THE Church Commissioners will hold a hearing in Falmouth this month to consider a proposal to create a single benefice of 21 churches in the diocese of Truro.
A total of 167 objections have been lodged, the Falmouth Packet reports.
A plan to “explore pastoral reorganisation” of the Kerrier deanery into one benefice was first agreed at the deanery synod in 2021, as part of the contested On the Way programme, under which deaneries were given the task of producing plans for a “fruitful and sustainable” future (News, 13 May 2022). It was approved by 14 votes to 11 with three abstentions.
The plan set out an “urgent need for change”: “We are mainly old and grey. We recognise the urgent need to engage with those not present with us — not just those who are children — but even those in our communities who are 45-65 who we do not often find among us — our missing generations.” It spoke of a need to “re-arrange our parishes into groupings that help us to administer them in a way less burdensome”.
In 2023, a rural dean, the Revd Heidi Huntley, was appointed, together with a pioneer priest, the Revd Susie Templeton. In the proposal submitted to the Commissioners, it is envisaged that they will serve as Team Rector and Team Vicar in the new benefice. Two curates are also serving in the deanery, alongside nine priests with permission to officiate, a part-time deanery administrator, and a part-time finance officer.
The deanery plan set out a vision for oversight ministry, with closer working across the parishes and a growth in lay leadership. It originally specified the appointment of a full-time social-justice lead, paid for by Lowest Income Communities funding from the Commissioners, and the appointment of a schools chaplain. Last year, this plan was amended, so that the released funds would be used to support a half-time Children, Youth and Families Coordinating Minister and a full-time Pastoral Care Lead.
The diocese is recruiting an interim “pastoral priest” for a three-year term. “The people of Kerrier Deanery have been walking the path towards this model of ministry in this form for a couple of years now and it has not always been easy for them, particularly as there was a significant reduction in the level of stipendiary ministry provision in the deanery as it was introduced,” the profile says.
While some churches have “risen to the challenge of being pioneering”, it says, “not all churches have wanted change, and some have been vocal about that. In
particular, they have missed the pastoral care that having a dedicated incumbent
could bring, hence the decision to look to appoint to this post.”
The diocese is also seeking to recruit a house-for-duty priest to focus on two benefices. The deanery newsletter this month says that “we have to labour on still very understaffed, without immediate new appointments. Both our third stipendiary role and our House for Duty role, unfilled, will be readvertised.
“We are also developing plans for the proposed schools and families post with advice from the Diocese. Meanwhile, the faithful persistence of your work in the parishes, already accompanied in places by fresh shoots and new outreach, awaits these shared resources. So we pray for each other as we journey in faith, hope and love.”
The proposals envisages that the 16 parishes in the six benefices will remain. The hearing is due to take place on 13 May at the Maritime Museum, Falmouth.
The original deanery plan reported weekly attendance across 23 churches of 520, including 36 children, in 2019. An appendix to the plan listed as a risk the deanery’s not agreeing to the plan, of which “closure of many churches” would be a consequence, it said.