On Sunday, July 21 friends and members of Stoke Climsland Methodist Church welcomed Rev David and Mrs Ali Moss for their final service before they retire (or 'sit down' - the term used by the Methodist Church).

A moving Holy Communion was shared during the service, some rousing hymns sung and then a lovely lunch was enjoyed.The beautiful flower arrangements in the windows depicted various events and celebrations at Stoke Climsland Methodist Church during the time David and Ali have been in the Circuit - Sea Baptism, Platinum Jubilee, Alpha Course, King Charles III's Coronation and Bible Study. Thanks to everyone who helped on Sunday.  

The Circuit Farewell Service will be held at Callington Methodist Church on Sunday, August 4, at 10.30am.

AN AUDIENCE of around 60 enjoyed a performance of Macbeth against the backdrop of an ancient church.

Calstock Primary School pupils were at St Andrew’s to stage their play outdoors in the churchyard.

Class 3 students gave a “great performance” under the direction of teacher Donna Kilpin, said one audience member.

“For some of the players this will be one of the last times they will be together as they move up from Primary to Secondary school, so this was especially meaningful and we, the audience were grateful.

“Imagine Shakespeare done exceptionally well by 10-12 year olds.”

Morning prayer will be held on Monday and Wednesday at 10am.

Evensong will be held on Sunday, August 4, at 6.30pm.

An All Age Service will be held on Sunday, August 4, at 10am in St Paul’s Church, Upton Cross.

This annual event was held on Saturday, July 27, was a very enjoyable event and weather much better than the previous Saturday when it had been planned.

This is the 113th Linkinhorne Show and will be held in the Parish Hall at Upton Cross on Saturday, August 3, which will be opened by the Rev Marilyn Elliott at 2pm and later their will be the fancy dress judging and prize giving. There will also be face painting, as well as the usual vegetables, flowers, baking, handicrafts, photography, a raffle plus tea and cake.

On Wednesday, August 7, Bodmin Old Cornwall Society will be holding a short service in remembrance of the nine people (including eight from three generations of one family) who all perished when a bomb was dropped on Mill Street (now Dennison Road) on August 7, 1942 at 1.30pm.

On Sunday, August 18, at 3pm Bodmin Old Cornwall Society will be holding their annual Service commemorating The Prayer Book Rebellion in 1549. The Service commences a 3pm in St Petroc's Church Bodmin and will be attended by organisations from all over Cornwall who will finish the Service with a Procession of Banners.

For its patronal festival in its 500th year the church of St Mary Magdalene celebrated with a morning communion service at which Rev Mary Williamson presided and preached. The choir sang as an anthem, “Cantate Domino” (“Sing unto the Lord a new song”) by Pitoni and at the end choirmaster and organist Dr Sean Sweeney played a fugue in C minor by J S Bach.

In the evening the choir welcomed five guest singers to join them to sing a celebratory service of choral evensong directed by Dr Sweeney. The service was led by James Wonnacott and the lessons were read by Amber Newton.

Before the service guest organist Josh Hughes played, “Prelude Cantabile” by César Franck and at the end of the service he played a Fantasia in G minor by J S Bach to great acclaim.

The Responses were by Thomas Ebdon. The choir sang Psalm 46 to the well-known chant featuring a descant in two of the verses and the 2nd half of the Gloria. The canticles were sung to the setting by Stanford in Bb.

The anthem was, ”Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts,” by Purcell from his music for the funeral for Queen Mary II in Westminster Abbey in 1695.

The first hymn was also an adaptation of a hymn by Purcell and the service finished with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ arrangement of the Old Hundredth (All people that on earth do dwell).

There will be no choral evensong on Sunday, August 4, as the choir will be taking a month’s break from singing services. Instead, Mary Williamson will be taking a “Songs of Praise” at the usual time of 5.30pm.

The Dunheved Flower & Garden Group for its July coach trip had a day at the Bicton Park Botanical Gardens near Exeter.

With the magnificent historic gardens laid out in 1735 in bloom, lakes, woodland railway weaving the 64 acres and museum there was lots to do and look at. Some started with a cuppa in the Orangery before our group took the 30 minute narrow gauge Woodland Railway Train ride hauled by loco “Sir Walter Raleigh” to the far end of the grounds.

With nearly 300 years of gardening history, some rare and record breaking beautiful species of trees were pointed out from the train as we passed. At 46 meter’s (151ft) a champion Grecian Fir is the tallest of its kind ever recorded in the British Isles. More than 1,000 other plants collected from around the world also on view both outdoors in the Italian garden leading to the fountain mirror pond, which flowed into the stream garden with its winding scented pathways to St Marys Church and its lovely stained glass windows, and some indoors in the Palm House built in 1820 being 20 years older than the Palm House at Kew London, with around 18,000 small glass panes set in a filigree of thin curvilinear wrought-iron glazing bars.

