FROM REVEREND ROBIN                                                                 

Some of you may have noticed some activity on the Glebe land around the villages. Certainly, St Breward and St Mabyn have and I wouldn’t be surprised if our other villages soon saw people in high vis jackets and clipboards looking at the land and assessing its viability. It would appear those in charge of the land are doing a wide scale assessment.

This is obviously going to cause some concern amongst many villagers worried about new developments and the lack of drainage etc. that we have already seen in St Mabyn. So, I just wanted to put on record where we as the local church stand within this. The Church in your village stands with you and the village. We are not in any way responsible for what happens to the land as we have no control over the diocese decisions regarding it. Saying that, it would also appear the Diocese has very little control either due to a law that was written into the management of Glebe land back in the 70’s which states that the sale or rent of the land must go to whatever provides the largest financial benefit.

In other words, if for example, a field in St Breward was due to be sold and we as a church felt it would make a wonderful social project where we could grow and give away fruit and vegetables to the community, incorporating the school, the various village groups like the gardening club and the wildlife club and show a real outworking of Gospel values we would be charged the same market value rent as anyone else, but if the Glebe Commissioners felt it would be more financially beneficial to just sell it then ultimately that would be what they would ‘have to’ do and again the church would have to pay the market value of the land if we still wanted it. No cheeky discounts for once having owned the land before it was taken away with no recompense.

All that being said, when it comes to making a noise and a fuss my boss (Jesus) was quite good at that and I would follow his example should it be required.

I have no further knowledge regarding the possible sale, state, or future ideas regarding the land and a quick look on the local Facebook groups tells me you are all much more informed than I am. But I am ready to help where I can, even if it is just to raise a voice with a collar on to the Diocese about what potential damage could be done to the relationship between Parishioners and the Church.

God bless,                                                  REVD ROBIN THWAITES