Category Archives: Church

Let there be Light! – and water


St Sampson’s Church awaits the final Church of England faculty approval after receiving no objections to our plans for bringing mains water to the entrance of the church and installing lights along the path. The works should start soon. No more carrying of heavy water containers to provide drinks and no more stumbling in the dark. Hooray! This feels like a major step forward in our St Sampson’s Unlocked project: to make the church an easier place and to provide a twenty first century welcome in our medieval building, with a kitchen, a toilet, removal of draughts and installation of new heating.

Update on progress Four short pews at the back of church have been removed, (they will be offered for sale dreckly!), creating an immediate increased space for hospitality, which was very welcome at Carols by Candlelight, which attracted over 90 people. That was a very special evening and we were delighted that the new Bishop of Truro, Bishop Philip, could be with us. He said he had “never been to such an inventive and creative carol service” and he must have been to quite a few! To complete the work to make more space, the plans to re locate the Font from the back to the front of the church are progressing well.

We have recently secured a grant of £15,000 towards the total project cost (of approx. £450,000). We have also been awarded £350 towards a window conservation report in preparation for seeking funding for the major window repairs. The cost of these is likely to be about £63,000. It sounds a lot, but on an ancient building like St Sampson’s all the work has to be done by specialist stonemasons and glass conservators to meet heritage standards. Once completed, the cold draughts through the windows will be eliminated. Ongoing conversations are happening with the architect, specialist contractors and various funders.

Letters of support from you and the organisations you represent, stating how using St Sampson’s would benefit you, would be very welcome to include in our funding applications. Funders need to see evidence of community support. We might be a small community, but we are mighty in what we can achieve, as proven by the wonderful Parish Hall committee, the Parish Council, SHARE, WI and Hort. Show, JAMM and all the organisations which are so active in our parish. If you look at our parish boundaries on a map, we are diamond shaped. That’s because we are a treasured jewel of a community. We have much to be thankful for in South Hill Parish, blessings to you all. Keep in touch by following St Sampson’s Unlocked on Facebook. If you have any suggestions or would like to get involved in any aspect of this project, please do get in touch with Judith or Miranda

judithayers@yahoo.co.uk 01579 384617 mlawranceowen@icloud.com 01579 382863

St Sampson’s Unlocked Project


The Sampson’s Unlocked Project CRUX (Cherished, Restored, Unlocked, Church) team would like to thank you all for helping to make this first year of its fundraising activities more successful than we ever imagined possible. Almost £8,000 has been raised so far and is being put to good use preparing St Sampson’s pathway for both lighting and a mains water connection. This should be started in the new year. Many thanks to Baker Estates who have donated five dumpy bags of sand and 100m of water pipe. We feel very encouraged.

Some of the highlights: To help the major funding applications, everyone in the community was invited to a ’Community Meeting’ at South Hill Parish Hall, Golberdon in November 2018, to discuss ways our communty could use the church.

An Information Open Day was held at St Sampson’s at the beginning of December where people could come in, chat and find out what the funding need was all about. CRUX then having distilled the results of these, formed an action plan for the year.

First of all on 25 March 2019, a ‘Toddle Waddle’ for JAMM (Just another manic Monday) families was held at South Hill Parish Hall on the theme of St Sampson’s adventures in Cornwall. This was followed in May by an adult equivalent called ‘Beating (walking) the Bounds’ which involved a 3 to 11 mile circuit around the parish. That evening, the Bulls Head hosted a Quiz night for St Sampson’s Unlocked. Then, after a perfect ‘Open Gardens’ event in part of what was the Old Rectory garden at South Hill, in mid June we decamped to the Old Rectory garden in Stoke Climsland for a Vintage Fête, the high point of the year’s activities and which so many people helped to make a great success. A new ‘Open Garden’ in Callington quickly followed this, and then in August a Painting event for young and old was held on the grounds of St Sampson’s. Half a pig was roasted at the South Hill Horticultural show and finally, bringing us up to the present, a fun games night was on order in October at South Hill Parish Hall, Golberdon. Lots of events are being planned for 2020, starting in January when it is our turn to organise the monthly quiz night. We will also be holding a meeting early in the New Year about the suggested community project to manage the churchyard for wild flowers and wildlife.

