Community plan to raise millions to save important church
A RADICAL scheme is under way to save one of the country's most important churches.
People from the village of St Germans, in South East Cornwall, have formed a trust to raise millions of pounds to restore their parish church.
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St Germans Priory Trust has been set up to turn the historic building into a community centre as well as a place of worship.
The trustees are hoping to raise millions of pounds to restore and modernise the Grade 1 listed building.
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With the support of the Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Tim Thornton, enthusiastic local volunteers have developed a ground-breaking plan.
Their vision is to turn the priory and surrounding grounds into a community resource, visitor attraction and educational centre.
St Germans Priory has been the site of Christian worship since the 9th Century, when it was the cathedral for Cornwall.
The present church was rebuilt in the 12th Century, and is dedicated to St Germanus of Auzerre.
It is one of the finest, oldest and historic parish churches in the county, and one of the oldest buildings still in use for its original purpose.
Two years ago the Grade 1 listed building faced closure with a dwindling congregation and no money for repairs or modernisation.
The Rev Michael Goodland, the St Germans parish priest, said: "Architecturally it is one of the top 100 churches in the country.
"It's a very important church, so everything has to be done sympathetically.
"When it was built, it was state-of-the-art and we want to make it that again."
Since a low point in 2010, the congregation has been growing rapidly, said Mr Goodland, who took up his office in September.
Bishop Tim Thornton, Bishop of Truro, said: "I am very grateful to all those who are working so hard to try to ensure a sustainable future for this internationally important building.
"I hope and pray the trust is successful in its work, and will do all I can to support it.
"I am especially pleased that the trust is working so closely with the local community and the local churches.
"It is crucial that we find a way forward to maintain the Christian presence and ensure the community is not burdened by maintenance and capital costs, but enabled to reach out and engage with one and all."
The Bishop of Truro and Mr Goodland will host an event at the priory with the trustees at 7pm on Friday, January 11.
The whole community has been invited to join in, to learn about the plans and to get involved.
The event will open with singing from children of St Germans Primary School. The launch event continues on Saturday January 12 at 9.30am.
The new trust will take on the responsibility for making improvements to the building including the addition of heating, better lighting and other modern facilities for worshippers and local schoolchildren.
Comments
by soultoucher
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 5:37PM
“@charlie
That wouldn't be another argument against the madness of UKIP's plans that you're ignoring now would it?
I've heard you do these things but didn't believe it. lol.”
by soultoucher
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 6:05PM
“@charlie..
We give money to Pakistan who are like brothers to China.
Pakistan and China are nuclear armed and China is fast becoming a huge economic force.
Best not to fall out with Pakistan.
We give money to Ethiopia
Who are great chums with Pakistan,
Who along with India and N.Korea are nuclear armed,
Also China give huge sums of aid to Ethiopia and need them for exports and imports of food.
Best not fall out with Ethiopia, we need China on side.
We give money to others but I think those are the big players and they all spend the money on arms and keeping the Emirate countries paid because they have most of the oil and the most Muslims.
Best not to fall out with them.
It's all a huge money-go-round keeping the rich, rich, and the poor,poor.
UKIP don't stand a chance, think they're clever enough to juggle all this???
Stop giving foreign 'aid' and we'll become a wasteland with only Europe to trade with,
Who won't want to fall out with the above either, and anyway all of Europe hate us and want us to sink,
Maybe we could make friends with Russia?
Oh no, forgot..India buy 70% of their military hardware from them.
Where to go then?
Well there's America,
But they're doing the same as us so round we go again.”
by CharlieDodd
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 2:29PM
“...Molo said- ' the christian faith considers itself a humanitarian organization haha'..
Yes the C of E and catholic/ mormon etc coffers are obscenely full and are thereby breaking Jesus's commandment by not giving to the poor, but unlike atheists, i know Organised Religion in no way represents Jesus..:)
Hence his reminder- "You have one teacher, ME... No one comes to the Father except through ME" (Matt 23:10, John 14:5/6)”
by CharlieDodd
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 2:22PM
“..Soultoucher said- 'It's not really for aid. Stop believing what they tell you'..
Right, in the case of Pakistan the "aid" is just a bribe to keep the regime sweet so's they won't start handing out their nuke missiles around the muslim world”
by Molochius
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 12:09PM
“and soultoucher of course charlie hasnt watched it, blissful ignorance is the motto of ukip fans lol”
by Molochius
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 12:08PM
“completely agree josdave, the church as an organisation is by no means poor and in need of charity! so when something like this needs funds why ask the public for money?
I can think of a lot better things to spend such funds on before an old church anyway? saving buildings? or saving people? and to think the christian faith considers itself a humanitarian organization haha”
by josdave
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 11:58AM
“Why is it,whenever a church needs some maintenance work done, the church authorities themselves never stump up the cash from their well stocked coffers but expect their gullible supporters to come up with more?”
by soultoucher
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 11:54AM
“@charlie..
Yes, Argentina..we'll be needing to drill there soon for OIL.
Keep everyone sweet with the bribes, we don't have all the power there.
UKIP will have to do these things as well, they don't really care about you, me, any of the little pawns. They only want money.
The best thing we can do is focus on our own town, our own community.
There's no such thing as democracy, not really, you can see that from the incinerator'
People say 'how can this happen when so many people opposed it?' It's because they wrongly believed their voice mattered when the reality was politicians lining their pockets with back handers.
Now the airport land is up for grabs..the majority want the airport back, the lease holders want to sell the land to developers.
I'm pretty sure UKIP haven't even voiced their thoughts on the issue.
I say again, national government can't not pay all this money out. It's not really for aid. Stop believing what they tell you.”
by CharlieDodd
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 11:23AM
“..Soultocher said- 'Do you seriously believe it's as simple as the stroke of a pen?'..
Of course it is, you obviously don't know UKIP and the BNP! Do you honestly think they'd carry on giving foreign aid to places like Argentina (you couldn't make it up!)
The mainstream parties are just bunches of hand-wringing waffling wimps..:)”
by soultoucher
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 11:06AM
“@django
And back to the story...it's a trust of VOLUNTEERS, who will probably enlist more VOLUNTEERS, the smallest group of which will hold bingo nights and have bake sales in the Village Hall with victoria sponges baked by more VOLUNTEERS.
No-one is adding any money onto your council tax bill are they?
What are you moaning about?”