, the status of our ongoing plans and projects, and many of the items that fall under the agenda item “Annual Report”. This will be an informal chat and question event held in the Hall. We’ll be planning to cover: wood projects, hydro, recycling, energy, carbon footprinting and wider “green” issues. The displays and discussions will be manned from 7:30pm.

    b.     The formal part of the AGM (i.e. that bit we are legally obliged to do) will start at 8:30 in the Main Hall, taking advantage of the new display that the Hall Committee have installed. There we will conduct the formal finance business, table the legally required motions and elect the Directors for the next year. Only full Members are allowed a vote.

    This year there is a vacancy for a new Finance Director, as Graham Beven is standing down. His has been an invaluable contribution into the success of SHARE, its projects and its stability. We collectively thank Graham for his help and support, and the guidance he has given us.

    We hope that this event will make it easy for everyone to voice their opinions and express their aspirations for SHARE, without the rather formal setting of a big Hall meeting. Non-members are welcome to come and see what we’re all about, and maybe join.

    Please come along and bring us your hopes, criticisms and aspirations to prepare SHARE for the next year.

    SHARE PV Annual Reports


    SHARE has published its annual reports on our two solar PV installations in South Hill Parish.

    The domestic scale (4kW) system on the roof of the Parish Hall has been in place for 7 years. It is supported by a battery, and works well in conjunction with the Hall’s ground source heat pump. SHARE and the Parish Hall share the Feed In Tariff income between us. Read the report here…

    The larger 40kW system, at Church Park South Hill, has been in place for 6 years, providing electricity for the house and business at Church Park and exporting the balance to the grid. The system is financed by investments from SHARE members, and SHARE receives income from the Feed In Tariff and from sales of electricity to Church Park. Read the report here…