THE Treneglos harvest thanksgiving festival service was held, not in the church, which is currently awaiting substantial repairs, but at Higher Scarsick by kind invitation of the French family.

Some 60 people from the parish and beyond gathered under the leadership of the Rector, the Rev Tony Windross, to give thanks through the traditional readings and prayers, and to raise their voices in a selection of well-known harvest hymns rousingly led by members of the St Gennys Silver Band.

Almost £300 was raised, to be divided between the church and Launceston Foodbank.

Steps to restore the church to use are well under way, with a grant of almost £100,000 having been offered from the Listed Places of Worship Fund for roof repairs.

It is hoped that, with additional funding, it will also eventually be possible to restore the peal of Pennington bells, which have not been rung up for more than half a century and have not even been safe to toll for several decades due to the depredations of woodworm and damp.

A live nativity, with carols accompanied by Camelford Town Band, is planned for the evening of December 22, also at Higher Scarsick.