Category Archives: Parish Church

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.

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Aderyn strings meets St. Sampson’s Giant Monk


Music for a Summer evening came to St. Sampson’s, South Hill on 24th May,2023, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of a St. Sampson’s Unlocked sponsor.  Over 50 people filled the church to hear Cardiff-based string players, the Aderyn Quartet – who met St Sampson sharing their ‘green room’.

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Barrow Push 2023


Come and commemorate the route that the people of Callington had to walk to attend church or bury their dead at South Hill, before they were allowed to build their own church in Callington.

Create a barrowful of something you feel passionate about – food, film or favourite anything! Wear Fancy dress to match your theme. Teams of up to 6 people. Families, organisations, businesses, young and old. No restriction on the size of your barrow, but you will have to push it the 2 miles to St Sampson’s Church.

Best decorated barrow 1st, 2nd & 3rd Prize, including an annual engraved Trophy made from St Sampson’s bell frame.

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Churchwarden’s Retirement Ramble


Offa’s Dyke – May 17th… Miranda Lawrance-Owen

After six years, the time has come to swap my churchwarden’s staff for trekking poles and attempt a long-held ambition to walk the Offa’s Dyke Path. Peter and I will be starting from Chepstow on 17th May, carrying our tent and kit, and rambling slowly along the 177 miles towards Prestatyn.  We will take our time, stopping to visit places on the way, and in particular I hope to visit all twenty churches along the path. My indefatigable churchwarden colleague, Judith, has persuaded me not to forget St Sampson’s and to raise funds for the St Samson’s Unlocked Project as we go.  Hopefully, she will be able to post updates of our progress whenever my phone has enough battery or signal to send them to her.

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April Inspiration at St Sampson’s


An Inspiring Evening,

‘Inspirations’ was a very well-chosen title for a really original ‘arts evening’ at St Sampson’s on 27th April. The chief organising spirit behind it was a well-known member of our congregation, Jane Newberry, who drew together a foursome of people with varied talents and great enthusiasm for their respective forms of creative art.

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