CELEBRATING ST PIRAN’S DAY ...VIRTUALLY
AS all proud Cornish folk sing the Trelawny anthem on St Piran’s Day today spare a thought – and some money – for the historic bishop’s first church.
St Sampson’s Church at South Hill, near Callington, was Sir Jonathan Trelawny’s first parish as a rector in 1673, nearly 350 years ago, and now needs help to survive.
Trelawny and six other bishops petitioned against James II’s Declaration of Indulgence in 1687 and 1688, which granted religious tolerance to Catholics, and as a result he was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London on charges of seditious libel.
The bishops said that while they were loyal to King James II, their consciences would not agree to allowing freedom of worship to Catholics even if it were to be within the privacy of their own homes as the Declaration proposed.
Trelawny was held for three weeks before trial, then tried and acquitted. This led to great celebrations with bells being rung in his home parish of Pelynt.
After South Hill, Trelawny became Bishop of Bristol, then Exeter and finally Winchester. But his links with the Cornish hamlet were not forgotten. After Trelawny, two further family members became rectors of South Hill – his brother Edward Trelawny and then his son Hele Trelawny.
St Sampson’s Church is a small Grade I medieval gem but it is in great need of restoration to the tune of £550,000.
The St Sampson’s Unlocked project aims to make the church part of the community again by restoring and improving the building, ensuring its survival and making it fit for purpose for 21st century community use as well as worship.
A spokesperson for the project said: “Restoring St Sampson’s will benefit the whole community by providing an additional community space and keep our history and heritage alive. This is a fantastic project, fulfilling a big need in the parish.
“March 5, St Piran’s Day, is the day when Cornwall traditionally raises a glass to Bishop Trelawny and joins together in singing a heartfelt rendition of our Cornish anthem in the Trelawny Shout.
“Sadly, that won’t happen this year, with large, exuberant gatherings in our pubs not allowed. So, in memory of our Cornish hero and in place of buying a beverage or two, please donate to the worthy cause of restoring St Sampson’s Church, so that Trelawny can be remembered there for the next 350 years.”
The Trelawny of the song, actually called The Song of the
Western Men, was written by
Robert Stephen Hawker, based on a traditional folk tale thought to be about
Sir John Trelawny.
Donate to help save the church at www. justgiving.com/ stsampsonschurch