Conversations with our architect and specialist advisors are ongoing concerning the installation of toilet and kitchen facilities, window and ceiling repairs, heating and flooring. In addition lots of funding applications are being written. Keep in touch by following St Sampson’s Unlocked on Face book. If you have any suggestions or would like to get involved in any aspect of this project, please do get in touch with Judith or Miranda judithayers@yahoo.co.uk 01579 384617 mlawranceowen@icloud.com 01579 382863

Church Matters December 2019


So, we’re back into the Christmas season again, and one that might prove just a little different from recent years. As I write this article I have yet to see the 2019 John Lewis TV advert, or indeed any promise that it will arrive this year (a quick scan of their website is remarkably lacking in any information), so that may be different. But perhaps TV may not be so dominated by the retail sector this year.

It will of course have an air-time rival – the General Election called for 12 December. And I don’t think that it will be just air-time that is challenged, but perhaps the thinking capacity of many people across the nation. We have become so conditioned to think about Christmas from Halloween and Fireworks Night onwards, I suspect that having a General Election placed in its path may delay any thoughts of Christmas preparations. Perhaps John Lewis are playing a canny hand. If you’ve followed the political debate, perhaps wearily, over the past months and years then there’s no doubt that an Election offers some hope of a new form of government that might move beyond the division, wrangling and unpleasantness that we now experience at Westminster. I’m sure that those who are closely involved in political parties are convinced that success in the Election will bring a decisive break-through, but I’m not so sure.

I recognise that in all my voting life there has always been an element of favourable presentation of statistics and political spin, but it now seems to be a valued art-form, with clarity and truth hard to come by. To me, from an earthly and human perspective there are no obvious answers to the challenges this country faces, irrespective of which party wins. If you’ve ever been to a carol service you may have heard the following: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.” This comes from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, who himself was writing in troubled times. He was speaking about the birth of Jesus, and how his birth will bring something new into the world. I find it intriguing that amongst the many things that Isaiah could have said about the birth of a child, he was prompted by God to speak of government and peace. Many Christians will understand exactly what Isaiah was saying. When someone accepts the gift into their lives that Jesus is, then often what happens is a gradual change from chaos to peace – a sense of earthly affairs coming under the beneficial governance of God. I think it’s a gift that’s available to individuals, organisations, counties and nations – and to neglect the gift courts problems. To paraphrase one of the Psalms – unless the Lord builds it, the builders build in vain. My closing prayer for us all at the end of 2019 is that the light of Jesus Christ may truly dawn in our lives, homes and this nation. May you have a blessed and peaceful Christmas.

Tony Stephens 01579-371496 revtonystephens@icloud.com

Church Matters – October 2019


The three words that can save your life – so ran the BBC news headline that recently caught my eye. Reading through the corresponding article I learned of a group of friends who had got lost in a forest on a dark wet night. They had no idea where they were and so, finding a spot with mobile signal, they dialled 999. On answer one of the first things they were asked to do was to download a smartphone app called “what3words”. Having downloaded the app they were able to give three words that precisely gave their location such that they were swiftly found by a search and rescue team.

Having read the article I promptly downloaded the what3words app onto my iPhone to see what it did. The developers of the app have divided the world into 57 trillion squares, each measuring 3 metres by 3 metres, with each square having a unique, randomly assigned three-word address. When you open the app on your phone you’re presented with a grid of squares with your location identified by a blue dot in one of the squares. You can also view the grid superimposed on a satellite picture so you can see exactly where you are in relation to your surroundings. For instance, as I sit here at my desk in the Rectory typing this article, my three-word location is jumps.rationed.nearly. From the satellite picture I can see that the whole Rectory has around 30 squares, and so if I moved to the kitchen I could find myself at refilled.factor.fights. If I were to head over to the Church and stand in the porch I’d be at crop.ballots.drifters.

It’s fascinating to explore the app, and not just to see the sometimes playful combination of words that have been randomly generated (there’s a location within the Stoke Climsland Old School that is executive.dime.agreed). You can see just how powerful it is and why the emergency services can be keen to see it installed on people’s phones. It is far more accurate in pinpointing a location compared with postal codes, and hence in an emergency situation it could literally be a life-saver.

This idea that three words can save your life got me thinking – within the Christian faith we also have three words the can save your life, and those same three words work wherever you are in the world. The words are “Lord Jesus Christ”. Lord – the acknowledgement that there is a God over and above us. Jesus – the earthly embodiment of God who shows us what God is like. Christ – the anointed one, the Messiah, who died for all sins, was resurrected and now waits for us to join him in heaven. For those who have come to understand the full significance of those three words it is not only a life-saver here in our earthly days as we see our lives transformed, but it is a life-saver for the whole of eternity.

