Saint Marnarch's Church

On this Page:

• About St Marnarch's Church
• Trelawny Benefice Services 
• Latest Benefice of Trelawny Diary
• Some thoughts for today
• Safeguarding
• Weddings, Christenings and Funerals
• Remembrance Day in Lanreath
• History of St Marnarch's
• The Church in Pictures

St. Marnarch’s Parish Church in the Anglican Diocese of Truro is located in the centre of the village and conservation area of Lanreath. The structure of this beautiful Grade 1 listed church has been repaired rather than restored.

This gives the effect of age and a special completeness. In particular, it has a fine rood screen dating from 1520 with the original paintings still evident in a few of the lower panels. It has a wealth of rich carvings – the pulpit, font, prayer desks and an impressive monument to the Grylls family who resided at Court Barton, next to the Church.

The Church is open daily during daylight hours.

Rector: Rev. Richard Allen Tel: 01503 220847

Email: rev@trelawnybenefice.com

Church Wardens:    

Gill Sanders Tel: (01503) 220827

Peter Hooper

St.Marnarch's church is one of the Churches in the wider ‘Benefice of Trelawny’, which also includes St. Nun in Pelynt, St. Ildierna in Lansallos, St. Wyllow in Lanteglos-by-Fowey, St. Saviour in Polruan, St. John's in Bodinnick and Talland.  It also supports the work of ‘Cornerstone’ the Churches Together Charity Shop in West Looe which raises money for local children’s charities.  Donations of unwanted good-quality bric-a-brac for sale in the shop is welcome – please contact Jenny Bartram on 01503 220490 if you have any items you wish to donate and which require collection and if you are willing to help out in the shop either regularly or on occasion, please contact Jenny Hall on 01503 598267 for further details.

Church Services

Please see 'Events Diary' below plus when there is a fifth Sunday the service will be in one of the Churches in the Benefice at 11a.m. on a rota basis - please check church notice board.

Trelawny Benefice Services—December 2021

Sunday 5th  (2nd of Advent)

9.30am  St Marnarchs, Lanreath Advent Carol Service 

11am    St Tallanus, Talland Holy Communion by Extension Service

11am    Lanteglos by Fowey Holy Communion Servic

4pm     St Nun's Pelynt Christingle Service

Sunday 12th (3rd of Advent)

9:30am St Marnarchs, Lanreath Service of the Word

11am    St Tallanus, Talland Holy Communion by Extension Service

4pm     St Nun's, Pelynt Advent Carol Service

5pm     St Illderna, Lansallos ChristingleService

Sunday 19th (4th of Advent)

6:30pm St Ildierna, Lansallos Carol Service

Wednesday 22nd 

6pm     Lanreath Carols on the Green

Friday 24th December - Christmas Eve

4pm    St Nun's, Lanreath Christingle Service

8pm    St Nun's, Pelynt Holy Communion

Saturday 25th December - Christmas Day

9:30am St Marnarch's Lanreath Family Service

Any queries please contact the Benefice office on 07399 563440 or take a look at the Trelawney Benefice website: https://www.trelawnybenefice.com/ 

To download the Trelawny Benefice Diary for this week please click on the button below.

Salt and Light

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty and then for three years he was an itinerant preacher. He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put his foot inside a big city. He never travelled two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself….. while still a young man the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away, one of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross in between two thieves. While he was dying his executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth – his coat. When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Twenty long centuries have come and gone and today he is the centrepiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever were built, all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.

In order to have an influence on a society it is vital first of all for Christians not to withdraw from the world into a Christian sub culture but to get involved in our society. God sent Jesus to get involved in society. He could have remained aloof and safe in heaven but he chose to get his hands dirty and become immersed in our world.

