April 2020 Price 60p The magazine for the town & parish of St Columb Major, providing community news & information for over 30 years. Town & Country 2 WHO'S WHO AT ST COLUMB PARISH CHURCH Christ the Redeemer Parish Priest: Helen Baber 880252 Our front page picture usually reflects Asst. Curate: Tess Lowe events in St Columb or perhaps something for the church season. Lay Minister: Philip Tremain 881041 This month for Easter we feature the Churchwarden: Colin Rescorla 880629 statue of Christ the Redeemer high PCC Vice Chair: Jill Merrifield 880558 above the city of Rio, Brazil. In consideration of the international PCC Secretary: Denise Tremain 881041 threat of coronavirus it is illuminated PCC Treasurer & Celia Webber 881640 with the flags of the countries which Gift Aid: have been afflicted. Planned giving: Jill Merrifield 880558 We hope and plan to continue with the Electoral Roll: Colin Rescorla 880629 production of "Town & Country" each month during the present crisis but Health & Safety: Philip Tremain 881041 that of course depends on the good Safeguarding: Sue Rescorla 880629 health of the editors, the printers, and Organist: Keith Rusling 07900 556075 for around 12% of readers, the postmen. Subscribers who receive a Tower Captain: Philip Tremain 881041 paper copy each month may like to Benefice Office 880252 email [email protected] to 1 Tippet Meadow, St Columb, TR9 6TY register for an electronic copy if that is preferred or should it become the only Benefice website: www.lannpydar.org.uk medium available. Town & Country is edited by Phil & Denise Tremain, 24 Penkernick Way, St Columb, 01637-881041 and is published by the St Columb Major PCC. Last date for copy is the 15th of the previous month, or later by arrangement to [email protected] The annual subscription (12 issues) is £6 delivered in St Columb or collected from the church or post office; please pay your magazine distributor. Alternatively £5 by email or £16 by post, cheque payable to St Columb PCC to the above address. Town & Country 3 PASTORAL LETTER ... Dear friends, Last year at this time I was writing about the delights of spring, new growth and the potential for transformation in our lives as we approach Easter. This year, as I write in mid-March, we are experiencing the gradual ramping up of restrictions, cancellations and self-isolations related to the covid-19 coronavirus. We are all nervous, if not because of the virus itself, then certainly because of the potential impact on our families and businesses. By the time you read this, our older generation may already have been asked by the government to remain at home for the foreseeable future. It is an extremely troubling and anxious time. Already the fearful circumstances are bringing out the best and the worst in people. I won’t dwell on the worst, but it is heart-warming to witness the various groups spontaneously forming in our communities to make sure that vulnerable and elderly people always have someone they can call if they need urgent supplies, letters posted or simply someone to talk to. It will be a blessing to us all if these networks of kindness continue long after the awful virus is forgotten. The story of Jesus is of course one in which love triumphs in the long term despite the more immediate tragedy. The cruel treatment of Jesus and his followers at the hands of Roman persecution led to a community so committed to loving one another that they have inspired mutual goodwill, compassion and empathy for two thousand years. Roman emperors tried all kinds of evil persecutions to stamp out the movement but still the community of love persisted, because as St Paul famously put it, in the end these three remain: faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love. Easter tells us that despair doesn’t win, and selfishness doesn’t win. Easter reminds us that love cannot be held back. The bible says “Many waters cannot quench love; neither can the floods drown it” – and nor can covid-19. May the love in all our hearts flourish and never be defeated as we face this struggle together. Blessings and peace be with you this Easter, Tess x ASST. CURATE OF THE LANN PYDAR BENEFICE - ST COLUMB, ST MAWGAN, ST EVAL & ST ERVAN Town & Country 4 contributed by Jill Merrifield looked after each day by her Carer, Well, all our lives and those of the Sandra Ciarlegio. (Kath will be 95 in human race worldwide have and will June). change dramatically due to the The news of the sudden death of coronavirus pandemic, so let’s all Jocelyn Osborne (widow of Denis, a follow the guidelines, be sensible and former