<b>Hello to the beautiful churches of Moorland, Egloskerry, and Lanstephan...</b><br>As I prepare to join you as your new vicar, I wanted to share a little glimpse of the goodbye that’s just unfolded here in East Cardiff, a moment full of love, laughter, music, and prayers. I’m so looking forward to joining you soon as your new vicar.<i> What a send-off! </i> Over 100 people from across the churches gathered for Mother Tina’s final glorious Songs of Praise - a celebration filled with faith, family, friendship, and phenomenal music. Our Director of Music, Nathan, played magnificently. Fr James, Tina’s much-loved training incumbent, spoke movingly of a curacy marked by joy, compassion, and her prayerful generous heart. The singing was rapturous. The cake was size of a cathedral step (And delicious.) The tears were many - of laughter, of gratitude, of love. Together we laid hands, offered our prayers, and sent Tina off to Truro Diocese wrapped in blessing. Her licensing to the Benefice of Moorland, Egloskerry and Lanstephan will take place on: Tuesday 19th August at 7pm St Paternus Church, North Petherwin (PL15 8LR) All are welcome. Tina, thank you for the joy, the wisdom, the warmth, and the wonder you’ve shared. May this next chapter unfold with grace and kindness, and may you always know how dearly you are loved.
First the rain began dripping through the ceiling. Buckets and bowls collected drips but when the wind changed direction the drips ran along the roof and entered new holes. Tarpaulins were attached over holes and when the wind blew stronger it lifted the covering and the rain continued to enter the roof. Eventually newer tarpaulins covered older tarpaulins in a patchwork pattern across the roof and the rain continued to drip and form puddles on pews, on chairs, in cupboards and on the floor. Finally rain got into the organ and the organ got very upset and began to refuse to play certain notes.All this time the congregation and residents of St Stephen’s worked hard fund-raising. Coffee mornings, book sales, summer fetes, winter bazaars, Christmas wreaths, concerts, even several funerals offered generous donations. The money gradually grew over the years but always fell far short of the massive sum needed to repair the roof.A roof committee was formed and met online during the first year of covid. Planning and dreaming, they put together applications for funding grants, a faculty to replace the roof and tenders for an architect. Work began in 2021 when the final funds were secured. It was a tense time. The main contractor was ready to begin work, the scaffolding firm engaged, insurances in place, health & safety, quantity surveyor, all set to go. Funding was promised but work could not begin before a press release. Days of waiting lengthened into weeks. The roof team prayed. The congregation prayed. Anxiety grew. Eventually the go-ahead was announced. With a lot of work and goodwill scaffolders put up a temporary roof in record time, the contractors worked long hours, funding deadlines were met and the roof was finally completed in the summer of 2022. The congregation were welcomed back in with a service on October 2nd 2022.Grateful thanks go to everyone: to neighbours who helped out; volunteers who ran countless jumble sales; and of course all those who gave in anyway great or small. These included the National Churches Trust / Historic England / Department of Culture Media and Sport; All Churches Trust; Cornwall Historic Churches Trust; and Transformation Cornwall.