Being the salt of the earth we have no business to remain snugly in `elegant little ecclesiastical salt cellars. ` Since we are called to be the light of the world we must not put the light in a valley where it cannot be seen but on a hill. We do not put lamps under bowls but on stands so that they can give light to the whole house. So, Jesus says we must be out there in society letting our lights shine before others so that they may see our good deeds and give praise to God. As John Stott that famous Christian author puts it, Christians have been blaming the meat of society for going rotten when the preserving salt has been taken out of it and the house for getting darker when the light has been removed. It is time for Christians to recognise their responsibility to be salt and light in society. Or as someone else put it, if the world is in the soup that is where the salt needs to be.

Christians need to be salt and light in their work environments, in neighbourhoods and leisure activities. We are called to fight for justice, freedom, dignity of the individual and the abolition of discrimination, as well as taking social action to help those who are casualties of our society. Some will be called to devote their whole lives to the alleviation of global suffering and may like Mother Teresa or Jackie Pullinger have an influence far beyond their expectations.

Spare a thought for a homeless woman who turned to a vicar for help and received none;

I was hungry and you formed a humanities group to discuss my hunger

I was imprisoned and you crept off quietly to your chapel and prayed for my release

I was naked and, in your mind, you debated the morality of my appearance

I was sick and you knelt and thanked God for your health

I was homeless and you preached to me of the spiritual shelter of the love of God

I was lonely and you left me alone to pray for me

You seem so holy, so close to God, but I am still hungry and lonely and cold.

It’s challenging reading but we all look in the mirror in the morning but what does God see in our hearts? We are called to love one another as God first loved us.  

Richard Allen Rector of Trelawny

Ensuring that children and young people as well as adults are kept safe whilst in our care is an integral part of our church life. If you have any concerns about safeguarding please contact:

In the Parish: (The Rector - Tel contact – 01503 220847)

In the Diocese: Sarah Acraman Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, 01872 274351

Out of Hours for after 5pm and weekends: 01208 251300

In emergency situation:

Local Authority Children’s Social Care: 0300 123 1116

Local Authority Adult’s Social Care: 0300 1234131

A church wedding will add a spiritual dimension to your marriage. It is a ceremony that bonds you in the eyes of God witnessed by your family and friends in a friendly, traditional atmosphere. If you are considering a Church Wedding, we believe St. Marnarch’s Church with a peel of six bells, within this beautiful village, makes it an ideal location for your special day. You don’t necessarily have to live in the Parish to be eligible to marry here – so give us a call to talk over your wedding plans and eligibility. It’s never too soon to call us.

Christenings are often held during a Sunday service and there is an extensive Baptismal Roll on display by the font.

Funeral services are also held within the church and there is room for burial within the Churchyard – Churchyard regulations are displayed in the Church porch.

For Further details please contact:

Rector: Rev. Allen - Tel (01503) 220847

Church Wardens:    

Gill Sanders       Tel: (01503) 220827

Peter Hooper

A time to remember all who lost their lives in the two World Wars and in wars since.

These men and women came from different socio-cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, and had various Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and atheist beliefs but all united to fight a common cause.

 Let us remember them all.

Until the early 7th century AD Cornwall was part of the Celtic fringe of Britain. The various tribes often found an excuse to declare war on each other, and even the coming of the Romans had little effect on the existing lifestyle.

However, during the 7th century Christianity began to assert itself, and the old ways gradually changed. It was around this time that St. Piran is said to have arrived in Cornwall. Records indicate that a church of sorts was built on the present site as far back as the eighth century but it was not until the Normans arrived in the latter part of the 11th century that the basis of the existing church came into being.

Most of the present Church is the result of much rebuilding and additional works, but the original north wall and transept still exist, as do the font and a small stone Altar.

Much of the subsequent history of the church is steeped in the Reformation, the Civil Wars and the Restoration of the Monarchy in the mid-17th century. This is all recorded in a very readable booklet written by Rosemary Pollock, a local amateur historian, with some illustrations by her mother Ida. It also includes a written 'walk around' of the present building. Priced at £1.50, it is available in the Church.

More Pictures of the Church may be viewed at the British Listed Buildings website.

Scrolling photo montage of the Flower festival

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