organist here) came as a keep going to the best of our abilities, shock to many who know how busy a and remember all those who work in life she led. A Memorial service for the emergency services, Hospitals, her was to have followed a private Care Homes, Hospices etc. as family funeral in March, but was they’re stretched already and know it postponed due to the coronavirus will get worse before it gets better. restrictions. We send condolences to her family. From the Registers Sadly too, Dennis Ellery (formerly of Funerals: Talskiddy) died after a long battle with 20th March, Elfrida Trisic cancer. Again funeral arrangements are unsure at the time that this is Congratulations to Ben Ellery who being written due to the virus. won both hurls for the Country this year after his brother, Harvey, won Congratulations to Jenny Nash and last year. Keeping it in the family I Paul Massie who became engaged think that’s called! Many hardy locals whilst on their recent non-skiing joined in or watched this unique St. holiday (got to the resort which was Columb annual event. then promptly closed down!). Another Mum needing to save for a wedding Carlos Coombs who brings us hat, just like Mrs Ed. beautiful veggies from his church allotment plot at Harvest festival , had Belated congratulations to Michael been involved in a road traffic and Jane Belcher who last month accident and was hospitalised for a celebrated their Diamond (60th) while but is now at home, and Joy wedding anniversary. Bray from Gluvian, is back at home ---oOo--- after having had emergency surgery but is to have further treatment. We Many happy returns to Vernon wish them both well for their Higgins who celebrates his 96th recoveries. Birthday on April the 4th. Best wishes from his family and friends, which I Kath Teagle hasn’t been too well am sure we would all echo. recently, but is being treated by the District nurses and wonderfully ---oOo--- Town & Country 5 TOWER NEWS FROM QUASI .. Our final fixture in the 2019/20 Winter League competition took place at Lostwithiel (rearranged from St.Neot) when we came up against Roche and Lansallos-1. the latter team are usually our main rivals but this season have been under strength due to illness. We were pleased to win, Lansallos came second with Roche in third place. This means that we top the league with a 100% record and will win the points trophy. We will all meet again at the knock-out final at Tywardreath .... or rather we won't ........ since as a result of coronavirus all ringing has been suspended for the foreseeable future. Benefice Retreat to St Ives a contribution from Tess Lowe A few weeks ago in mid-March, a dozen of us from the churches in St Columb Major and St Mawgan went on retreat for two days to Treloyhan Manor in St Ives. For those who don’t know, a retreat is a sort of quiet and relaxing break from the busyness of life, where participants can relax, socialise and go on walks together, interspersed with times for prayer, worship, and short talks offered by a church minister. On this occasion, Revd Tess Lowe offered two talks on the gospel of Luke, exploring Jesus’ continual willingness to walk with us in our need, and the way Jesus always made sure he rested and prayed when he was overworked. Despite the rain, most of us took the opportunity to walk or drive into St Ives and enjoy the wind, sea and sky and the beauty of our surroundings. The food was superb as ever and everyone came away refreshed (if a little heavier!). Town & Country 6 Feedback we were pleased to receive the following letter from a new subscriber We have holidayed in Cornwall for many years, and last summer I had the pleasure of a chat in person with Phil (I think it was him!) in St Columb church. As a result we arranged for me to be sent a monthly copy of "Town & Country", which I always enjoy reading. And in the March issue I was delighted to see the cartoon version of "All things bright and beautiful"! I found it so witty and inventive that I sent a copy to one of my friends, a committee member of the Hymn Society. I myself have belonged to the Hymn Society for many years, and I am always entertained by amusing alternative versions. As a retired priest I take a lot of funerals, and Mrs Alexander's hymn is probably the most frequently requested. (It's know among crematorium organists as "All things bed and breakfast"). Anyway, thank you for including the cartoon in the magazine: and I am intrigued as to where you found it! With every good wish, Claire Wilson We're grateful to Claire for her kind letter, yes it was Phil that she met.