Category Archives: History

St Sampson’s Update September 2025


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

It is making a huge difference for the community, present and future, to maintain a Christian presence in South Hill and keep our heritage building open for all to use and enjoy, now and in the future.

Our church doors are open daily to welcome visitors, and we hold a weekly Sunday service. On the fourth Sunday we do things a bit different with a café style service. Our parish hall is home to a lively weekly toddler group, providing a welcoming space for local families. In April, we hosted a well-attended Easter trail and Easter egg hunt, followed by a summer holiday club themed around Creation. Our calendar has been brimming with musical events, including performances by Barretts Privateers, Sam Sweeney, Aderyn Baroque, The Big Sing, and a memorable Medieval summer fayre.

We have continued to raise funds and many of you will have seen the recent heroic tower pointing all done on ropes!   We were absolutely delighted to receive funding from The National Lottery Heritage fund  in August 2025 which means we can go ahead with 50% of our roof repairs and restore the bells.

We may be small, but we are definitely thriving!

St Sampson’s Unlocked Project – 2025 Roundup

So much has happened at St Sampson’s this year. Below is a summary of the St Sampson’s Unlocked project in 2025 so far, along with a reminder of previously completed 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)
  • 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 faculty approval for roof, ceiling, toilet, and kitchenette, with phased work planned (2023)
  • West door restoration (2024)
  • Installation of new overhead heaters (2024)
  • Restoration of all thirteen windows, including stonework (2021-2023)
  • East wall external masonry repairs (2024)
  • Tower stair door restoration (2024)
  • Additional lightning protection on East end (2025)
  • Rainwater goods on North Side (2024)
  • Restoration of internal tower screen door (2025)
  • Tomb recess and dragon corbel repaired and restored (May 2025)
  • Planning approval for trench arch drainage
  • Planning approval for air source heat pump in Manaton Chapel
  • Tower pointing and downpipe refurbishment (August 2025)

Works Starting Soon

  • Bell restoration and re-hanging
  • Manaton Chapel renovations
  • West end rainwater goods
  • Ongoing fundraising for the next phase: remaining roof and ceiling works, South side rainwater goods, toilet, kitchen, and flooring.

Living Churchyard

  • Interpretation board installed
  • New hedge planted along the East boundary
  • Hundreds of daffodil bulbs planted
  • Monthly volunteer working parties and a grass-cutting contractor manage this biodiverse space

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, Jill Franklin Trust, Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, Cornwall Community Chest, 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 Beauty Sustainable Development Fund, Kinsgrove Charitable Trust, Lady Neville Charity, Lord Clinton’s Charitable Trust, Abba Charitable Trust, Ian Foulterton 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, Fentogollan Farm, Brags Garden Supplies, and Woodland Trust.

We are also deeply grateful for the contributions of individual donors and the proceeds from our own fundraising events, including four concerts, our medieval fayre, and plant sales.

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.

Watch this space!

Blessings,

Judith Ayers, Local Lay Leader

April 2025 Connection Newsletter


South Hill Connection April 2025 Newsletter

In this edition:

  • Last Newsletter
  • 12th NEW Callington REPAIR CAFE 
  • Easter Egg Hunt
  • Hall Extension Planning Approved
  • Parish Hall Jubilee event
  • May 1st Elections
  • Regular Hall events listed
  • List of parish contacts
  • Recycling for Charity project £18,500 raised
  • Lots of local events
  • Support our local advertisers
April25Download

South Hill Remembers George Symonds


George Symonds VC DCM

We also remember George Symons a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was awarded Victoria Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal, Légion d’honneur (France), Medal of Military Valour (Sardinia)

http://www.vconline.org.uk/george-symons-vc/4588315903

George Symons was born in South Hill parish on the 18th March 1826 and baptised on the 2nd April 1826 at St Sampson’s Church. Son of William a farm labourer, and Anne Symons, living at Lower Trewassick with their daughter Mary Ann. (William possibly born 1760 and died in 1842).

The 1841 census shows George aged 15, living with a Blacksmith called Widger and his family at The Lodge which appears to be connected to Manaton Mill. The other various properties surveyed at Manaton Mill were: Manaton Mill, which contained three dwellings containing the miller and family, and 2 agricultural labourers and families; a property listed as Shop where a farmer and his children lived with 3 agricultural labourers, and Higher Ford where a farmer and his family lived.

George enlisted in the Royal Artillery on the 29th June 1845 and by the 1st January 1853 he had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant.’ The act of his gallantry for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross was on 6th June 1855. He recovered from his wounds and was later commissioned into the Military Train, transferred back to the Royal Artillery in 1862 and reached the rank of Captain. On 15 January 1862 he was appointed Adjutant of the 1st Administrative Brigade of Yorkshire (East Riding) Artillery Volunteers.

