Camel Side Cluster of Churches. Profile 2017 North Cornwall River Camel at Shell Woods The Venerable Audrey Elkington. Archdeacon of Bodmin The Camel Side Cluster of the two benefices of ‘Blisland with Temple, St Breward and Helland’ and ‘St Tudy with St Mabyn and Michaelstow’. Our vision for the Diocese of Truro is to “Discover God’s Kingdom, Grow the Church. To help to achieve this vision, we have been focussing on three strategic areas since 2013; Discipleship, Ministry and Mission. More recently, our development plan “Confidence in the Gospel” has given us specific aims and priorities for the years 2016-2018, relating to Praying, Growing, Leading and Supporting. (www.trurodiocese.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Diocesan-Development-Plan-May- 2016.pdf) It will be in this context which the new appointee will serve - supported by our ‘Never Alone’ policy, the continuation of ‘Accompanied Ministry Development’, and our desire to root and ground all that we do in prayer. Bishop Tim’s move to become the Bishop at Lambeth in August 2017, results in a time of transition for the Diocese. We are committed to continuing our mission and priorities during this period, and look forward to all that a new Diocesan Bishop will bring to our working together. The deanery of Trigg Minor and Bodmin is located in the archdeaconry of Bodmin. Six clusters of parishes are situated between the north and south coasts; centred around Bodmin town, and with the smaller towns of Wadebridge, Camelford and Lostwithiel to either side. The ‘Camel Side Cluster’ is currently an informal arrangement of two small benefices on the western edge of Bodmin Moor (Blisland with Temple, St Breward and Helland; and St Tudy with St Mabyn and Michaelstow). The parishes have been working together since summer 2016, and in this time have been served by the same priest. This is an arrangement we would propose to formalise during the time of the new appointee, making her/him rector of the new united benefice. The Ven Audrey Elkington. Archdeacon of Bodmin 01208 892811 [email protected] River Camel Tributary, Pendrift Down Camel Side Cluster of Churches North Cornwall ONE Cluster linked by a river and united by doing great things for GOD Joint Profile Come to Cornwall; amongst our Cluster is one church with the tallest tower and another the highest church in the County (nearer to God!), where on occasions you might experience a little taste of Heaven on earth. We see this appointment as a wonderful, challenging and possibly unique opportunity for a Vicar to bring fresh ideas and invigorate our newly enlarged Cluster (we came together in July 2016). We have already started our journey and have held uplifting Joint Cluster services in January, May and June. We feel we have the talent and energy but need sensitive leadership and direction. We seek to appoint a Vicar with enthusiasm, vision, and a real ‘can do’ spirit, to lead and work with us on our journey of faith and growth. We seek someone who will join our family and muck in with us as we minister in a growing and evolving Cluster. Someone who will extend opportunities for the laity to grow allowing them to support and serve you as the Vicar, the community and God in a spiritual, pastoral and administrative way. We feel that church is not just about attending Services. We would hope that our new Vicar would ensure that everyone feels that they belong and that the church is relevant to the whole community. Spiritual guidance is needed for all sorts and conditions of parishioners and visitors, whether or not they are regular, or occasional, attendees. The variety of worship in the different churches requires a flexible approach. We recognise our fragility, but our spirit is great and we offer in return all that we are: welcoming, dedicated, quirky, collaborative, supportive and flexible. This ministry could be used as an exemplar for other enlarging Clusters, which is increasingly becoming the way forward across the country. Are you the one to help us fulfil God’s purpose in this place? FRIEND you have come to this church, leave it not without a prayer. NO man entering a house ignores him who dwells in it this is the HOUSE OF GOD and HE is here. PRAY then to HIM who loves you & bids you welcome and waits your greeting GIVE thanks for those who in the past ages built this place to his glory PRAISE GOD for HIS gifts of beauty in painting and building in handicraft and music. ASK the blessing of GOD on all who worship here. Views across the Camel Side Cluster of the two benefices of ‘Blisland with Temple, St Breward and Helland’ and ‘St Tudy with St Mabyn and Michaelstow’ from St Breward Church