Category Archives: Church

Who was St Sampson?


Recently our church received a beautiful quilted banner from South Hill Piece Makers of St Sampson, the patron Saint of our Church, but who was he? Why is this church dedicated to him? We know a few things basis in historical fact.

Of all the so-called ‘Cornish’ saints, Sampson is the only one for whom there appears to be documentary evidence written at the time he was alive: there is a reference to a bishop, probably our St Sampson signing his name with other bishops who attended a church council in Paris in 562. Sampson also has the distinction of being the only ‘Cornish’ saint whose biography, was written less than 200 years after his death.

Sampson was the son of a noble family from South Wales, born in the early 500s. He was regarded as a miraculous child because he was born when his parents had long given up hope of having a child and was named after the Biblical Samson in the book of Judges.  He was educated in a monastery at Llantwit Major where he eventually became ordained. Continue reading →

St Sampson’s Day


The piece makers of South Hill have kindly given St Sampson’s Church a wonderful quilt showing St Sampson.  This will be gratefully received during the service on Sunday 23rd July  at 11.15.  and will be hung for all to see.  Come and learn a bit more about who St Sampson was and what relevance he has today.

Raising Funds for St Sampson’s


St Sampson’s Church are contacting architects to draw up plans for our renovations and improvements to the building and we are also looking at many funding options.

Did you know that whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop to your annual holiday – you could be collecting free donations for St Sampson’s Church, South Hill?

There are over 3,000 shops and sites on board ready to make a donation, including Amazon, John Lewis, Aviva, the trainline and Tesco – it doesn’t cost you a penny extra

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3… 

1. Head to https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stsampsonschurch/ and join for free.

2. Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising first to find the site you want and start shopping.

3. After you’ve checked out, that retailer will make a donation to your good cause for no extra cost whatsoever.

There are no catches or hidden charges and St Sampson’s Church, South Hill, Cornwall will be really grateful for your donations to help with the ongoing upkeep of this beautiful church.

Thank you for your support.

 

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We stand with Manchester


We are all shocked about the bombing in Manchester and although it may seem far away from our rural corner of Cornwall, some of us may have friends or relatives who are affected, or feel a deep need to respond in some way to the horror. St Sampson’s church is open and there is a prayer corner where you can spend some quiet time remembering the victims and their families and offering thanks for those involved in helping in the aftermath. The Bishop of Manchester states “in our grief we call on God to strengthen us to resist evil”.

For the next week there is an international prayer movement “Thy Kingdom Come”, which encourages people to pray for those searching for faith. Sometimes it is a shocking event which makes us question all sorts of things. The Church is open for you.

Church Matters – March 2017


Many years ago my wife Pam and I decided that it was time to move to a bigger house. We lived in Windlesham, a village in Surrey that served the commuter belt into London and the technology centres of the Thames Valley. Windlesham is a good village to live in, and so we determined that in moving from our 3 bedroom end of terrace home we would look for a detached 4 bedroom property in the same area. The larger and detached house would provide a sound base for the start of a family.

At the time we hadn’t long been Christians, attaching ourselves to the local Church of England church, but I do remember praying to God about the move. Almost since the time of becoming Christians my business career had taken off, and so from a financial viewpoint we could just about stretch to a detached property in the village. And so to my mind the perfect property came up – a 4 bedroom detached house, complete with equipped kitchen, downstairs study, mock but tasteful Georgian pillars at the front-door, ensuite bathroom and double garage. It was also on the same housing development to where we currently lived – just a little bit more up-market and in keeping with our (alright, my) sense of rising status.

Our offer for the property was accepted and the usual train of estate agent and solicitor events put into place. The necessary paid-for structural survey of the new house was completed and we were pleasantly sailing towards completion. Then it happened – the sellers pulled out. I was somewhat dumbstruck, firstly that the sellers had allowed us to go so far down the line (at our expense) before pulling out, and secondly that it seemed that God was with us on this one – it was the perfect house – surely that was the plan, and now it was in tatters. What’s going on God!!? Continue reading →

Church History


We have some amazing history right in our midst. St Sampson’s Church is a grade one listed building and contains many hidden gems. Some are visible and many are recorded in the history books. One of the factors making St Sampson’s significant, is that the area in which the present church stands may have been one of the earliest centres of Christian worship in Cornwall. It is a place of spiritual focus, with a Christian community believed to have been worshiping here for over a thousand years. It is also a place with much historical interest and it still draws people through its doors enveloping them in that special serene embrace, which many people experience. Take some time out to experience it for yourself. The church is unlocked during daylight hours. Have a wander around the grounds and inside the church, below are some things to look out for.

Continue reading →

Church Matters Feb 2017


Within global Christian circles there is quite a remarkable woman called Heidi Baker. Heidi is a Christian missionary to the country of Mozambique, and with her husband Rolland set up Iris Global, which is a non-profit Christian ministry dedicated to charitable service and evangelism. Through its work within Mozambique, Iris Global has provided orphanages, free health clinics, village feeding programmes, well drilling and operates primary and secondary schools. They have also created over 5000 churches. www.irisglobal.org

Heidi was born in Laguna Beach, California in 1959. Having gained degrees in Arts she went on to study Systematic Theology at King’s College in London, emerging as a Doctor of Philosophy in 1995. Systematic Theology sounds a very highfaluting term – it’s basically a discipline of Christian theology that steadily works through things to provide an orderly, rational and coherent account of the doctrines of the Christian faith. To gain a Doctorate in such a discipline is no idle task. It speaks highly of Heidi’s academic prowess – she is well versed in rubbing shoulders with academics.

And yet her work in Mozambique is far removed from academia. In August last year I attended a conference in York where Heidi was one of the Christian speakers. The conference had already provided many positive and stretching things from a faith perspective, but when Heidi walked out on the stage and immediately knelt down in prayer you knew that this was going to be different. Heidi is definitely “out there” in terms of her relationship with God and devotion to Jesus. Continue reading →

Church Matters Dec 2016


Advent and Christmas services:
Sunday 27th November 11.15am – Advent 1 – All Age worship with speaker from St Petroc’s
Sunday 4th December 11.15am Advent 2 – Holy Communion
Sunday 11th December 11.15am – Advent 3 – Morning Worship, Gift service.

Tuesday 13th December 7pm Carols by Candlelight with the Golberdon Girls choir, followed by mulled wine and mince pies.

Sunday 18th December 11.15am – Advent 4 – Book of Common prayer, morning worship

Sunday 25th December 11.15am – Family worship with Holy Communion.

Sunday 1st January 11.15 am – Holy Communion

OK – so John Lewis have done it again. This morning, my wife Pam and I caught sight of their 2016 Christmas TV commercial. It first brought a smile and then had us in stitches of laughter. Have you seen it yet? I think it’s absolutely brilliant as a piece of creative art – the storyline, the perfectly caught mannerisms (not sure if that’s the right word) of the boxer dog and other animals, the attention to detail as the background music is cut for 2 seconds when the action is observed from outside the garden, the human reactions to the unfolding story. It is truly a well crafted 2 minute film. And then comes the punchline – “Gifts that everyone will love”. Having spent some of my corporate business life in sales and marketing, the John Lewis advert plays right into my inner zone of admiration and appreciation for something perfectly done. Continue reading →