THE medieval sounds of a Mass rarely heard since the time of Henry VIII drifted over the remote Rame peninsula last night, writes Keith Rossiter.

Rame Church, which was consecrated in 1259, celebrated its 750th anniversary with a 13th century pre-Reformation Sarum High Mass, conducted in sung Latin.

The ancient church, which still has no electricity or running water, seemed easily to shrug off the centuries.

Hundreds of candles flickered from the breath of more than 100 worshippers gathered for the service conducted by the Canon Precentor of Truro, Canon Perran Gay.

The Sunday Choir from Stoke Damerell Church in Plymouth, under choirmaster Trefor Farrow, sang the hauntingly beautiful Mass for Four Voices by William Byrd.

The plainsong responses to the ancient Mass took the awed congregation back to the time of Bishop Walter de Bronescombe, Bishop of Exeter, who consecrated the church during a tour of his See in 1259.

The Dean of Exeter, Jonathan Meyrick, who preached the sermon, said that Bishop Bronescombe had consecrated 30 churches, including Rame, in a single epic journey.

Members of the congregation took Communion using a 16th-century chalice that is normally kept in a locked bank vault.

The last time the ornate chalice saw the light of day was when it was put on show in 1982.

Alastair Doyle, son of the Rector, the Rev Robin Doyle, said the church was trying to raise up to £100,000 to repair its roof of hand-split Cornish Delabole slates. So far they have raised around £30,000.

Rosemary Doyle, wife of the Rector, said: “This is a very special church and we don’t want it to fall into disrepair on our watch.”

Rame Church nestles in a hillside on the Rame Peninsula, just inland from the landmark Rame Head Iron Age fortifications.

The damp sea air has left the roof nails badly rotted and each storm threatens to tear off sections of slate.

Rame Church was consecrated on October 15, 1259, during the reign of Edward I, and dedicated to St Germanus.

For more information about the re-created High Mass and the Rame Roof Appeal, visit www.rameroof.co.uk