Anytime, anywhere, the same three words apply. Lord Jesus Christ.

Tony Stephens

Church Matters June 2019


At this time of year the Church has two festivals – Ascension and Pentecost. Pentecost is the better known of the two, although it is also known as Whitsun. What is now known as the Spring, or late May, Bank Holiday used to be known as Whit Monday as it was associated with Whitsun. Pentecost (Whitsun) moves around in the calendar as it occurs 50 days after Easter which is itself a moveable feast. This year Easter was late and so Whitsun is also late, with Whit Sunday falling on 9th June. Having a Bank Holiday in June would be difficult for a number of reasons and so the Spring holiday is two weeks beforehand on 27th May. So the association between this holiday and the Christian festival is lost. I wonder if already the festival of Pentecost (Whitsun) is as little known as Ascension. Whilst society in general may be less and less aware of these two Christian festivals, in the Church they are still well known – or at least Pentecost is!

Continue reading →

Church Matters June 2109


At this time of year the Church has two festivals – Ascension and Pentecost. Pentecost is the better known of the two, although it is also known as Whitsun. What is now known as the Spring, or late May, Bank Holiday used to be known as Whit Monday as it was associated with Whitsun. Pentecost (Whitsun) moves around in the calendar as it occurs 50 days after Easter which is itself a moveable feast.

Continue reading →

April 2019 – Church Matters


So, another quirky news article headline catches my eye – “How smart car technology could help you sleep” (Lifestyle section of The Guardian, 24 February). The article speaks about a new development by engineers at Ford, the car-maker. They have adapted the Lane-Keeping technology that can be found in many new cars so that it can be incorporated into a double bed. At this point I have to add that I did check the date of the news article, and yes it was 24 February, not 1 April.

Continue reading →

An opportunity to make a difference for the future


There has been a Christian presence in South Hill, serving this local community for over 1000 years, and St Sampson’s Church at South Hill is a special place for many people.  At the community meeting in November people gave over fifty reasons why St Sampson’s is special. These included: ‘a sacred space of Christian worship’, ‘family connections’, ‘the heritage’, ‘part of our history’, ‘a peaceful haven’, ‘thriving congregation’, ‘focal point and heart of the community’, ‘another venue for community use’, ‘a beautiful place of friendship and joy’, ‘a community asset’.

Our parish church is a Grade 1 listed medieval building.  It has a wealth of history attached to it, including being the possible site of the monastery founded by St Sampson in the 6th century and having been Bishop Trelawney’s first parish.  There are lots of things of historical importance both inside and outside the church, such as the 6th century standing stone, the carved apostles on the tower, and the font, which was part of an older church on the site.  At the moment the church is open during daylight hours for anyone to visit and it is an oasis of peace. It would be a such a shame if it was lost to future generations.

Continue reading →

St Sampson’s Unlocked


Time to clear out your shed or loft?

Don’t skip it, Your junk might be someone else’s treasure and it could raise much needed funds for St Sampson‘s Unlocked Project.  Beech Auctions have kindly agreed to sell items in aid of St Sampson’s Church.  This will all help towards making the Church, warm, dry and draught-free with a toilet and kitchen facility.  All you have to do is take your items to Beech auctions (see their web site for details of when http://www.beechauctions.co.uk) and tell them it is for St Sampson’s. Or give me a ring or e mail and if it is not too big I will collect it. 

Judith Ayers  –  07748773416  –  judithayers@yahoo.co.uk

easy fundraising could bring in much needed funds through online shopping,
easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stsampsonschurch
Please sign up if you shop online.  Every little helps, it really is easy and costs you nothing.
For more info and to support contact Judith Ayers 01579 384617  judithayers@yahoo.co.uk

St Sampson’s Unlocked Vintage Fete  – Tombola

Saturday 15th June 2019

Are you able to donate a prize for the Tombola Stall please?

Prizes required– from shampoo to champagne, preserves to prosecco.  Donations gratefully received – food items such as cans of soup, sauces, noodles, pasta, etc. also small gifts.

Please drop off any donations to:

Sue Tunnicliffe at Windmills, South Hill (leave in porch) tel: 07493 88455
Or Marilyn Tasker at Lambertswell, Golberdon tel: 01579 382849
OR inside St Sampson’s Church porch