“I am Rector of Trelawny, a group of seven churches, in five parishes, in South East Cornwall, both in coastal and rural settings. We believe that God has called us to live and work in this beautiful part of his creation. To quote Harry Glassen, ‘First thing in the morning on Chapel Carn Brea, I gaze at the Scilly’s in the blue far away, and this is my Cornwall and I’ll tell you why, because I was born here and here I shall die.’
We believe in taking the church into the heart of our communities. We hold services in farmyards, barns, village greens and quay sides, making contact with a new wave of people who had become disconnected from
their parish churches. Before our churches were constructed monks came to Cornwall to share the good news of Jesus. They would have met people in natural gathering places so we are trying to rediscover their vision.
We realise it isn’t easy for our farming communities, many now struggle to make a living from the land, with the ever growing pressure from supermarkets to bring down the price of milk, meat, dairy products and vegetables. We realise too we are demanding more and more from our land in striving for profit.
We recently celebrated Rogation with a difference being all too aware of our responsibility for creation care. We visited different locations in our village of Lanreath, praying at the Well that we would use water sensibly
and fairly. We visited a wild place acknowledging the need for natural habitat. It was fantastic to have a bubble bee land on me and see nesting birds. The fields of our arable farmers were important as we prayed about farming organically when we can, and looking after the soil put in our care, allowing it to rest in the seventh year. We looked at grazing cattle praying that we will treat our livestock with dignity.
We need to remember other Cornish industry as Harry Glassen wrote, ‘I’ve stood on Cape Cornwall in the sun`s evening glow, on Chywoone Hill at Newlyn to watch the fishing fleet go, watched the sheaved wheels at Geevor as they spun around and heard the men singing as they went underground.’ Pray for our Fishermen as we will do at our Harvest of the Sea Services on our quays that our, ‘Eternal Father will watch over those in peril on the sea.’ Pray too that fresh industry will flourish in Cornwall.
We remember too our tourist industry and all who come here to enjoy our beauty as Harry Glassen said, ‘I’ve left childish footsteps in the soft Sennen sand, I’ve chased the maids there all giggly and tanned. I’ve stood on the cliff top in a westerly blow and heard the waves thunder on the rocks far below.’
We remember too, true Cornish people who struggle to live in this county due to its isolation, deprivation and astronomically high housing costs, yet who yearn to stay here and have a more prosperous life. As the chorus of Cornwall My Home goes, ‘And no one will move me from this land until the Lord calls me to sit at his hand, for
this is my Eden and I`m not alone, for this is my Cornwall and this is my home.’”
REVD RICHARD ALLEN
THE SELF-STYLED ‘MOST CORNISH VICAR IN CORNWALL’, TRELAWNY BENEFICE