St John`s is one of the more unusual churches in the Diocese of Truro being a chapel of ease in the Parish of Lanteglos by Fowey in the Benefice of Trelawny. It is a converted stable block given to the village by the owner of the Ferry Inn in 1947. It has a lovely garden which is a favourite for walkers especially doing the Hall Walk and the circular walk between Fowey and Polruan using the passenger ferry at Polruan and the car ferry in Bodinnick. It’s just a welcome restbite for many on the steep hill half way up the high street in Bodinnick.

Faced with closure  a year or so ago due to dwindling congregations, the poor state of the building and garden and the inevitable cuts that the On The Way process has brought to the Diocese to maintain future sustainability. A wonderful renascence has taken place.  A Friends Group has been established. A regular group of Saturday gardeners gather to garden and share a yarn and a cup of coffee. The interior and exterior of the church has been repainted and an varied set of fund raising activities take place.

Interestingly the church is being used as a gallery to promote local artists. An exhibition  took place last November and nearly £1,000 was raised for church funds. Another weeks exhibition  is planned from Saturday 13^th May 2023 during the Fowey Literary Festival. The church will be open and maned daily from 10am. Other exhibitions  are planned during the summer by specific artists. If you’d like to hire the church for this purpose please contact Trelawny Benefice Office maryesdaile@icloud.com  Outside of exhibitions there is always a permanent display with pictures and other works of art to purchase.

The church looked beautiful for Easter Sunday when 15 of us gathered for Easter Praise. Our next service will be on Sunday 7^th May 2023 at 6.30pm when we will be sharing a Coronation Celebration Service followed by drinks and nibbles. Over the summer we will be hosting a Harvest of the Sea Service and Songs of Praise event and in September our traditional Harvest Festival. The church also holds an intriguing carol service when everyone climbs aboard the Bodinnick Car Ferry for a cruise along the Fowey with a local choir for accompaniment.

Trelawny Rector, Richard Allen comments. Its amazing what can happen when a group of local people come together to support their local church. There is real support here to have a local Christian witness. Its likely this group of people will raise £5,000 this year towards MMF which will go along way along with other parish iniatives in Trelawny Benefice to maintain a full time Rector. They have given their time and skills to look after the building and have had a fantastic vision to use the church as a Gallery to support local artists when not being used as a place of woship. I think they are a real lesson to many communities in Cornwall struggling to maintain Christian worship in their village. It can be done but coming together with enthusiasm and using everyone’s gifts and talents really works.

Richard Allen Rector of Trelawny

Safeguarding

Our Parish Churches are bound to ensure that children and young people as well as adults are kept safe whilst in their care as an integral part of our church life. If you have any concerns about safeguarding please contact:

 Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinators

Lanreath

Mrs Sandra Pipe – 01503  220860

Lansallos

Mrs Josie Slade – 01503 220513

Lanteglos by Fowey

Mr Norman & Mrs Angie Mallard – 01726 870747 or 07791 536609

Pelynt

Rev Richard Allen – 01503 220847 or 07383621292

Talland

Mr Paul Baker – 01503 265628

In the Diocese:

Sarah Acraman Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, 01872 274351 Out of Hours for after 5pm and weekends: 01208 251300

In emergency situation: Local Authority Children’s Social Care: 0300 123 1116 Local Authority Adult’s Social Care: 0300 1234131

carols on the Bodinnick Car Ferry

Trelawny Benefice enjoyed a great evening Carol singing cruising the river Fowey on the Bodinnick car ferry! Around 100 of us gathered on Monday night along with friends from the Noteability choir

Bodinnick carol service

A packed St John’s Bodinnick enjoyed their annual Carol service last night. This is all the more encouraging as  the church was under threat of closure a year or so ago. Now used as a community art gallery with a vibrant group of friends nearly £8,000 has been raised this year including a £3,000 MMF donation when previously a contribution had never directly been made. The church has been repainted and the garden manicured and a much needed new heating system will be installed for next winter. God has surprised us in the wonderful way he has worked in this tiny church.