TWO new benefices have been formally announced — although the Church of England is looking into removing the legal requirement of having weekly Sunday services.

The benefices of Bude Haven and Marhamchurch and Stratton and Launcells have united to form a new benefice to be known as ‘The North Kernow Benefice’.

The benefices of Linkinhorne, Stoke Climsland and South Hill with Callington are uniting to form another new benefice to be known as ‘The Benefice of The Callington Cluster’.

The Diocese of Truro said these new benefices legalise two informal situations that have existed for a number of years.

It was recently reported nationally that the Church of England is considering the idea of removing the legal requirement of having weekly Sunday services.

A paper published by the Archbishops’ Council in September states changes to Canons ‘to relax the requirements for regular worship in parish churches in sparsely-populated benefices’ are being considered.

The Post asked the Diocese of Truro if we are likely to see less services in Cornwall if such changes are agreed.

The Ven Audrey Elkington, Archdeacon of Bodmin, said: “At this stage the Church of England is only considering the idea of removing the legal requirement of having weekly Sunday services.

“As Canon Law currently stands every parish church should provide a service of morning prayer, evening prayer and Holy Communion each Sunday. However, in rural settings this is not always practical.

“Bishops are able to give permission for a benefice (a group of parishes cared for by the same priest) to be relieved of this requirement and what this current discussion is looking at is a change in the Canon Law to remove the requirement for all parishes.

“All decisions of this nature are given serious consideration and for such a change to go through the Church’s Synodical processes, it takes time and could easily take a couple of years.

“Sunday services are a very small part of the weekly life of a church with most also offering services mid-week and/or in the evenings, so it is more likely we will see the numbers of services grow but in accordance with what best suits each individual church.”

Archdeacon Elkington said the church is ‘experiencing a reduction in clergy through retirement — something that is also affecting other professions such as head teachers and GPs’, adding: “In a fast changing society, it needs to adapt to fit in with the modern cycle of life.

“The new benefices of North Kernow and the Callington Cluster have come about by legalising two informal situations, which have existed for a number of years. The clergy who are ministering to these benefices, were ministering to the same parishes within them on an informal basis beforehand.

“The amalgamation of parishes into larger benefices is a positive move to seek to provide mission and ministry in a more collaborative and effective way across larger areas.”