tower. Views towards Blisland, Temple and Helland St Mabyn centre of picture St Tudy lower centre of picture Michaelstow in the fold of the ground River below Blisland Church. Psalm 46 THERE is a river where streams make glad the city of GOD. The Holy dwelling places of the MOST HIGH. Cluster Location and Features The Camel Side Cluster of Churches is situated stretching westwards of Bodmin Moor with the River Camel (Cornish for crooked river) running through the middle of the Cluster on its way to the sea at Padstow. Wenfordbridge, at the heart of the cluster, is the starting point of the Camel trail, an 18 mile cycle path created from the old railway line, the 4th oldest line in the country that once ran alongside the River Camel linking St Breward with the towns of Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow. Granite was taken out from the quarries by the railway to the docks at Padstow and sand brought in for the farms. The towns of Camelford, Wadebridge and Bodmin along with the highest point in Cornwall, Brown Willy on the moor, frame the Cluster. Historically, the Cluster has its roots in farming along with slate and granite quarrying. The last remaining quarry is in St Breward which supplied the granite for London Bridge, Canary Wharf, the Princess Diana Memorial and the Seed at Eden. To the north of the Cluster there are some of the most spectacular beaches in Cornwall, including the award winning surfing beach at Polzeath and the water sports village of Rock, with Padstow just a short ferry ride across the Camel. The North coast footpaths offer miles of incredible scenery for walkers, riders and golf enthusiasts. In Blisland there is the beauty of Lavethan Wood owned by the Woodland Trust. The spiritual expanse of Bodmin moor offers wonderful wide open spaces for walking, riding and exploring the many Neolithic settlements as well as time for contemplation and reflection. Over the past few years the people of our Cluster have participated in the filming of Poldark and Doc Martin with the Doc getting ‘married’ in St Mabyn Church and his baby ‘born’ in the Old Inn next to St Breward Church. Poldark’s house is just outside St Breward on the moor and during filming his horse is stabled at a local livery. The roads between the Churches are very much country roads but are very ‘driveable’ and far from crowded, though subject to the odd tractor of course! The A30 going west makes Truro, the county town, easily accessible at about 50 minutes away with its Cathedral and home of the Diocesan Office. Going east Plymouth, Exeter and the M5 are around an hour away, with Bristol a further 50 minutes. There is a regular train service to Bristol and London from Bodmin Parkway and flights to London, Manchester and abroad from Newquay Airport. For the brave, and the fit, there is always National Cycle Route 3, the Cornish Way, that runs through the Cluster on its way from Land’s End to Bristol! Bodmin moor looking towards Roughtor and Brown Willy Maps Parishes of Blisland with Temple, Helland, St Breward, St Mabyn and St Tudy with Michaelstow Cluster Parish Boundaries W TEMPLE Location of Cluster in Cornwall Our Churches Blisland church is dedicated to St Protus and St Hyacinth, two brothers martyred in the late 3rd century in Rome. The Church dates from the Norman times. The Church building was extensively enlarged in the 15th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century major restoration was undertaken to restore the surviving medieval works that had survived. The tower contains six bells, re-cast in 1790 and first rung on Christmas Day of that year. Sir John Betjeman wrote and broadcast that ‘Of all the churches of the West I have seen I think Blisland is the most beautiful’. Temple St Catherine’s Church, built in the 12th century, is located in the tiny hamlet of Temple and stands on the site of the Templar Chapel. The Knights Templar built their church as a refuge on the moor to accommodate travellers who passed over this wild stretch of country on their way to the Holy Land. The church has no electricity and retains much of its original character and atmosphere. Helland Parish Church is dedicated to St Helena, mother of Constantine. The Church is pre Norman, the stonework is probably of the 13th century. The plain font is thought to be 700 years old. The banners which hang in the church were made by the children of the village illustrating their favourite bible stories. The church has one main bell and eight carillon bells. St Breward Parish Church, dedicated to St Branwalader, is a substantial building of the Norman period; the south aisle and western tower were added in the 15th century.