All Change

Change is a fact of life and the rate of change always seems to increase. It has been said that a couple of hundred years ago you could expect one or two changes each year but today it is rare to experience as little as one or two changes every day. Change can be bewildering, annoying or even stressful. The church is not exempt from change and our local church is undergoing quite radical change at the moment along with all other churches in Cornwall.

The basic purpose of the church to serve the community and proclaim the good news of Jesus has not changed. However, the way that is put into practice may need to change to respond to changes in society as a whole and the communities the church seeks to serve. By church, I am referring to the people who are committed to following Jesus’ example rather than the building in which they meet.

You may have heard of ‘On the Way’ which is the title given to big changes in progress in the Church of England in Cornwall at the moment. Locally, the Callington Cluster (comprising Callington, Linkinhorne, South Hill and Stoke Climsland parishes), will become part of a much larger grouping with parishes in the Tamar Valley. This new grouping will comprise 11 churches in 7 parishes compared with Callington Cluster’s 5 churches in 4 parishes. One ordained priest (the rector or vicar) with have oversight of these 11 churches.

This new grouping will result in a greater degree of local leadership by local church members; that is those who are not ordained priests. This local leadership already exists in many churches in Cornwall and particularly so in the Callington Cluster. Training for more local church leaders across Cornwall is at present in progress with both Bishops actively involved in training sessions.

All this means that the role of the rector or vicar will change very significantly from a local pastoral role to much more of a management and oversite role – a change that some priests may not be trained for or feel a calling to. Under employment law, these new responsibilities constitute new jobs or positions and vicars and rectors ‘in post’ will need to apply for new posts along with other potential applicants. It’s a difficult and unsettling time for all our priests in Cornwall.

The plans and processes associated with these changes are already well advanced and will progress throughout the remainder of this year and into 2024. New groupings will be formed and appointments to new positions appointed including a schools chaplain and pioneer minister.

It’s worth noting that there are no current plans to close any local church buildings. The decision to start the legal process to close a church lies with the local Parochial Church Council, the trustees. It is normally prompted by dwindling congregations and insufficient income to meet the costs of maintaining the building. The legal process includes extensive public consultation.

Brian Norris