On Sunday evening, April 19, St Stephen’s Church in Launceston was filled with music, prayer, and overflowing joy as we gathered for a beautiful service of Choral Evensong with the Presentation of the Cross of St Piran to Caroline Stone, writes Rev Tina Parry.

Led beautifully by James Wonnacott, our reader, with the choir of St Mary Magdalene lifting our voices heavenward, and Josh leading us at the organ with style and aplomb, the service carried a rich sense of both reverence and celebration.

We were delighted to welcome Bishop of Truro Rt Rev David Williams, together with Helen his wife, and it was a joy to be joined by visiting clergy and friends from across the deanery. Some clergy robed for the occasion, and the church was filled with colour and dignity, with everyone looking splendid in their finest.

At the heart of the service, Bishop David presented the Cross of St Piran to Caroline Stone, a deeply fitting recognition of her faithful and generous service. The citation, read by Sarah Vinson, Lay Chair of Trigg Major Deanery, spoke of a ministry woven through the life of St Winwaloe Church and the wider benefice and deanery. Caroline is someone who simply gets on with what needs to be done, faithfully, generously, and often unseen. During the interregnum, when things could so easily have unravelled, she became, in the words of her citation, “the glue that held everything together.” And perhaps most of all, “Caroline brings considerable empathy and understanding.” As Priest-in-Charge, I am deeply grateful for the kind and unwaveringly generous support Caroline has given me as I have settled into my ministry here. Caroline knows the realities of our small rural churches and carries that knowledge with wisdom and care, shaping the way she leads, listens, and serves. Alongside all of this, she continues to grow in her calling and is now in her final year of reader training.

In his sermon, Bishop David, drawing on the words of the prophet Haggai, reminded us: “I am with you, says the Lord… do not fear… take courage.” Words that spoke deeply into the life and witness we were celebrating.

It was also a joy to honour Eve Gabriel, herself a longstanding recipient of the Cross of St Piran, whose long and faithful service continues to bless the life of the church. Together with her husband John, she has given so much to St Stephen’s and to the wider community in Launceston, in ways both seen and unseen, and we marked this with deep appreciation, presenting her with flowers as a sign of our thanks. Eve has walked a path of great strength and courage, and her steadfast commitment has been a quiet but powerful witness among us. In particular, her tireless work over many years in organising and sustaining the two Saturday Sales, raising significant funds for the church, has been a remarkable gift. As those commitments have recently had to be reduced to one Saturday Sale, we recognise not only all that has been given, but something of what it has cost.

We also give heartfelt thanks to all who have volunteered and supported the sales over the years, working so hard to make them happen each month. Your generosity of time and effort has made a lasting difference, and is deeply valued.

Following the service, we gathered for some extra-special refreshments, which was a chance to meet up with old friends and make some new ones. A celebratory cake iced with “Congratulations Caroline” marked the occasion.

In Caroline’s life and ministry, we see something of what it means to follow the Lord Jesus Christ: hers is a life of faithful, generous service, reflecting His love in the life of the Church and the world. It was an evening that brought people together from across the deanery, and a reminder of the life we share. It was a truly special evening, one we will look back on and remember fondly.

THE Stratton Deanery and Launcells Church were proud to recommend their own Sandy Cheshire for the Cross of St Piran this year.

Sandy has been a regular worshipper at St Swithin’s Church for 13 years since she moved to Launcells. Following worship leader training, she has taken morning worship services regularly for six years and has assisted at other services. She has also served on the PCC for the last 13 years and has been a regular correspondent with the Cornish & Devon Post newspaper series.

During the COVID lockdown, as branch leader, she held the Mothers’ Union members together by producing a monthly magazine with prayers and activities and articles from members which was greatly appreciated, particularly by those elderly folk living alone and in consequence, helped to increase the membership. She remains an active member of the local Mothers’ Union branch of Kledh Kernow.

Despite coping with serious illness, Sandy has helped raise funds for St Swithin’s by organising four annual flower festivals very enthusiastically and helped at all fund raising efforts for the church and for our outward giving fund raisers too.

Outside the church, she mixes and witnesses to people in the parish by attending parish lunches and the local history group, also enjoys playing skittles for both the Launcells ladies and mens’s teams.

A spokesperson added: “Her kind, friendly demeanour and obvious devotion to her faith shines out as a true example of what having God in your life looks like.”

She received her Cross of St Piran during a special ceremony from the Rt Rev David Williams, Bishop of Truro.

A coffee morning to raise funds for Tremaine Parish Church, Saturday, May 16, from 10am to noon at North Petherwin Parish Hall PL15 8LR.

There will be plants for sale and lots of lovely home-made cakes, biscuits, muffins, scones, etc on the cake stall.

Assistant organist Josh Hughes gave an organ recital at St Mary Magdalene recently which was introduced by Director of Music Dr Sean Sweeney.

The programme began with a prelude by Dietrich Buxtehüde who was such an inspiration to Johann Sebastian Bach that he walked miles to hear him play. A chorale prelude by Bach, “Schmücke dich, O liebe Seele” or “Adorn yourself dear soul”, a more reflective piece composed in Leipzig, followed before Josh played a prelude by Maurice Duruflé from his Suite for Organ Opus 5, a challenge to which Josh rose superbly.

Dr Sweeney recounted that Duruflé had played a series of recitals in America including all of Bach’s organ works all played from memory. He also revealed that his grandfather was conductor of the Swansea Catholic Choir of some 200 mixed voices and on one occasion Duruflé played the organ for their concert!

The concert ended with a bright and colourful work by César Franck simply entitled “Heroic Piece” with Josh again showing off the difference between the French and German styles of organ playing after which refreshments were served. The retiring collection was for church funds.

The next choral evensong will be on Sunday, May 3, at the usual time of 5.30pm.

THANKS went to Rob and Dawn Leighfield for preparing a delicious Roast Lamb lunch and to all who helped serve the meal at Morwenstow Methodist Chapel Luncheon Club for April.

Colin Tape welcomed all and introduced Rev Richard Ward-Smith who said Grace. Thanks also to those who gave delicious desserts as always.

Part of the proceeds, this month will be donated to ‘AdSurf’, a charity set up in 2022, with the aim of including everyone who wants to experience the benefits of the sea and surfing, by providing accessible and adaptive surfing to people with disabilities, mental health conditions and neurodiversity.

Thanks also went to the team for clearing away and washing up and to those who set up the chapel ready for worship the following Sunday.

THE chapel had been tastefully decorated to celebrate the Easter Sunday message,’ Christ is Risen’ with each window hosting a beautiful arrangements of spring flowers and foliage under the supervision of Joan Whale and her team of helpers. A warm welcome was given by Angela Noakes to Henry Stanbury who led the service.

The first hymn was ‘Christ the Lord is Risen today’ and Henry continued the service through bible readings and hymns, with the well known Easter Story, the crucifixion, the empty tomb and the risen Lord in his sermon. This was followed by prayers of intercession.

The service concluded with the rousing hymn ‘And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Saviour’s blood ‘ which was followed by the Benediction. The organist was Mary Stoneman. The vases of flowers were offered to the congregation to take home if they so wished.

The next service of celebration will be the chapel anniversary on Sunday, May 10, at 11am, celebrating 154 years of worship and will be led by our Minister Rev Oseias Da Silva.