The Celtic Church was renowned for its holiness, tolerance and lack of the centralising, legalistic and often destructive authoritarianism seen in the Anglo-Saxon and Roman Churches. This was truly a golden age, sadly curtailed when the Church in Canterbury assumed control of the Cornish Church in the wake of the Anglo-Saxon military assault on Cornwall in 936AD.

There is a growing threat of merger between Truro and Exeter dioceses (for more information, click here); Methodist chapels built with hard-earned Cornish money are being sold at an alarming rate with the proceeds being absorbed into central funds in Methodist Headquarters in Manchester; there seems to be a remorseless drive towards greater and greater centralisation in the Church resulting in less and less local accountability, authority and focus.

Many Christians in Cornwall are starting to feel frustrated and helpless, that important decisions are being made too far above their heads too far away, that they need to rediscover a local identity and sense of purpose.

We believe it is now time full power and authority were returned to the Church in Cornwall.

We believe this will empower its people, enable them to rediscover their Celtic identity and roots and so be spiritually renewed as a Church. We will be able to make our own choices and heal the divisions in the Church more easily.

To this end, we believe that the Church of England should disestablish itself as the Church in Wales did in 1920 to form an independent Cornish Province of the Anglican Communion; also that Cornwall’s Methodist District and other denominations in Cornwall should seek full control over their own affairs, property and financial assets.

We are heartened by Cornwall’s newfound energy, enthusiasm and pride. We are encouraged by the strong support we have received for our aims thus far. We hope you will share our vision and help us make our Cornish Church fit for its mission in the more confident Cornwall of the 3rd Millennium of Christ’s reign.

There is no stronger force than an idea whose time has come.

Renewing the Church in Cornwall