The countryside museum with its traction engines, tractors, carts, motor cars and bikes, farm machines of all kinds, a huge cider press along with set displays on nostalgic rural crafts such as the wheelwright, blacksmith, trapper, thatcher, carpenter, dairyman and a Victorian kitchen layout. Household items such as the Singer sewing machine and vacuum cleaners displayed brought back many memories of things we used many years ago.

With time running out, viewing the greenhouse’s full of plants and cacti and the shop full of items to purchase, it was time to get back on the coach and home after a wonderful summer’s day out.

The other SAS (The Seriously AwEful Symphonia - Community Orchestra) performed at Camelford Band stand on Friday evening by kind permission of Camelford Town Council.

Music as diverse as 'Jupiter' from Holst's 'The Planets' and the 'House of the Rising Sun' entertained a very appreciative audience of all ages - the youngest being about two years old and the oldest eighty-something.

Everyone enjoyed the evening - musicians and listeners - until 'rain stopped play' at about 8pm.

In 2024 , the SAS celebrates its forteenth year scraping and puffing together and always welcomes new players and spectators - join us on a Monday evening at the Methodist Chapel, Market Street.

Contact Andrea [email protected] or Kath [email protected] for more details.

From the theme “Famous Cornish People”, came a wonderful variety of subjects.

Did you know Fleetwood Mac was born in Redruth? Or that Andrew Pears of soap fame was born in Mevagissey? The Fisherman’s Friends are a folk group from Port Isaac. Charles Stanley Causley CBE FRSL was a Cornish poet, schoolteacher and writer. His work noted for its simplicity and directness, was associated with folklore, legends and magic. Rosamunde Pilcher OBE was best known for her novels set in Cornwall. Dame Daphne du Maurier, wrote Jamaica Inn, Rebecca, The King’s General, The Birds and more, drawing much of her inspiration while living at Menabilly, Par, in Cornwall. 

There was an arrangement about Rev Stephen Hawker the eccentric Vicar of Morwenstow. The short walk out to Hawkers Hut, where he used to sit and write his poems and letters, is a favourite with visitors.

Sir Goldworthy Gurney , was married and buried at St Swithins, he invented heating and ventilation systems and his innovative lighting system was installed in the new Houses of Parliament, for which he was knighted in 1863. He built ‘his house on sand’, pioneering a sort of  concrete raft for his ‘Castle’ Billy Bray was a Cornish tin miner, converting from a beer drinking drunkard to a Chapel preacher, a sort of Billy Graham of his day.

Richard Trevithick was born in Illogan in 1771, He was a wrestler, inventor and mining engineer. His greatest legacy was that he proved high pressure steam engines were the way forward.

The Mothers’ Union displayed Teddy Vean, a Cornish teddy bear, who started his existence in St Mawgan, knitted by members, for school reception children with the  message, “we are all  different, but God loves us just the same!”

Finally King Arthur, myth or legend, he stands proudly above the ruined castle of Tintagel.

A spokesperson said: “Sincere thanks to the festival coordinator Margaret Bond, Rose Harwood and Caroline Tape in charge of the kitchen,  everyone who did flowers arrangements, made the food; dealt with the money, sold raffle tickets, gave their time and energy and helped in any way, you name it!  We thank you.”

Bodmin Street Methodist Church members and friends were thrilled to welcome so many people to their Holsworthy St Peter’s Fair coffee and cake event on Saturday, July 13.

The sun encouraged people to attend and it was good to see all the smiling faces of those enjoying a social time together.

Organiser Mrs Mary Barfett said: "A massive thank-you must go to all who donated wonderful homemade cakes and helped on the day to make it such a success. It was a wonderful team effort, and raised a generous sum in donations towards chapel funds."

We met on July 8 at Lewdown Victory Hall. Barbara extended a warm welcome to our members as well as Kim, a guest from Lifton and Bude WI’s and also to Kathy Curtis our guest speaker.

After Jerusalem, it was straight over to Kathy: A Beauty Evening. Kathy is a Tropic ambassador with many years’ experience, she is heading a team of 60 in this area. Kathy is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the product. Lynn volunteered to have a mini-facial, which she seemed to enjoy, guessing the ingredients correctly when asked what she could smell, she looked marvellous afterwards.

After Kathy’s talk we stopped for some refreshments. Kathy was very happy to answer questions from the floor about her products. We rounded off the evening with a bit of business. It was a very uplifting atmosphere; everyone seemed to have a good time.

Date and venue for next meeting: Tuesday, August 13, will be an afternoon tea event from 3pm Lewdown Victory Hall - all welcome.

August dates for your diary: August 13 - Afternoon Tea Event 3pm; August 15 - Coffee Morning at Roadford Lake; August 26 - Monday Walk.

Go on come along and see what we are about the WI is not all Jam & Jerusalem.