DRAFT PROPOSALS FOR A DECLARATION OF CLOSURE FOR REGULAR PUBLIC WORSHIP AND THE REARRANGEMENT OF BENEFICES IN THE DEANERY OF WEST

SUMMARY OF MAIN PROVISIONS OF DRAFT PROPOSALS

These draft proposals provide, in effect, for:- a) dissolution of the benefices of Duloe, , Morval and Saint Pinnock; and Saint Martin with Saint Nicholas, b) the of Saint Pinnock to be dissolved and its area transferred to the parish of c) the church of Saint Pinnock in the parish of Saint Pinnock to be closed for regular public worship d) the creation of a new benefice of Duloe and Herodsfoot e) the creation of a new benefice of Looe and Morval f) the appointment of the first incumbents for the new benefices g) the parsonage houses for the new benefices h) the future patronage arrangements for the new benefices

1. Dissolution of benefices

The benefice of Duloe, Herodsfoot, Morval and Saint Pinnock; and the benefice of Saint Martin with Saint Nicholas, Looe in the Diocese of shall be dissolved.

2. Dissolution of the parish of Saint Pinnock and the Closure for regular public worship of Saint Pinnock’s church

The parish of Saint Pinnock in the benefice of Duloe, Herodsfoot, Morval and Saint Pinnock shall be dissolved and its area shall be transferred to the parish of Liskeard.

The church of Saint Pinnock, being the parish church for the parish of Saint Pinnock, shall be closed for regular public worship.

3. Creation of new benefice of Duloe and Herodsfoot

3.1 A new benefice which shall be named "The Benefice of Duloe and Herodsfoot" shall be created in the , and the area of the new benefice shall comprise of the parish of Duloe and the parish of Herodsfoot, which shall continue distinct.

3.2 The new benefice and its constituent parishes shall belong to the archdeaconry of and the deanery of West Wivelshire.

3.3 If immediately before a scheme prepared in pursuance of these proposals comes into operation the Reverend Peter Bellenes is licensed by the Bishop to serve within the area of the benefice of Duloe, Herodsfoot, Morval and Saint Pinnock he shall be the first incumbent of the new benefice.

3.4 The parsonage house of the benefice of Duloe, Herodsfoot, Morval and Saint Pinnock (known as The Rectory, Duloe, Liskeard PL14 4PW) shall without any conveyance or other assurance be vested in the incumbent of the new benefice in his corporate capacity.

3.5 Subject to clause 3.3 hereof the right of presentation to the new benefice shall be exercised jointly by the Church Society Trust; and the Master and Scholars of Balliol College in the University of Oxford

4. Creation of new benefice of Looe and Morval

4.1 A new benefice which shall be named "The Benefice of Looe and Morval” shall be created in the diocese of Truro, and the area of the new benefice shall comprise of the parish of Saint Martin with Saint Nicholas, Looe and the parish of Morval, which parishes shall continue distinct.

4.2 The new benefice and its constituent parishes shall belong to the archdeaconry of Bodmin and the deanery of West Wivelshire.

4.3 If immediately before this Scheme comes into operation the Reverend Philip Sharp is licensed by the Bishop to serve within the area of the benefice of Saint Martin with Saint Nicholas, Looe or the benefice of Duloe, Herodsfoot, Saint Pinnock and Morval he shall be the first incumbent of the new benefice.

4.4 The parsonage house of the benefice of Saint Martin with Saint Nicholas, Looe (known as St Martin’s Rectory, Barbican Road, Looe PL13 1NX) shall without any conveyance or other assurance be vested in the incumbent of the new benefice in his corporate capacity as his official residence.

4.5 Subject to clause 4.3 hereof the right of presentation to the new benefice shall on each occasion be exercised alternately by the Lord Chancellor on behalf of Her Majesty in right of Her Crown, who shall have the first turn; and the acting in his corporate capacity and The Corporate Body of the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Truro, acting jointly, who shall have the second turn.

5. Coming into effect of these proposals

If upon the date on which any Scheme arising from these proposals is made no person, other than the persons named in clauses 3.3 and 4.3 hereof, holds an ecclesiastical office under Common Tenure and is in receipt of a stipend or other emoluments of office including accommodation in any parish which will be dissolved by the Scheme, the Scheme shall come into operation on the first day of the month following the said date; but if on the said date any person, other than the persons names in clauses 3.3. and 4.3 hereof, holds such an office the Scheme shall come into effect six months thereafter or on such earlier date on which all such offices have been vacated.

NOTES:

a) Names of the proposed new benefices

The name quoted in clause 3.1 and 4.1 are suggestions only and it is intended to consult with the relevant parties before the new name is agreed. b) Liskeard parish

It is proposed to expand the geographical area of Liskeard parish to include the area of the parish of Saint Pinnock. This will not affect the constitution of the current Liskeard PCC but it would result in the PCC taking on the responsibility for the care, maintenance and insurance of the churchyard at Saint Pinnock church should the closure proposals take effect. c) The proposed closure of Saint Pinnock church

The first time the potential closure of was considered was circa 1990, but a small congregation sought to continue the life of the church. In 2005 the matter was readdressed, and a Church Buildings Council report was produced. The church was not closed after some objections were made by community members, and an indication was given that there was still the need for a church building in the area. In the intervening years the small congregation dwindled again so that in 2014 one person served both as the congregation and as the churchwarden caring for the fabric of the building. This person, for personal reasons, indicated that she could no longer continue in this capacity, and closure was again mooted. A public meeting (which also served as the church’s APCM) in March 2014 indicated a level of interest in keeping the church open. Two new people came onto the PCC and monthly services have been held in the summer months, attended mainly by members of two local Methodist chapels. However, in December 2015 the PCC recognised that “the unique mission of St Pinnock Church is now completed” as the two new members have moved away and resigned, and the remaining two members (Churchwarden and Secretary) are not willing to stand again at the APCM in 2016. The PCC has therefore requested that the Diocese instigate the process to seek the closure of St Pinnock’s church for regular public worship.

These proposals, if implemented by a Pastoral Scheme, would have the effect of closing St Pinnock Church for public worship and vesting it in the Truro Diocesan Board of Finance for care and maintenance pending a decision on its future. Any such decision would be the subject of a second scheme, called a Pastoral (Church Buildings Disposal) Scheme, which would be prepared and published by the Church Commissioners, and with regard to which an opportunity would be given for representations to be made. d) Parsonage house

Clause 3.4 designates the property known as The Rectory, Duloe, Liskeard PL14 4PW as the parsonage house of the proposed new benefice of Duloe and Herodsfoot. However, it is the Bishop’s intention to authorise Revd Peter Bellenes to continue to live in his own property during his incumbency there, with the parsonage house being let during that time. Future incumbents will however be expected to live in the parsonage house. e) Patronage

The affected benefices’ historic patronage arrangements are being reflected as much as possible under the proposed arrangements f) Coming into effect clause

Under the provision of s39(3) of the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 it is mandatory for a Pastoral Scheme which would have the effect of causing any ecclesiastical office held under Common Tenure to cease to exist to include the provision in clause 5 delaying the coming into effect of the Scheme for up to six months after it is made. This is to give any office holder who would be dispossessed an opportunity to find another post before the Scheme takes effect.

In this case it is the Bishop’s intention to license the Reverend Joachim Foot to serve as assistant curate in the new benefice of Looe and Morval. He has therefore agreed to resign from his current office as soon as the Scheme is made, in order to bring it into effect as soon as possible.