A candlelit procession and ecumenical service will be held on Sunday to celebrate the restoration of the Priory ruins, Launceston.

The works, which started last summer, were funded by Launceston Town Council, North Cornwall District Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and The SITA Trust and involved vegetation clearance, removing loose stonework, cataloguing of moulded architectural fragments and small-scale excavation.

The priory was founded in 1126 by the Bishop of Exeter as a house of Augustinian canons, and by the time of its dissolution in 1539 was the wealthiest religious house in Cornwall. After falling into disrepair and ruin the site was rediscovered by Launceston solicitor and historian O B Peter during the construction of the London and South Western Railway and excavated between 1886 and 1892.

Since then the remains had gradually fallen into disrepair and consolidation was needed to ensure the long term survival of this important structure.  

The aim of the Launceston Priory Project was to provide a long term means of conserving, celebrating and promoting the Launceston Priory site for the benefit of local people and visitors. Sunday's procession will leave St Thomas Church, Newport at about 4.45pm and process to the Priory and back. A service will be held in St Thomas Church at 5pm. Refreshments will be available afterwards. Candles will be provided but participants can bring torches if they would like to. Everyone is welcome.