He retired to Yorkshire, where on 18th November 1871 he died in Bridlington, aged 45 years. He was buried in the churchyard of Bridlington Priory. His medals are held by the Royal Logistic Corps Museum, Camberley, Surrey.

An amazing life for the son of an agricultural labourer: Arising from his act of gallantry, he was commissioned at a time when officers were almost exclusively upper class, and eventually reached the rank of Captain.

2023 Barrow Push


Anthony Bagley, the new farm manager at Duchy College led the procession in a tractor on Saturday 24th June for St Sampson’s Church annual medieval barrow push and summer fete. Duchy College came to our rescue at the last minute to pull the trailer of dignitaries from Callington to South Hill.

An assortment of decorated wheel barrows, were entered and wheelie bins from SHARE Recycling for Charity project were pushed the 2 miles from Callington to South Hill preceded by our Knight carrying the St Sampson’s banner, followed up by our local dignitaries; Callington Portreeve – Pete Watson, the town crier – Tony Stentiford and local lay minister Nigel Cooper.

The winning ‘barrow’ was a wheelie bin with a real child inside! They were awarded the trophy made from the old bells headstock.

Continue reading →

Cricket back at Golberdon. 25th June 2023


Our first game after 40 years of playing cricket at Upton Cross was played at our new home of Golberdon on Sunday 25th June, after as much work on the wicket as we have been able to do with the wet winter/spring and then long dry spell after, we were apprehensive of how a wicket that had laid dormant for so many years would react or play.

With our Captain Adam Piper winning the toss against Cornwall over 50’s we elected to bat, with slight trepidation our openers started slowly but within 5 or 6 overs realised that the pitch was playing remarkably well and started to attack the bowling as did the ensuing batsman and at the end of the first 40 overs at Golberdon in many years a total of 273-5 was amassed pretty impressive for a square that hasn’t see much action for many years.

After a filling tea prepared by our amazing tea ladies we took to the field again.

Cornwall over 50s a side that are always up for a challenge took it on but with some fantastic fielding and sharp bowling could only muster 110 all out in reply, we thank them for fulfilling the fixture and their company as always.

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Remember When: Green Shield stamps


Green Shield Stamps where popular during the sixties and seventies, and cluttered up kitchen drawers everywhere. Did you collect them, lick them?

The Green Shield Stamp scheme was introduced into the UK in 1958 by Richard Tompkins based along the same lines as the successful Sperry & Hutchinson Green Stamps in the US.

Essentially a sales promotion or incentive scheme designed to encourage shopping, Green Shield Stamps were given to shoppers with every purchase. It was widely adopted with most shops, supermarkets and petrol stations signed up to the scheme.

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Reflecting on 2022


Russia invaded Ukraine, many people have been killed and displaced, some finding their way to homes around our parish. As a consequence, oil and food prices rose to record highs.
 
COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, rising energy bills, Levelling Up, Climate Crisis, Cost-of-Living Crisis and with it protests, blockades and strikes.

Storms & Flooding & a Heat-wave, record temperatures here and a hose pipe ban.
An earthquake between Afghanistan and Pakistan killed over 1,000 people.
A series of heatwaves from July to August hit Europe, causing at least 53,000 deaths and causing wildfires, travel disruptions, and record high temperatures in many countries.
 
We’ve heard more about Black Lives Matter & Bird Flu.
 
After 70 years on the throne, marked by her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, Queen Elizabeth II died on 8th September at the age of 96.
September 10th  Charles III is formally proclaimed King.
 
Other world leaders died: Shinzo Abe, Mikhail Gorbachev, & Jiang Zemin, plus entertainers Sidney Poitier, Olivia Newton-John, Angela Lansbury, & Jerry Lee Lewis. Dennis Waterman, Barry Cryer, Robbie Coltrane, Kirstie Alley, Leslie Phillips, Bernard Cribbins, James Caan, Lester Piggott, Shane Warne, Meat Loaf, Janice Long, Bill Turnbull, Christine McVie, Jethro.
 
Boris Johnson resigned as Prime Minister, Liz Truss was elected as his successor in September, quit 50 days later, and was replaced by Rishi Sunak.
 
In February The Winter Olympics were held in Beijing, China, making it the first city ever to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics.
 
May 14th The Eurovision Song Contest UK entry performed by Sam Ryder finished in second place and it felt like a win behind the winners from Ukraine.
 
July England hosted EURO 22 Women’s UEFA and won.
 
October 28th Elon Musk completes his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter.
 
December FIFA World Cup held in Qatar, Argentina beat France in the final.
 
 
Looking back over the Queens life 1926 – 2022
Queen Elizabeth II 1926 – 2022 | South Hill Connection (south-hill.co.uk)